(time limit 30 minutes)
Motion 1
Councillor Roberts to MOVE and Councillor Dearden to SECOND:
On the 8th March 2017 women from Oldham were among those who celebrated International Women’s Day and Oldham Libraries hosted events including showing ‘Boomtown Girls’ highlighting Oldham women’s role in the First World War and a talk about the life and work of Annie Kenney – the appeal to raise funds for a statue to Annie was also launched on the 8th March.
This Council notes that these celebrations of women’s achievements took place against the backdrop of government policies which have had a disproportionate impact on women in Oldham and across the UK: tax and benefit changes since 2010 have increased the gender income gap.
The independent Women’s Budget Group shows that tax and benefit changes since 2010 will have hit women’s incomes twice as hard as men by 2020: it estimates women will be £1,003 worse off a year in comparison to men who will lose £555. Oldham is a low pay area and poorer women will be worse hit losing an average of £1,678 a year.
Women’s independence will be undermined by the introduction of Universal Credit which is paid by default into the bank account of the main earner in the household rather than to individuals. Lone parents (90% are women) will be particularly badly affected by the introduction of Universal Credit.
Women continue to earn less than men: the Fawcett Society estimates that at the current rate of progress it will take 62 years for women’s pay to equal men’s.
Affordable and good quality childcare is essential to enable women to work and take up training opportunities and while this Council welcomes the extension of free early education for some 3 and 4 year olds to 30 hours a week from September 2017, Council also notes that this needs to be properly funded and that many childcare providers are warning that the rate on offer is not enough to cover costs.
Council supports the call of the Women and Equalities Select Committee for an independent inquiry into why the government has not published a proper analysis of how its spending plans will affect women, minorities and disabled people.
Council resolves to:
Motion 2
Councillor Stretton to MOVE and Councillor Sykes to SECOND:
This Council notes with alarm that there are currently no legislative provisions in place to disqualify a Councillor who is placed on the sex offenders’ register.
Section 27 (1) of the Localism Act 2011 declares that it is the job of a Council to promote and maintain high standards of conduct by members and co-opted members of the authority. Disallowing us to exclude Members who are placed on the sex offenders register compromises the Council’s duty to maintain high standards of conduct by its members.
Oldham’s definition of the role of a Councillor states that he/she should “be an active and visible community leader on behalf of the whole community”. This Council acknowledges that an individual placed on the sex offenders register cannot honestly represent a whole community when they have shown clear contempt towards members of that community.
The nature of a Council’s work makes it unsuitable for an individual on the sex offender’s register to work as a Councillor. The Council works with children, adults in need of social care and adults with disabilities. A Councillor’s role can involve working with these vulnerable groups and therefore it is unsuitable for those groups to have interaction with someone on the sex offenders register.
With this in mind, this Council resolves to:
Make representations to the Secretary of State to extend the 1972 Local Government Act to automatically disqualify any member who after conviction is placed on the sex offenders register.
Motion 3
Councillor Ur-Rehman to MOVE and Councillor Fielding to SECOND:
This Council supports the TUC’s Dying to Work Campaign’s charter as being an imperative way of preserving the rights and dignity of its workers who are diagnosed with a terminal illness.
Currently, workers with a terminal illness do not have a ‘protected characteristic’, and therefore have limited legal protection. Employers are free to dismiss terminally ill workers once they can prove they have made ‘reasonable adjustments’ to the employee’s job to assist with the illness. In addition, this leaves an employee facing the possibility that they will lose their death in service benefits, adding further stress at a time when security for a family’s future should be protected.
This Council believes that it should be the right of the employee to choose when or if they leave employment. An employee who is diagnosed with a terminal illness should be properly informed of their options and decide what is right for them, safe in the knowledge that they will not be put under undue pressure by their employer.
This Council recognises that in order to encourage other organisations to respect the rights of any of their terminally ill employees, the Council must lead by example. Therefore this Council resolves to:
1) Sign the Dying to Work charter and integrate its contents into our HR procedures.
2) Instruct the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions lobbying for an amendment to the Equality Act 2010 that safeguards the rights of terminally ill employees.
3) Instruct the Chief Executive to write to the Borough’s three MPs asking them to do everything they can to press for an amendment to the Equality Act 2010 that safeguards the rights of terminally ill employees.
Minutes:
Motion 1
Councillor Roberts MOVED and Councillor Dearden SECONDED the following motion:
“On the 8th March 2017 women from Oldham were among those who celebrated International Women’s Day and Oldham Libraries hosted events including showing ‘Boomtown Girls’ highlighting Oldham women’s roles in the First World War and a talk about the life and work of Annie Kenney – the appeal to raise funds for a statue to Annie was also launched on the 8th March.
This Council notes that these celebrations of women’s achievements took place against the backdrop of government policies which have had a disproportionate impact on women in Oldham and across the UK: tax and benefit changes since 2010 have increased the gender income gap.
The independent Women’s Budget Group shows that tax and benefit changes since 2010 will have hit women’s incomes twice as hard as men by 2020: it estimates women will be £1,003 worse off a year in comparison to men who will lose £555. Oldham is a low pay area and poorer women will be worse hit losing an average of £1,678 a year.
Women’s independence will be undermined by the introduction of Universal Credit which is paid by default into the bank account of the main earner in the household rather than to individuals. Lone parents (90% are women) will be particularly badly affected by the introduction of Universal Credit.
Women continue to earn less than men: the Fawcett Society estimates that at the current rate of progress it will take 62 years for women’s pay to equal men’s.
Affordable and good quality childcare is essential to enable women to work and take up training opportunities and while this Council welcomes the extension of free early education for some 3 and 4 year olds to 30 hours a week from September 2017, Council also notes that this needs to be properly funded and that many childcare providers are warning that the rate on offer is not enough to cover costs.
Council supports the call of the Women and Equalities Select Committee for an independent inquiry into why the government has not published a proper analysis of how its spending plans will affect women, minorities and disabled people.
Council resolves to:
1. Write to the LGA to ask for it to lobby for
a. an independent enquiry into why the government has not published a proper analysis of how its spending plans will affect women, minorities and disabled people.
b. a realistic funding rate for free early education and childcare which meets the costs of providers (including schools) and enables them to provide high quality services.
2. Write to the Borough’s three MPs to ask them to take whatever action is possible
a. to highlight the impact of austerity on women and to call for an independent enquiry into why the government has not published a proper analysis of how its spending plans will affect women, minorities and disabled people.
b. to secure a realistic funding rate for free early education and childcare which meets the costs of providers (including schools) and enables them to provide high quality services.
3. Publicise the ‘Annie Kenney Fund’ appeal for the money needed to erect a statue of Annie Kenney in Parliament Square.”
Councillor Harrison spoke in support of the motion.
Councillor Chadderton spoke in support of the motion.
Councillor M. Bashforth spoke in support of the motion.
Councillor Toor spoke in support of the motion.
Councillor Sykes spoke in support of the motion.
Councillor Roberts exercised her right of reply.
In accordance with Council Procedure rule 12.3 at least five Members requested a recorded vote on this Motion. The Vote was recorded as follows:
|
Councillor |
|
Councillor |
|
|
Ahmad |
FOR |
Hussain, F. |
FOR |
|
Akhtar |
FOR |
Iqbal |
ABSENT |
|
Alexander A. |
ABSENT |
Jabbar |
FOR |
|
Alexander G. |
ABSENT |
Jacques |
FOR |
|
Ali |
FOR |
Kirkham |
FOR |
|
Ames |
ABSENT |
Klonowski |
ABSENT |
|
Azad |
FOR |
Larkin, J. |
FOR |
|
Ball |
FOR |
Larkin. T. |
ABSENT |
|
Bashforth, M. |
FOR |
Malik |
ABSENT |
|
Bashforth, S. |
FOR |
McCann |
FOR |
|
Bates |
FOR |
McLaren |
FOR |
|
Blyth |
FOR |
Moores |
FOR |
|
Briggs |
FOR |
Murphy |
FOR |
|
Brock |
ABSENT |
Mushtaq |
FOR |
|
Brownridge |
FOR |
Price |
FOR |
|
Chadderton |
FOR |
Qumer |
FOR |
|
Chauhan |
FOR |
Rehman |
FOR |
|
Cosgrove |
FOR |
Roberts |
FOR |
|
Dean |
FOR |
Salamat |
FOR |
|
Dearden |
FOR |
Sheldon |
ABSENT |
|
Fielding |
FOR |
Shuttleworth |
FOR |
|
Garry |
FOR |
Stretton |
FOR |
|
Gloster |
FOR |
Sykes |
FOR |
|
Goodwin |
FOR |
Toor |
FOR |
|
Haque |
FOR |
Turner |
FOR |
|
Harkness |
FOR |
Ur-Rehman |
FOR |
|
Harrison |
FOR |
Williams |
FOR |
|
Hewitt |
FOR |
Williamson |
FOR |
|
Hudson |
ABSENT |
Wrigglesworth |
FOR |
|
Hussain, A. |
FOR |
Heffernan |
FOR |
On a recorded vote being taken the Motion was CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
RESOLVED that:
1. The LGA be written to ask it to lobby for:
a. An independent enquiry into why the government had not published a proper analysis of how its spending plans would affect women, minorities and disabled people.
b. A realistic funding rate for free early education and childcare which meets the costs of providers (including schools) and enabled them to provide high quality services.
2. The Borough’s three MP’s be written to ask them to take whatever action was possible:
a. To highlight the impact of austerity on women and to call for an independent enquiry into why the government had not published a proper analysis of how its spending plans would affect women, minorities and disabled people.
b. To secure a realistic funding rate for free early education and childcare which met the cost of providers (including schools) and enabled them to provide high quality services.
3. The ‘Annie Kenney Fund’ appeal for the money needed to erect a statue of Annie Kenney in Parliament Square be publicised.
Motion 2
The Mayor informed the meeting that the time limit for this item had expired and Councillor Stretton as Mover of the Motion and Councillor Sykes as Seconder of the Motion requested the motion be put to the vote.
“This Council notes with alarm that there are currently no legislative provisions in place to disqualify a Councillor who is placed on the sex offenders’ register.
Section 27(1) of the Localism Act 2011 declares that it is the job of a Council to promote and maintain high standards of conduct by members and co-opted members of the authority. Disallowing us to exclude Members who are placed on the sex offenders register compromises the Council’s duty to maintain high standards of conduct by its members.
Oldham’s definition of the role of a Councillor states that he/she should ‘be an active and visible community leader on behalf of the whole community’. This Council acknowledges that an individual placed on the sex offenders register cannot honestly represent a whole community when they have shown clear contempt towards members of that community.
The nature of a Council’s work makes it unsuitable for an individual on the sex offender’s register to work as a Councillor. The Council works with children, adults in need of social care and adults with disabilities. A Councillor’s role can involve working with these vulnerable groups and therefore it is unsuitable for those groups to have interaction with someone on the sex offenders register.
With this in mind, this Council resolves to:
Make representations to the Secretary of State to extend the 1972 Local Government Act to automatically disqualify any member who after conviction is placed on the sex offenders register.”
Councillor Stretton did not exercise her right of reply.
In accordance with Council Procedure rule 12.3 at least five Members requested a recorded vote on this Motion. The Vote was recorded as follows:
|
Councillor |
|
Councillor |
|
|
Ahmad |
FOR |
Hussain, F. |
FOR |
|
Akhtar |
FOR |
Iqbal |
ABSENT |
|
Alexander A. |
ABSENT |
Jabbar |
FOR |
|
Alexander G. |
ABSENT |
Jacques |
FOR |
|
Ali |
FOR |
Kirkham |
FOR |
|
Ames |
ABSENT |
Klonowski |
FOR |
|
Azad |
ABSENT |
Larkin, J. |
FOR |
|
Ball |
FOR |
Larkin. T. |
ABSENT |
|
Bashforth, M. |
FOR |
Malik |
ABSENT |
|
Bashforth, S. |
FOR |
McCann |
FOR |
|
Bates |
FOR |
McLaren |
FOR |
|
Blyth |
FOR |
Moores |
FOR |
|
Briggs |
FOR |
Murphy |
FOR |
|
Brock |
ABSENT |
Mushtaq |
FOR |
|
Brownridge |
FOR |
Price |
FOR |
|
Chadderton |
FOR |
Qumer |
FOR |
|
Chauhan |
FOR |
Rehman |
FOR |
|
Cosgrove |
FOR |
Roberts |
FOR |
|
Dean |
FOR |
Salamat |
FOR |
|
Dearden |
ABSENT |
Sheldon |
FOR |
|
Fielding |
FOR |
Shuttleworth |
FOR |
|
Garry |
FOR |
Stretton |
FOR |
|
Gloster |
FOR |
Sykes |
FOR |
|
Goodwin |
FOR |
Toor |
FOR |
|
Haque |
FOR |
Turner |
FOR |
|
Harkness |
FOR |
Ur-Rehman |
FOR |
|
Harrison |
FOR |
Williams |
FOR |
|
Hewitt |
FOR |
Williamson |
FOR |
|
Hudson |
FOR |
Wrigglesworth |
FOR |
|
Hussain, A. |
FOR |
Heffernan |
FOR |
On a recorded vote being taken, the Motion was CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
RESOLVED that representations be made by the Council to the Secretary of State for the extension of the 1972 Local Government Act to automatically disqualify any member who after conviction was placed on the sex offenders register.
Motion 3
The Mayor informed the meeting that the time limit for this item had expired and Councillor Ur-Rehman as Mover of the Motion and Councillor Fielding as Seconder of the Motion requested the Council permit the following motion be rolled over for discussion at the next Council meeting.
“This Council supports the TUC’s Dying to Work Campaign’s charter as being an imperative way of preserving the rights and dignity of its workers who are diagnosed with a terminal illness.
Currently, workers with a terminal illness do not have a ‘protected characteristic’, and therefore have limited legal protection. Employers are free to dismiss terminally ill workers once they can prove they have made ‘reasonable adjustments’ to the employee’s job to assist with the illness. In addition, this leaves an employee facing the possibility that they will lose their death in service benefits, adding further stress at a time when security for a family’s future should be protected.
This Council believes that it should be the right of the employee to choose when or if they leave employment. An employee who is diagnosed with a terminal illness should be properly informed of their options and decide what is right for them, safe in the knowledge that they will not be put under undue pressure by their employer.
This Council recognises that in order to encourage other organisations to respect the rights of any of their terminally ill employees, the Council must lead by example.
Therefore this Council resolves to:
1) Sign the Dying to Work charter and integrate its contents into our HR procedures.
2) Instruct the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions lobbying for an amendment to the Equality Act 2010 that safeguards the rights of terminally ill employees.
3) Instruct the Chief Executive to write to the Borough’s three MPs asking them to do everything they can to press for an amendment to the Equality Act 2010 that safeguards the rights of terminally ill employees.”
RESOLVED that the Motion be rolled over to the Council meeting scheduled on 12th July 2017.