That the Leader of the Council writes to Torbay’s Members of Parliament urging them to lobby the Government to honour their manifesto commitment to maintain the Free TV Licence for those aged over 75.

To respond to the motion and lobby the Government to maintain the Free TV Licence for those aged over 75 years of age.

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This decision will come into force and may be implemented on Monday, 5 August 2019 unless the call-in procedure is triggered (as set out in Standing Orders in relation to Overview and Scrutiny).

Members considered a motion in relation to a campaign to restrict no-fault evictions, notice of which was given in accordance with Standing Order A14.

Councillor Long proposed and Councillor Morey seconded a motion, as set out below which was agreed unanimously by the Cabinet:

According to the charity Age UK, for over a million older people in the UK, the Television is their most constant companion.

Torbay Council notes that the BBC have announced that they will be means testing the free TV licence for those aged over 75 to those on the benefit Pension Credit.

The Council further notes that the free TV Licence scheme was originally funded by the Government but the responsibility for this concession has since been passed to the BBC.

This Council feels that the proposed change to the TV Licence scheme for over 75’s will be a cruel body blow, particularly as Age UK estimate that two out of five people entitled to claim Pension Credit do not actually do so. Given the age demographic in Torbay, many local residents will be affected. 

Torbay Council resolves:

That the Leader of the Council writes to Torbay’s Members of Parliament urging them to lobby the Government to honour their manifesto commitment to maintain the Free TV Licence for those aged over 75.

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