Agenda item

Motion by Councillor Sally Povolotsky

The UK government has announced only a £100 payment for “Off Grid”  homes relying on oil or LPG. A big gap in fiscal support compared to the £400 for all other households on the grid.

Heating and oil prices have seen huge hikes. The average cost of filling a 1,000-litre tank at the start of the year was about £620. By August, which is oil buying season, Oxfordshire residents prices had peaked and the same tank cost £1,108 or more to fill, and the market fluctuates.

The disparity is that most people are required to pay up front for oil, while people on mains energy pay monthly. Residents don’t just face a warmth crisis but that low-income households in rural areas face a potential health crisis due to cold homes. Without action, this government risks the health of many of the 1.5 million who have no option other than to use oil or LPG to heat their homes.

There’s a potential cost and service gap issue to local authorities by the increased demand for health and mental health services.

 

This council asks our leader to write to government to;



  1. Match the £400 energy grant for ALL energy users
  2. Create a package for rural Oxfordshire communities to provide grants for renewables / air source heat pumps or help switch to biofuel boilers, as well as retrofitting and insulation.

3.     Recognise that this cost of living emergency has further health service impacts in Oxfordshire and fund the needs of society

Minutes:

Councillor Sally Povolotsky moved and Councillor Ian Middleton seconded the following motion:

 

The UK government has announced only a £100 payment for “Off Grid”  homes relying on oil or LPG. A big gap in fiscal support compared to the £400 for all other households on the grid.

Heating and oil prices have seen huge hikes. The average cost of filling a 1,000-litre tank at the start of the year was about £620. By August, which is oil buying season, Oxfordshire residents prices had peaked and the same tank cost £1,108 or more to fill, and the market fluctuates.

The disparity is that most people are required to pay up front for oil, while people on mains energy pay monthly. Residents don’t just face a warmth crisis but that low-income households in rural areas face a potential health crisis due to cold homes. Without action, this government risks the health of many of the 1.5 million who have no option other than to use oil or LPG to heat their homes.

There’s a potential cost and service gap issue to local authorities by the increased demand for health and mental health services.

 

This council asks our leader to write to government to;



  1. Match the £400 energy grant for ALL energy users
  2. Create a package for rural Oxfordshire communities to provide grants for renewables / air source heat pumps or help switch to biofuel boilers, as well as retrofitting and insulation.

3.     Recognise that this cost of living emergency has further health service impacts in Oxfordshire and fund the needs of society

 

Following debate, the motion was put to the vote and was by 36 votes to 0 with 14 abstentions

 

RESOLVED:

 

The UK government has announced only a £100 payment for “Off Grid”  homes relying on oil or LPG. A big gap in fiscal support compared to the £400 for all other households on the grid.

Heating and oil prices have seen huge hikes. The average cost of filling a 1,000-litre tank at the start of the year was about £620. By August, which is oil buying season, Oxfordshire residents prices had peaked and the same tank cost £1,108 or more to fill, and the market fluctuates.

The disparity is that most people are required to pay up front for oil, while people on mains energy pay monthly. Residents don’t just face a warmth crisis but that low-income households in rural areas face a potential health crisis due to cold homes. Without action, this government risks the health of many of the 1.5 million who have no option other than to use oil or LPG to heat their homes.

There’s a potential cost and service gap issue to local authorities by the increased demand for health and mental health services.

 

This council asks our leader to write to government to;



  1. Match the £400 energy grant for ALL energy users
  2. Create a package for rural Oxfordshire communities to provide grants for renewables / air source heat pumps or help switch to biofuel boilers, as well as retrofitting and insulation.

3.     Recognise that this cost of living emergency has further health service impacts in Oxfordshire and fund the needs of society