Agenda item

Motions on Notice

Councillor R Crute to Move

 

During 2022 a number of factors combined will present a significant additional financial burden to the people of County Durham.

 

This council recognises that the people of County Durham are heading towards a ‘cost of living’ crisis and calls on the government to take immediately any measures necessary to mitigate the impact.

 

 

Councillor O Gunn to Move

 

This Council asserts that the Government must do much more to prevent widespread disruption in County Durham schools and colleges. Furthermore, children, parents, support staff, teachers and school leaders must be equipped with everything they need to protect face to face education as Omicron virus continues to impact on pupil and staff absence rates.

 

Only 7,000 air filtration devices have been made available for the 300,000 classrooms in the whole of England. Based on those figures if County Durham schools were to receive a fair share only 6.2 units would be available for our 266 schools.

 

This Council agrees to write to the Secretary of State for Education to request that, as a matter of urgency:

 

a)    all classrooms in our schools and colleges are equipped with air filtration devices free of charge; and

b)     higher grade medical masks are made available free of charge to at risk staff and pupils previously identified as clinically vulnerable.

Minutes:

Moved by Councillor R Crute, Seconded by Councillor J Shuttleworth, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Rural Affairs and Highways:

 

During 2022 a number of factors combined will present a significant additional financial burden to the people of County Durham.

 

This council recognises that the people of County Durham are heading towards a ‘cost of living’ crisis and calls on the government to take immediately any measures necessary to mitigate the impact.

 

Councillor P Sexton, Portfolio Holder for Adult and Health Services Moved a Procedural Motion that the Motion be put to the vote.  Seconded by Councillor P Jopling.

 

Upon a vote being taken the Procedural Motion was carried.

 

Upon a vote being taken the Motion was carried.

 

 

Moved by Councillor O Gunn, Seconded by Councillor V Andrews:

 

This Council asserts that the Government must do much more to prevent widespread disruption in County Durham schools and colleges. Furthermore, children, parents, support staff, teachers and school leaders must be equipped with everything they need to protect face to face education as Omicron virus continues to impact on pupil and staff absence rates.

 

Only 7,000 air filtration devices have been made available for the 300,000 classrooms in the whole of England. Based on those figures if County Durham schools were to receive a fair share only 6.2 units would be available for our 266 schools.

 

This Council agrees to write to the Secretary of State for Education to request that, as a matter of urgency:

a)   all classrooms in our schools and colleges are equipped with air filtration devices free of charge; and

b)   higher grade medical masks are made available free of charge to at risk staff and pupils previously identified as clinically vulnerable.

 

An Amendment was Moved by Councillor R Bell, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Finance, Seconded by Councillor T Henderson, Portfolio Holder for Children and Young People’s Services:

 

This Council asserts that the Government must do much more to prevent widespread disruption in County Durham schools and colleges.  Furthermore, children, parents, support staff, teachers and school leaders must be equipped with everything they need to protect face to face education as Omicron virus continues to impact on pupil and staff absence rates.  It is noted that:

·        Only 7,000 air filtration devices have been made available for the 300,000 classrooms in the whole of England for classrooms where quick fixes to improve ventilation are not possible, such as not being able to open a window.Based on those figures if County Durham schools were to receive a fair share only 6.2 units would be available for our 266 schools.This builds on the 1,000 air purifiers announced for special schools and alternative provision settings.

·        350,000 carbon dioxide monitors rolled out across the country are also acting as a helpful tool to manage ventilation.

 

This Council agrees to write to the Secretary of State for Education to request that, as a matter of urgency:

a)   all classrooms in our schools and colleges, where quick fixes to improve ventilation are not possible,are equipped with air filtration devices free of charge;

b)   He works with schools to produce consistent, national guidelines for the wearing of facemasks in schools, and continues to provide higher grade medical masks free of charge to at risk staff and pupils previously identified as clinically vulnerable via the PPE cell online portal; and that

c)    He considers whether teachers should be given priority status alongside other key workers in any future vaccine rollouts.

 

Councillor Crute Moved a Motion without Notice that Standing Order 10.7 be suspended to extend the time for debating Motions on Notice.  Seconded by Councillor M Wilkes.

 

The Council agreed the suspension of Standing Order 10.7 which related to the time allowed for the discussion of Motions.

 

A named vote on the Amendment was requested.

 

For the Amendment

Councillors M Abley, B Bainbridge, R Bell, J Blakey, D Brown, L Brown, J Cairns, J Cosslett, B Coult, K Duffy, J Elmer, D Freeman, D Haney, T Henderson, L Holmes, J Howey, C Hunt, G Hutchinson, A Jackson, P Jopling, C Lines, C Martin, E Mavin, L Mavin, S McDonnell, McGaun, D Oliver, R Ormerod, E Peeke, R Potts, J Quinn, A Reed, G Richardson, K Rooney, J Rowlandson, A Savory, E Scott, P Sexton, J Shuttleworth, M Simmons, A Simpson, W Stelling, A Sterling, D Stoker, T Stubbs, D Sutton-Lloyd, M Walton and S Zair

 

Against the Amendment

Councillor E Adam, R Adcock-Forster, V Andrews, J Atkinson, P Atkinson, A Batey, K Batey, G Binney, D Boyes, J Chaplow, I Cochrane, R Crute, S Deinali, K Earley, L Fenwick, C Fletcher, J Griffiths, O Gunn, C Hampson, A Hanson, K Hawley, S Henig, L Hovvels, D Howarth, M Johnson, C Kay, B Kellett, L Kennedy, R Manchester, C Marshall, B McAloon, D McKenna, M McKeon, I McLean, S McMahon, J Miller, P Molloy, D Nicholls, P Pringle, J Purvis, S Quinn, I Roberts, K Shaw, T Smith, A Surtees, F Tinsley, S Townsend, A Watson, M Wilson, S Wilson, D Wood and R Yorke.

 

Abstention

Councillor L Maddison.

 

The Amendment was Lost.

 

A further vote was taken on the Substantive Motion.

 

For

Councillors E Adam, R Adcock-Forster, V Andrews, J Atkinson, P Atkinson, A Batey, K Batey, G Binney, D Boyes, L Brown, J Cairns, J Chaplow, I Cochrane, B Coult, R Crute, S Deinali, K Duffy, K Earley, J Elmer, L Fenwick, C Fletcher, D Freeman, J Griffiths, O Gunn, C Hampson, D Haney, A Hanson, K Hawley, S Henig, L Hovvels, D Howarth, G Hutchinson, M Johnson, C Kay, B Kellett, L Kennedy, C Lines, L Maddison, R Manchester, C Marshall, C Martin, E Mavin, L Mavin, B McAloon, S McDonnell, D McKenna, M McKeon, I McLean, S McMahon, J Miller, P Molloy, D Nicholls, R Ormerod, R Potts, P Pringle, J Purvis, S Quinn, A Reed, I Roberts, K Rooney, A Savory, E Scott, P Sexton, K Shaw, M Simmons, A Simpson, T Smith, W Stelling, D Stoker, A Surtees, F Tinsley, S Townsend, A Watson, M Wilkes, M Wilson, S Wilson, D Wood and R Yorke.

 

Against

Councillors M Abley, R Bell, J Blakey, D Brown, T Henderson, G Richardson, J Shuttleworth and D Sutton-Lloyd

 

Abstain

Councillors B Bainbridge, J Cosslett, L Holmes, J Howey, C Hunt, A Jackson, P Jopling, M McGaun, D Oliver, E Peeke, J Quinn, J Rowlandson, A Sterling, T Stubbs, M Walton and S Zair.

 

The Substantive Motion was Carried.