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Approved Council motions 2026/27

Council meeting Thursday 14 May 2026 

Proposer: Councillor Heritage Seconder: Councillor Keats-Rohan 

Lead officer: Director of Communities 

Protecting an Independent Patient Voice – Opposition to the Abolition of Healthwatch 

This Council notes that: 

  1. Healthwatch England and local Healthwatch bodies are the statutory, independent champions for people who use health and social care services. 
  1. The Government has proposed the abolition of Healthwatch England and local Healthwatch as part of its developing NHS 10-Year Health Plan, with functions to be transferred to Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) and local authorities. 
  1. National approaches to Government by MPs and policy groups to ask them to reverse this decision have been unsuccessful  
  1. District councils, while not directly responsible for the commissioning or delivery of health and adult social care services, have a vital community leadership role and a statutory duty to promote the wellbeing of their residents. 
  1. Local Healthwatch organisations provide an accessible, impartial route for residents to raise concerns and share experiences of health and social care services. 
  1. Vulnerable, seldom-heard, and digitally-excluded residents in district areas often rely on independent, community-based advocacy to navigate complex health and care systems. 

  

This Council believes that: 

  1. The proposed transfer of Healthwatch functions to ICBs and local authorities risks a loss of independence, creating conflicts of interest  
  1. An independent patient voice is essential to transparency, accountability, and public confidence in health and social care systems. 
  1. The abolition of Healthwatch would weaken the ability of residents to influence decisions affecting their health and wellbeing, particularly those least able to advocate for themselves. 
  1. Removing a nationally recognised, independent statutory body for patient representation risks undermining consistency and democratic accountability across the health and care system. 
  1. District councils have a legitimate interest in ensuring that their residents continue to have access to strong, independent advocacy in relation to health and care services. 

  

This Council therefore resolves to: 

  1. Express its concern regarding the Government’s proposal to abolish Healthwatch England and local Healthwatch bodies. 
  1. Call on the Government to retain Healthwatch as a fully independent, statutory patient voice at national and local levels. 
  1. Support all appropriate national campaigns seeking to protect Healthwatch. 
  1. Write to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care setting out this Council’s concerns. 
  1. Write to local Members of Parliament expressing its concern regarding the proposed plans 
  1. Support Oxfordshire County Council’s decision to work with partners in creating a local independent voice on health. 
  1. Request that the Leader of the Council communicates this position to the County Council, relevant Integrated Care Board, and appropriate local government networks. 

Council meeting Thursday 14 May 2026 

Proposer: Councillor Rouane Seconder: Councillor Bennett 

Lead officer: Director of Corporate Services 

Adoption of Socio-Economic Duty 

This Council notes that: 

  1. Section 1 of the Equality Act 2010 (“the socio-economic duty”) requires public authorities, when making strategic decisions, to have due regard to reducing the impact of socio-economic disadvantage. 
  1. This duty has not been enacted in England but may be voluntarily adopted by local authorities to strengthen action on poverty and disadvantage. 
  1. While Oxfordshire ranks among the least deprived counties nationally on the Index of Multiple Deprivation 2025, there are pockets of disadvantage across the district, and rural deprivation is known to be masked by district-level averages. 

Council believes that: 

  1. Socio-economic disadvantage is a driver of unequal outcomes in health, education and employment, and must be addressed to improve residents’ life chances 
  1. Strategic decisions taken by the council can either reduce or reinforce inequalities and should therefore be informed by a clear understanding of their impact on people experiencing disadvantage, with steps taken to mitigate any adverse effects. 

Council resolves to: 

  1. Ask Cabinet to consider adopting the socio-economic duty, committing to have due regard to socio-economic disadvantage in strategic decision-making. 
  1. Request that Cabinet leads the development and adoption of a clear and fair definition of socio-economic disadvantage, including measures of poverty and other relevant indicators, to support consistent application of the duty 
  1. Request Cabinet ensures that the duty is applied in a proportionate way, focusing on improving life chances and access to services for residents experiencing disadvantage, while maintaining fairness for all communities.