(a) Councillor Jeffery to move:
Council notes the positive contribution that our trade union colleagues make to the best possible delivery of public services in Southampton. Through partnership rather than conflict, trade unions represent their members, assist in the development of a safe and decent working environment, and add to the overall ethos of Southampton as an attractive place to work.
Council is alarmed at the way in which the Trade Union Bill seeks to tear up the collaboration between employers and trade union members, and the potential impact this will have on Southampton City Council, and many other workplaces across Southampton. The attacks on the right to strike, on the freedom of speech, and by making it more difficult for trade union members to pay their subscriptions are not just an attack on the trade union movement, but an attack on our fundamental rights in a democratic society.
Council therefore resolves the following:
· To issue a press release upholding Southampton City Council’s support for the trade union movement, and reflecting the aforementioned resolution.
(b) Councillor Mintoff to move:
This Council notes the current ongoing consultation by Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service ‘Planning for a Safer Hampshire’ and the proposal within the document to reduce night time cover at Hightown Fire Station.
This Council believes that this will increase the risk to lives and property for the whole of the East of the City, containing some of the most deprived areas in the country, at a time of the day when people are most vulnerable to fire.
Council notes that similar reductions in night time cover are not proposed for the Cosham station in Portsmouth which deals with less critical incidents, covers a smaller population, and has fewer large risks such as BP Hamble, NATS and multiple high rise buildings on their station ground.
Council calls on the Leader of the Council to write to the Chief Fire Officer to raise these concerns and on our Fire Authority members to not support any proposal that leads to the reduction in night time cover at Hightown.
(c) Councillor Letts to move:
Council notes that in the last five years we have seen unprecedented cuts to our government grant and that the cuts to local government have been concentrated on urban areas like Southampton.
Council notes that demand continues to rise in high cost service areas like adults and children’s social care.
Council calls on the Leader of the Council to write to the Chancellor and the Secretary of State for local government ahead of the autumn statement and request that our social care budgets are protected in the same way as other government budgets with rising demand such as Health. This letter to be copied to all Southampton MP’s.
Minutes:
(a) Trade Union Bill
Councillor Jeffery moved and Councillor Hammond seconded:
“Council notes the positive contribution that our trade union colleagues make to the best possible delivery of public services in Southampton. Through partnership rather than conflict, trade unions represent their members, assist in the development of a safe and decent working environment, and add to the overall ethos of Southampton as an attractive place to work.
Council is alarmed at the way in which the Trade Union Bill seeks to tear up the collaboration between employers and trade union members, and the potential impact this will have on Southampton City Council, and many other workplaces across Southampton. The attacks on the right to strike, on the freedom of speech, and by making it more difficult for trade union members to pay their subscriptions are not just an attack on the trade union movement, but an attack on our fundamental rights in a democratic society.
Council therefore resolves the following:
· To issue a press release upholding Southampton City Council’s support for the trade union movement, and reflecting the aforementioned resolution”.
UPON BEING PUT TO THE VOTE THE MOTION WAS DECLARED CARRIED
RESOLVED that the motion be approved.
(b) Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service
Councillor Mintoff moved and Councillor Spicer seconded:
“This Council notes the current ongoing consultation by Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service ‘Planning for a Safer Hampshire’ and the proposal within the document to reduce night time cover at Hightown Fire Station.
This Council believes that this will increase the risk to lives and property for the whole of the East of the City, containing some of the most deprived areas in the country, at a time of the day when people are most vulnerable to fire.
Council notes that similar reductions in night time cover are not proposed for the Cosham station in Portsmouth which deals with less critical incidents, covers a smaller population, and has fewer large risks such as BP Hamble, NATS and multiple high rise buildings on their station ground.
Council calls on the Leader of the Council to write to the Chief Fire Officer to raise these concerns and on our Fire Authority members to not support any proposal that leads to the reduction in night time cover at Hightown”.
UPON BEING PUT TO THE VOTE THE MOTION WAS DECLARED CARRIED
RESOLVED that the motion be approved.
NOTE: Councillors Mintoff and Spicer declared personal interests in the above matter, in view of their appointment as Southampton City Council appointed representatives of Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority and remained in the meeting during the consideration of the matter.
(c) Social Care Budgets
Councillor Letts moved and Councillor Chaloner seconded:
“Council notes that in the last five years we have seen unprecedented cuts to our government grant and that the cuts to local government have been concentrated on urban areas like Southampton.
Council notes that demand continues to rise in high cost service areas like adults and children’s social care.
Council calls on the Leader of the Council to write to the Chancellor and the Secretary of State for local government ahead of the autumn statement and request that our social care budgets are protected in the same way as other government budgets with rising demand such as Health. This letter to be copied to all Southampton MP’s”.
Amendment moved by Councillor Moulton and seconded by Councillor Hannides:
In paragraph one, line two, delete all after “government grant…” and replace with “
“including an in year cut to our Public Health grant”.
Add new paragraph three as follows:
“Council notes the efforts by Cllr Royston Smith MP to highlight local concerns about in year Public Health cuts and that he has written to Jane Ellison MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health) raising the council’s concerns”.
Amended motion to read
“Council notes that in the last 5 years we have seen unprecedented cuts to our government grant, including an in year cut to our Public Health grant.
Council notes that demand continues to rise in high cost service areas like adults and children’s social care.
Council notes the efforts by Cllr Royston Smith MP to highlight local concerns about in year Public Health cuts and that he has written to Jane Ellison MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health) raising the council’s concerns.
Council calls on the Leader of the Council to write to the Chancellor and Secretary of State for local government ahead of the autumn statement and request that our social care budgets are protected in the same way as other government budgets with rising demand such as Health. This letter to be copied to all Southampton’s MP’s”.
Further amendment moved by Councillor Thomas and seconded by Councillor Morrell:
In third paragraph.
delete all in line two after “ahead of the autumn statement and…”
And replace with:
“demanding that the Government restore in full all of the cuts made in recent years in local authority grants. The Leader to also, as a matter of urgency, convene a conference of local authorities, trades unions, third sector, community and anti-austerity organisations with the purpose of mobilising public support behind this demand.”
Amended motion to read
Council notes that in the last five years we have seen unprecedented cuts to our government grant and that the cuts to local government have been concentrated on urban areas like Southampton.
Council notes that demand continues to rise in high cost service areas like adults and children’s social care.
Council calls on the Leader of the Council to write to the Chancellor and the Secretary of State for local government demanding that the Government restore in full all of the cuts made in recent years in local authority grants. The Leader to also, as a matter of urgency, convene a conference of local authorities, trades unions, third sector, community and anti-austerity organisations with the purpose of mobilising public support behind this demand.
With the consent of the Mayor, Councillor Letts moved an alteration to his motion which was seconded Councillor Chaloner.
Add new paragraph three as follows
Council notes the efforts by Councillor Royston Smith MP, Alan Whitehead MP and Caroline Nokes MP to highlight local concerns about in year Public Health cuts and that Councillor Smith MP had written to Jane Ellison MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health) raising the council’s concerns”.
Altered motion to read
Council notes that in the last five years we have seen unprecedented cuts to our government grant and that the cuts to local government have been concentrated on urban areas like Southampton.
Council notes that demand continues to rise in high cost service areas like adults and children’s social care.
Council notes the efforts by Cllr Royston Smith MP, Alan Whitehead, MP and Caroline Nokes MP to highlight local concerns about in year Public Health cuts and that Councillor Smith MP had written to Jane Ellison MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health) raising the council’s concerns.
Council calls on the Leader of the Council to write to the Chancellor and the Secretary of State for local government ahead of the autumn statement and request that our social care budgets are protected in the same way as other government budgets with rising demand such as Health. This letter to be copied to all Southampton MP’s”.
The Council agreed to suspend Council Procedure Rule 14.4 to enable flexibility in debate and more than one amendment to be debated.
UPON BEING PUT TO THE VOTE THE AMENDMENT IN THE NAME OF COUNCILLOR THOMAS WAS DECLARED LOST
UPON BEING PUT TO THE VOTE THE AMENDMENT IN THE NAME OF COUNCILLOR MOULTON WAS DECLARED LOST
UPON BEING PUT TO THE VOTE THE ALTERED MOTION IN THE NAME OF COUNCILLOR LETTS WAS DECLARED CARRIED
RESOLVED that the altered motion in the name of Councillor Letts be approved.
NOTE: Councillor Noon declared a personal interests in the above matter, in view of his employment in the Adult Social Care profession and remained in the meeting during the consideration of the matter.
NOTE: Councillor Barnes-Andrews declared a pecuniary Interest in the above matter, as a recipient of foster care allowance and left the meeting during the consideration of the matter.