Agenda item
Notice of Opposition Business
(time limit 30 minutes)
Motion 1
Councillor Harkness to MOVE and Councillor Murphy to SECOND:
Declaring a Climate Emergency
This Council notes:
· That the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) holds that climate change represents ‘an urgent and potentially irreversible threat to human societies and the planet.’
· That the overwhelming weight of scientific evidence points to climate change being man-made.
· The harmful effect that climate change has on our lives, natural habitats and eco-systems.
· The IPCC’s call to governments and civil society to take urgent action to address climate change.
· The resolutions made by over 100 UK local authorities and the UK Parliament in declaring climate emergencies.
· The commitment under the 5-Year Environment Plan by the ten Greater Manchester authorities to become carbon-neutral by 2038.
· Rochdale, Wigan, Bury, Salford, Manchester city, Trafford & Stockport Metropolitan Boroughs have all declared a climate change emergency, Oldham Brough should too.
This Council welcomes:
· The ambitious commitment at the July 2019 Council of the Deputy Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Resources and Low Carbon to make the Council carbon-neutral by 2025.
· The opportunity provided by the expiry of the Council’s current Climate Change strategy in 2020 to make new and more ambitious commitments to achieve carbon-neutrality by 2025.
This Council therefore resolves to:
· Declare a Climate Emergency and publicise why this declaration has been made to the people of our Borough, our media outlets and our statutory, voluntary and business sector partners to enlist their support in taking collective action in addressing climate change.
· Solicit the views and ideas of our staff, elected members, our partners and the general public in helping to craft a new Climate Change Strategy to replace our current strategy in 2020.
· Identify clearly within this Strategy the ambition for this Council to become carbon-neutral by 2025.
· Sign up to the UK100 Pledge to commit to consuming energy from renewable sources, including renewable energy generated by the Council itself.
· Re-establish a cross-party Climate Change Strategy Group to oversee the delivery of the new strategy in partnership with the Deputy Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Resources and Low Carbon.
· Ask the Chief Executive to write to the relevant Ministers, the Mayor of Greater Manchester and the Leaders of the other Greater Manchester authorities seeking their endorsement of our Climate Emergency declaration and our ambition to become carbon-neutral and requesting of central government the powers and financial resources to enable us to become carbon-neutral.
Motion 2
Councillor Williamson to MOVE and Councillor C Gloster to SECOND:
Closing the Loophole
This Council believes that our duty to protect our young people is paramount. Any chance of a slippage in the law that leaves young people unsafe or at threat of exploitation must be rectified.
Council notes that:
· The NSPCC (the National Society for the Protection of Children against Cruelty) has recently reported that in the last four years police in England have recorded 1,025 crimes of Abuse of Position of Trust of a Sexual Nature
· The present legislation on Position of Trust makes it a criminal offence for teachers, care workers and youth justice workers to engage in sexual activity with 16/17-year olds in their care, but faith workers, youth workers and sports coaches are currently exempted
· Councils have received 653 complaints about adults who are not currently covered by the criminal law engaging in sexual activity with children in their care.
This Council believes that the Government should:
· Extend the Position of Trust law to include all roles where an adult holds a position of power over 16 and 17-year-olds
· Make it illegal for any adult to have sexual activity with a young person under 18 in their care.
As this accords with the objectives of the NSPCC’s ‘Closing the Loophole’ campaign, Council agrees to give the campaign its support, and resolves to:
· Ask the Chief Executive to write to the Chief Executive of the NSPCC to register this Council’s support for the campaign
· Ask the Chief Executive to write to the Minister of Justice and of Sport urging them to introduce the necessary change in legislation
· Ask the Chief Executive to copy into this correspondence the Mayor of Greater Manchester and our local Members of Parliament seeking their support for the Council’s position and for the NSPCC campaign
Motion 3
Councillor H Gloster to MOVE and Councillor Hamblett to SECOND:
Ban on Fast Food and Energy Drinks Advertising
Council notes that:
· Fast food contains high levels of fat, salt and sugar and energy drinks often contain high levels of caffeine and sugar.
· Excessive consumption of these products contributes to obesity, tooth decay, diabetes, gastro-intestinal problems, sleep deprivation and hyperactivity.
· The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health predicts half of all children in the UK will be overweight or obese by 2020.
· The Mayor of London banned all fast food advertising on publicly-controlled advertising spaces across London’s entire transport network.
· Sustain and Foodwatch recently published a report ‘Taking Down Junk Food Adverts’ which recommends that local authorities regulate adverts on public telephone boxes and that the Advertising Standards Authority should be able to regulate advertising outside nurseries, children’s centres, parks, family attractions and leisure centres.
As a local authority with a statutory responsibility for public health, Council believes that it should do all that is possible to discourage the consumption of fast food and energy drinks.
Council therefore resolves to:
· Ask the Chief Executive to write to the Chief Executive of Transport for Greater Manchester asking TFGM to impose a ban on the advertising of fast food and energy drinks on publicly owned poster sites etc across the Greater Manchester transport network.
· Ensure that fast food or energy drinks are not advertised on any hoarding or within any building owned by this Council including large advertisements on bus stops.
· Ensure that such products are not sold to children or young people on any of our premises.
· Ask our NHS, social housing, voluntary and private sector partners, including the Mayor of Greater Manchester, to make a similar undertaking.
· Ask the Chief Executive to write to the relevant minister requesting the recommendations of the ‘Taking Down Junk Food Adverts’ report be adopted as government policy as soon as possible; copying in our local Members of Parliament to seek their support.
Minutes:
Motion 1 – Declaring a Climate Emergency
Councillor Harkness MOVED and Councillor Murphy SECONDED the following MOTION:
“This Council notes:
· That the intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) holds that climate change represents ‘an urgent and potentially irreversible threat to human societies and the planet.’
· That the overwhelming weight of scientific evidence points to climate change being man-made.
· The harmful effect that climate change has on our lives, natural habitats and eco-systems.
· The IPCC’s call to governments and civil society to take urgent action to address climate change.
· The resolutions made by over 100 UK local authorities and the UK Parliament in declaring climate emergencies.
· The commitment under the 5-Year Environment Plant by the ten Greater Manchester authorities to become carbon neutral by 2038.
· Rochdale, Wigan, Bury, Salford, Manchester city, Trafford & Stockport Metropolitan Boroughs have all declared a climate change emergency, Oldham Borough should too.
This Council welcomes:
· The ambitious commitment at the July 2019 Council of the Deputy Council Leader and the Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Resources and Low Carbon to make the Council carbon-neutral by 2025.
· The opportunity provided by the expiry of the Council’s current Climate Change strategy in 2020 to make new and more ambitious commitments to achieve carbon-neutrality by 2025.
This Council therefore resolves to:
· Declare a Climate Emergency and publicise why this declaration has been made to the people of our Borough, our media outlets and our statutory, voluntary and business sector partners to enlist their support in taking collective action in addressing climate change.
· Solicit the views and ideas of our staff, elected members, our partners and the general public in helping to craft a new Climate Change Strategy to replace our current strategy in 2020.
· Identify clearly within this Strategy the ambition for this Council to become carbon-neutral by 2025.
· Sign up to the UK100 Pledge to commit to consuming energy from renewable sources, including renewable energy generated by the Council itself.
· Re-establish a cross-party Climate Change Strategy Group to oversee the delivery of the new strategy in partnership with the Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Resources and Low Carbon.
· Ask the Chief Executive to write to the relevant Ministers, the Mayor of Greater Manchester and the Leaders of the other Greater Manchester authorities seeking their endorsement of our Climate Change declaration and our ambition to become carbon-neutral and requesting of central government the powers and financial resources to enable us to become carbon-neutral.”
AMENDMENT
Councillor Jabbar MOVED and Councillor Judd SECONDED the following AMENDMENT:
“Insert before Section 1; ‘The impact of climate change is already causing serious damage around the world and all governments (national, regional and local) have a duty to act. Strong policies to cut emissions have associated health, wellbeing and economic benefits. This council therefore declares a ‘Climate Emergency’.
Section 1 – This Council Notes:
Insert after bullet point 4;
· ‘That Oldham has signed the UK100 Pledge to commit to consuming energy from renewable sources, including renewable energy generated by the Council itself.’
Insert new bullet point 9
· ‘The report “Climate Change and Green Oldham” presented at the meeting meeting of the Council on July 10th 2019 which highlighted the progress made by the Council on tackling climate change and environmental issues, with initiatives including:
o Warm Homes Oldham
o Oldham Community Power
o Tommyfield Market Hall solar PV system’
Section 2 – ‘This Council welcomes:
Insert new bullet point 1:
· ‘The trailblazing commitment to an “Oldham Green New Deal” in the report “Climate Change and Green Oldham” presented at the meeting of the Council on July 10th 2019’
· In new bullet point 3 add after ‘more ambitious commitments’: ‘in the ‘Oldham Green New Deal’ such as the target for Oldham borough of ‘net zero’ carbon emissions by 2030 ahead of the GM target of 20138’
And delete ‘to achieve carbon neutrality by 2025.’
(new bullet point to read:
· ‘The opportunity provided, by the expiry of the Council’s current Climate Change strategy in 2020, to make new and more ambitious commitments in the ‘Oldham Green New Deal’ such as the target for Oldham borough of ‘net zero’ carbon emissions by 2030 ahead of the GM target of 2038’.)
Section 3 – This Council therefore resolves to:
Bullet point 1: delete all after “Declare a Climate Emergency”
Delete bullet point 3 starting “Identify…” and ending “2025.”
Delete bullet point 4 starting “Sign…” and ending “itself.”
The motion as amended to read:
“The impact of climate change is already causing serious damage around the world and all governments (national, regional and local) have a duty to act. Strong policies to cut emissions have associated health, wellbeing and economic benefits. This council therefore declares a ‘Climate Emergency’.
This Council notes:
· That the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) holds that climate change represents ‘an urgent and potentially irreversible threat to human societies and the planet.’
· That the overwhelming weight of scientific evidence points to climate change being man-made.
· The harmful effect that climate change has on our lives, natural habitats and eco-systems.
· The IPCC’s call to governments and civil society to take urgent action to address climate change.
· That Oldham has signed the UK100 Pledge to commit to consuming energy from renewable sources, including renewable energy generated by the Council itself.
· The resolutions made by over 100 UK local authorities and the UK Parliament in declaring climate emergencies.
· The commitment under the 5-Year Environment Plan by the ten Greater Manchester authorities to become carbon-neutral by 2038.
· Rochdale, Wigan, Bury, Salford, Manchester city, Trafford and Stockport Metropolitan Boroughs have all declared a climate change emergency, Oldham Borough should too.
· The report ‘Climate Change and Green Oldham’ presented at the meeting of the Council on July 10th 2019 which highlighted the progress made by the Council on tackling climate change and environmental issues, with initiatives including:
o Warm Homes Oldham
o Oldham Community Power
o Tommyfield Market Hall Solar PV System
This Council welcomes:
· The trailblazing commitment to an ‘Oldham Green New Deal’ in the report ‘Climate Change and Green Oldham’ presented at the meeting of the Council on 10th July 2019.
· The ambitious commitment at the July 2019 Council of the Deputy Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Resources and Low Carbon to make the Council carbon-neutral by 2025.
· The opportunity provided by the expiry of the Council’s current Climate Change strategy in 2020 to make new and more ambitious commitments in the ‘Oldham Green New Deal’ such as the target for Oldham borough of ‘net zero’ carbon emissions by 2030 ahead of the GM target of 2038.
This Council therefore resolves to:
· Declare a Climate Emergency.
· Solicit the views and ideas of our staff, elected members, our partners and the general public in helping to craft a new Climate Change Strategy to replace our current strategy in 2020.
· Re-establish a cross party Climate Change Strategy Group to oversee the delivery of the new strategy in partnership with the Deputy Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Resources and Low Carbon.
· Ask the Chief Executive to write to the relevant Ministers, the Mayor of Greater Manchester and the Leaders of the other Greater Manchester authorities seeking their endorsement of our Climate Emergency declaration and our ambition to become carbon-neutral and requesting of central government the powers and financial resources to enable us to become carbon-neutral.”
Councillor Harkness ACCEPTED the AMENDMENT.
A vote was then taken on the AMENDMENT.
Councillor Harkness did not exercise his right of reply.
Councillor Jabbar did not exercise his right of reply.
On being put to the vote, the AMENDMENT was CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Councillor Al-Hamdani spoke in support of the Substantive Motion.
Councillor Harkness exercised his right of reply.
On being put to the vote, the SUBSTANTIVE MOTION was CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
RESOLVED that:
1. A Climate Emergency be declared.
2. Views and ideas of our staff, elected members, partners and the general public be solicited in helping to craft a new Climate Change Strategy to replace the Council’s current strategy in 2020.
3. A cross-party Climate Change Strategy Group be re-established to oversee the delivery of the new strategy in partnership with the Deputy Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Resources and Low Carbon.
4. The Chief Executive be asked to write to the relevant Ministers, the Mayor of Greater Manchester and the Leaders of the other Greater Manchester authorities seeking their endorsement of the Council’s Climate Emergency declaration and our ambition to become carbon-neutral and requesting of central government the powers and financial resources to enable us to become carbon-neutral.
Motion 2 – Closing the Loophole
Councillor Williamson MOVED and Councillor C. Gloster SECONDED the following motion:
“This Council believes that our duty to protect our young people is paramount. Any chance of a slippage in the law that leaves young people unsafe or at threat of exploitation must be rectified.
Council notes that:
· The NSPCC (the National Society for the Protection of Children against Cruelty) has recently reported that in the last four years police in England have recorded 1,025 crimes of Abuse of Position of Trust of a Sexual Nature.
· The present legislation on Position of Trust makes it a criminal offence for teachers, care workers and youth justice workers to engage in sexual activity with 16/17-year olds in their care, but faith workers, youth workers and sports coaches are currently exempted.
· Councils have received 653 complaints about adults who are not currently covered by the criminal law engaging in sexual activity with children in their care.
This Council believes that the Government should:
· Extend the Position of Trust law to include all roles where an adult holds a position of power over 16 and 17-year-olds.
· Make it illegal for any adult to have sexual activity with a young person under 18 in their care.
As this accords with the objectives of the NSPCC’s ‘Closing the Loophole’ campaign, Council agrees to give the campaign its support and resolves to:
· Ask the Chief Executive to write to the Chief Executive of the NSPCC to register this Council’s support for the campaign
· Ask the Chief Executive to write to the Minister of Justice and of Sport urging them to introduce the necessary change in legislation
· Ask the Chief Executive to copy into this correspondence the Mayor of Greater Manchester and our local Members of Parliament seeking their support for the Council’s position and for the NSPCC campaign.
Councillor Chadderton spoke in support of the Motion.
Councillor Shah spoke in support of the Motion.
Councillor Williamson exercised her right of reply.
On being put to the vote, the MOTION was CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
RESOLVED that:
Motion 3 – Ban on Fast Food and Energy Drinks Advertising
Councillor H. Gloster MOVED and Councillor Hamblett SECONDED the following MOTION:
“Council notes that:
· Fast food contains high level of fats, salt and sugar and energy drinks often contain high levels of caffeine and sugar.
· Excessive consumption of these products contributes to obesity, tooth decay, diabetes, gastro-intestinal problems, sleep deprivation and hyperactivity.
· The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health predicts half of all children in the UK will be overweight or obese by 2020.
· The Mayor of London banned all fast food advertising on publically-controlled advertising spaces across London’s entire transport network.
· Sustain and Foodwatch recently published a report ‘Taking Down Junk Food Adverts’ which recommends that local authorities regulate adverts on public telephone boxes and that the Advertising Standards Authority should be able to regulate advertising outside nurseries, children’s centres, parks, family attractions and leisure centres.
As a local authority with a statutory responsibility for public health, Council believes that it should do all that is possible to discourage the consumption of fast food and energy drinks.
Council therefore resolves to:
· Ask the Chief Executive to write to the Chief Executive of Transport for Greater Manchester asking TFGM to impose a ban on the advertising of fast food and energy drinks on publicly owned poster sites etc across the Greater Manchester transport network.
· Ensure that fast food or energy are not advertised on any hoarding or within any building owned by this Council including large advertisements on bus stops.
· Ensure that such products are not sold to children or young people on any of our premises.
· Ask our NHS, social housing, voluntary and private sector partners, including the Mayor of Greater Manchester, to make a similar undertaking.
· Ask the Chief Executive to write to the relevant minister requesting the recommendations of the ‘Taking Down Junk Food Adverts’ report be adopted as government policy as soon as possible; copying in our local members of Parliament to seek their support.
Councillor Chauhan MOVED and Councillor Ur-Rehman SECONDED that under Council Procedure Rule 8.4(d) the motion be referred to the Overview and Scrutiny Board.
On being put to the vote, that the MOTION be REFERRED to Overview and Scrutiny was CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
RESOLVED that under Council Procedure 8.4(d) the motion be referred to the Overview and Scrutiny Board.