Agenda item

Notice of Opposition Business

(time limit 30 minutes)

 

Motion 1

Improving Public Safety in Oldham’s Night time Economy

Councillor H Gloster to MOVE and Councillor Sykes to SECOND:

Council notes that:

·         In Bradford and Manchester local businesses and community groups have joined with local colleges and universities to establish Student Safe Spots / Zones; these are premises self-identifying as havens for students who are being followed, or are feeling vulnerable or unwell.

Staff at these venues offer assistance in booking taxis home; in contacting the emergency services if their assistance is required; or offer a temporary safe haven until a problem has passed. Venues signed up to the scheme receive a sticker to place prominently to advertise their involvement and a list and map of venues is published on line for students to access.

·           In Bradford, there also exists an agreement with local taxi businesses that students without money but presenting with a valid student ID badge will be offered carriage and the bill is then sent to the student for payment, via the relevant college and university authorities.

·      The ‘Ask for Angela’ scheme is operated nationwide in many pubs and clubs.

If a member of the public who feels vulnerable or threatened ‘Asks for Angela’ of the on-premises staff they know to take that person to a safer location and offer them assistance, such as calling a taxi, contacting friends or in certain circumstances ringing the police. Premises promoting the scheme display posters, which are usually placed in the toilets of those establishments to be discreet.

Council believes that establishing such schemes in our borough would help safeguard vulnerable people in our Borough, especially students and women enjoying our night time economy, and would complement the excellent work being done by the Oldham Street Angels.

Council therefore resolves to ask the Overview and Scrutiny Board to examine in conjunction with relevant partners, including the Oldham College, Oldham Sixth Form College, University Campus Oldham, schools with post-16 provision, licensed premises and public and private hire taxi businesses, the practicality of establishing such schemes as soon as possible in our town and district centres.

 

Motion 2

Changes to the Planning System to Fast-track Fracking:

Councillor Murphy top MOVE and Councillor Heffernan to SECOND:

Council notes:

·         With concern that the government is proposing two major changes to the planning system as it applies to shale gas extraction (or fracking) by:

-       Granting automatic planning permission for exploratory drilling prior to fracking, using ‘permitted development’ rules. This would remove the need for companies to submit a planning application and so also reduce local democratic scrutiny.

-       Including shale gas production projects in the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects regime. This would take decision-making powers on shale gas production away from local councils and hand it to central government.

·         That wherever fracking has been proposed, it has been opposed by the public and local authorities because of real fears about noise, traffic, air pollution, the impact on the countryside, and the effects on climate change.

·         That the Cardiff Business School has produced a report that reveals that to replace 50% of the UK’s projected future gas imports for 2021-2035 would in the most likely scenario require around 6100 fracking wells to be built on well pads that could cover the area of 4900 football pitches. This would require the equivalent of drilling and fracking one well every day for fifteen years.

Council believes that:

·         The Government’s proposals completely contradict the principles of localism and set a dangerous precedent for planning authorities in denying them the right to determine certain types of planning applications locally and in denying members of the public and communities their say during the planning process.

·         ‘Permitted Development’ – the category of planning that the government wants to move shale gas exploration drilling into – which was designed for developments with a low environmental impact and is an inappropriate category for drilling which has such wide-reaching implications for local communities and climate change.

·         Bringing fracking applications under the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects regime will be harmful to local communities.

·          Local authorities and local people are best placed to continue to make decisions throughout the 

     planning process on matters that affect their locality, including fracking.

 

Council therefore resolves to ask the Chief Executive to:

·         Write to the relevant government ministers outlining this Council’s objections to the proposed changes and requesting that fracking applications, or indeed on any other planning matter relating to our locality and its people, be determined locally.

·         Copy in our three local Members of Parliament and the Mayor of Greater Manchester and ask for their support on this issue.

 

 

Motion 3

Sustainable Public Health Funding

Councillor C Gloster to MOVE and Councillor Harkness to SECOND:

Council notes that:

·         Around four in ten cancers are preventable, largely through avoidable risk factors, such as stopping smoking, keeping a healthy weight and cutting back on alcohol.

Smoking accounts for 80,000 early deaths every year and remains the largest preventable cause of cancer in the world. Additionally, obesity and alcohol account for 30,000 and 7,000 early deaths each year respectively. All three increase the risk of: cancer, diabetes, lung and heart conditions, poor mental health and create a subsequent burden on health and social care.

·         The public health grant funds vital services and functions largely delivered by local authorities to prevent ill health and reduce the burden placed upon the NHS and local authorities; for example, social care for smoking-related illnesses is estimated to cost local authorities £760 million per annum.

·         In 2018/19 and 2019/20 every local authority will have less to spend on public health than the year before.

·         The Government is looking to phase out the Public Health Grant by 2020/21 and to replace this with funding via business rates retention.

Council believes that:

·         The impact of cuts to public health on our communities is becoming difficult to ignore.

·         It is vital that local authorities have enough funding to deliver the functions and services they need to provide. Deprived areas, like Oldham, suffer the worst health outcomes, so it is also vital that areas with the greatest need receive sufficient funding to meet their local challenges.

·         Taking funds away from prevention is a false economy.Without proper investment in public health services, people suffer, demand on local health services increases and the economy suffers. Poor public health costs local businesses heavily through sick days and lost productivity.

·         We must restore public health funding or our health and care system will remain locked in a ‘treatment’ approach, which is neither economically viable nor protects the health of residents.

 

Council resolves to:

·         Continue to support and fund public health initiatives to the best of our abilities - to prevent ill-health, reduce inequalities and support a health and social care system that is fit for the future.

·         Ask the Chief Executive to write to:

o   Cancer Research UK setting out this Council’s support for their call for increased and sustainable public health funding.

o   The Secretary of State for Health calling on the Government to deliver increased investment in public health and to support a sustainable health and social care system by taking a ‘prevention first’ approach.

Minutes:

Motion 1 – Improving Public Safety in Oldham’s Night time Economy

 

Councillor H. Gloster MOVED and Councillor Sykes SECONDED the following MOTION:

 

“Council notes that:

·         In Bradford and Manchester local businesses and community groups have joined with local colleges and universities to establish Student Safe Spots/Zones; these are premises self-identifying as havens for students who are being followed,or are feeling vulnerable and unwell.

Staff at these venues offer assistance in booking taxis home; in contacting the emergency services if their assistance is required; or offer a temporary safe haven until a problem has passed.  Venues signed up to the scheme receive a sticker to place prominently to advertise their involvement  and a list and map of venues is published on line for students to access.

·         In Bradford, there also exists an agreement with local taxi businesses that students without money but presenting with a valid student ID badge will be offered carriage and the bill is then sent to the student for payment, via the relevant college and university authorities.

·         The ‘Ask for Angela’ scheme is operated nationwide in many pubs and clubs.  If a member of the public who feels vulnerable and threatened ‘Asks for Angela’ of the on-premises staff, they know to take that person to a safer location and offer them assistance, such as calling a taxi, contacting friends or in certain circumstances ringing the police.  Premises promoting the scheme display posters, which are usually placed in the toilets of those establishments to be discreet.

Council believes that establishing such schemes in our borough would help safeguard vulnerable people in our Borough, especially students and women enjoying our night time economy, and would complement the excellent work being done by the Oldham Street Angels.

Council therefore resolves to ask the Overview and Scrutiny Board to examine in conjunction with relevant partners, including the Oldham College, Oldham Sixth Form College, University Campus Oldham, schools with post-16 provision, licensed premises and public and private hire taxi businesses, the practicality of establishing such schemes as soon as possible in our town and district centres.”

 

Councillor Iqbal spoke in support of the Motion.

Councillor Shah spoke in support of the Motion.

Councillor Chauhan spoke in support of the Motion.

Councillor Shuttleworth spoke in support of the Motion.

Councillor McLaren spoke in support of the Motion.

Councillor Williamson spoke in support of the Motion.

 

Members recorded their thanks for the work of the Street Angels.

 

Councillor H. Gloster did not exercise her right of reply.

 

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

 

RESOLVED that the Overview and Scrutiny Board be asked to examine in conjunction with relevant partners, including the Oldham College, Oldham Sixth Form College, University Campus Oldham, schools with post-16 provision, licensed premises and public and private hire taxi businesses, the practicality of establishing such schemes as soon as possible in our town and district centres.

 

Motion 2 – Changes to the Planning System to Fast-track Fracking:

 

Councillor Murphy MOVED and Councillor Heffernan SECONDED the following motion:

 

“Council notes:

·         With concern that the government is proposing two major changes to the planning system as it applies to shale gas extraction (or fracking) by:

-       Granting automatic planning permission for exploratory drilling prior to fracking, using ‘permitted’ development rules.  This would remove the need for companies to submit a planning application and so also reduce local democratic scrutiny.

-       Including shale gas production projects in the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects regime.  This would take decision-making powers on shale gas production away from local councils and hand it to central government.

-       That wherever fracking has been proposed, it has been opposed by the public and local authorities because of the real fears about noise, traffic, air pollution, the impact on the countryside, and the effects on climate change.

-       That the Cardiff Business School has produced a report that reveals that to replace 50% of the UK’s projected future gas imports for 2021 – 2035 would in the most likely scenario require around 6100 fracking wells to be built on well pads that could cover the area of 4900 football pitches.  This would require the equivalent of drilling and fracking one well every day for fifteen years.

Council believes that:

·         The Government’s proposals completely contradict the principles of localism and set a dangerous precedent for planning authorities in denying them the right to determine certain types of planning applications locally and in denying members of the public and communities their say during the planning process.

·         ‘Permitted Development’ – the category of planning that the government wants to move shale gas exploration drilling into – which was designed for developments with a low environmental impact and is an inappropriate category for drilling which has such wide-reaching implications for local communities and climate change.

·         Bringing fracking applications under the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects regime will be harmful to local communities.

·         Local authorities and local people are best placed to continue to make decisions throughout the planning process on matters that affect their locality, including fracking.

Council therefore resolves to ask the Chief Executive to:

·         Write to the relevant government ministers outlining this Council’s objections to the proposed changes and requesting that fracking applications, or indeed on any other planning matter relating to our locality and its people, be determined locally.

·         Copy in our three local Members of Parliament and the Mayor of Greater Manchester and ask for their support on this issue.”

 

Councillor Roberts spoke in support of the Motion.

Councillor S. Bashforth spoke in support of the Motion.

Councillor Sykes spoke in support of the Motion.

 

Councillor Murphy exercised his right of reply.

 

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

 

RESOLVED that the Chief Executive be asked to:

 

1.         Write to the relevant government ministers outlining this Council’s objections to the proposed changes and requesting that fracking applications, or indeed on any other planning matter relating to our locality and its people, be determined locally.

2.         Copy in the three local Members of Parliament and the Mayor of Greater Manchester and ask for their support on this issue.

 

Motion 3 – Sustainable Public Health Funding

 

Councillor C. Gloster MOVED and Councillor Harkness SECONDED the following MOTION:

 

“Council notes that:

·         Around four in ten cancers are preventable, largely through avoidable risk factors, such as stopping smoking, keeping a healthy weight and cutting back on alcohol.  Smoking accounts for 80,000 early deaths every year and remains the largest preventable cause of cancer in the world.  Additionally, obesity and alcohol account for 30,000 and 7,000 early deaths each year respectively.  All three increase the risk of: cancer, diabetes, lung and heart conditions poor mental health and create a subsequent burden on health and social care.

·         The public health grant funds vital services and functions largely delivered by local authorities to prevent ill health and reduce the burden placed upon the NHS and local authorities; for example, social care for smoking-related illnesses is estimated to cost local authorities £760 million per annum.

·         In 2018/19 and 2019/20 every local authority will have less to spend on public health than the year before.

·         The Government is looking to phase out the Public Health Grant by 2020/21 and to replace this with funding via business rates retention.

Council believes that:

·         The impact of cuts to public health on our communities is becoming difficult to ignore.

·         It is vital that local authorities have enough funding to deliver the functions and services they need to provide.  Deprived areas, like Oldham, suffer the worst health outcomes, so it is also vital that areas with the greatest need receive sufficient funding to meet their local challenges.

·         Taking funds away from prevention is a false economy.  Without proper investment in public health services, people suffer, demand on local health services increases and the economy suffers.  Poor public health cost local businesses heavily through sick days and lost productivity. 

·         We must restore public health funding or our health and care system will remain locked in a ‘treatment’ approach, which is neither economically viable nor protects the health of residents.

Council resolves to:

·         Continue to support and fund public health initiatives to the best of our abilities – to prevent ill-health, reduce inequalities and support a health and social care system that is fit for the future.

·         Ask the Chief Executive to:

o   Cancer Research UK setting out this Council’s support for their call for increased and sustainable public health funding.

o   The Secretary of State for Health calling on the Government to deliver increased investment in public health and to support a sustainable health and social care system by taking a ‘prevention first’ approach.”

 

Councillor Chauhan spoke in support of the Motion.

 

Councillor C. Gloster did not exercise his right of reply.

 

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

 

RESOLVED that:

 

1.            The Council continue to support and fund public health initiatives to the best of its abilities to prevent ill-health, reduce inequalities and support a health and social care system that was fit for the future.

2.            The Chief Executive be asked to write to:

a.    Cancer Research UK setting out this Council’s support for their call for increased and sustainable public health funding.

b.    The Secretary of State for Health calling on the Government to deliver increased investment in public health and to support a sustainable health and social care system by taking a ‘prevention first’ approach.