Agenda item

Notice of Administration Business

(time limit 30 minutes)

 

Motion 1

 

Councillor Jabbar to MOVE and Councillor C Gloster to SECOND:

Funding Recovery, Jobs and Services

This council notes with thanks the combined efforts of council officers, our public sector partners, volunteers and businesses in working together to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic. From carers looking after older residents and putting themselves at risk, to the waste team quickly finding new ways of working to keep our bins empty, to the huge army of volunteers distributing food parcels to those in need, the crisis has shown Oldham at its best.

We must also acknowledge the funding and support packages that the Government has put in place to assist businesses in Oldham, some of which have been administered by the council. Without this Government support many businesses would have ceased trading and more Oldhamers would be facing unemployment.

However, whilst there has been a range of Government support, the council is facing a significant financial challenge. Some Government funding has been received, including £14.2m of unringfenced grant. A further funding package was announced on 2nd July but it did not provide the clarity required for the council assess the extent of the additional financial support. However, it is evident that it will fall far short of the funding required to compensate for the additional expenditure being incurred and for the income that has been lost in this financial year. 

If the Government does not provide any more support the council will have to consider making cuts to key services in order to manage its finances effectively. This will also have an impact in 2021/22 which already has a budget reduction target of £23m. Any additional financial pressure will be on top of the £221m of budget reductions that the council has been forced to make as a result of the Government’s austerity regime.

It is important to note that on 16th March the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Robert Jenrick, told English council leaders “This government stands with local councils at this difficult time. Everyone needs to play their part to help the most vulnerable in society and support their local economy. The government will do whatever is necessary to support these efforts.”  By 14 April the message had changed and Jenrick told council leaders that councils would have to “share the burden” of coronavirus-related costs.  We need the Government to honour its original statement and do whatever is necessary to support councils in their response to COVID-19 - including fully funding the extra financial pressures.

 

This council resolves to ask the Chief Executive to write to:

  • The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government to fully fund councils for the extra costs and lost income arising from COVID-19 in line with his communication of 16th March
  • The LGA to confirm the council’s support in their lobbying of Government for increased funding for local government in response to financial pressures arising from COVID-19
  • Key partner organisations across Oldham, requesting their support for our campaign for central government funding that protects the jobs of key workers and enables Oldham to build back better

 

Motion 2  

 

Councillor Leach to MOVE and Councillor Phythian to SECOND:

Care Workers vs COVID-19 Motion 

 This Council commends the incredible work of care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic caring for the most vulnerable people in Oldham. 

This Council notes the results of a survey conducted by UNISON North West which found that 8 out of 10 care workers would not receive their full normal pay if they were ill or had to self-isolate or shield because of COVID-19. As a result of the lack of occupational sick pay, some care workers said that they may have to attend work whilst ill as they could not afford to live off statutory sick pay (SSP). 

This Council believes that this situation poses a serious public health risk to people that receive care and frontline care workers. Indeed, official figures from the Office for National Statistics show that care workers are twice as likely to die from coronavirus than NHS staff. 

This Council acknowledges its responsibility under the Government’s Infection Control Fund to administer the distribution of additional funding to social care providers to reduce the spread of infection, including maintaining normal wages for COVID-19 related absence. 

This Council believes that no care worker should have to choose between their own health or hardship. This Council welcomes UNISON North West’s Care Workers vs COVID-19 Campaign which is calling for care workers to receive the support and resources they need to combat the virus.

This Council notes that 12 local authorities in the North West have already supported the Care Workers vs COVID-19 Campaign or made similar commitments around maintaining normal pay for all COVID-19 related absence. 

 

This Council undertakes to: 

1) Formally endorse the principles of UNISON’s Care Workers vs COVID-19 Campaign and commit to campaigning for the funding this Council requires to deliver on them; 

2) Communicate to providers that it is this Council’s view that additional funding is used by social care providers to pay care workers their full normal pay for all COVID-19 related absence, including sickness, self-isolation or shielding; 

3) Review procurement and commissioning policies with view to increasing the weighting of social value commissioning and to ensure it includes specific requirements around occupational sick pay. 

Minutes:

Motion 1 – Funding Recovery, Jobs and Services

 

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

 

“This council notes with thanks the combined efforts of council officers, our public sector partners, volunteers and businesses in working together to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic.  From carers looking after older residents and putting themselves at risk, to the waste team quickly finding new ways of working to keep our bins empty, to the huge army of volunteers distributing food parcels to those in need, the crisis has shown Oldham at its best.

We must also acknowledge the funding and support packages that the Government has put in place to assist businesses in Oldham, some of which have been administered by the council.  Without this Government support many businesses would have ceased trading and more Oldhamers would be facing unemployment. 

However, whilst there has been a range of Government support, the council is facing a significant financial challenge.  Some Government funding has been received, including £14.2m of unringfenced grant.  A further funding package was announced on 2nd July but it did not provide the clarity required for the council assess the extent of the additional financial support.  However, it is evident that it will fall far short of the funding required to compensate for the additional expenditure being incurred and for the income that has been lost in this financial year.

If the Government does not provide any more support the council will have to consider making cuts to key services in order to manage its finances effectively.  This will also have an impact in 2021/22 which already has a budget reduction target of £23m.  Any additional financial pressure will be on top of the £221m of budget reductions that the council has been forced to make as a result of the Government’s austerity regime.

It is important to note that on 16th March the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Robert Jenrick, told English council leaders ‘This government stands with local councils at this difficult time.  Everyone needs to play their part to help the most vulnerable in society and support their local economy.  The government will do whatever is necessary to support these efforts.’  By 14 April the message had changed and Jenrick told council leaders that councils would have to ‘share the burden’ of coronavirus related costs. We need the Government to honour its original statement and do whatever is necessary to support councils in their response to COVID-19 – including fully funding the extra financial pressures.

This Council resolves to ask the Chief Executive to write to:

·         The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government to fully fund councils for the extra costs and lost income arising from COVID-19 in line with his communication of 16th March

·         The LGA to confirm the council’s support in their lobbying of Government for increased funding for local government in response to financial pressures arising from COVID-19

·         Key partner organisations across Oldham, requesting their support for our campaign for central government funding that protects the jobs of key workers and enables Oldham to build back together.”

 

Councillor Shah spoke in support of the Motion.

Councillor Ali spoke in support of the Motion.

Councillor Al-Hamdani spoke in support of the Motion.

Councillor Surjan spoke in support of the Motion.

Councillor Mushtaq spoke in support of the Motion.

Councillor Fielding spoke in support of the Motion.

 

Councillor Jabbar exercised his right of reply.

 

On being put to the vote, 53 votes were cast in FAVOUR of the MOTION and 0 votes were cast AGAINST with 1 ABSTENTION.  The MOTION was therefore CARRIED.

 

RESOLVED that the Chief Executive be asked to write to:

 

1.         The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government to fully fund councils for the extra costs and lost income arising from COVID-19 in line with his communication of 16th March.

2.         The LGA to confirm the Council’s support in their lobbying of Government for increased funding for local government in response to financial pressures arising from COVID-19.

3.         Key partner organisations across Oldham, to request their support for the Council’s campaign for central government funding that protects the jobs of key workers and enables Oldham to build back better.

 

Motion 2 – Care Workers vs COVID-19 Motion

 

Councillor Leach MOVED and Councillor Phythian SECONDED the following MOTION:

 

“This Council commends the incredible work of care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic caring for the most vulnerable people in Oldham.

This Council notes the results of a survey conducted by UNISON North West which found that 8 out of 10 care workers would not receive their full normal pay if they were ill or had to self-isolate or shield because of COVID-19.  As a result of the lack of occupational sick pay, some care workers said that they may have to attend work whilst ill as they could not afford to live off statutory sick pay (SSP).

This Council believes that this situation poses a serious public health risk to people that receive care and frontline care workers.  Indeed, official figures from the Office for National Statistics show that care workers are twice as likely to die from coronavirus that NHS staff.

This Council acknowledges its responsibility under the Government’s Infection Control Fund to administer the distribution of additional funding to social care providers to reduce the spread of infection, including maintaining normal wages for COVID-19 related absence.

This Council believes that no care worker should have to choose between their own health or hardship.  This Council welcomes UNISON North West’s Care Workers vs. COVID-19 Campaign which is calling for care workers to receive the support and resources they need to combat the virus.

This Council notes that 12 local authorities in the North West have already supported the Care Workers vs COVID-19 Campaign or made similar commitments around maintaining normal pay for all COVID-19 related absence.

 

This Council undertakes to:

1)         Formally endorse the principles of UNISON’s Care Workers vs. COVID-19 Campaign and commit to campaigning for the funding this Council requires to deliver on them;

2)         Communicate to providers to pay care workers their full normal pay for all COVID-19 related absences, including sickness, self-isolation or shielding;

3)         Review procurement and commissioning policies with view to increasing the weighting of social value commissioning and to ensure it includes specific requirements around occupational sick pay.”

 

AMENDMENT

 

Councillor Al-Hamdani MOVED and Councillor Hamblett SECONED the following AMENDMENT:

 

“Insert after paragraph 6 which ends with ‘related absence’, two new paragraphs, the second with bullet points as follows:

This Council also believes that the UK Government should provide greater financial rewards, ongoing support and proper recognition for care, NHS and key workers reflecting the personal danger and stress they have been placed in whilst caring for, treating or supporting residents and patients with Covid-19.

Specifically, this Council believes that such workers should:

-  receive an additional payment for every working day they have spent on the front-line of this crisis, amounting to £29 per day, backdated to the start of the pandemic. This would be akin to the deployment allowance military personnel receive during service in war-zones.

- be able to access a free 24-hour telephone support service funded by the Government.

- receive a state-funded funeral should they die from a condition related to Covid-19.

- receive, once the crisis is ended, a pandemic service medal from the Government.

And that in addition all migrants working in the NHS & social care during this crisis should be given the right to stay in the UK, with no visa fees and no bureaucracy.

Insert after bullet point 3) in the resolution two new bullet points 4) and 5) as follows:

4) Ask the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State for Health and the Home Secretary asking them to:

- institute a daily front-line service payment, backdated to the start of the pandemic

- establish a 24-hour helpline

- provide state-funded funerals

- issue a pandemic service medal

- make changes to immigration rules to grant immigrants working in health and social care the right to stay and a waiver on visa fees and bureaucracy.

5) Ask the Chief Executive to copy in our three local MPs and the Mayor of Greater Manchester to ask for their support on these issues.”

 

The motion as amended to read:

 

“This Council commends the incredible work of care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic caring for the most vulnerable people in Oldham. 

This Council notes the results of a survey conducted by UNISON North West which found that 8 out of 10 care workers would not receive their full normal pay if they were ill or had to self-isolate or shield because of COVID-19. As a result of the lack of occupational sick pay, some care workers said that they may have to attend work whilst ill as they could not afford to live off statutory sick pay (SSP). 

This Council believes that this situation poses a serious public health risk to people that receive care and frontline care workers. Indeed, official figures from the Office for National Statistics show that care workers are twice as likely to die from coronavirus than NHS staff. 

This Council acknowledges its responsibility under the Government’s Infection Control Fund to administer the distribution of additional funding to social care providers to reduce the spread of infection, including maintaining normal wages for COVID-19 related absence. 

This Council believes that no care worker should have to choose between their own health or hardship. This Council welcomes UNISON North West’s Care Workers vs COVID-19 Campaign which is calling for care workers to receive the support and resources they need to combat the virus.

This Council notes that 12 local authorities in the North West have already supported the Care Workers vs COVID-19 Campaign or made similar commitments around maintaining normal pay for all COVID-19 related absence. 

This Council also believes that the UK Government should provide greater financial rewards, ongoing support and proper recognition for care, NHS and key workers reflecting the personal danger and stress they have been placed in whilst caring for, treating or supporting residents and patients with Covid-19.

Specifically this Council believes that such workers should:

-  receive an additional payment for every working day that have spent on the front-line of this crisis, amounting to £29 per day, backdated to the start of the pandemic. This would be akin to the deployment allowance military personnel receive during service in war-zones.

- should be able to access a free 24-hour telephone support service provided by the Government.

- receive a state-funded funeral should they die from a condition related to Covid-19.

- receive, once the crisis is ended, a pandemic service medal from the Government.

And that in addition all migrants working in the NHS & social care during this crisis should be given the right to stay in the UK, with no visa fees and no bureaucracy.

This Council undertakes to: 

1) Formally endorse the principles of UNISON’s Care Workers vs COVID-19 Campaign and commit to campaigning for the funding this Council requires to deliver on them; 

2) Communicate to providers that it is this Council’s view that additional funding is used by social care providers to pay care workers their full normal pay for all COVID-19 related absence, including sickness, self-isolation or shielding; 

3) Review procurement and commissioning policies with view to increasing the weighting of social value commissioning and to ensure it includes specific requirements around occupational sick pay. 

 

4) Ask the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State for Health and the Home Secretary asking them to:

- institute a daily front-line service payment, backdated to the start of the pandemic

- establish a 24-hour helpline

- provide state-funded funerals

- issue a pandemic service medal

- make changes to immigration rules to grant immigrants working in health and social care the right to stay and a waiver on visa fees and bureaucracy.

5) Ask the Chief Executive to copy in our three local MPs and the Mayor of Greater Manchester to ask for their support on these issues.”

 

Councillor Leach exercised her right of reply.

Councillor Al-Hamdani exercised his right of reply.

 

A vote was then taken on the AMENDMENT.

 

On being put to the vote, 7 votes were cast in FAVOUR of the AMENDMENT and 45 votes were cast AGAINST with 2 ABSTENTIONS.  The AMENDMENT was therefore LOST.

 

Councillors who spoke on the ORIGINAL MOTION.

 

Councillor Leach did not exercise her right of reply.

 

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

 

RESOLVED that the Council undertook to:

1.         Formally endorse the principles of UNISON’s Care Workers vs. COVID-19 Campaign and commit to campaigning for the funding this Council requires to deliver on them.

2.         Communicate to providers that is this Council’s view that additional funding is used by social care providers to pay care workers their full normal pay for all COVID-19 related absence, including sickness, self-isolation and shielding.

3.         Review procurement and commissioning and to ensure it includes specific requirements around occupational sick pay.