Agenda item
Notices of Motion
To consider the following Notices of Motion under Standing Order 12:
A – Motions referred from the Executive in accordance with Standing Order 12.1(a)
None
B – Motions submitted for consideration directly by Council, in accordance with Standing Order 12.1(b)
(i) From Cllr Kirk
“Council notes the concerns raised by local residents and health professionals in regard to the Government’s proposed reforms to the NHS contained in the Health and Social Care Bill and the petition collected by Defend Our NHS York.
Council is especially concerned by the introduction of a market based approach to the NHS and the impact this could have on decisions about local patient care. Council is also concerned that the proposals do little to improve on the current lack of local accountability for health care decisions.
Council supports the suggestions made in the amendments agreed at the recent Liberal Democrat conference, including ensuring elected local councillors have a strong role in making services accountable to local people, and believes these changes should be incorporated into the Bill by the Government.
Council therefore asks the Chief Executive to write to the city’s MPs asking them to support amendments to the Bill in order to address the concerns of residents and safeguard health services for local people.”
(ii) From Cllr Alexander
“Council notes the Liberal Democrat Yorkshire Manifesto commitment to increase the number of police officers in Yorkshire and the Humber by 200. Instead North Yorkshire alone is set to lose 200 police officers due to Conservative Liberal Democrat funding cuts.
Council requests the Chief Executive to write to the Deputy Prime Minister to request him to halt planned police cuts.”
(iii) From Cllr Wiseman
“Whereas:
There are 11 children’s heart surgery units in the UK, but the NHS is proposing under its ‘Safe and Sustainable’ review to reduce this to 6 or 7 specialist hubs undertaking 400 operations per year;
and
The choice facing the NHS review team will be to retain either the Children’s Heart Surgery Unit at Leeds General Infirmary or the unit at Newcastle to serve the north;
and
Leeds serves a major population catchments area of 14 million people in Yorkshire and the Humber, Lincolnshire and North Derbyshire, has the capacity to expand and has centralised the whole of its children’s services operations on one site;
and
Leeds General Infirmary is at the forefront of work on inherited cardiac conditions and has an excellent record for providing safe, high quality children’s heart surgery;
Council asks Members to join with local MPs and community groups to express all-party support for keeping open the Children’s Heart Unit at Leeds General Infirmary and asks the Chief Executive to write to the Department of Health to ask for the retention of the Leeds Children’s Heart Unit as the centre best placed to serve as the specialist hub for the needs of young cardiac patients in Yorkshire and the north of England.”
(iv) From Cllr Crisp
“Council notes the council has received a 13.3% funding cut this year yet the recent council budget passed by Conservative and Liberal Democrat councillors allowed the Communities and Neighbourhoods’ recruitment agency budget of £2m to be cut by only 5%. The budget also included cuts to essential mental health services, an 80% cut to Holocaust Memorial Day funding and a £38k cut to Hull Road park resulting in it being left open 24 hours a day and staff reductions.
Council resolves to reverse the £38k cut to Hull Road park, allocate £20k to youth mental health work and reverse the 80% cut to Holocaust Memorial Day funding through increased savings in the Communities and Neighbourhoods’ recruitment agency budget by £62k.”
[Signed by Cllrs
Alexander, Merrett, Boyce, Simpson-Laing and B
Watson]
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(v) From Cllr Waller
Council notes that:
1. Employment in York has been higher than the national and regional average for the whole of the last 8 years, and that York is now the 7th best performing council in the country in terms of driving down the numbers of young people not in jobs or training (NEETS).
2. In 2003 58.9% of pupils achieved 5 A* to C grades at GCSE and that by 2010 that figure had risen to 80.5%. Council further notes that City of York Council has for the fourth year been rated as a four star authority for Children’s Services, being only one of 9 authorities nationally to be awarded this top rating by Ofsted.
3. Independent inspectors have rated social care services for adults as ‘performing well’ and that the Discus Bungalows have been replaced with modern housing, and a new supported living complex, Auden House, of the quality of provision that older residents in the city should expect.
4. In 2003 York had 3 chronically neglected pools at the end of their useful lives and plans to close one and that £18m of investment has now been secured which has seen the new Energise pool built, Yearsley Pool refurbished and work set to begin soon on the city’s first competition standard pool at York Sports Village.
5. The total number of visitors to York’s libraries has increased by more than 180,000 between 2003 and 2009, thanks to the innovative partnerships which helped to deliver the Explore Centre model which will now be rolled out to all the city’s libraries.
6. In 2003 recycling rates were just 12% and that they now stand at almost 45%, with the city also generating less waste overall.
7. In 2003 19% of areas had unacceptable levels of litter and that thanks to York Pride, which has helped to drive up street level cleanliness, the figure now stands at 6%.
8. In 2003 roads were deteriorating faster than they could be repaired with 17% or roads and 11% of footpaths classed as in poor condition. Thanks to investment that has fallen to 11% of roads and 3% of footpaths.
9. Crime in York has fallen by more than 50% since 2003 thanks to the creation of a strong working relationship with Neighbourhood Policing Teams and Safer York Partnership.
10. In 2003 there were 100 Killed and Seriously Injured traffic accidents and that by 2009 that figure had fallen to 60.
Council further notes that this has all been achieved with the lowest charge for council services in Yorkshire.
Council puts on record its appreciation to officers for the delivery of these achievements and the high quality of results for residents of York.”
Minutes:
(i) Health and Social Care Bill
It was moved by Cllr Kirk and seconded by Cllr Aspden that:
“Council notes the concerns raised by local residents and health professionals in regard to the Government’s proposed reforms to the NHS contained in the Health and Social Care Bill and the petition collected by Defend Our NHS York.
Council is especially concerned by the introduction of a market based approach to the NHS and the impact this could have on decisions about local patient care. Council is also concerned that the proposals do little to improve on the current lack of local accountability for health care decisions.
Council supports the suggestions made in the amendments agreed at the recent Liberal Democrat conference, including ensuring elected local councillors have a strong role in making services accountable to local people, and believes these changes should be incorporated into the Bill by the Government.
Council therefore asks the Chief Executive to write to the city’s MPs asking them to support amendments to the Bill in order to address the concerns of residents and safeguard health services for local people.” 1
Cllr Simpson-Laing then moved, and Cllr Boyce seconded, an amendment to the above motion, as follows:
“After the first paragraph add: ‘Council believes the Conservative and Liberal Democrat Government has no mandate to carry out a costly and damaging re-organisation of the NHS as the plan was not listed in either party’s manifesto. Adversely the coalition’s programme for government stated the coalition would ‘stop the top-down reorganisations of the NHS.’
Delete the last paragraph and insert ‘The Labour opposition and Conservative support for the Conservative Liberal Democrat Government’s NHS reforms is clear. The position of the Liberal Democrats is not. Council therefore asks the Chief Executive to write to all Liberal Democrat MPs asking them to support amendments to the Bill in order to address concerns of residents and safeguard health services for local people.’”
On being put to the vote, the amendment was declared LOST
The original motion was then put to the vote and declared CARRIED and it was
RESOLVED: That the above notice of motion be approved. 1
At this point in the meeting, the guillotine fell and the remaining motions were moved, seconded and voted on without debate.
(ii) Police Funding Cuts
It was moved by Cllr Alexander and seconded by Cllr Potter that:
“Council notes the Liberal Democrat Yorkshire Manifesto commitment to increase the number of police officers in Yorkshire and the Humber by 200. Instead North Yorkshire alone is set to lose 200 police officers due to Conservative Liberal Democrat funding cuts.
Council requests the Chief Executive to write to the Deputy Prime Minister to request him to halt planned police cuts.”
On being put to the vote, the above motion was declared LOST and it was
RESOLVED: That the above notice of motion not be approved.
(iii) Leeds Children’s Heart Unit
Council having consented to an alteration to the notice of motion as originally submitted (as highlighted in bold, with original wording in brackets), it was moved by Cllr Wiseman and seconded by Cllr Fraser that:
“Whereas:
There are 11 children’s heart surgery units in England[the UK], but the NHS is proposing under its ‘Safe and Sustainable’ review to reduce this to 6 or 7 specialist hubs undertaking 400 operations per year;
and
The choice facing the NHS review team will be to retain either the Children’s Heart Surgery Unit at Leeds General Infirmary or the unit at Newcastle to serve the north;
and
Leeds serves a major population catchments area of 14 million people in Yorkshire and the Humber, Lincolnshire and North Derbyshire, has the capacity to expand and has centralised the whole of its children’s services operations on one site;
and
Leeds General Infirmary is at the forefront of work on inherited cardiac conditions and is much valued [has an excellent record] for providing safe, high quality children’s heart surgery;
Council asks Members to join with local MPs and community groups to express all-party support for keeping open the Children’s Heart Unit at Leeds General Infirmary and asks the Chief Executive to write to the Department of Health to ask for the retention of the Leeds Children’s Heart Unit as the centre best placed to serve as the specialist hub for the needs of young cardiac patients in Yorkshire and the north of England.” 2
On being put to the vote the motion, as altered, was declared CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY and it was
RESOLVED: That the above notice of motion, as altered, be approved. 2
(iv) Cuts to Council Budgets
It was moved by Cllr Crisp and seconded by Cllr Hoban that:
“Council notes the council has received a 13.3% funding cut this year yet the recent council budget passed by Conservative and Liberal Democrat councillors allowed the Communities and Neighbourhoods’ recruitment agency budget of £2m to be cut by only 5%. The budget also included cuts to essential mental health services, an 80% cut to Holocaust Memorial Day funding and a £38k cut to Hull Road park resulting in it being left open 24 hours a day and staff reductions.
Council resolves to reverse the £38k cut to Hull Road park, allocate £20k to youth mental health work and reverse the 80% cut to Holocaust Memorial Day funding through increased savings in the Communities and Neighbourhoods’ recruitment agency budget by £62k.”
[Motion signed by5 Members; namely Cllrs Alexander, Merrett, Boyce, Simpson-Laing and B Watson, in accordance with Standing Order 13.1, as it seeks to rescind part of a resolution passed at Budget Council on 24 February 2011.]
On being put to the vote, the above motion was declared LOST and it was
RESOLVED: That the above notice of motion not be approved.
(v) City of York Council Achievements
It was moved by Cllr Waller and seconded by Cllr Runciman that:
Council notes that:
1. Employment in York has been higher than the national and regional average for the whole of the last 8 years, and that York is now the 7th best performing council in the country in terms of driving down the numbers of young people not in jobs or training (NEETS).
2. In 2003 58.9% of pupils achieved 5 A* to C grades at GCSE and that by 2010 that figure had risen to 80.5%. Council further notes that City of York Council has for the fourth year been rated as a four star authority for Children’s Services, being only one of 9 authorities nationally to be awarded this top rating by Ofsted.
3. Independent inspectors have rated social care services for adults as ‘performing well’ and that the Discus Bungalows have been replaced with modern housing, and a new supported living complex, Auden House, of the quality of provision that older residents in the city should expect.
4. In 2003 York had 3 chronically neglected pools at the end of their useful lives and plans to close one and that £18m of investment has now been secured which has seen the new Energise pool built, Yearsley Pool refurbished and work set to begin soon on the city’s first competition standard pool at York Sports Village.
5. The total number of visitors to York’s libraries has increased by more than 180,000 between 2003 and 2009, thanks to the innovative partnerships which helped to deliver the Explore Centre model which will now be rolled out to all the city’s libraries.
6. In 2003 recycling rates were just 12% and that they now stand at almost 45%, with the city also generating less waste overall.
7. In 2003 19% of areas had unacceptable levels of litter and that thanks to York Pride, which has helped to drive up street level cleanliness, the figure now stands at 6%.
8. In 2003 roads were deteriorating faster than they could be repaired with 17% or roads and 11% of footpaths classed as in poor condition. Thanks to investment that has fallen to 11% of roads and 3% of footpaths.
9. Crime in York has fallen by more than 50% since 2003 thanks to the creation of a strong working relationship with Neighbourhood Policing Teams and Safer York Partnership.
10. In 2003 there were 100 Killed and Seriously Injured traffic accidents and that by 2009 that figure had fallen to 60.
Council further notes that this has all been achieved with the lowest charge for council services in Yorkshire.
Council puts on record its appreciation to officers for the delivery of these achievements and the high quality of results for residents of York.”
On being put to the vote, the above motion was declared LOST and it was
RESOLVED: That the above notice of motion not be approved.