Agenda item

(time limit 30 minutes)

 

Motion 1

Councillor Harkness to MOVE and Councillor H Gloster to SECOND:

Addressing Mental Ill-Health in Schools

This Council notes that:

In March 2016 the Department of Education produced advice for school staff titled 'Mental Health and Behaviour in Schools'

• This guidance identified that:

1. Approximately 10% of 5-16 year-olds have a clinically diagnosed mental health disorder.
2. A further 15% of 5-16 year-olds have problems that put them at risk of developing mental health problems.  

• Recent calls from government have called for more work to be done on supporting young people in schools with mental health difficulties and also possibly includingthis as an assessed component of future inspection regimes.

Council welcomes the:

• Recent plan adopted by Oldham’s Health and Wellbeing Board to transform the borough’s Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) by employing additional staff to bring down waiting times to six weeks.
• Employment of a specialist mental health school advisor.

Council believes that an aspiration to ensure positive mental health and well-being in the students and staff of all of our academies, colleges and schools should be a high priority, and that we should support them to each have:

• an appropriate strategy in place
• a designated Mental Health Lead  to coordinate, and monitor, the delivery of that strategy
• Mental health First Aiders in each academic year group to provide first-hand immediate support
• Mental health Peer Mentors where appropriate
• Access to mindfulness and similar programmes
• Access to professional Counsellors in the secondary and tertiary sectors

The strategy of every educational establishment should focus on:

• Promoting positive mental health in all students and staff
• Training staff and peer mentors so they are aware of common mental health conditions; the signs of, and risk factors for, mental ill-health; how they might support students in crisis or otherwise in need; and the support services available to these students and their families
• Promotingself-help strategies and online resources (such as those relating to personal resilience and mindfulness) to students and staff to enable them to better manage their own mental health

Council resolves to ask the Lead Cabinet Member(s) to work with the Health and Well-being Board to determine how these aspirations can be made a reality, and provide a report back to full Council on progress made within 12 months.

 

Motion 2

Councillor Sykes to MOVE and Councillor C Gloster to SECOND:

Tackling ‘Problem’ and Underage Gambling

Council notes that:

·       The UK has the largest regulated online gambling market in the world, generating approximately £4.7 billion in gross gambling yield per annum.

·       The Gambling Commission is responsible for regulating this market.

·       There are an estimated 7 million on-line gambling accounts, with almost one in five gamblers now playing on-line.

·       This trend is moving upwards as more people possess smart phones and internet connectivity speeds continue to improve.

·       The Gambling Commission estimates that on-line gambling will generate 50% of all gross gambling yield by the end of the decade, up from 34%.

·       Most people who gamble do so for enjoyment and without developing a ‘problem’; however, according to GambleAware, there are an estimated 430,000 ‘problem’ gamblers. Typically ‘problem’ gamblers stake more money than they can afford and become addicted to the activity. Consequently they often suffer higher levels of physical and mental illness, debt problems, relationship and family breakdowns, substance misuse and criminality.

·       It is estimated that the cost to the public purse of supporting ‘problem’ gamblers could be up to £1.2 billion per annum, yet, according to GambleAware, only 2% are receiving treatment.

·       As on-line gambling is out of sight, carried out away from licensed premises where trained staff can intervene, it is anticipated that there will become more ‘problem’ gamblers and more young people gambling.

·       Despite their public health duties, Councils are not classed as ‘responsible authorities’ for addressing ‘problem’ gambling under the Gambling Act of 2005.

Council believes that:

·       With the rise of on-line gambling, further action needs to be taken by the Government, by the Gambling Commission and by the gambling industry to ensure that vulnerable persons, such as ‘problem’ gamblers and young people gambling, are provided with additional safeguards.

·       Local health authorities should be provided with adequate additional funding by central government to provide treatment to ‘problem’ gamblers

·       Local authorities should be regarded as ‘responsible authorities’ in supporting ‘problem’ gamblers and young people gambling, given their public health duties and adequate additional funding should be made available from central government for them to do so.

·       Schools, colleges and youth centres can also play a big part in educating young people about gambling.

Council welcomes:

·       The Government’s recent decision to reduce the maximum stake per play at Fixed Odds Betting Terminals to £2 in response to public concerns and those raised by politicians from all parties.

·       The Gambling Commission Review of March 2018 which recommends further safeguards for vulnerable customers gambling on-line (namely the age verification of customers, identifying customer gambling behaviour that is ‘problematic’ and interacting with them to address this, and making the terms and conditions of gambling services more transparent) and identifies issues awaiting review (particularly whether gambling on credit should be prohibited).

Council resolves to:

·       Ask the Chief Executive to write to:

• The Gambling Commission to urge it to work as quickly as possible to implement the policy recommendations identified in Section 1.18 of the March 2018 Review, and to progress the areas of further work identified in Section 1.19 of the Review, particularly that relating to gambling on credit.

• The Secretary of State for Local Government requesting the Minister recognise that local authorities should be regarded as ‘responsible authorities’ in addressing ‘problem’ or under-age gambling in their areas and provided with adequate additional government funding to enable them to do so.
• The Secretary of State for Health requesting the Minister provide adequate additional funding to local health authorities to provide treatment to ‘problem’ gamblers.
• The Secretary of State for Education requesting that education on the dangers of gambling be included within the national curriculum and that adequate government funding be provided to state schools to enable this to take place.

·       Ask the Chief Executive to send copies of these letters to our three local Members of Parliament and the Mayor of Greater Manchester and to seek their support for the Council’s position.

·       Ensure that information is displayed on the Council’s website to ‘signpost’ residents with a gambling ‘problem’ to the providers of relevant services, such as GambleAware and the National Gambling Helpline, to support them with their addiction.

·       Ensure that all schools, colleges and youth centres in the Borough are made aware of the Gambling Toolkit produced by GambleAware, which is available at http://fastforward.org.uk/gamblingtoolkit/

·       Ask the Overview and Scrutiny Board and Licensing Committee to consult with GambleAware and other relevant parties to ensure that this Council and its partner agencies are following best practice is raising public awareness of, and effectively addressing, ‘problem’ and under-age gambling in this Borough.

·       Ensure that the Council’s Gambling Policy reflects any recommendations that results from this work by the time of its renewal in January 2019.

 

 

 

 

 

Motion 3

Councillor Murphy to MOVE AND Councillor Williamson to SECOND:

Walk of Fame

This Council recognises that many persons of note in music, film, theatre and television have been born in the Oldham Borough or have adopted it as their home.

Council notes that in Hollywood, California celebrities from the entertainment industry and associated with that place are honoured in the Walk of Fame.

This Walk comprises more than 2,600 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks (pavements) of Hollywood Boulevard and surrounding streets. The stars are permanent public monuments to achievement in the entertainment industry, bearing the names of actors, musicians, directors, producers, musical and theatrical groups, fictional characters, and others. The Walk is a popular tourist destination, attracting a reported 10 million visitors each year.

Council resolves to:

·       Explore the practicalities of establishing an Oldham Walk of Fame in the town centre Entertainment Quarter to honour our own local stars

·       Identify external sources of funding that would support its commissioning and completion.

 

 

 

Motion 1 – Addressing Mental Ill-Health in Schools

 

Councillor Harkness MOVED and Councillor H. Gloster SECONDED the following motion:

 

“This Council notes that:

In March 2016 the Department of Education provided advice for school staff titled ‘Mental Health and Behaviour in Schools’

·         This guidance identified that:

1.    Approximately 10% of 5 – 16 year-olds have a clinically diagnosed mental health disorder.

2.    A further 15% of 5 – 16 year-olds have problems that put them at risk of developing mental health problems.

·         Recent calls from government have called for more work to be done on supporting young people in schools with mental health difficulties and also possibly including this as an assessed component of future inspection regimes.

Council welcomes the:

·         Recent plans adopted by Oldham’s Health and Wellbeing Board to transform the borough’s Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) by employing additional staff to bring down waiting times to six weeks.

·         Employment of a specialist mental health advisor.

Council believes that an aspiration to ensure positive mental health and well-being in the students and staff of all of our academies, colleges and schools should be a high priority, and that we should support them to each have:

·         An appropriate strategy in place

·         A designated Mental Health Lead to coordinate, and monitor, the delivery of that strategy

·         Mental health First Aiders in each academic year to provide first-hand immediate support

·         Mental health Peer Mentors where appropriate

·         Access to mindfulness and similar programmes

·         Access to professional Counsellors in the secondary and tertiary sectors

The strategy of every educational establishment should focus on:

·         Promoting positive mental health in all students and staff

·         Training staff and peer mentors so they are aware of common mental health conditions; the signs of, and risks factors for, mental ill-health; how they might support students in crisis or otherwise in need; and the support services available to these students and their families

·         Promoting self-help strategies and on-line resources (such as those relating to personal resilience and mindfulness) to students and staff to enable them to better manage their own mental health

Council resolves to ask the Lead Cabinet Member(s) to work with the Health and Wellbeing Board to determine how these aspirations can be made a reality, and provide a report back to full Council on progress made within 12 months.

 

 

AMENDMENT

 

Councillor S. Bashforth MOVED and Councillor Roberts SECONDED the following Amendment:

 

“To add a third  bullet point after ‘Council welcomes the’

·                     The production of the toolkit ‘Supporting young minds through tough times – the whole school and college approach to emotional health and well being in Oldham’

At the end of paragraph beginning ‘Council believes’ delete the words

‘that we should support them to each have:’

and add

‘acknowledges the progress being made towards implementing the toolkit including a comprehensive training programme for school and college staff and governors to deliver’

Following the sixth bullet point in the sentence in the same section in the sentence beginning ‘The strategy of’ delete the words strategy of and replace with ‘toolkit enables’ and later in the sentence delete ‘should’ and replace with ‘to’

In the final paragraph after ‘Council’ insert welcomes the commitment of its staff, school and colleges in implementing the strategies and actions  in ‘Supporting young minds through tough times’ to provide the best possible support to children, young people and staff across Oldham and

Delete ‘to work with the Health and Well-being Board to determine how these aspirations can be made a reality,’

 

The amended motion would then read:

 

“This Council notes that:

In March 2016 the Department of Education produced advice for school staff titled 'Mental Health and Behaviour in Schools'

·                     This guidance identified that:

1.            Approximately 10% of 5-16 year-olds have a clinically diagnosed mental health disorder.

2.            A further 15% of 5-16 year-olds have problems that put them at risk of developing mental health problems.  

·                     Recent calls from government have called for more work to be done on supporting young people in schools with mental health difficulties and also possibly includingthis as an assessed component of future inspection regimes.

Council welcomes the:

·                     Recent plan adopted by Oldham’s Health and Wellbeing Board to transform the borough’s Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) by employing additional staff to bring down waiting times to six weeks.

·                     Employment of a specialist mental health school advisor.

·                     The production of the toolkit ‘Supporting young minds through tough times – the whole school and college approach to emotional health and well being in Oldham

Council believes that an aspiration to ensure positive mental health and well-being in the students and staff of all of our academies, colleges and schools should be a high priority, and acknowledges the progress being made towards implementing the toolkit including a comprehensive training programme for school and college staff and governors to deliver

·                     an appropriate strategy in place

·                     a designated Mental Health Lead  to coordinate, and monitor, the delivery of that strategy

·                     Mental health First Aiders in each academic year group to provide first-hand immediate support

·                     Mental health Peer Mentors where appropriate

·                     Access to mindfulness and similar programmes

·                     Access to professional Counsellors in the secondary and tertiary sectors

The  toolkit enables every educational establishment to focus on:

·                     Promoting positive mental health in all students and staff

·                  Training staff and peer mentors so they are aware of common mental health conditions; the signs of, and risk factors for, mental ill-health; how they might support students in crisis or otherwise in need; and the support services available to these students and their families

·                  Promotingself-help strategies and online resources (such as those relating to personal resilience and mindfulness) to students and staff to enable them to better manage their own mental health

Council welcomes the commitment of its staff, school and colleges in implementing the strategies and actions  in ‘Supporting young minds through tough times’ to provide the best possible support to children, young people and staff across Oldham and resolves to ask the Lead Cabinet Member(s) provide a report back to full Council on progress made within 12 months.”

 

          Councillor Chauhan spoke in support of the Amendment.

Councillor Harkness exercised his right of reply. 

 

A vote was then taken on the AMENDMENT.

 

On being put to the vote, the AMENDMENT was CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY/.

Councillor Heffernan spoke on the SUBSTANTIVE Motion.

 

Councillor Harkness exercised his right of reply.

 

On being put to the vote, the SUBSTANTIVE VOTE was CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

 

RESOLVED that the Lead Cabinet Members provide a report back to full Council on progress made within 12 months.

NOTE:  Councillor Stretton left the meeting during this item.

 

Motion 2 – Tackling ‘Problem’ and Underage Gambling

 

Councillor Sykes MOVED and Councillor Gloster SECONDED the following Motion:

 

“Council notes that:

·      The UK has the largest regulated online gambling market in the world, generating approximately £4.7 billion in gross gambling yield per annum.

·      The Gambling Commission is responsible for regulating this market.

·      There are an estimated 7 million on-line gambling accounts, with almost one in five gamblers now playing on-line.

·      This trend is moving upwards as more people possess smart phones and internet connectivity speeds continue to improve.

·      The Gambling Commission estimates that on-line gambling will generate 50% of all gross gambling yield by the end of the decade, up from 34%.

·      Most people who gamble do so for enjoyment and without developing a ‘problem’; however, according to GambleAware, there are an estimated 430,000 ‘problem’ gamblers. Typically ‘problem’ gamblers stake more money than they can afford and become addicted to the activity. Consequently they often suffer higher levels of physical and mental illness, debt problems, relationship and family breakdowns, substance misuse and criminality.

·      It is estimated that the cost to the public purse of supporting ‘problem’ gamblers could be up to £1.2 billion per annum, yet, according to GambleAware, only 2% are receiving treatment.

·      As on-line gambling is out of sight, carried out away from licensed premises where trained staff can intervene, it is anticipated that there will become more ‘problem’ gamblers and more young people gambling.

·      Despite their public health duties, Councils are not classed as ‘responsible authorities’ for addressing ‘problem’ gambling under the Gambling Act of 2005.

Council believes that:

·      With the rise of on-line gambling, further action needs to be taken by the Government, by the Gambling Commission and by the gambling industry to ensure that vulnerable persons, such as ‘problem’ gamblers and young people gambling, are provided with additional safeguards.

·      Local health authorities should be provided with adequate additional funding by central government to provide treatment to ‘problem’ gamblers

·      Local authorities should be regarded as ‘responsible authorities’ in supporting ‘problem’ gamblers and young people gambling, given their public health duties and adequate additional funding should be made available from central government for them to do so.

·      Schools, colleges and youth centres can also play a big part in educating young people about gambling.

Council welcomes:

·      The Government’s recent decision to reduce the maximum stake per play at Fixed Odds Betting Terminals to £2 in response to public concerns and those raised by politicians from all parties.

·      The Gambling Commission Review of March 2018 which recommends further safeguards for vulnerable customers gambling on-line (namely the age verification of customers, identifying customer gambling behaviour that is ‘problematic’ and interacting with them to address this, and making the terms and conditions of gambling services more transparent) and identifies issues awaiting review (particularly whether gambling on credit should be prohibited).

Council resolves to:

·      Ask the Chief Executive to write to:

o      The Gambling Commission to urge it to work as quickly as possible to implement the policy recommendations identified in Section 1.18 of the March 2018 Review, and to progress the areas of further work identified in Section 1.19 of the Review, particularly that relating to gambling on credit.

o      The Secretary of State for Local Government requesting the Minister recognise that local authorities should be regarded as ‘responsible authorities’ in addressing ‘problem’ or under-age gambling in their areas and provided with adequate additional government funding to enable them to do so.

o      The Secretary of State for Health requesting the Minister provide adequate additional funding to local health authorities to provide treatment to ‘problem’ gamblers.

o      The Secretary of State for Education requesting that education on the dangers of gambling be included within the national curriculum and that adequate government funding be provided to state schools to enable this to take place.

·         Ask the Chief Executive to send copies of these letters to our three local Members of Parliament and the Mayor of Greater Manchester and to seek their support for the Council’s position.

·         Ensure that information is displayed on the Council’s website to ‘signpost’ residents with a gambling ‘problem’ to the providers of relevant services, such as GambleAware and the National Gambling Helpline, to support them with their addiction.

 

·      Ensure that all schools, colleges and youth centres in the Borough are made aware of the Gambling Toolkit produced by GambleAware, which is available at http://fastforward.org.uk/gamblingtoolkit/

 

·      Ask the Overview and Scrutiny Board and Licensing Committee to consult with GambleAware and other relevant parties to ensure that this Council and its partner agencies are following best practice is raising public awareness of, and effectively addressing, ‘problem’ and under-age gambling in this Borough.

 

·      Ensure that the Council’s Gambling Policy reflects any recommendations that results from this work by the time of its renewal in January 2019.”

 

Councillor Fielding MOVED and Councillor Jabbar SECONDED that the motion be put to the vote. 

 

On being put to the vote, the MOTION was CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

 

RESOLVED that:

 

1.         The Chief Executive be asked to write to:

·                  The Gambling Commission to urge it to work as quickly as possible to implement the policy recommendations identified in Section 1.18 of the March 2018 Review, and to progress the areas of further work identified in Section 1.19 of the Review, particularly that relating to gambling on credit.

·                  The Secretary of State for Local Government requesting the Minister recognise that local authorities should be regarded as ‘responsible authorities’ in addressing ‘problem’ or under-age gambling in their areas and provided with adequate additional government funding to enable them to do so.

·                  The Secretary of State for Health requesting the Minister provide adequate additional funding to local health authorities to provide treatment to ‘problem’ gamblers.

·                  The Secretary of State for Education requesting that education on the dangers of gambling be included within the national curriculum and that adequate government funding be provided to state schools to enable this to take place.

2.         The Chief Executive be asked to send copies of these letters to our three local Members of Parliament and the Mayor of Greater Manchester and to seek their support for the Council’s position.

3.          Information is displayed on the Council’s website to ‘signpost’ residents with a gambling ‘problem’ to the providers of relevant services, such as GambleAware and the National Gambling Helpline, to support them with their addiction.

4.          Ensure that all schools, colleges and youth centres in the Borough were made aware of the Gambling Toolkit produced by GambleAware, which is available at http://fastforward.org.uk/gamblingtoolkit/

 

5.          The Overview and Scrutiny Board and Licensing Committee be asked to consult with GambleAware and other relevant parties to ensure that this Council and its partner agencies are following best practice is raising public awareness of, and effectively addressing, ‘problem’ and under-age gambling in this Borough.

6.            Ensure that the Council’s Gambling Policy reflected any recommendations that results from this work by the time of its renewal in January 2019.

 

Motion 3 – Walk of Fame

 

The Mayor informed the meeting that the Chief Executive had received notice that Councillor Williamson would be unable to move the motion and nominated Councillor Heffernan to take her place.

 

Councillor Murphy MOVED and Councillor Heffernan SECONDED the following MOTION:

 

“This Council recognises that many persons of note in music, film, theatre and television have been born in the Oldham Borough or have adopted it as their home.

Council notes that in Hollywood, California celebrities from the entertainment industry and associated with that place are honoured in the Walk of Fame.

This Walk comprises more than 2,600 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks (pavements) of Hollywood Boulevard and surrounding streets. The stars are permanent public monuments to achievement in the entertainment industry, bearing the names of actors, musicians, directors, producers, musical and theatrical groups, fictional characters, and others. The Walk is a popular tourist destination, attracting a reported 10 million visitors each year.

Council resolves to:

·         Explore the practicalities of establishing an Oldham Walk of Fame in the town centre Entertainment Quarter to honour our own local stars

·         Identify external sources of funding that would support its commissioning and completion.”

Councillor Chauhan spoke against the Motion.

 

Councillor Murphy exercised his right of reply.

 

On being put to the vote, 6 votes were cast in FAVOUR of the MOTION and 41 votes were cast AGAINST with 0 ABSTENTIONS.  The MOTION was therefore LOST.