The Shadow Council to consider the following notices o motion;
1. Climate and Biodiversity Emergencies
Cllr Giles Archibald to move (Cllr A Thomson to second) the following:
This Council confirms that we face climate and biodiversity crises which will have potentially catastrophic impact locally, nationally and internationally.
The Shadow Authority for Westmorland and Furness Council acknowledges that man-made greenhouse gas emissions play a major part in the climate crisis. Greenhouse gases are also diminishing our biodiversity, which is further adversely affected by habitat loss, pollution, overexploitation, increases of non native species and systemic weather disruption.
Climate change and biodiversity loss will have far-reaching effects on our economy, our society and our environment in the District, across the UK and across the globe.
Building on, and integrating the work of the current Councils (Cumbria County Council, Eden and South Lakeland District Councils and Barrow Borough Council), Cafs and many volunteer organisations, this council is committed to (a) reducing its own carbon emissions to net zero as soon as possible; (b) working with others to target a net zero carbon Westmorland and Furness by 2037; and (c) increasing biodiversity by, for example, restoring natural habitats, restricting invasive species and reducing pollution.
We are committed to working with Town and Parish Councils, communities and other partner organisations in tackling these emergencies in a just and fair manner.
Council further urges government to work with local authorities, health services, businesses, farmers, educational institutions and all other interested bodies to address the climate and biodiversity emergencies as quickly as possible.
This motion to be seconded by Cllr Ann Thomson.
2. Protected Characteristics
Cllr Judy Filmore to move (Cllr J Drake to second) the following:
The Independent Review of Children’s Social Care headed by Josh McCallister published in May 2022 a final report and recommendations that included:
· “Government should make care experience a protected characteristic” and
· “New legislation should be passed which broadens corporate parenting responsibilities across a wider set of public bodies and organisations.”
On Protected Characteristics for Care Experience
· “Many care experienced people face discrimination, stigma and prejudice in their day to day lives. Public perceptions of care experience centre on the idea that children are irredeemably damaged and that can lead to discrimination and assumptions being made.” Care Review May 2022
One young person told the review that a teacher had told them “You’re smart - for a kid in care” another young person said “I don’t want people to point out that I am in care if I don’t want that mentioned. It makes me so cross – that shouldn’t happen.”
This stigma and discrimination can be explicit and often comes with assumptions about the likely characteristics of children and adults that have care experience. They can also be implicit and are evidenced in the way care experience is discussed in schools, workplaces and the media.
At its worst this can lead to care experienced people being refused employment, failing to succeed in education or facing unfair judgements about their ability to parent when they have children and families of their own.
Hearing testimony from care experienced people sharing the discrimination they have experienced, even from a very young age, it is clear that such discrimination can be similar in nature to other groups that have a legally protected characteristic under the Equality Act (2010).
So, while there may be ways that society can help reduce stigma and discrimination, including creating greater public consciousness on these issues, just as with other areas of equality, there is a case to go further. Therefore, the government should make care experience a protected characteristic.
“Making care experience a protected characteristic would provide greater authority to employers, businesses, public services, and policy makers to put in place policies and programmes which promote better outcomes for care experienced people. It will make the UK the first country in the world to recognise care experienced people in this way. As a measure, it will bolster and pave the way for a number of the recommendations in this chapter.”Care Review May 2022
Care experienced people face significant barriers that impact them throughout their lives;
· Despite the resilience of many care experienced people, society too often does not take their needs into account
· Care experienced people often face discrimination and stigma across housing, health, education, relationships, employment and in the criminal justice system
· Care experienced people often face a postcode lottery of support
· As corporate parents, councillors have a collective responsibility for providing the best possible care and safeguarding for the children who are looked after by us as an authority
· All corporate parents should commit to acting as mentors, hearing the voices of looked after children and young people and to consider their needs in any aspect of council work
· Councillors should be champions of our looked after children and challenge the negative attitudes and prejudice that exists in all aspects of society
· The Public Sector Equality Duty requires public bodies, such as councils, to eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation of people with protected characteristics
Westmorland & Furness Shadow Authority therefore RESOLVES:
That in preparing to become a Unitary Authority when making any decisions in relation to its policies or formulating it’s Council Plan that it recognises that Care Experienced people are an oppressed group who face discrimination;
That it recognises that Councils have a duty to put the needs of oppressed people at the heart of decision-making through co-production and collaboration;
That future decision, services and policies made and adopted by the Council should be assessed through Equality Impact Assessments to determine the impact of changes on people with care experience, alongside those who formally share a Protected Characteristic;
That in the delivery of the Public Sector Equality Duty the Council includes care experience in the publication and review of Equality Objectives and the annual publication of information relating to people who share a Protected Characteristic in services and employment;
That when it becomes a Unitary Authority it will treat care experience as if it were a Protected Characteristic;
To formally call upon all other bodies to treat care experience as a Protected Characteristic until such time as it may be introduced by legislation;
For the Council to proactively seek out and listen to the voices of care experienced people when developing new policies based on their views.
3. Cost of Living Crisis in Westmorland and Furness
Cllr John Murray to move (Cllr J Derbyshire to second) the following:
This Council is deeply aware of the pressure facing residents and businesses across Westmorland and Furness due to the cost of living crisis. Households, schools, health services and businesses are faced with successive and unaffordable price rises in fuel and energy and removal of additional benefit support, with the resultant increases in costs and prices across the board. The Council notes the energy policy announced 8th September, and further notes that the ‘typical home’ will still be paying more than twice as much this winter for energy compared to last winter. In rural areas the Council notes the increases in fuel costs further impact the costs incurred by residents, farmers and all businesses in travelling to shops, health centres, markets and customers. The Council notes the impact of all these additional costs combined with real terms pay cuts and the steady removal of support for families under pressure.
The Council is grateful for the support provided by Barrow Borough Council, Eden District Council, South Lakes District Council and Cumbria County Council has already provided for their residents and businesses and is committed to continuing and building on this support from 1 April 2023.
The Shadow Authority for Westmorland and Furness Council urges central government further to support our residents, businesses and services;
1. To take immediate action to freeze the price cap at April’s rate, stop further increases in the price of fuel, including solid fuel, LPG and fuel oil as well as electricity and gas prices, and to tax energy firm’s profits.
2. To immediately reduce VAT, including VAT on energy bills.
3. To bring back the supplement to Universal Credit.
4. To implement for immediate financial help/relief for small businesses to prevent imminent closures and job losses.
The Council calls for a local Cost of Living Emergency Summit building on the work of, for example, the Cumbria Poverty Working Group, with stakeholders, including Citizens Advice, Food Banks, Local Trades Unions, town and parish councils and Chambers of Commerce and local MPs to explore how more local help can be provided for those struggling with the cost of living.
The Council requests the Chief Executive Designate to write to the leaders of Cumbria County, Barrow Borough, Eden District and South Lakes District Councils as well as Cumberland, Copeland, Allerdale and Carlisle Councils asking them to pass similar emergency motions so we can take a united stand as Local Government to force the Government to do more to help local businesses and residents.
Minutes:
Motion No 1Climate and Biodiversity Emergencies
Councillor Archibald moved the following motion:
‘This Council confirms that we face climate and biodiversity crises which will have potentially catastrophic impact locally, nationally and internationally.
The Shadow Authority for Westmorland and Furness Council acknowledges that man-made greenhouse gas emissions play a major part in the climate crisis. Greenhouse gases are also diminishing our biodiversity, which is further adversely affected by habitat loss, pollution, overexploitation, increases of non-native species and systemic weather disruption.
Climate change and biodiversity loss will have far-reaching effects on our economy, our society and our environment in the District, across the UK and across the globe.
Building on, and integrating the work of the current Councils (Cumbria County Council, Eden and South Lakeland District Councils and Barrow Borough Council), Cafs and many volunteer organisations, this council is committed to (a) reducing its own carbon emissions to net zero as soon as possible; (b) working with others to target a net zero carbon Westmorland and Furness by 2037; and (c) increasing biodiversity by, for example, restoring natural habitats, restricting invasive species and reducing pollution.
We are committed to working with Town and Parish Councils, communities and other partner organisations in tackling these emergencies in a just and fair manner.
Council further urges government to work with local authorities, health services, businesses, farmers, educational institutions and all other interested bodies to address the climate and biodiversity emergencies as quickly as possible’.
The motion was seconded by Councillor Thomson.
A detailed debate then took place on this with the majority of members speaking in support of the motion.
A recorded vote was requested and with more than 25% of members in support this was AGREED.
|
Name |
FOR |
AGAINST |
ABSTAIN |
ABSENT |
|
G Archibald |
? |
|
|
|
|
T Assouad |
? |
|
|
|
|
C Atkinson |
|
|
? |
|
|
R Audland |
? |
|
|
|
|
L Baker |
? |
|
|
|
|
J Battye |
? |
|
|
|
|
S Bavin |
? |
|
|
|
|
P Bell |
? |
|
|
|
|
T Biggins |
? |
|
|
|
|
J Boak |
? |
|
|
|
|
M Brereton |
|
|
? |
|
|
D Brook |
? |
|
|
|
|
J Brook |
? |
|
|
|
|
A Burns |
? |
|
|
|
|
T Callister |
? |
|
|
|
|
H Carrick |
|
|
? |
|
|
F Cassisdy |
? |
|
|
|
|
H Chaffey |
? |
|
|
|
|
W Clark |
? |
|
|
|
|
A Coles |
? |
|
|
|
|
A Connell |
? |
|
|
|
|
B Cooper |
|
|
? |
|
|
J Cornthwaite |
? |
|
|
|
|
J Derbyshire |
|
|
|
? |
|
P Dew |
|
|
? |
|
|
P Dixon |
? |
|
|
|
|
J Drake |
? |
|
|
|
|
D Edwards |
|
|
? |
|
|
P Endsor |
|
|
|
? |
|
S Evans |
? |
|
|
|
|
M Eyles |
? |
|
|
|
|
J Filmore |
? |
|
|
|
|
L Hall |
|
|
? |
|
|
K Hamilton |
? |
|
|
|
|
M Hanley |
|
|
|
? |
|
E Hennessy |
? |
|
|
|
|
H Hodgson |
? |
|
|
|
|
N Hughes |
? |
|
|
|
|
V Hughes |
|
|
|
? |
|
A Husband |
? |
|
|
|
|
H Irving |
|
|
? |
|
|
A Jama |
? |
|
|
|
|
A Jarvis |
|
|
|
? |
|
D Jones |
? |
|
|
|
|
H Ladhams |
? |
|
|
|
|
N McCall |
? |
|
|
|
|
W McEwan |
? |
|
|
|
|
I Mitchell |
|
|
|
? |
|
B Morgan |
? |
|
|
|
|
J Murphy |
? |
|
|
|
|
J Murray |
? |
|
|
|
|
S Pender |
|
|
|
? |
|
N Phillips |
|
|
? |
|
|
D Rathbone |
? |
|
|
|
|
M Robinson |
|
|
|
? |
|
M Rudhall |
? |
|
|
|
|
S Sanderson |
? |
|
|
|
|
M Severn |
? |
|
|
|
|
B Shirley |
|
|
? |
|
|
G Simpkins |
? |
|
|
|
|
D Taylor |
|
|
|
? |
|
V Taylor |
? |
|
|
|
|
A Thomson |
? |
|
|
|
|
P Thornton |
? |
|
|
|
|
R Worthington |
|
|
|
? |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL |
45 |
0 |
10 |
10 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
It was therefore RESOLVED, that the motion be AGREED.
Motion 2 Protected Characteristics
Councillor Filmore moved the following motion:
The Independent Review of Children’s Social Care headed by Josh McCallister published in May 2022 a final report and recommendations that included:
· Government should make care experience a protected characteristic and
· New legislation should be passed which broadens corporate parenting responsibilities across a wider set of public bodies and organisations.
On Protected Characteristics for Care Experience
· Many care experienced people face discrimination, stigma and prejudice in their day to day lives. Public perceptions of care experience centre on the idea that children are irredeemably damaged and that can lead to discrimination and assumptions being made. Care Review May 2022
One young person told the review that a teacher had told them “You’re smart - for a kid in care” another young person said “I don’t want people to point out that I am in care if I don’t want that mentioned. It makes me so cross – that shouldn’t happen.”
This stigma and discrimination can be explicit and often comes with assumptions about the likely characteristics of children and adults that have care experience. They can also be implicit and are evidenced in the way care experience is discussed in schools, workplaces and the media.
At its worst this can lead to care experienced people being refused employment, failing to succeed in education or facing unfair judgements about their ability to parent when they have children and families of their own.
Hearing testimony from care experienced people sharing the discrimination they have experienced, even from a very young age, it is clear that such discrimination can be similar in nature to other groups that have a legally protected characteristic under the Equality Act (2010).
So, while there may be ways that society can help reduce stigma and discrimination, including creating greater public consciousness on these issues, just as with other areas of equality, there is a case to go further. Therefore, the government should make care experience a protected characteristic.
Making care experience a protected characteristic would provide greater authority to employers, businesses, public services, and policy makers to put in place policies and programmes which promote better outcomes for care experienced people. It will make the UK the first country in the world to recognise care experienced people in this way. As a measure, it will bolster and pave the way for a number of the recommendations in this chapter. Care Review May 2022
Care experienced people face significant barriers that impact them throughout their lives;
· Despite the resilience of many care experienced people, society too often does not take their needs into account
· Care experienced people often face discrimination and stigma across housing, health, education, relationships, employment and in the criminal justice system
· Care experienced people often face a postcode lottery of support
· As corporate parents, councillors have a collective responsibility for providing the best possible care and safeguarding for the children who are looked after by us as an authority
· All corporate parents should commit to acting as mentors, hearing the voices of looked after children and young people and to consider their needs in any aspect of council work
· Councillors should be champions of our looked after children and challenge the negative attitudes and prejudice that exists in all aspects of society
· The Public Sector Equality Duty requires public bodies, such as councils, to eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation of people with protected characteristics
Before she moved to the resolution Councillor Filmore proposed an amendment to the motion, as follows;
Westmorland & Furness Shadow Authority therefore RESOLVES:
That in preparing to become a Unitary Authority when making any decisions in relation to its policies or formulating its Council Plan that it recognises that Care Experienced people are a vulnerable group who face discrimination;
That it recognises that Councils have a duty to put the needs of vulnerable people at the heart of decision-making through co-production and collaboration;
To ask Cabinet to propose exactly how future decisions, services and policies will take into account the needs of Care Experienced people;
That future decision, services and policies made and adopted by the Council should be assessed through Equality Impact Assessments to determine the impact of changes on people with care experience, alongside those who formally share a Protected Characteristic;
That in the delivery of the Public Sector Equality Duty the Council includes care experience in the publication and review of Equality Objectives and the annual publication of information relating to people who share a Protected Characteristic in services and employment;
That when it becomes a Unitary Authority it will treat care experience as if it were a Protected Characteristic;
To formally call upon all other bodies to treat care experience as a Protected Characteristic until such time as it may be introduced by legislation;
For the Council to proactively seek out and listen to the voices of care experienced people when developing new policies based on their views’.
The proposed amendment to the motion was seconded by Councillor Drake.
Councillor Shirley then proposed a further amendment which was to remove the penultimate paragraph and he gave his reasons for proposing this. The proposed amendment was then debated and put to a vote. With 10 voting for, 1 abstention and 38 against, the amendment fell.
The Chair then opened up the debate on the amended motion, with many members speaking in support. Upon conclusion of the debate this was then put to a vote. With the majority voting for and 10 abstentions it was then RESOLVED, that the amended motion be AGREED.
Before the third motion was considered, the Chair asked members to agree to continue the meeting beyond the 3 hour limit. The proposed extension was a maximum of 1 hour.
Although this was supported by the majority in the chamber a number of members had to leave the meeting at this point.
Motion 3 Cost of Living Crisis in Westmorland and Furness
Councillor Murray moved the following motion:
This Council is deeply aware of the pressure facing residents and businesses across Westmorland and Furness due to the cost of living crisis. Households, schools, health services and businesses are faced with successive and unaffordable price rises in fuel and energy and removal of additional benefit support, with the resultant increases in costs and prices across the board. The Council notes the energy policy announced 8 September, and further notes that the ‘typical home’ will still be paying more than twice as much this winter for energy compared to last winter. In rural areas the Council notes the increases in fuel costs further impact the costs incurred by residents, farmers and all businesses in travelling to shops, health centres, markets and customers. The Council notes the impact of all these additional costs combined with real terms pay cuts and the steady removal of support for families under pressure.
The Council is grateful for the support provided by Barrow Borough Council, Eden District Council, South Lakeland District Council and Cumbria County Council has already provided for their residents and businesses and is committed to continuing and building on this support from 1 April 2023.
The Shadow Authority for Westmorland and Furness Council urges central government further to support our residents, businesses and services;
1. To take immediate action to freeze the price cap at April’s rate, stop further increases in the price of fuel, including solid fuel, LPG and fuel oil as well as electricity and gas prices, and to tax energy firm’s profits.
2. To immediately reduce VAT, including VAT on energy bills.
3. To bring back the supplement to Universal Credit.
4. To implement for immediate financial help/relief for small businesses to prevent imminent closures and job losses.
The Council calls for a local Cost of Living Emergency Summit building on the work of, for example, the Cumbria Poverty Working Group, with stakeholders, including Citizens Advice, Food Banks, Local Trades Unions, town and parish councils and Chambers of Commerce and local MPs to explore how more local help can be provided for those struggling with the cost of living.
The Council requests the Chief Executive Designate to write to the leaders of Cumbria County, Barrow Borough, Eden District and South Lakes District Councils as well as Cumberland, Copeland, Allerdale and Carlisle Councils asking them to pass similar emergency motions so we can take a united stand as Local Government to force the Government to do more to help local businesses and residents.
The motion was seconded by Councillor J Brook.
The Chair opened the meeting up to a detailed debate with all members speaking in support of the motion.
Upon conclusion of the debate a recorded vote was requested and with more than 25% of members in support this was AGREED.
|
Name |
FOR |
AGAINST |
ABSTAIN |
ABSENT |
||
|
G Archibald |
? |
|
|
|||
|
T Assouad |
? |
|
|
|||
|
C Atkinson |
|
|
? |
|||
|
R Audland |
|
|
? |
|||
|
L Baker |
? |
|
|
|||
|
J Battye |
? |
|
|
|||
|
S Bavin |
? |
|
|
|||
|
P Bell |
? |
|
|
|||
|
T Biggins |
? |
|
|
|||
|
J Boak |
? |
|
|
|||
|
M Brereton |
|
|
? |
|||
|
D Brook |
? |
|
|
|||
|
J Brook |
? |
|
|
|||
|
A Burns |
? |
|
|
|||
|
T Callister |
? |
|
|
|||
|
H Carrick |
|
? |
||||
|
F Cassisdy |
? |
|
||||
|
H Chaffey |
|
? |
||||
|
W Clark |
? |
|
||||
|
A Coles |
? |
|
||||
|
A Connell |
? |
|
||||
|
B Cooper |
|
? |
||||
|
J Cornthwaite |
|
? |
||||
|
J Derbyshire |
|
? |
||||
|
P Dew |
|
? |
||||
|
P Dixon |
|
? |
||||
|
J Drake |
? |
|
||||
|
D Edwards |
|
? |
||||
|
P Endsor |
|
? |
||||
|
S Evans |
? |
|
||||
|
M Eyles |
? |
|
||||
|
J Filmore |
? |
|
||||
|
L Hall |
|
? |
||||
|
K Hamilton |
? |
|
||||
|
M Hanley |
|
? |
||||
|
E Hennessy |
|
? |
||||
|
H Hodgson |
? |
|
||||
|
N Hughes |
|
? |
||||
|
V Hughes |
|
? |
||||
|
A Husband |
? |
|
||||
|
H Irving |
|
? |
||||
|
A Jama |
? |
|
||||
|
A Jarvis |
|
? |
||||
|
D Jones |
? |
|
||||
|
H Ladhams |
? |
|
||||
|
N McCall |
? |
|
||||
|
W McEwan |
? |
|
||||
|
I Mitchell |
|
? |
||||
|
B Morgan |
? |
|
||||
|
J Murphy |
? |
|
||||
|
J Murray |
? |
|
||||
|
S Pender |
|
? |
||||
|
N Phillips |
|
? |
||||
|
D Rathbone |
|
? |
||||
|
M Robinson |
|
? |
||||
|
M Rudhall |
? |
|
||||
|
S Sanderson |
? |
|
||||
|
M Severn |
? |
|
||||
|
B Shirley |
|
? |
||||
|
G Simpkins |
? |
|
|
|||
|
D Taylor |
|
|
? |
|||
|
V Taylor |
? |
|
|
|||
|
A Thomson |
? |
|
|
|||
|
P Thornton |
? |
|
|
|||
|
R Worthington |
|
|
? |
|||
|
|
|
|
||||
|
TOTAL |
38 |
0 |
0 |
27 |
||
|
|
|
|
||||