Agenda item

(time limit 30 minutes)

Motion 1

To be moved by Councillor Shah

Seconded by: Councillor Birch

This Council calls for a lasting peace in Palestine & Israel

The loss of civilian life in Palestine and Israel since October is intolerable, Save the Children estimates that over twelve-thousand children have died in Gaza since the start of this conflict.

The conflict has had a deep and emotional impact on many Oldhamers, some of whom may have friends or relatives in the region.

Whilst this Council is limited in our ability to affect change in foreign policy, we have a duty to express the concerns of our residents.

This Council Notes:

·         that the House of Commons passed a resolution backing calls for a ceasefire and the immediate release of hostages.

·         that members of this Council, led by the Mayor Cllr Dr Zahid Chauhan and Leaders of all Political Groups, called for a ceasefire in early November.

·         the international community is increasingly backing calls for a ceasefire and welcomes comments in this regard by the UK Foreign Secretary and US President but recognises that words are not enough, and Palestinian civilians need urgent action to prevent further loss of life.

·         the International Court of Justice’s provisional measures and expresses concerns at reports that Israel has failed to comply with this ruing.

·         that Tell MAMA recorded over 2,000 incidents of anti-muslim hatred since October 7^th – the largest volume of cases recorded in four months since Tell MAMA was founded in 2011.

·         that the Community Safety Trust recorded 2,699 incidents of anti-Jewish hate between October 7^th and the end of the year – totalling two-thirds of all incidents reported in 2023.  

This Council:

·         condemns the terror attacks carried out by Hamas on 7^th October 2023.

·         reiterates calls for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, observed by all sides, to allow urgent aid into Gaza.

·         urges all international powers to work together to establish a diplomatic process to deliver the peace of a two-state solution, with a safe and secure Israel alongside a viable Palestinian state.

·         recognises that a Palestinian state is key to lasting peace in the region, and that statehood is the inalienable right of the Palestinian people and not in the gift of any neighbour.

This Council further:

·         resolves to support the Oldham Interfaith Forum and Community Safety Partnership to combat any incidents of Islamophobia and antisemitism in Oldham.

·         supports diplomatic efforts to ensure rapid and unimpeded humanitarian relief is provided in Gaza.

·         regrets that previous attempts to pass a ceasefire resolution at the UN Security Council have failed.

Believes an Israeli ground offensive in Rafah risks catastrophic humanitarian consequences and must not take place.

Motion 2

To be moved by Councillor Taylor

Seconded by: Councillor Holly Harrison

Bee Network

Bus deregulation was a failed experiment. Passengers lost out and vital public transport routes were lost.

Once Tranche 2 of bus franchising in Greater Manchester launches at the end of March over half of Greater Manchester buses will be under local control.

In August 2022, Greater Manchester became the first major city outside of London to introduce a cap on bus fares, prices for adults were capped at £2 a journey or £5 a day, and £1 for journey or £2.50 a day for children under 16.

This Council:

·         believes public transport should be run in the interest of public good and to the benefit of the communities it serves, not private profit.

·         welcomes the arrival of the second phase of Greater Manchester’s bus franchising in Oldham on March 24^th.

·         further welcomes bus improvements including more frequent buses, more reliable buses, a commitment to improve performance to benefit residents and to make buses safer by increasing the number of TravelSafe Officers on the Bee Network by 30

·         supports plans to full integrate Greater Manchester’s Public Transport System by January 2025.

This Council resolves:

a.     To work with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Transport for Greater Manchester, via the Bee Network Committee, to improve bus services for all Oldham residents.

b.     To ask the Leader of the Council to write to the Mayor of Greater Manchester and thank him for his commitment to bringing buses in the city-region back into public control as well as efforts to make public transport in Greater Manchester more affordable.