Agenda item

8.23pm - Councillor Adam Connell moved, seconded by Councillor Iain Cassidy, the special motion standing in their names:

“This Council welcomes the success of the Independent Living Fund (ILF) in enabling nearly 18,000 people with high-support needs to live their lives with choice and control, rather than going into residential care or being trapped at home.

The Council regrets that on 1 July 2015, the Conservative government only confirmed funding for just one year. It notes the anxiety this has caused people in receipt of ILF and calls on the government to guarantee the necessary funding for this vital service so that disabled people can continue to live independently no matter where they live in the country.”

Speeches on the special motion were made by Councillors Adam Connell, Iain Cassidy, and Caroline Needham (for the Administration).

Under Standing Order 15(e) (vi), Councillor Andrew Brown moved, seconded by Councillor Marcus Ginn, an amendment to the motion as follows:

“Delete second paragraph and insert:

The Council:

1.        Believes that the test of a good society is whether you look after the frail, the vulnerable, and the poorest.

2.        Further believes that local government is best placed to manage and coordinate the funding for disabled people.

3.        Welcomes the transfer of funds from the Government to allow local authorities to continue funding those previously receiving the Independent Living Fund, and pledges to maintain this funding for the small number of H&F residents in receipt of this support.

4.        Further welcomes the NHS’s increased partnership with the council through the Community Independence Service that helps keep disabled people as well as chronically ill patients healthy and in their own homes.

5.        Supports the Chancellor’s announcement at the budget that disability benefits will not be taxed or means tested.

6.        Further supports his announcement that rents for social housing will be reduced by 1% a year for 4 years, as well as the announcement in the March Budget of £1.25 billion of additional funding for mental health services, a crucially important and often overlooked cause and component of disability.”

Speeches on the amendment to the special motion were made by Councillors Andrew Brown and Marcus Ginn (for the Opposition) and by Councillors Vivienne Lukey, and Ben Coleman (for the Administration), before it was put to the vote:

The amendment was declared LOST.

Speeches on the substantive motion were made by Councillor Andrew Brown (for the Opposition) and by Councillors Stephen Cowan, Rory Vaughan, and PJ Murphy (for the Administration).

Councillor Adam Connell Cowan (for the Administration) made a speech winding up the debate. The substantive motion was put to the vote and a roll-call was requested:

The motion was declared CARRIED.

9.12pm - RESOLVED

This Council welcomes the success of the Independent Living Fund (ILF) in enabling nearly 18,000 people with high-support needs to live their lives with choice and control, rather than going into residential care or being trapped at home.

The Council regrets that on 1 July 2015, the Conservative government only confirmed funding for just one year. It notes the anxiety this has caused people in receipt of ILF and calls on the government to guarantee the necessary funding for this vital service so that disabled people can continue to live independently no matter where they live in the country.