Councillor J Miller to Move
In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, it was highlighted that many school children go hungry during school holidays, with the campaign for central Government to fund free school meals. However, what was missed is that school holidays take place every year, and not just during pandemics. This means that children are at risk of hunger every year-round. And it is not just children that are at risk of hunger, as many parents across the County are struggling with being able to afford the household necessities, with food being just one example. Some adults are working multiple jobs but are still struggling with this issue. And when the pandemic is finally over, and the impact on family finances truly comes to light, this problem will become bigger and harder.
A Food Action Plan would be able to highlight the areas across the County that are most affected by this crisis, and enable a local response, by empowering community groups, AAPs and local councillors to become involved in supporting those that need the Council’s help.
Therefore, this Council resolves to:
1. Request the lead Member for Food Poverty within Cabinet, to work across all parties within the Council, to create a consistent and inclusive Food Action Plan that reflects and addresses the needs of all families across County Durham.
Councillor S Deinali to Move
Teachers are key workers and professionals and have all contributed significantly during the pandemic – keeping schools open to vulnerable children and those of key workers whilst planning and delivering a remote curriculum to those children who have stayed at home. Although the government pledged to raise teacher’s starting salaries to £30,000 by 2023 in their manifesto, they are now planning to impose a pay freeze.
Despite the School Teachers’ Review Body recommending a pay rise of 3.5% for all teachers, the Government has only given early career teachers the 3.5% rise, while more experienced teachers were given a 2% rise and those on the leadership pay scale were given only 1.5%. According to the independent Institute for Fiscal Studies this will leave around 60% of teachers receiving a below inflation pay rise, meaning their pay will fall in real terms.
The pay freeze will come after a decade of real terms pay cuts to teachers pay – which has left the teaching profession with major recruitment and retention issues.
The Department for Education has admitted that teachers are over £4000 a year worse off in real terms since 2010.
Therefore, the Council resolves to:
1. Work with the education unions to understand the impact of the real term pay freeze over the past decade and develop actions to increase the level of retention and recruitment in County Durham.
2. Write to the Government to highlight the impact of a real terms cut to teachers’ pay, ask for the introduction of a pay increase for all teachers in line with inflation and ask the Government to deliver on their pledge by increasing teachers’ starting salaries to £30,000 by 2023.
3. Report back to Full Council on the outcome of resolution 1 and 2.
Councillor A Surtees to Move
This Council condemns the decision by government to remove the Universal Credit £20 Uplift.
Councillor F Tinsley to Move
This Council condemns the changes made by the Conservative government to the way Adult Social Care is funded in England. This includes the introduction of an ‘Adult Social Care Cap’ of £86K and increases to National Insurance contributions which will have a disproportionate financial impact on younger members of society and small businesses recovering from the Covid 19 pandemic. The changes will have an unfair impact on residents of County Durham because the Adult Social Care Cap is a much higher proportion of the average value of houses in County Durham than in many other parts of the country.
Minutes:
Moved by Councillor J Miller, Seconded by Councillor L Hovvels
In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, it was highlighted that many school children go hungry during school holidays, with the campaign for central Government to fund free school meals. However, what was missed is that school holidays take place every year, and not just during pandemics. This means that children are at risk of hunger every year-round. And it is not just children that are at risk of hunger, as many parents across the County are struggling with being able to afford the household necessities, with food being just one example. Some adults are working multiple jobs but are still struggling with this issue. And when the pandemic is finally over, and the impact on family finances truly comes to light, this problem will become bigger and harder.
A Food Action Plan would be able to highlight the areas across the County that are most affected by this crisis, and enable a local response, by empowering community groups, AAPs and local councillors to become involved in supporting those that need the Council’s help.
Therefore, this Council resolves to:
Request the lead Member for Food Poverty within Cabinet, to work across all parties within the Council, to create a consistent and inclusive Food Action Plan that reflects and addresses the needs of all families across County Durham.
An Amendment was Moved by Councillor A Shield, Portfolio Holder for Equality and Inclusion, Seconded by Councillor T Duffy
Therefore, this Council
resolves to:
To
request that the appropriate Portfolio Holder within the Joint
AdministrationRequest the lead
Member for involved in dealing with Food Poverty
within Cabinet, to work works with all partners,
stakeholders across all parties within and the
relevant officers of this the Council, to develop
create a consistent and a holistic and
all-encompassing inclusive Food Action Plan
Poverty Strategy that reflects and
addressesthe needs of all vulnerable and
disadvantaged families across County Durham, and to promote
effective engagement and positive interaction with all members to
ensure that families in need are fully and comprehensively
supported.
Councillor C Marshall questioned the legality of the wording Joint Administration in the amendment and whether there was any formal agreement establishing the Joint Administration. There was no reference to the Joint Administration in the Constitution. The Head of Legal and Democratic Services advised that there was a Memorandum of Understanding between the Groups which had formed the Joint Administration and that Cabinet had been appointed in accordance with the Council’s Constitution. The Head of Legal and Democratic Services advised that the amendment was valid.
Councillor R Crute informed Council that he wished to move an amendment to the amendment to remove the term Joint Administration and replace it with Cabinet. The Head of Legal and Democratic Services advised Council that under the Rules of Debate only one amendment could be moved at a time.
Councillor P Sexton moved that the Amendment be put to the vote, Seconded by Councillor J Nicholson. The Head of Legal and Democratic Services informed Council that under Council Procedure Rules if, in Council’s view, it considered the matter had been sufficiently discussed, the procedural motion would be put to the vote.
The Head of Legal and Democratic Services clarified that a vote was being taken on the procedural motion to put the amendment to a vote.
Upon a vote being taken it was
Resolved:
That the amendment be put to the vote.
For the Amendment
Councillors B Avery, B Bainbridge, A Bell, C Bell, R Bell, D Brown, L Brown, J Cairns, J Charlton, J Cosslett, B Coult, M Currah, T Duffy, J Elmer, K Fantarrow, D Freeman, D Haney, P Heaviside, T Henderson, L Holmes, C Hood, A Hopgood, C Hunt, G Hutchinson, A Jackson, N Jones, P Jopling, C Lines, L Maddison, C Martin, L Mavin, B McAloon, M McGaun, B Moist, P Molloy, J Nicholson, D Oliver, R Ormerod, E Peeke, R Potts, J Quinn, A Reed, G Richardson, M I Roberts, K Robson, K Rooney, J Rowlandson, A Savory, E Scott, P Sexton, A Shield, M Simmons, A Simpson, M Stead, W Stelling, A Sterling, D Stoker, T Stubbs, D Sutton-Lloyd, M Walton, A Watson and M Wilkes.
Against the Amendment
Councillors E Adam, R Adcock-Forster, V Andrews, J Atkinson, P Atkinson, A Batey, G Binney, D Boyes, J Chaplow, R Charlton-Lainé, R Crute, S Deinali, K Earley, L Fenwick, C Fletcher, J Griffiths, O Gunn, C Hampson, A Hanson, S Henig, J Higgins, L Hovvels, M Johnson, L Kennedy, R Manchester, C Marshall, D McKenna, M McKeon, I McLean, S McMahon, J Miller, D Mulholland, D Nicholls, P Pringle, J Purvis, I Roberts, K Shaw, A Surtees, F Tinsley, A Townsend, C Varty, M Wilson, S Wilson and D Wood.
The Amendment was carried and therefore became the Substantive Motion
An Amendment was moved by Councillor R Crute, Seconded by Councillor K Shaw, that the words ‘Joint Administration’ be removed from the Substantive Motion and replaced with the word ‘Cabinet’.
Councillor M McKeown Moved a procedural motion that the Amendment be put to the vote, Seconded by Councillor D Wood. The Head of Legal and Democratic Services advised that there as there were no Members registered to speak Councillor Crute’s Amendment could be put to the vote without the need for a vote on the procedural motion.
For the Amendment
Councillors E Adam, R Adcock-Forster, V Andrews, J Atkinson, P Atkinson, A Batey, G Binney, D Boyes, J Chaplow, R Charlton-Lainé, R Crute, S Deinali, K Earley, L Fenwick, C Fletcher, J Griffiths, O Gunn, C Hampson, A Hanson, S Henig, J Higgins, L Hovvels, M Johnson, L Kennedy, C Lines, R Manchester, C Marshall, D McKenna, M McKeon, I McLean, S McMahon, J Miller, D Mulholland, D Nicholls, P Pringle, J Purvis, I Roberts, K Shaw, A Surtees, F Tinsley, A Townsend, C Varty, M Wilson, S Wilson, and D Wood.
Against the Amendment
Councillors B Avery, B Bainbridge, A Bell, C Bell, R Bell, D Brown, L Brown, J Cairns, J Charlton, J Cosslett, B Coult, M Currah, T Duffy, J Elmer, K Fantarrow, D Freeman, D Haney, P Heaviside, T Henderson, L Holmes, C Hood, A Hopgood, C Hunt, G Hutchinson, A Jackson, N Jones, P Jopling, L Maddison, C Martin, L Mavin, B McAloon, M McGaun, B Moist, P Molloy, J Nicholson, D Oliver, R Ormerod, E Peeke, R Potts, J Quinn, A Reed, G Richardson, M I Roberts, K Robson, K Rooney, J Rowlandson, A Savory, E Scott, P Sexton, A Shield, M Simmons, A Simpson, M Stead, W Stelling, A Sterling, D Stoker, T Stubbs, D Sutton-Lloyd, M Walton, A Watson and M Wilkes.
The Amendment was Lost.
A vote was then taken on the Substantive Motion.
For the Motion
Councillors E Adam, R Adcock-Forster, V Andrews, J Atkinson, P Atkinson, B Avery, B Bainbridge, A Batey, A Bell, C Bell, R Bell, G Binney, D Boyes, D Brown, L Brown, J Cairns, J Chaplow, J Charlton, R Charlton-Lainé, J Cosslett, B Coult, R Crute, M Currah, S Deinali, T Duffy, J Elmer, K Fantarrow, L Fenwick, C Fletcher, D Freeman, J Griffiths, O Gunn, C Hampson, D Haney, A Hanson, P Heaviside, T Henderson, S Henig, J Higgins, L Holmes, C Hood, A Hopgood, L Hovvels, C Hunt, G Hutchinson, A Jackson, M Johnson, N Jones, P Jopling, L Kennedy, C Lines, L Maddison, R Manchester, C Marshall, C Martin, L Mavin, B McAloon, M McGaun, D McKenna, M McKeon, I McLean, S McMahon, J Miller, B Moist, P Molloy, D Mulholland, D Nicholls, J Nicholson, D Oliver, R Ormerod, E Peeke, R Potts, P Pringle, J Purvis, J Quinn, A Reed, G Richardson, I Roberts, M I Roberts, K Robson, K Rooney, J Rowlandson, A Savory, E Scott, P Sexton, K Shaw, A Shield, M Simmons, A Simpson, M Stead, W Stelling, A Sterling, D Stoker, T Stubbs, A Surtees, D Sutton-Lloyd, F Tinsley, A Townsend, C Varty, M Walton, A Watson, M Wilkes, M Wilson, S Wilson and D Wood.
Abstention
Councillor K Earley
The Substantive Motion was carried.
The Chair informed Council that the second Motion on the Agenda had been withdrawn by Councillor Deinali and therefore the Motion from Councillor Surtees would be considered next.
Moved by Councillor A Surtees, Seconded by Councillor E Adam
This Council condemns the decision by government to remove the Universal Credit £20 Uplift.
An Amendment was Moved by Councillor A Shield, Portfolio Holder for Equality and Inclusion, Seconded by Councillor K Rooney
This Council condemns
disagrees, questions
& challenges the decision by National
government to remove thetemporary Universal Credit £20
Uplift, but we will engage with all key
partners and stakeholders to collectively work together to address
and try to minimize the shortfall impact of household income
preventing undue financial hardship.
For the Amendment
Councillors B Avery, B Bainbridge, A Bell, C Bell, R Bell, D Brown, L Brown, J Cairns, J Charlton, J Cosslett, B Coult, M Currah, T Duffy, J Elmer, K Fantarrow, D Freeman, D Haney, P Heaviside, T Henderson, L Holmes, C Hood, A Hopgood, C Hunt, A Jackson, N Jones, P Jopling, C Lines, L Maddison, C Martin, L Mavin, M McGaun, B Moist, P Molloy, J Nicholson, D Oliver, R Ormerod, E Peeke, R Potts, J Quinn, A Reed, G Richardson, M I Roberts, K Robson, K Rooney, J Rowlandson, A Savory, E Scott, P Sexton, A Shield, M Simmons, A Simpson, M Stead, W Stelling, A Sterling, D Stoker, T Stubbs, D Sutton-Lloyd, M Walton and M Wilkes.
Against the Amendment
Councillors E Adam, R Adcock-Forster, V Andrews, J Atkinson, P Atkinson, A Batey, G Binney, D Boyes, J Chaplow, R Charlton-Lainé, R Crute, S Deinali, K Earley, L Fenwick, C Fletcher, J Griffiths, O Gunn, C Hampson, A Hanson, S Henig, J Higgins, L Hovvels, G Hutchinson, M Johnson, L Kennedy, R Manchester, C Marshall, B McAloon, D McKenna, M McKeon, I McLean, S McMahon, J Miller, D Mulholland, D Nicholls, P Pringle, J Purvis, I Roberts, K Shaw, A Surtees, F Tinsley, A Townsend, C Varty, A Watson, M Wilson, S Wilson and D Wood
The Amendment was carried and therefore became the Substantive Motion
Upon a vote being taken the Substantive Motion was carried.
The Chair informed Council that the time allowed for Motions had been reached and the Motion put forward by Councillor Tinsley would be carried forward to the next meeting.