(time limit 30 minutes)
Motion 1
Councillor Akhtar to MOVE and Councillor Chadderton to SECOND:
This Council notes with great concern the announcement made by this Liberal Democrat/Tory Government of a further 25% reduction in the budget for adult skills for 2015/16.
This adult budget is the money which funds adults returning to education who have not achieved through the school system. It includes money which we use to fund 19 year olds who have not completed their Level 2 or Level 3 courses by the age of 18 (either because of their low attainment at 16, or other factors in their lives).
It also funds adults of any age coming back into education later in life, and it supports English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) which plays such an important role in community cohesion.
The serious negative impact of this cut on Oldham should not be underestimated.
Currently, 60% of Oldham resident adults hold qualifications no higher than Level 2. As high skilled jobs in the City Region demand a skill level of 4-6, and it is estimated that 50% of future jobs will require this level of skills.
Indeed, many of those 60% of adults, who did not achieve well at school, will simply be stuck in a low skilled, low paid trap - the consequences of these cuts will greatly influence the future of our town.
The Council resolves:
· To instruct to the Chief Executive to write to the appropriate government minister immediately after the General Election upon the forming of the next government, expressing the councils concern in regards to the future of adult skills funding.
· To ask our three Members of Parliament after the General Election to lobby the appropriate Secretary of State in regards to adult skills and its future funding, emphasising the specific concerns raised in regards to Oldham.
Motion 2
Councillor Jabbar to MOVE and Councillor Wrigglesworth to SECOND:
This Council recognises the wholly unequal and unfair way in which this Liberal Democrat/Tory Government has directly cut its funding to local authorities and towns such as Oldham. While Oldham has lost £176 Million in government support since 2009 with another £30 Million more to hit next year (2016/17) other councils such as Tewkesbury and Surrey have seen over 3% increases this year in their spending power.
This Council notes with concern comments made by the Chair of the Public Accounts Committee in regards to cuts to local authority funding, stating. “Councils with the greatest spending needs – the most deprived authorities – have been receiving the largest reductions. Further cuts could not just undermine the entire viability of most optional services, but might threaten some statutory services in these areas.”
This Council calls for a fairer local government settlement from central government and recognises a recent Sigoma ‘Protecting Vital Services’ Report in which abhorrently unfair local and regional inequalities are presented. Furthermore this report and this Council stress the need for government to take a fresh look at local government finance going forward, especially given our increasing roles.
The Council resolves:
· To instruct the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government immediately after the General Election and the forming of the government, representing this Council’s concern and alarm at the inequality of council funding across the country, negatively effecting towns such as Oldham.
· To write to Oldham’s 3 Members of Parliament asking them to make representations to the relevant ministers regarding the unfair and unbalanced local government funding model employed by this Liberal Democrat/Tory Government.
Minutes:
Motion 1
Councillor Akhtar MOVED and Councillor Chadderton SECONDED
“This Council notes with great concern the announcement made by this Liberal Democrat/Tory Government of a further 25% reduction in the budget for adult skills for 2015/16.
This adult budget is the money which funds adults returning to education who have not achieved through the school system. It includes money which we use to fund 19 year olds who have not completed their Level 2 or Level 3 courses by the age of 18 (either because of their low attainment at 16, or other factors in their lives).
It also funds adults of any age coming back into education later in life, and it supports English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) which plays such an important role in community cohesion.
The serious negative impact of this cut on Oldham should not be underestimated.
Currently, 60% of Oldham resident adults hold qualifications no higher than Level 2. As high skilled jobs in the City Region demand a skill level of 4-6, and it is estimated that 50% of future jobs will require this level of skills.
Indeed, many of those 60% of adults, who did not achieve well at school, will simply be stuck in a low skilled, low paid trap - the consequences of these cuts will greatly influence the future of our town.
The Council resolves:
· To instruct to the Chief Executive to write to the appropriate government minister immediately after the General Election upon the forming of the next government, expressing the councils concern in regards to the future of adult skills funding.
· To ask our three Members of Parliament after the General Election to lobby the appropriate Secretary of State in regards to adult skills and its future funding, emphasising the specific concerns raised in regards to Oldham.”
AMENDMENT
Councillor Harkness MOVED and Councillor Williams SECONDED
“This Council notes:
- with great concern the announcement made by the Coalition Government of a further 25% reduction in the budget for adult skills for 2015/16.
This adult budget is the money which funds adults returning to education who have not achieved through the school system. It includes money which we use to fund 19 year olds who have not completed their Level 2 or Level 3 courses by the age of 18 (either because of their low attainment at 16, or other factors in their lives).
It also funds adults of any age coming back into education later in life, and it supports English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) which plays such an important role in community cohesion.
The serious negative impact of this cut on Oldham should not be underestimated.
Currently, 60% of Oldham resident adults hold qualifications no higher than Level 2. As high skilled jobs in the City Region demand a skill level of 4-6, and it is estimated that 50% of future jobs will require this level of skills.
Indeed, many of those 60% of adults, who did not achieve well at school, will simply be stuck in a low skilled, low paid trap - the consequences of these cuts will greatly influence the future of our town.
- that in addition to Government making a commitment to education from 'cradle to college', there needs to be a long-term financial settlement for post 18 education, including funding for adults seeking to return to a learning environment to re-skill for a new career later in life.
- that compared to the provisions for higher education and apprenticeships for the 18-24 age group post-25 adult education is poorly treated while this is likely to become over time an increasingly important part of the educational system of the country.
- that the devolution of the £2 billion annual skills budget by the Coalition Government to a new Greater Manchester authority, led by an elected Mayor, provides a unique opportunity to invest to address skills shortages amongst the current and future workforce of the City Region.
- that the strategy and practical application of the devolved budget will fall under the remit of a revitalised Greater Manchester Skills and Employment Partnership.
- that it is therefore imperative that Oldham Council be fully involved in the work of the Partnership at the highest level.
- it would be useful for regular reports on the work of the Partnership to be tabled on Council agendas for member scrutiny.
The Council resolves:
- To instruct to the Chief Executive to write to the appropriate government minister immediately after the General Election upon the forming of the next government, expressing the councils concern in regards to the future of adult skills funding and to request that a cross-party Commission be established to secure a long-term funding settlement for the public funding of re-skilling and lifelong learning.
- To ask our three Members of Parliament after the General Election to lobby the appropriate Secretary of State in regards to adult skills and its future funding, emphasising the specific concerns raised in regards to Oldham and to advocate the establishment of the cross-party commission.
- To ask the relevant Cabinet Member, in consultation with the appropriate senior officers, to ensure the Oldham Council is represented at the highest level in the workings of the Greater Manchester Skills and Employment Partnership and to table regular reports on the work of the Partnership on Council agendas for member scrutiny.”
A vote was then taken on the AMENDMENT.
Councillor Akhtar exercised his right of reply.
Councillor Harkness exercised his right of reply.
On being put to the VOTE, NINE VOTES were cast IN FAVOUR of the AMENDMENT with FORTY EIGHT VOTES cast AGAINST and NO ABSTENTIONS. The AMENDMENT was therefore LOST.
Councillor Hudson spoke on the motion
Councillor Mushtaq spoke in support of the motion
Councillor Heffernan spoke on the motion
Councillor Rehman spoke in support of the motion
Councillor McCann spoke on the motion
Right of reply – Councillor Akhtar did not exercise his right of reply.
A vote was then taken on the ORIGINAL MOTION.
On being put to the VOTE, FIFTY FIVE VOTES were cast IN FAVOUR of the MOTION with TWO VOTES cast AGAINST and NO ABSTENTIONS. The MOTION was therefore CARRIED.
RESOLVED that:
1. The Chief Executive be instructed to write to the appropriate government minister immediately after the General Election upon the forming of the next government, expressing the councils concern in regards to the future of adult skills funding.
2. The three Members of Parliament after the general election be asked to lobby the appropriate Secretary of State in regards to adult skills and its future funding, emphasising the specific concerns raised in regards to Oldham.
Motion 2
Councillor Jabbar MOVED and Councillor Wrigglesworth SECONDED
This Council recognises the wholly unequal and unfair way in which this Liberal Democrat/Tory Government has directly cut its funding to local authorities and towns such as Oldham. While Oldham has lost £176 Million in government support since 2009 with another £30 Million more to hit next year (2016/17) other councils such as Tewkesbury and Surrey have seen over 3% increases this year in their spending power.
This Council notes with concern comments made by the Chair of the Public Accounts Committee in regards to cuts to local authority funding, stating. “Councils with the greatest spending needs – the most deprived authorities – have been receiving the largest reductions. Further cuts could not just undermine the entire viability of most optional services, but might threaten some statutory services in these areas.”
This Council calls for a fairer local government settlement from central government and recognises a recent Sigoma ‘Protecting Vital Services’ Report in which abhorrently unfair local and regional inequalities are presented. Furthermore this report and this Council stress the need for government to take a fresh look at local government finance going forward, especially given our increasing roles.
The Council resolves:
AMENDMENT
Councillor McCann MOVED and Councillor Williamson SECONDED the amendment.
“Delete in Lines 1 to 3 the wording from: “the wholly” to “Oldham”
Insert in Line 1 after “This Council recognises” new wording and bullet points: as follows:
“- that cuts in public spending by the Coalition Government have been necessary to address the massive debt left to this country by the last Labour Government as a result of their woeful mismanagement of the nation's finances.
- however the cuts to central government grants to local authorities have been excessive and unfair when compared to those made to the budgets of central government departments.
- that the cuts to local authorities in the north of England have been disportionate to many of those in the south”.
Follow with original wording in a new paragraph: “While Oldham has lost £176 Million in government support since 2009 with another £30 Million more to hit next year, other councils such as Tewkesbury and Surrey have seen over 3% increases this year in their spending power”.
Insert in original Line 7 after “This Council notes with concern” a new bullet point.
Insert before “comments” the word “personal” and before “Chair” the word “Labour”.
Insert a further new bullet point after the end of this paragraph as follows:
“- that the Labour Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls MP cannot commit himself to reversing any of the cuts in central Government funding to local authorities should he come into office following the general election in May”.
Insert new wording after this:
“However Council does warmly welcome the Coalition Government's 'devo - Manc' proposals that:
- A new authority of the leaders of the 10 Greater Manchester local authories unified under an elected Mayor will be able to access a devolved budget of billions per annum to support the delivery of services and initiatives in the City Region.
This devolved budget will greatly assist the 10 Greater Manchester local authorities in addressing the deficiencies in grant funding made available from central Government
- The new authority will also now be able to manage its own £6 billion annual health budget enabling the 10 local authorities in Greater Manchester to collectively provide more responsive local health services and to better address health inequalities
- The new Greater Manchester authority will be able to retain 100% of new business rates providing a real spur for the authority to support the creation of new businesses in the City Region”.
Delete the original wording in Lines 14-18 and instead insert the following:
“This Council calls for:
- A fairer local government settlement from central government that addresses unfair local and regional inequalities”.
- The new Government to take a fresh look at local government finance going
forward, especially given our increasing roles
- The new Government to consider the introduction of additional property bands for the setting of Council Tax, as proposed by the Liberal Democrats.
In original Line 26 after “funding model” delete “employed by this Liberal Democrat/Tory Government” and insert: “and to introduce additional property bands for the setting of Council Tax”.
MOTION AS AMENDED TO READ:
This Council recognises:
- that cuts in public spending by the Coalition Government have been necessary to address the massive debt left to this country by the last Labour Government as a result of their woeful mismanagement of the nation's finances.
- however the cuts to central government grants to local authorities have been excessive and unfair when compared to those made to the budgets of central government departments.
- that the cuts to local authorities in the north of England have been disportionate to many of those in the south.
While Oldham has lost £176 Million in government support since 2009 with another £30 Million more to hit next year, other councils such as Tewkesbury and Surrey have seen over 3% increases this year in their spending power.
This Council notes with concern:
- the personal comments made by the Labour Chair of the Public Accounts Committee in regards to cuts to local authority funding, stating. “Councils with the greatest spending needs – the most deprived authorities – have been receiving the largest reductions. Further cuts could not just undermine the entire viability of most optional services, but might threaten some statutory services in these areas.”
- that the Labour Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls MP cannot commit himself to reversing any of the cuts in central Government funding to local authorities should he come into office following the general election in May.
However Council does warmly welcome the Coalition Government's 'devo-Manc' proposals that:
- A new authority of the leaders of the 10 Greater Manchester local authories unified under an elected Mayor will be able to access a devolved budget of billions per annum to support the delivery of services and initiatives in the City Region.
This devolved budget will greatly assist the 10 Greater Manchester local authorities in addressing the deficiencies in grant funding made available from central Government
- The new authority will also now be able to manage its own £6 billion annual health budget enabling the 10 local authorities in Greater Manchester to collectively provide more responsive local health services and to better address health inequalities
- The new Greater Manchester authority will be able to retain 100% of new business rates providing a real spur for the authority to support the creation of new businesses in the City Region.
This Council still however calls for:
- a fairer local government settlement from central government that addresses unfair local and regional inequalities.
- government to take a fresh look at local government finance going forward, particularly the introduction of additional property bands for the setting of Council Tax, as proposed by the Liberal Democrats.
The Council resolves:
- To instruct the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government immediately after the General Election and the forming of the government, representing this Council’s concern and alarm at the inequality of council funding across the country, negatively effecting towns such as Oldham.
- To write to Oldham’s 3 Members of Parliament asking them to make representations to the relevant ministers regarding the unfair and unbalanced local government funding model and to introduce additional property bands for the setting of Council Tax.
A vote was then taken on the AMENDMENT.
On being put to the VOTE, ELEVEN VOTES were cast IN FAVOUR of the AMENDMENT with FORTY SIX VOTES cast AGAINST and NO ABSTENTIONS. The AMENDMENT was therefore LOST.
Councillor Jabbar did not exercise his right of reply.
A vote was then taken on the ORIGINAL MOTION.
On being put to the VOTE, FIFTY FIVE VOTES were cast IN FAVOUR of the MOTION with TWO VOTES cast AGAINST and NO ABSTENTIONS. The MOTION was therefore CARRIED.
RESOLVED that:
1. The Chief Executive be instructed to write to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government immediately after the General Election and forming the government, representing this Council’s concern and alarm at the inequality of council funding across the country, negatively effecting towns such as Oldham.
2. The Chief Executive be instructed to write to Oldham’s 3 Members of Parliament asking them to make representations to relevant ministers regarding the unfair and unbalanced local government funding model employed by this Liberal Democrat/Tory Government.