(time limit 30 minutes)
Motion 1
Councillor Sykes to MOVE and Councillor Williamson to SECOND:
20’s Plenty in 2020
This Council notes that:
· speed limits on Britain’s residential roads are 60% higher than in Europe.
· more than half of all road accident casualties occur on roads with 30mph limits.
· that a pedestrian is 7 times more likely to die if they are hit by a vehicle travelling at 30 miles per hour than they are at 20 mph and 10 times more likely if aged 60 or older.
· reducing speed limits on residential roads has been found to reduce the incidence of accidents, the numbers of fatalities and serious injuries that result, and air pollution.
· over 20 million citizens live in local authorities in the UK, including five authorities in Greater Manchester, which have adopted or are adopting a default speed limit of 20mph on residential roads.
· the default speed limit of 20mph has been adopted by other local authorities without the implementation of physical calming measures.
· in February 2020, road safety experts from 130 countries adopted the ‘Stockholm Declaration’ recommending 20mph / 30kph as the preferred default speed limit on residential roads and, in August 2020, the UN General Assembly endorsed this recommendation.
This Council recognises that:
· If we are to ‘build back better’ after Covid-19, one of our key concerns must be to address all aspects of public health.
· This should include lowering the default speed of motor vehicles driven on our residential roads to reduce the danger to residents.
· Such a measure should be boroughwide and comprehensive.
This Council therefore resolves to:
· Seek in principle to implement a borough-wide 20 mph speed limit on residential roads.
· Ask the Overview and Scrutiny Board to look again at the practicalities and timescale of introducing such a scheme, in consultation with the 20’s Plenty Campaign, for consideration by full Council at the earliest possible opportunity.
Motion 2
Councillor Al-Hamdani to MOVE and Councillor Hazel Gloster to SECOND:
Let’s make street harassment a crime
This Council is committed to making our Borough a safer place for everyone.
Council notes:
– Public sexual harassment is the most common form of violence against women and girls, restricting their freedom of movement and expression;
– That in surveys two-thirds of women and girls report they have faced street harassment in the UK;
– That street harassment in the UK is not covered by any specific offence, unlike in Portugal, Belgium and France;
– That stopping street harassment would be a powerful step in tackling inequality and keeping women safe;
– The incredible work of Our Streets Now, and their petition which has attracted over 200,000 signatures to make street harassment a specific crime;
– That according to a report by Our Streets Now, only 14 per cent of pupils have been taught about public sexual harassment at school, and that 47 per cent of them would not report an incident of public sexual harassment to their school because they were afraid or feared they would not be taken seriously by staff.
Council recognises
– That we must create an environment where street harassment is seen and policed as a crime, and where girls feel safer on our streets;
– That we need to work together with our schools to ensure that anyone who is harassed will feel confident that their report will be treated with the respect, care and seriousness that is required;
– That changing the law, and education for our young people, are key planks in combating street harassment, establishing safer streets, and delivering equality.
Council resolves to:
– Promote the Our Streets Now campaign to make street harassment a crime, and encourage all elected members, and residents to sign the petition;
– Ask the Chief Executive to write to the Home Secretary to ask her to make street harassment a specific crime;
– Ask the Chief Executive to write to the three MPs who cover the Borough, and the Mayor of Greater Manchester / Police and Crime Commissioner, to ask them to show their support for this campaign by signing the petition and by lobbying ministers to make street harassment a specific crime;
– Ask schools, academies and colleges in the Borough to each develop a clear policy on tackling harassment, separate to their bullying policy;
– Ask local schools to include education around public sexual harassment as part of their PSHE education;
– Ensure that the recommendations of the Our Schools Now report are communicated to schools with a view to integrating their recommendations into their PSHE teaching
Motion 3
Councillor Harkness to MOVE and Councillor Hamblett to SECOND:
Time to tackle child food poverty
This Council:
· Believes that, in one of the world’s most advanced economies, it is shameful that two decades into the twenty-first century, children still go hungry in the UK.
· Is committed to ensuring that reducing child food poverty in our Borough remains one of our top priorities and commends organisations in this Borough which are working to do so.
· Also commends the initiative of Manchester United footballer Marcus Rashford who has successfully campaigned on school holiday hunger and has recently formed a taskforce with some of the UK’s leading food retailers and charities to help reduce child food poverty.
· Notes that this taskforce has called upon the government to fund three policy recommendations from the National Food Strategy, an independent review of UK food policy, as soon as possible:
o The expansion of free school meals to every child from a household on Universal Credit or equivalent, reaching an additional 1.5m children aged seven to 16
o The expansion of holiday food and activities to support all children on free school meals, reaching an additional 1.1m children
o Increasing the value of the Healthy Start vouchers from £3.10 to £4.25 per week and expanding it to all those on Universal Credit or equivalent, reaching an additional 290,000 children under the age of four and pregnant women
· Notes that the taskforce has said that implementing these three recommendations would mark a ‘unifying step to identifying a long-term solution to child poverty in the UK’.
Council concurs with the conclusion of the taskforce in calling upon the government to immediately fund these recommendations.
Council feels that if the Prime Minister wishes to be believed when he talks of ‘building (Britain) back better’ then he must address child food poverty as a top priority; for how can Britain be better when our nation’s children continue to go hungry?
Council resolves to ask the Chief Executive to write to:
· Mr Marcus Rashford commending him for his initiative and offering this Council’s support for his work and that of the taskforce.
· Mr Henry Dimbleby, who led the National Food Strategy, commending the work of the review panel and offering this Council’s support for their recommendations.
· The Chancellor of the Exchequer calling upon him to fund these three top recommendations as a matter of great urgency.
· Our three local MPs asking them to also make urgent representations to the Chancellor on this issue.
Motion 4
Councillor Hobin to MOVE and Councillor Hudson to SECOND:
Independent Public Enquiry into Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) (Historical & Present) within Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council (OMBC), including the actions and knowledge of Council Members and Officers.
Council notes that:
Over the past 12 months or more, allegations have been levelled at OMBC and its officers, calling into question whether the protection of children has been compromised.
Allegations that officers/members were aware of child grooming gangs operating in the OMBC administered area, seeking to prevent this from the public.
Trust and accountability are important measurements when dealing with issues such as these. We are therefore disappointed when it was claimed that “allegations and claims made online are bare faced lies designed purely to stoke fears and score political points.” In matters such as these we believe that we all have a duty to answer the concerns of members of the public who are deeply, deeply concerned about this issue. It is an issue which transcends party politics.
The ‘review’ currently in place and its Terms of Reference are insufficient as we are aware from regrettable developments and consequential investigations in Rotherham and Rochdale, alleged CSE offending– including matters of trafficking, abduction, grooming and inciting sexual activity with children - does not begin and end with compartmentalised and readily definable time periods. Whilst we concede that in order to be manageable any review must have frames of reference, we submit that a lack of flexibility in the same creates an artificial line-in-the-sand that may ignore evidence pre-dating the frames of reference. They are not suitably independent due to the oversight of the offices of the Greater Manchester Mayor, and Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council officers sitting within the steering group.
That placing the burden of reporting matters outside the frames of reference upon potential historic victims of CSE in Oldham, is ignoring the fact that complainants in such matters of this nature are often reluctant to come forward. Of concern are claims that interviews have not been robust and that testimony does not accurately reflect the discussions held, investigators have failed to attend pre-arranged interviews, whilst others, including victims with relevant information, are still waiting to be contacted. Therefore we believe that the current review lacks the flexibility needed in order to take account for the fact that any review of evidence (direct testimony on oath, statement accompanied by a statement of truth or documentary records) is an organic process and may result in potentially new information coming to light. Indeed, victims can be reluctant to come forward especially if their first point of contact was the same institution that may have failed them in the first instance. It clearly falls short of what the public expect and what victims deserve.
This issue is above any party-political leanings. Is not an indictment on the work carried out by Council Children’s Services team, rather the governance of this administration.
The ultimate basis is the welfare and protection of children in the borough.
The council regularly claims to be open and transparent in its workings. Now is the time to demonstrate this and reassure constituents, and the wider public by standing together against the discovery of paedophilia and any forms of Child Sexual Exploitation. Now is the time for us, as a
united Council to show we will not shy away from identifying any perpetrator, ensuring justice, regardless of their standing.
Council resolves that;
The Chief Executive contact the Home Secretary and the Minister for Housing, Communities and Local Government, requesting they instigate a fully independent enquiry.
The Chief Executive request that said enquiry be totally outside the scope of the present OMBC administration, with full legal standing and complete access to all relevant documentation and departments within the council.
The Chief Executive write to the Greater Manchester Mayor to demand that ALL documentation obtained to date, be handed over to the Central Government led enquiry.
The Council to nominate a member to work with the enquiry, acting as an independent conduit between all parties. This nominee would be responsible for reporting progress and any relevant findings back to Council at regular intervals. In order to reassure constituents, they should share updates with the wider public also. All information shared would be subject to legal processes and confidentiality measures.
Minutes:
At this point in the meeting Councillor Hobin raised a Point of Order and referred to Opposition Motion 4 on the agenda and the Amendment put forward on the Motion. In reference to Council Procedure Rules, Councillor Hobin sought clarification that as the Amendment looked like a complete rewrite, if the Amendment should be allowed and also sought clarification as to if the Amendment had been received before the deadline. Clarification was provided that the Amendment had been received before the deadline and that the Amendment was valid.
Motion 1 – 20’s Plenty in 2020
Councillor Sykes MOVED and Councillor Williamson SECONDED the following MOTION:
“This Council notes that:
· Speed limits on Britain’s residential roads are 60% higher than in Europe.
· More than half of all road accident casualties occur on roads with 30mph limits.
· That a pedestrian is 7 times more likely to die if they are hit be a vehicle travelling at 30 miles per hour than they are at 20mph and 10 times more likely if aged 60 or older.
· Reducing speed limits on residential roads has been found to reduce the incidence of accidents, the numbers of fatalities and serious injuries that result, and air pollution.
· Over 20 million citizens live in local authorities in the UK, including five authorities in Greater Manchester, which have adopted or are adopting a default speed limit of 20mph on residential roads.
· The default speed limit of 20mph has been adopted by other local authorities without the implementation of physical calming measures.
· In February 2020, road safety experts from 130 countries adopted the ‘Stockholm Declaration’ recommending 20mph / 30kph as the preferred default speed limit on residential roads and, in August 2020, the UN General Assembly endorsed this recommendation.
This Council recognises that:
· If we are to ‘build back better’ after Covid-19, one of our key concerns must be to address all aspects of public health.
· This should include lowering the default speed of motor vehicles driven on our residential roads to reduce the danger to residents.
· Such a measure should be boroughwide and comprehensive.
This Council therefore resolves to:
· Seek in principle to implement a borough-wide 20 mph speed limit on residential roads.
· Ask the Overview and Scrutiny Board to look again at the practicalities and timescale of introducing such a scheme, in consultation with the 20’s Plenty Campaign, for consideration by full Council at the earliest opportunity.”
Councillor Harkness spoke in support of the Motion.
Councillor C. Gloster spoke in support of the Motion.
Councillor Hudson spoke on the Motion.
Councillor Sykes exercised his right of reply.
Councillor Sykes raised a point of order related to timing as electronic voting was not working and it was confirmed that time needed for votes to be taken would not be included in the timing of the motions.
On being put to the vote, 45 votes were cast in FAVOUR of the MOTION and 0 votes were cast AGAINST with 5 ABSTENTIONS. The MOTION was therefore CARRIED.
RESOLVED that:
1. The implementation of a borough-wide 20 mph speed limit on residential roads be sought in principle.
2. The Overview and Scrutiny Board be asked to look again at the practicalities and timescales for the introduction of such a scheme, in consultation with the 20’s Plenty Campaign, for consideration by Full Council at the earliest possible opportunity.
Motion 2 – Let’s Make Street Harassment a Crime
Councillor Al-Hamdani MOVED and Councillor H. Gloster SECONDED the following MOTION:
“This Council is committed to making our Borough a safer place for everyone.
Council notes:
- Public sexual harassment is the most common form of violence against women and girls, restricting their freedom of movement and expression;
- That in surveys two-thirds of women and girls report they have faced street harassment in the UK;
- That street harassment in the UK is not covered by any specific offence, unlike in Portugal, Belgium and France;
- That stopping street harassment would be a powerful step in tackling inequality and keeping women safe;
- The incredible work of Our Streets Now, and their petition which has attracted over 200,000 signatures to make street harassment a specific crime;
- That according to a report by Our Streets Now, only 14 per cent of pupils have been taught about public sexual harassment at school, and that 47 per cent of them would not report an incident of public sexual harassment to their school because they were afraid or feared they would not be taken seriously by staff.
Council recognises:
- That we must create an environment where street harassment is seen and policed as a crime, and where girls feel safer on our streets;
- That we need to work together with our schools to ensure that anyone who is harassed will feel confident that their report will be treated with the respect, care and seriousness that is required;
- That changing the law, and education for our young people, are key planks in combating street harassment, establishing safer streets, and delivering equality.
Council resolves to:
- Promote the Our Streets Now campaign to make street harassment a crime, and encourage all elected members, and residents to sign the petition;
- Ask the Chief Executive to write to the Home Secretary to ask her to make street harassment a specific crime;
- Ask the Chief Executive to write to the three MPs who cover the Borough, and the Mayor of Greater Manchester / Police and Crime Commissioner, to ask them to show their support for this campaign by signing the petition and by lobbying ministers to make street harassment a specific crime;
- Ask schools, academies and colleges in the Borough to each develop a clear policy on tackling harassment, separate to their bullying policy;
- Ask local schools to include education around public sexual harassment as part of the PSHE education;
- Ensure that the recommendations of the Our Schools Now report are communicated to schools with a view to integrating their recommendations into their PSHE teaching.”
Councillor Byrne spoke on the Motion.
Councillor Mushtaq spoke in support of the Motion.
Councillor Al-Hamdani exercised his right of reply.
On being put to the vote, the MOTION was CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
RESOLVED that:
1. The Our Streets Now Campaign to make street harassment a crime be promoted and all elected members and residents be encouraged to sign the petition.
2. The Chief Executive be asked to write to the Home Secretary to ask her to make street harassment a specific crime.
3. The Chief Executive be asked to write to the three MPs who cover the Borough and the Mayor of Greater Manchester / Police and Crime Commissioner to ask them to show their support for this campaign by signing the petition and by lobbying ministers to make street harassment a specific crime.
4. Schools, academies and colleges in the Borough be asked to develop a clear policy on tackling harassment, separate to their bullying policy.
5. Local schools be asked to include education around public sexual harassment as part of the PSHE education.
6. The recommendations of the Our Schools Now report be communicated to schools with a view to integrating their recommendations into their PSHE teaching.
Motion 3 – Time to Tackle Child Food Poverty
Councillor Harkness MOVED and Councillor Hamblett SECONDED the following MOTION:
“This Council:
· Believes that, in one of the world’s most advanced economies, it is shameful that two decades into the twenty-first century, children still go hungry in the UK.
· Is committed to ensuring that reducing child food poverty in our Borough remains one of our top priorities and commends organisations in this Borough which is working to do so.
· Also commends the initiative of Manchester United footballer Marcus Rashford who has successfully campaigned on school holiday hunger and has recently formed a taskforce with some of the UK’s leading food retailers and charities to help reduce child food poverty.
· Notes that this taskforce has called upon the government to fund three policy recommendations from the National Food Strategy, an independent review of UK food policy, as soon as possible;
o The expansion of free school meals to every child form a household on Universal Credit or equivalent, reaching an additional 1.5m children aged seven to 16
o The expansion of holiday food and activities to support all children on free school meals, reaching an additional 1.1m children
o Increasing the value of the Health Start vouchers from £3.10 to £4.25 per week and expanding it to all those on Universal Credit or equivalent, reaching an additional 290,000 children under the age of four and pregnant women
· Notes that the taskforce has said that implementing these three recommendations would mark a ‘unifying step to identifying a long-term solution to child poverty in the UK’.
Council concurs with the conclusion of the taskforce in calling upon the government to immediately fund these recommendations.
Council feels that if the Prime Minister wishes to be believed when he talks of ‘building (Britain) back better’ the he must address child food poverty as a top priority; for how can Britain be better when our nation’s children continue to go hungry?
Council resolves to ask the Chief Executive to write to:
· Mr. Marcus Rashford commending him for his initiative and offering this Council’s support for his work and that of the taskforce.
· Mr. Henry Dimbleby, who led the National Food Strategy, commending the work of the review panel and offering this Council’s support for their recommendations
· The Chancellor of the Exchequer calling upon hum to fund these three top recommendations as a matter of great urgency.
· Our three local MPs asking them to also make urgent representations to the Chancellor on this issue.”
Councillor Harkness did not exercise his right of reply.
On being put to the vote, the MOTION was CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
RESOLVED that the Chief Executive be asked to write to:
1. Mr. Marcus Rashford commending him for his initiative and offering this Council’s support for his work and that of the taskforce.
2. Mr. Henry Dimbleby, who led the National Food Strategy, commending the work of the review panel and offering this Council’s support for their recommendations.
3. The Chancellor of the Exchequer calling upon him to fund these three top recommendations as a matter of great urgency.
4. The three local Ms asking them to also make urgent representations to the Chancellor on this issue.
Councillor Sykes MOVED and Councillor Fielding SECONDED a 15 minute extension under Council Procedure Rule 12.4 to Item 13. This was AGREED.
Motion 4 – Independent Public Inquiry into Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) (Historical and Present) within Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council (OMBC), including the actions and knowledge of Council Members and Officers.
Councillor Hobin MOVED and Councillor Hudson SECONDED the following MOTION:
“Council notes that:
Over the past 12 months or more, allegations have been levelled at OMBC and its officers, calling into question whether the protection of children has been compromised.
Allegations that officers/members were aware of child grooming gangs operating in the OMBC administered area, seeking to prevent this from the public.
Trust and accountability are important measurements when dealing with issues such as these. We are therefore disappointed when it was claimed that ‘allegations and claims made online are bare faced lies designed purely to stoke fears and score political points.’ In matters such as these we believe that we all have a duty to answer the concerns of members of the public who are deeply, deeply concerned about this issue. It is an issue which transcends party politics.
The ‘review’ currently in place and its Terms of Reference are insufficient as we are aware from regrettable developments and consequential investigations in Rotherham and Rochdale, alleged CSE offending – including matters of trafficking, abduction, grooming and inciting sexual activity with children – does not begin and end with compartmentalised and readily definable time periods. Whilst we concede that in order to be manageable any review must have frames of references, we submit that a lack of flexibility in the same creates an artificial line-in-the-sand that may ignore evidence pre-dating the frames of reference. They are not suitably independent due to the oversight of the offices of the Greater Manchester Mayor, and Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council officers sitting within the steering group.
That placing the burden of reporting matters outside the frames of reference upon potential historic victims of CSE in Oldham, is ignoring the fact that complainants in such matters of this nature are often reluctant to come forward. Of concern are claims that interviews have not been robust and that testimony does not accurately reflect the discussions held, investigators have failed to attend pre-arranged interviews, whilst others, including victims with relevant information, are still waiting to be contacted. Therefore we believe that the current review lacks the flexibility needed in order to take account for the fact that any review of evidence (direct testimony on oath, statement accompanied by a statement of truth or documentary records) is an organic process and may result in potentially new information coming to light. Indeed, victims can be reluctant to come forward especially if their first point of contact was the same institution that may have failed them in the first instance. It clearly falls short of what the public expect and what victims deserve.
This issue is above any party-political leanings. Is not an indictment on the work carried out by Council Children’s Services team, rather the governance of this administration.
The ultimate basis is the welfare and protection of children in the borough.
The council regularly claims to be open and transparent in its workings. Now is the time to demonstrate this and reassure constituents, and the wider public by standing together against the discovery of paedophilia or any forms of Child Sexual Exploitation. Now is the time for us, as a united Council to show that we will not shy away from identifying any perpetrator, ensuring justice, regardless of their standing.
Council resolves that:
The Chief Executive contact the Home Secretary and the Minister for Housing, Communities and Local Government, requesting they instigate a fully independent enquiry.
The Chief Executive request that said enquiry be totally outside the scope of the present OMBC administration, with full legal standing and complete access to all relevant documentation and departments within the council.
The Chief Executive write to the Greater Manchester Mayor to demand that all documentation obtained to date, be handed over to the Central Government led enquiry.
The Council to nominate a member to work with the enquiry, acting as an independent conduit between all parties. This nominee would be responsible for reporting progress and any relevant findings back to Council at regular intervals. In order to reassure constituents, they should share updates with the wider public also. All information would be subject to legal processes and confidentiality measures.”
AMENDMENT
Councillor Fielding MOVED and Councillor Moores SECONDED the following AMENDMENT:
“In paragraph 1 insert ‘unsubstantiated’ before ‘allegations’.
In paragraph 1 replace ‘calling into question whether’ with ‘suggesting that’.
At beginning of paragraph 2 replace ‘seeking to prevent’ with ‘and sought to conceal’
Delete paragraph 3 and insert ‘Child safeguarding is an issue which transcends party politics.
Delete the beginning of paragraph 4 up to the word ‘alleged’.
Delete everything after ‘periods’ in 4th paragraph and insert ‘That is why the terms of reference of an independent review which has been commissioned to investigate the aforementioned allegations state that the review “will not be limited to” the concerns numbered 1 – 3 under the section ‘Scope’.
Insert new 5th paragraph as follows: ‘The full terms of reference are publicly available on Oldham Council’s web site.’
Delete beginning of original 5th paragraph up to and including ‘nature’ and insert ‘That victims of CSE’.
In 5th paragraph replace ‘of concern are’ with ‘there exist unsubstantiated claims that.
Delete remainder of 5th paragraph after contacted.
Replace end of 6th paragraph from ‘rather’ with ‘Though Council acknowledges that the unsubstantiated allegations, personal abuse and criticism directed at members and officers of the Council and even members of their families who are not in public life, have a negative impact on the mental health and morale of those concerned, particularly given that some members in this Chamber and those who hope to be elected to it align themselves to this behaviour.’
Amend 8th paragraph to read ‘The Council regularly demonstrates openness and transparency in its workings. The Council stands together with residents and partners against paedophilia and any forms of Child Sexual Exploitation. We will not shy away from identifying any perpetrator, ensuring justice, regardless of their standing.’
Insert new first paragraph under ‘Council resolves that’ to read ‘it formally requests any elected members and other residents who have evidence to support allegations that they believe not to have been properly considered by the independent inquiry to submit it to the review as a matter of urgency and not later than the 18th November’.
In current first paragraph under ‘Council resolves to’ replace ‘requesting they instigate’ with ‘informing them that’ and after ‘inquiry’ add ‘of the unsubstantiated allegations and related cases is underway in Oldham and if no evidence referred to above is forthcoming, to inform ministers in her letter that despite repeated requests it remains unclear what evidence would be available to any further enquiry that has not yet been examined by the Independent Review.’
In current second paragraph under ‘Council resolves to’ replace ‘The Chief Executive Requests that said enquiry be’ with ‘The Chief Executive assures the aforementioned ministers in her correspondence that said inquiry is’
Delete current third paragraph under ‘Council resolves to’.
Insert new paragraph (which in amended motion will become the 4th paragraph under ‘Council resolves to’ to read ‘ The Chief Executive of the Council includes in her correspondence the details of those representatives of OMBC who work with the review as members of the steering group.’
Delete final paragraph under ‘Council resolves to’ and insert the two following paragraphs:
‘The Chief Executive write to the Independent Chair of the review steering group highlighting that unsubstantiated claims have been made that interviews held as part of the review have not been robust and that testimony does not accurately reflect the discussions held, investigators have failed to attend pre-arranged interviews, whilst others, including victims who may have relevant information, are still waiting to be contacted. This will allow the steering group to decide whether any action is required to respond to these unsubstantiated claims.
Council again commits to following the recommendations of the Independent Review.’”
Amended motion to read:
“Over the past 12 months or more, unsubstantiated allegations have been levelled at OMBC and its officers on social media, suggesting that the protection of children in the Borough has been compromised.
The unsubstantiated allegations suggest that officers/members were aware of child grooming gangs operating in the OMBC administered area, and sought to conceal this from the public.
Child safeguarding is an issue which transcends party politics.
Alleged CSE offending – including matters of trafficking, abduction, grooming and inciting sexual activity with children – do not begin and end with compartmentalised and readily definable time periods. That is why the terms of reference of an independent review which has been commissioned to investigate the aforementioned allegations state that the review ‘will not be limited to’ the concerns numbered 1 – 3 under the section ‘Scope’.
The full terms of reference are publicly available on Oldham Council’s web site.
That victims of CSE are often reluctant to come forward. There exist unsubstantiated claims that interviews have not been robust and that testimony does not accurately reflect the discussions held, investigators have failed to attend pre-arranged interviews, whilst others, including victims with relevant information, are still waiting to be contacted.
This issue is above party-political leanings. Is not an indictment on the work carried out by Council Children’s Service team. Though Council acknowledges that the unsubstantiated allegations, personal abuse and criticism directed at members and officers of the Council and even members of their families who are not in public life, have a negative impact on the mental health and morale of those concerned, particularly given that some members in this Chamber and those who hope to be elected to it align themselves to this behaviour
The ultimate basis is the welfare and protection of children in the Borough.
The Council regularly demonstrates openness and transparency in its workings. The Council stands together with residents and partners against paedophilia and any forms of Child Sexual Exploitation. We will not shy away from identifying any perpetrator, ensuring justice, regardless of their standing.
Council resolves that:
It formally requests any elected members and other residents who have evidence to support allegations they believe not to have been properly considered by the Independent inquiry to submit it to the review as a matter of urgency and not later than the 18th November.
The Chief Executive contact the Home Secretary and the Minister for Housing, Communities and Local Government, informing them that a fully independent inquiry of the unsubstantiated allegations and related cases is underway in Oldham and if no evidence referred to above is forthcoming, to inform ministers in her letter that despite repeated requests it remains unclear what evidence would be available to any further enquiry that has not yet been examined by the Independent Review.
The Chief Executive assures the aforementioned ministers in her correspondence that said inquiry is totally outside the scope of the present OMBC administration, with complete access to all relevant documentation and departments within the Council.
The Chief Executive of the Council includes in her correspondence the details of those representatives of OMBC who work with the review as members of the steering group.
The Chief Executive write to the Independent Chair of the of the review steering group highlighting that unsubstantiated claims have been made that interviews held as part of the review have not been robust and that testimony does not accurately reflect the discussions held, investigators have failed to attend pre-arranged interviews, whilst others, including victims who may have relevant information, are still waiting to be contacted. This will allow the steering group to decide whether any action is required to respond to these unsubstantiated claims.
Council again commits to following the recommendations of the Independent Review.”
Councillor Hobin exercised his right of reply.
Councillor Fielding raised a point of personal explanation.
Councillor Fielding exercised his right of reply.
A recorded vote was taken on the AMENDMENT.
|
Councillor |
|
Councillor |
|
|
Ahmad |
FOR |
Hulme |
FOR |
|
Akhtar |
ABSENT |
Hussain, A. |
FOR |
|
Al-Hamdani |
ABSTAIN |
Hussain, F. |
ABSENT |
|
Ali |
FOR |
Ibrahim |
ABSENT |
|
Alyas |
FOR |
Iqbal |
FOR |
|
Ball |
FOR |
Jabbar |
FOR |
|
Bashforth, M. |
FOR |
Jacques |
FOR |
|
Bashforth, S. |
ABSENT |
Leach |
FOR |
|
Briggs |
FOR |
Malik |
FOR |
|
Brownridge |
FOR |
McLaren |
FOR |
|
Byrne |
ABSTAIN |
Moores |
FOR |
|
Chadderton |
ABSENT |
Murphy |
ABSTAIN |
|
Chauhan |
ABSENT |
Mushtaq |
FOR |
|
Cosgrove |
FOR |
Phythian |
FOR |
|
Curley |
AGAINST |
Price |
FOR |
|
Davis |
FOR |
Roberts |
FOR |
|
Dean |
FOR |
Salamat |
FOR |
|
Fielding |
FOR |
Shah |
FOR |
|
Garry |
FOR |
Sheldon |
AGAINST |
|
Gloster, C. |
ABSTAIN |
Shuttleworth |
FOR |
|
Gloster, H. |
ABSTAIN |
Stretton |
FOR |
|
Goodwin |
FOR |
Surjan |
FOR |
|
Hamblett |
ABSTAIN |
Sykes |
ABSTAIN |
|
Haque |
FOR |
Taylor |
FOR |
|
Harkness |
ABSTAIN |
Toor |
FOR |
|
Harrison |
FOR |
Ur-Rehman |
FOR |
|
Hewitt |
FOR |
Williams |
ABSENT |
|
Hobin |
AGAINST |
Williamson |
ABSTAIN |
|
Hudson |
AGAINST |
Alexander |
FOR |
.
On being put to the vote, 38 votes were cast in FAVOUR of the AMENDMENT and 4 votes were cast AGAINST with 9 ABSTENTIONS. The AMENDMENT was therefore CARRIED.
Councillor Hobin exercised his right of reply.
A recorded vote was taken on the SUBSTANTIVE MOTION.
|
Councillor |
|
Councillor |
|
|
Ahmad |
FOR |
Hulme |
FOR |
|
Akhtar |
ABSENT |
Hussain, A. |
FOR |
|
Al-Hamdani |
FOR |
Hussain, F. |
ABSENT |
|
Ali |
FOR |
Ibrahim |
ABSENT |
|
Alyas |
FOR |
Iqbal |
FOR |
|
Ball |
FOR |
Jabbar |
FOR |
|
Bashforth, M. |
FOR |
Jacques |
FOR |
|
Bashforth, S. |
ABSENT |
Leach |
FOR |
|
Briggs |
FOR |
Malik |
FOR |
|
Brownridge |
FOR |
McLaren |
FOR |
|
Byrne |
ABSTAIN |
Moores |
FOR |
|
Chadderton |
ABSENT |
Murphy |
FOR. |
|
Chauhan |
ABSENT |
Mushtaq |
FOR |
|
Cosgrove |
FOR |
Phythian |
FOR |
|
Curley |
ABSTAIN |
Price |
FOR |
|
Davis |
FOR |
Roberts |
FOR |
|
Dean |
FOR |
Salamat |
FOR |
|
Fielding |
FOR |
Shah |
FOR |
|
Garry |
FOR |
Sheldon |
ABSTAIN |
|
Gloster, C. |
FOR |
Shuttleworth |
FOR |
|
Gloster, H. |
FOR |
Stretton |
FOR |
|
Goodwin |
FOR |
Surjan |
FOR |
|
Hamblett |
FOR |
Sykes |
FOR |
|
Haque |
FOR |
Taylor |
FOR |
|
Harkness |
FOR |
Toor |
FOR |
|
Harrison |
FOR |
Ur-Rehman |
FOR |
|
Hewitt |
FOR |
Williams |
ABSENT |
|
Hobin |
AGAINST |
Williamson |
FOR |
|
Hudson |
FOR |
Alexander |
FOR |
On being put to the vote, 47 votes were cast in FAVOUR of the SUBSTANTIVE MOTION and 1 vote was cast AGAINST with 3 ABSTENTIONS. The SUBSTANTIVE MOTION was therefore CARRIED.
RESOLVED that:
1. Any elected members and other residents who had evidence to support allegations they believed not to have been properly considered by the Independent inquiry be formally requested to submit it to the review as a matter of urgency and not later than the 18th November.
2. The Chief Executive contact the Home Secretary and the Minister for Housing, Communities and Local Government informing them that a fully independent inquiry of the unsubstantiated allegations and related cases was underway in Oldham and if no evidence referred to above was forthcoming, to inform ministers in her letter that despite repeated requests it remained unclear what evidence would be available to any further enquiry that had not yet been examined by the Independent Review.
3. The Chief Executive assures the aforementioned ministers in her correspondence that said inquiry was totally outside the scope of the present OMBC administration, with complete access to all relevant documentation and departments within the Council. The Chief Executive of the Council to include in her correspondence the details of those representatives of OMBC who worked with the review as members of the steering group.
4. The Chief Executive to write to the Independent Chair of the review steering group highlighting that unsubstantiated claims had been made that interviews held as part of the review had not been robust and that testimony did not accurately reflect the discussions held, investigators had failed to attend pre-arranged interviews, whilst others, including victims who may have relevant information, were still waiting to be contacted. This would allow the steering group to decide whether any action was required to respond to these unsubstantiated claims.
5. To again to commit to following the recommendations of the Independent Review.