Agenda item

(time limit 30 minutes)

 

Motion 1

Councillor Taylor to MOVE and Councillor Goodwin to SECOND:

New Deal for Workers

Throughout the pandemic, workers in insecure jobs without any protected employment rights have kept the country running. They have worked on the front line, caring for our most vulnerable residents, keeping essential services running and keeping food on shop shelves. 

The Living Wage Foundation estimates that over a million key workers are in insecure work, lacking basic rights and protections, and 3.8 million people are in insecure work across the economy as a whole.

At the same time, incomes have stagnated and many workers have experienced real term pay decline. The North West region has some of the highest levels of low pay, but in-work poverty is increasing nationally, with one in six working households now falling below the poverty line.

This Council notes:

• Even before the pandemic, 1 in 9 workers were already ‘insecure’, meaning they did not have access to basic rights at work and could be dismissed at will; including those on zero-hour contracts, agency workers and the bogus self-employed.
• Zero-hours contracts do not guarantee a minimum number of working hours each week. In the UK labour market, people on zero-hours contracts are more likely to be young, part-time, women, or in full-time education when compared with others in employment. Three quarters of those workers on zero-hour contracts lost shifts during the pandemic and the ‘Race on the Agenda’ (ROTA) report shows that a disproportionate number of Black and minority ethnic (BME) workers are on zero-hours contracts.
• 1 in 10 workers have experienced ‘fire and rehire’ and have been told to reapply for their jobs on worse pay and terms and conditions, or face the sack – with BME workers facing this at twice the rate of white workers. Since March 2020 (TUC research, January 2021) a quarter of all workers have experienced a worsening of their terms and conditions – including a cut in their pay – since the pandemic began.
• That while the Prime Minister has called the practice of ‘fire and rehire’ “unacceptable” he has continually refused to take action to outlaw it, raising concerns that he will not intervene in the race to the bottom. An escalating number of employers across all sectors are using weak employment protections to force their staff to accept worse terms and conditions, meaning many have to work longer hours for lower pay, with what can be devastating consequences for workers and their families.
• Despite austerity, as a Labour led council we pay our employees the real living wage. It is important that working people have a decent wage and the council is an accredited Living Wage Employer and encourages others to become the same.

The council further notes, insecure work is bad for working people and bad for the economy, which is why we need a better settlement to support rights and provisions for working people.

This council therefore resolves to:

• Work to ensure that local residents are protected against unscrupulous employers and ask the Chief Executive to write to the Prime Minister demanding an end to ‘fire and rehire’ and keep his promise to local residents to protect their employment terms and conditions, and to ask that all key workers get a pay rise at least equal to inflation.
• Not to use ‘fire and rehire’ as an employer and to discourage its use by council contractors and to continue to ensure the council’s procurement practices certify that we use contractors that have good employment, equality and environmental records.
• Promote the increasing number of progressive local employers prioritising their employees’ standard of living and wellbeing, by working with our anchor institutions, key partners and recognised trade unions, to bring forward plans to ensure all have best practice employment.
• Encourage local businesses to support the Greater Manchester (GM) Good Employment Charter to improve employment standards across the Borough.
• Support the TUC campaign for a ‘New Deal for Working People’.

 

Motion 2

Councillor Munroe to MOVE and Councillor Moores to Second:

Early Years Funding

Well-established research continues to emphasize the importance of early childhood education as an essential building block of a child’s future success. Early years education provides a strong base for future learning and it develops a child’s cognitive and social development, ensuring that they are school ready.

Childcare is a fundamental building block of the economy and many working parents and parents who are undertaking education or training are dependent on childcare provision. If sufficient childcare places are not available it has a significant impact on businesses, the health service, education, and many other sectors of the economy.

Yet over the last decade, early years services have been neglected by the Conservative Government.

Like all Local Authorities, Oldham has a statutory duty to ensure that there are sufficient free childcare places to enable take-up of early years entitlements, and like many Local Authorities we are seeing settings closing due to problems recruiting and retaining staff.

The National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) has warned, “Nurseries across the UK are being forced to close or reduce their services at an alarming rate because they are struggling to recruit and retain staff.”

Without urgent action, this loss of provision will have a significant impact on children and families who are unable to access services they need and deserve.

 

This Council notes:

• There are areas in some parts of the borough that have insufficient places available to meet demand.
• Official data from Ofsted shows nurseries are closing at a higher rate in poor and disadvantaged neighbourhoods.
• Early Years providers are struggling financially, because cost of living is rising above the most recent increase in Funded Early Learning (FEL).

• That the recruitment and retention of Nursery staff is a cause of concern.
• That there is pressure on the system due to rising numbers of SEND and vulnerable children.

 

This Council:.

• Is concerned that the sector has been disproportionately impacted by Covid-19 and believes that, although early years providers were relied upon to enable key workers to continue to work during the pandemic, they received insufficient financial protection.
• Is concerned that the historical underfunding, increasing costs and impact of Covid-19, means that early years’ providers across the childcare sector will be faced with financial sustainability issues.
• Is concerned that this lack of adequate funding is making it increasingly difficult to recruit and retain staff due to the early years providers’ inability to pay competitive rates.
• Notes that Oldham continues to be underfunded as compared to other local authorities, with the disparity in Oldham’s hourly Funded Early Learning (FEL). Funding for both 2-year-old entitlement and 3 – 4-year-old entitlement is considerably lower than the national average, the GM average and our statistical neighbours.

 

Type of funding	National average	Statistical neighbour average	GM average	Oldham average
2-year-old entitlement	£5.47	£5.34	£5.30	£5.19
3- & 4-year-old entitlement	£4.81	£5.05	£4.48	£4.24

 

This Council resolves to:

Ask the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State for Education  outlining our concerns and asking for swift action to: address this disparity and provide Oldham Metropolitan Borough with a fair funding deal in addition to the additional investment needed to ensure every child can recover the learning and social development lost in the pandemic and has the chance to reach their full potential.

 

Motion 1 – New Deal for Workers

 

Councillor Taylor MOVED and Councillor Goodwin SECONDED the following MOTION: New Deal for Workers

 

Throughout the pandemic, workers in insecure jobs without any protected employment rights have kept the country running. They have worked on the front line, caring for our most vulnerable residents, keeping essential services running and keeping food on shop shelves.

The Living Wage Foundation estimates that over a million key workers are in insecure work, lacking basic rights and protections, and 3.8 million people are in insecure work across the economy as a whole.

At the same time, incomes have stagnated and many workers have experienced real term pay decline. The North West region has some of the highest levels of low pay, but in-work poverty is increasing nationally, with one in six working households now falling below the poverty line.

 

This Council notes:

•           Even before the pandemic, 1 in 9 workers were already ‘insecure’, meaning they did not have access to basic rights at work and could be dismissed at will; including those on zero-hour contracts, agency workers and the bogus self-employed.

•           Zero-hours contracts do not guarantee a minimum number of working hours each week. In the UK labour market, people on zero-hours contracts are more likely to be young, part-time, women, or in full-time education when compared with others in employment. Three quarters of those workers on zero-hour contracts lost shifts during the pandemic and the ‘Race on the Agenda’ (ROTA) report shows that a disproportionate number of Black and minority ethnic (BME) workers are on zero-hours contracts.

•           1 in 10 workers have experienced ‘fire and rehire’ and have been told to reapply for their jobs on worse pay and terms and conditions, or face the sack – with BME workers facing this at twice the rate of white workers. Since March 2020 (TUC research, January 2021) a quarter of all workers have experienced a worsening of their terms and conditions – including a cut in their pay – since the pandemic began.

•           That while the Prime Minister has called the practice of ‘fire and rehire’ “unacceptable” he has continually refused to take action to outlaw it, raising concerns that he will not intervene in the race to the bottom. An escalating number of employers across all sectors are using weak employment protections to force their staff to accept worse terms and conditions, meaning many have to work longer hours for lower pay, with what can be devastating consequences for workers and their families.

•           Despite austerity, as a Labour led council we pay our employees the real living wage. It is important that working people have a decent wage and the council is an accredited Living Wage Employer and encourages others to become the same.

The council further notes, insecure work is bad for working people and bad for the economy, which is why we need a better settlement to support rights and provisions for working people.

 

This council therefore resolves to:

•           Work to ensure that local residents are protected against unscrupulous employers and ask the Chief Executive to write to the Prime Minister demanding an end to ‘fire and rehire’ and keep his promise to local residents to protect their employment terms and conditions, and to ask that all key workers get a pay rise at least equal to inflation.

•           Not to use ‘fire and rehire’ as an employer and to discourage its use by council contractors and to continue to ensure the council’s procurement practices certify that we use contractors that have good employment, equality and environmental records.

•           Promote the increasing number of progressive local employers prioritising their employees’ standard of living and wellbeing, by working with our anchor institutions, key partners and recognised trade unions, to bring forward plans to ensure all have best practice employment.

•           Encourage local businesses to support the Greater Manchester (GM) Good Employment Charter to improve employment standards across the Borough.

•           Support the TUC campaign for a ‘New Deal for Working People’.

 

AMENDMENT

 

Councillor Quigg MOVED and Councillor Arnott SECONDED the following AMENDMENT:

 

Throughout the pandemic, workers in all types of employment have kept the country running. They have worked on the front line, caring for our most vulnerable residents, keeping essential services running and keeping food on shop shelves.

 

The Living Wage Foundation estimates that over a million key workers are in insecure work, lacking basic rights and protections, and 3.8 million people are in insecure work across the economy as a whole. We agree more must be done to tackle this, but according to the Office of National Statistics, the unemployment rate had generally been falling since late 2013 up until the start of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in December 2019 to February 2020. It has now returned to pre-coronavirus pandemic levels.

However more must be done to keep money in people’s pockets by having more secure employment and reducing the tax burden on the wages people earn. We note with concern, that where incomes have stagnated that many workers have experienced real term pay decline. The North West region has some of the highest levels of low pay, in-work poverty is increasing nationally, with one in six working households now falling below the poverty line. This is due to policies by local authorities like Oldham Council which actively encouraged low paid jobs and boasted that “The average wage rate in Oldham is 16% lower than the UK average, representing a significant cost saving for businesses” (OMBC Investment activity brochure, 2013).

Sadly, unscrupulous employers have used cheaper labour from abroad and places like the European Union, whilst failing to invest in upskilling and retraining a more than capable domestic workforce. To tackle low pay, we support employers and local authorities who invest in upskilling and retraining their workforce and the government’s plan to control migration levels. We also reject Britain ever re-joining the European Union (EU), European Economic Area, EU Customs Union or EU Single Market which helped stagnate working peoples pay.

 

This Council notes:

• Even before the pandemic, 1 in 9 workers were already ‘insecure’, meaning they did not have access to basic rights at work and could be dismissed at will; including those on zero-hour contracts, agency workers and the bogus self-employed.

• Zero-hours contracts do not guarantee a minimum number of working hours

each week. In the UK labour market, people on zero-hours contracts are more

likely to be young, part-time, women, or in full-time education when compared

with others in employment.                                                                                                                                    • Three quarters of those workers on zero-hour contracts lost shifts during the pandemic and the ‘Race on the Agenda’ (ROTA) report shows that a disproportionate number of Black and minority ethnic (BME) workers are on zero-hours contracts.

• 1 in 10 workers have experienced ‘fire and rehire’ and have been told to reapply for their jobs on worse pay and terms and conditions, or face the sack – with BME workers facing this at twice the rate of white workers. Since March 2020 (TUC research, January 2021) a quarter of all workers have experienced a worsening of their terms and conditions – including a cut in their pay – since the pandemic began.

• We oppose the actions of employers across all sectors that force their staff to accept worse terms and conditions, meaning they may have to work longer hours for lower pay, with what can be devastating consequences for workers and their families.

• That Oldham Council pays its employees the real living wage. It is important that working people have a decent wage and the council is an accredited Living Wage Employer and encourages others to become the same. The council further notes, insecure work is bad for working people and bad for the economy, which is why we need a better settlement to support rights and provisions for working people.

 

This Council therefore resolves to:

• Work to ensure that local residents are protected against unscrupulous

employers and ask the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State at the Department for Work and Pensions requesting if legislation will be tabled to end ‘fire and rehire’ and protect residents employment terms and conditions, and to ask that workers get a pay rise at least equal to inflation where financially possible, with low paid workers being given priority.

• That Oldham Council will not use ‘fire and rehire’ as an employer and will not sign contracts with contractors who use them and will continue to ensure the council’s procurement practices certify that we use contractors that have good employment, equality and environmental records.

• Welcome the increasing number of local employers prioritising their

employees’ standard of living and wellbeing, by working with our anchor

institutions, key partners and recognised trade unions, to bring forward plans to ensure all have best practice employment.

• Encourage local businesses to support the Greater Manchester (GM) Good Employment Charter to improve employment standards across the Borough.

• Confirm when Oldham Council will meet the full objectives of the TUC campaign for a ‘New Deal for Working People’.

• Welcome the Conservative government increasing the National Living Wage which has increased to £9.50 from 1 April 2022 – which equates to an extra £1,000 a year for a full-time worker.

• Welcome the Conservative government increasing the tax-free personal allowance to £12,570 since 2010 and welcome the £6 billion tax cut that will see the level at which people start paying National Insurance rise to £12,570 – lifting 2.2 million people out of paying any personal tax and ensuring people get to keep more of the money they earn.

• REJECT Britain ever re-joining the European Union (EU), European Economic Area, EU Customs Union or EU Single Market which helped stagnate working peoples pay.

• Write to Oldham’s three MP’s seeking to confirm that they and the Labour Party will REJECT Britain ever re-joining the European Union (EU), European Economic Area, EU Customs Union or EU Single Market which helped stagnate working peoples pay.

 

A vote was then taken on the AMENDMENT, which was LOST.

 

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

 

RESOLVED that Oldham Council:

1.    Works to ensure that local residents are protected against unscrupulous employers and ask the Chief Executive to write to the Prime Minister demanding an end to ‘fire and rehire’ and keep his promise to local residents to protect their employment terms and conditions, and to ask that all key workers get a pay rise at least equal to inflation.

2.    Not to use ‘fire and rehire’ as an employer and to discourage its use by council contractors and to continue to ensure the council’s procurement practices certify that we use contractors that have good employment, equality and environmental records.

3.    Promote the increasing number of progressive local employers prioritising their employees’ standard of living and wellbeing, by working with our anchor institutions, key partners and recognised trade unions, to bring forward plans to ensure all have best practice employment.

4.    Encourage local businesses to support the Greater Manchester (GM) Good Employment Charter to improve employment standards across the Borough.

5.    Support the TUC campaign for a ‘New Deal for Working People’.

 

Motion 2 – Early Years Funding

 

Councillor Munroe MOVED and Councillor Moores SECONDED the following MOTION: Early Years Funding:

 

Well-established research continues to emphasize the importance of early childhood education as an essential building block of a child’s future success. Early years education provides a strong base for future learning and it develops a child’s cognitive and social development, ensuring that they are school ready.

Childcare is a fundamental building block of the economy and many working parents and parents who are undertaking education or training are dependent on childcare provision. If sufficient childcare places are not available it has a significant impact on businesses, the health service, education, and many other sectors of the economy.

Yet over the last decade, early years services have been neglected by the Conservative Government.

Like all Local Authorities, Oldham has a statutory duty to ensure that there are sufficient free childcare places to enable take-up of early years entitlements, and like many Local Authorities we are seeing settings closing due to problems recruiting and retaining staff.

The National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) has warned, “Nurseries across the UK are being forced to close or reduce their services at an alarming rate because they are struggling to recruit and retain staff.”

Without urgent action, this loss of provision will have a significant impact on children and families who are unable to access services they need and deserve.

 

This Council notes:

• There are areas in some parts of the borough that have insufficient places available to meet demand.
• Official data from Ofsted shows nurseries are closing at a higher rate in poor and disadvantaged neighbourhoods.
• Early Years providers are struggling financially, because cost of living is rising above the most recent increase in Funded Early Learning (FEL).

• That the recruitment and retention of Nursery staff is a cause of concern.
• That there is pressure on the system due to rising numbers of SEND and vulnerable children.

 

This Council:

• Is concerned that the sector has been disproportionately impacted by Covid-19 and believes that, although early years providers were relied upon to enable key workers to continue to work during the pandemic, they received insufficient financial protection.
• Is concerned that the historical underfunding, increasing costs and impact of Covid-19, means that early years’ providers across the childcare sector will be faced with financial sustainability issues.
• Is concerned that this lack of adequate funding is making it increasingly difficult to recruit and retain staff due to the early years providers’ inability to pay competitive rates.
• Notes that Oldham continues to be underfunded as compared to other local authorities, with the disparity in Oldham’s hourly Funded Early Learning (FEL). Funding for both 2-year-old entitlement and 3 – 4-year-old entitlement is considerably lower than the national average, the GM average and our statistical neighbours.

 

Type of funding	National average	Statistical neighbour average	GM average	Oldham average
2-year-old entitlement	£5.47	£5.34	£5.30	£5.19
3- & 4-year-old entitlement	£4.81	£5.05	£4.48	£4.24

 

This Council resolves to:

Ask the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State for Education  outlining our concerns and asking for swift action to: address this disparity and provide Oldham Metropolitan Borough with a fair funding deal in addition to the additional investment needed to ensure every child can recover the learning and social development lost in the pandemic and has the chance to reach their full potential.

 

AMENDMENT

 

Councillor Quigg MOVED and Councillor Arnott SECONDED the following AMENDMENT:

 

Red: Strike out Green: Replace with/add.
Early Years Funding
Well-established research continues to emphasizse the importance of early childhood education as an essential building block of a child’s future success. Early years education provides a strong base for future learning and it develops a child’s cognitive and social development, ensuring that they are school ready. Childcare is a fundamental building block of the economy and many working parents and parents who are undertaking education or training are dependent on childcare provision. If sufficient childcare places are not available it has a significant impact on businesses, the health service, education, and many other sectors of the economy.
Yet over the last decade, early years services have been neglected by the
Conservative Government.  Like all Local Authorities, Oldham has a statutory duty to ensure that there are sufficient free childcare places to enable take-up of early years entitlements, and like many Local Authorities we are seeing settings closing due to problems recruiting and retaining staff. The National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) has warned, “Nurseries across the
UK are being forced to close or reduce their services at an alarming rate because they are struggling to recruit and retain staff.” Without urgent action, this loss of provision will have a significant impact on children and families who are unable to access services they need and deserve.

This Council notes:
· There are areas in some parts of the borough that have insufficient places
available to meet demand due to a failure by this Council to plan.
· Official data from Ofsted The Guardian Newspaper has claimed shows nurseries are closing at a higher rate in poor and disadvantaged neighbourhoods.

· The data shows that there has been a 3.8% increase for 2-year-old free early education entitlement in Oldham and in the Greater Manchester authorities to £5.67 as per the data set from the Department of Education for 2022/23.

· The data shows that there has been a 3.7% increase for 3 to 4-year-old free early education entitlements in Oldham and in the Greater Manchester authorities. With Oldham now receiving £4.66 as per the data set from the Department of Education for 2022/23.

· The government has already announced up to £180m to provide better training and support for staff working with preschool children.

 

 

· It is concerning that some Early Years providers are struggling financially, because cost of living is rising above the most recent increase in Funded Early Learning (FEL).

· That the recruitment and retention of Nursery staff is a cause of concern.
· That there is pressure on the system due to rising numbers of SEND and
vulnerable children.
This Council:
· Is concerned that the sector has been disproportionately impacted by Covid-19 and believes that, although early years providers were relied upon to enable key workers to continue to work during the pandemic., they received insufficient financial protection.
· Is concerned that the historical underfunding, increasing costs and impact of
Covid-19, means that early years’ providers across the childcare sector will may be faced with financial sustainability issues.
· Is concerned that this lack of adequate funding is making it increasingly difficult to recruit and retain staff due to the early years providers’ inability to pay competitive rates.
· Notes that Oldham continues to be underfunded as compared to other local
authorities, with the disparity in Oldham’s hourly Funded Early Learning (FEL). Funding for both 2-year-old entitlement and 3 – 4-year-old entitlement is considerably lower than the national average, the GM average and our
statistical neighbours.

·         This Council resolves to:
Ask the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State for Education outlining our concerns and asking for swift action to: address this disparity and provide Oldham Metropolitan Borough with a fair funding deal in addition to the additional investment needed to ensure every child can recover the learning and social development lost in the pandemic and has the chance to reach their full potential.

·         That the Council Leader of Oldham Council will instruct the Cabinet member for Finance to direct the appropriate funding to this vital service.

·         To contact local employers and make sure that their employees are aware of the free hours of childcare available and to take up the provision where their employees are not aware.

 

A vote was then taken on the AMENDMENT, which was LOST.

 

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

 

RESOLVED

Council requests that the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State for Education, outlining our concerns and asking for swift action to: address this disparity and provide Oldham Metropolitan Borough with a fair funding deal in addition to the additional investment needed to ensure every child can recover the learning and social development lost in the pandemic and has the chance to reach their full potential.