Agenda item

(time limit 30 minutes)

Motion 1: Recognising Palestine and the famine in Gaza

To be Moved by Councillor Mushtaq
to be  Seconded by Councillor Taylor

Next month will mark two years since the horrific attack of October 7^th, leaked data from the IDFs own figures indicate a civilian death rate of 83% in the Gaza war that followed those attacks, causing experts from the Uppsala Conflict Data Program (UCDP) to state “That proportion of civilians among those killed would be unusually high, particularly as it has been going on for such a long time.”

When compared to conflicts tracked by UCDP since 1989, only the Rwandan Genocide, the Russian siege of Mariupol and Srebrenica have a higher proportion of civilian casualties.

The number of civilians impacted by this war in Israel and Palestine is unpalatable to thousands of people across Oldham. The war is having a profound effect on millions of people worldwide as we witness unimaginable suffering.

This Council notes:

• The UK Government’s announcement on 29 July 2025 that it will formally recognise the State of Palestine in September.
• The joint statement issued on 21 July 2025 by UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy and 28 international partners, which condemned the Israeli government’s aid delivery model as “dangerous, fuelling instability and depriving Gazans of human dignity,” and called for an “immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire”.
• The speech delivered by UK Ambassador to the UN, Dame Barbara Woodward, on 23 July 2025, in which she described the Israeli aid system as “inhumane, ineffective, dangerous and fuelling instability,” and called for Israel to end attacks on civilians, cooperate with the UN, and uphold international humanitarian law.
• The official declaration by the United Nations backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) and humanitarian agencies that famine conditions now exist in Gaza, with over 640,000 people facing catastrophic food insecurity and millions more in emergency or crisis conditions.
• The IPC concluded that the decision was based on evidence of extreme food deprivation, acute malnutrition and starvation-related deaths.
• That the famine is a man-made disaster, resulting from prolonged conflict, displacement, and severe restrictions on humanitarian access.

This Council believes:

• That recognition of the State of Palestine is a vital step toward a just and lasting peace in the region.
• That the current humanitarian crisis in Gaza demands urgent and coordinated international action to prevent further loss of life.
• That Israel should immediately allow full and unrestricted humanitarian aid agencies into Gaza to immediately address the famine.
• That the UK Government’s recent statements reflect a growing international consensus on the need for accountability, humanitarian access, and a political resolution, but the time for action has never been more apparent given that a famine has been declared.
• That local authorities have a role to play in advocating for human rights, peace, and justice globally as our residents care deeply about these issues.
• That residents across Oldham have displayed their commitment to supporting aid efforts and minimising suffering in Gaza by raising awareness and fundraising for charities.

This Council resolves to:

1. Welcome and support the UK Government’s commitment to recognise the State of Palestine as part of a renewed peace process. Given that the Israeli Government hasn’t complied with the steps outlined by the UK Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary in July this Council reaffirms that now is the time for recognition of Palestinian statehood.
2. Endorse the joint statement of 21^st July 2025 and the UK’s position at the UN Security Council as expressions of moral leadership and international solidarity.
3. Urge the UK Government to accelerate and expand humanitarian assistance to Gaza, including through further diplomatic pressure for a ceasefire and unrestricted aid access.
4. Call on the international community to intensify efforts to end the famine and support long-term recovery and governance in Gaza.
5. Write to the Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary, and local MPs expressing this Council’s support for recognition of a Palestinian state and humanitarian action.

Motion 2: Setting out our ambition to become a ‘Defibrillator Friendly’ Borough

To be Moved by Councillor Brownridge
to be Seconded by Councillor Rustidge

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is one of the most urgent and time-critical medical emergencies — and without swift intervention, it is almost always fatal. Community defibrillators are a vital public health asset, offering immediate, life-saving support in those critical first minutes before emergency services arrive.

Thanks to the growing number of defibrillators across our borough, lives are already being saved. But we cannot afford to be complacent. The evidence is clear: rapid access to a defibrillator dramatically increases the chances of survival. Every second counts — and every community deserves to be protected.

By working in partnership with local organisations and empowering residents with the tools and knowledge they need, we can make Oldham a national leader, and potentially the first ‘Defibrillator Friendly’ borough in England.

This Council notes:

·         Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is one of the leading causes of sudden death in the UK.

·         Around 55 incidents occur per 100,000 people every year, and tragically, eight out of ten of these cardiac arrests happen at home.

·         Survival rates remain desperately low, with only around 9% of patients surviving to hospital discharge.

·         In these moments, every second counts, early CPR and access to a defibrillator can be the difference between life and death.

This Council further notes:

·         Here in Oldham, we face a stark reality: 64 of our community defibrillators are currently offline.

·         The local registered charity, Defibrillators Save Lives, has already proven its capability in supporting communities across Oldham, they have installed, maintained, and checked dozens of defibrillators.

·         They work directly with the North West Ambulance Service to ensure these devices are correctly registered on The Circuit and activated in an emergency.

This Council resolves to work in collaboration with Defibrillators Save Lives to:

·         Map and monitor all public-access defibrillators across the borough,

·         Ensure offline devices are repaired, restored or replaced and brought back into service,

·         Establish a routine checking and reporting system using The Circuit,

·         Provide education and awareness so that residents not only know where defibrillators are but also how to use them with confidence, similar to the hugely success Defib Day they ran in The Spindles 9^th August.

This Council further resolves:

·         To firmly state our ambition for Oldham to become the first ‘Defibrillator Friendly’ Borough in the England.