Agenda item
Motions on Notice
To consider the following Motions on Notice under Standing Order 23:
Motions submitted for consideration directly by Council, in accordance with Standing Order 23.1
(i) From Cllr Carr
York Police and Fire Services
‘Council is aware that proposals are being put forward to merge certain aspects of police and fire services in North Yorkshire and York, including control rooms and other services, under the oversight of the North Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC);
Council also understands that alternative suggestions to increase efficiencies are being put forward by the North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service;
Council supports more efficient and cost effective fire and police services and would welcome the clarification of claims put forward by proponents of both proposals; therefore
Council resolves to seek clarification from the PCC and the fire authority regarding their respective proposals and wishes to emphasise that it expects the final decision to be based on firm economic and management principles displaying clear financial and operational benefits and paying full regard to the safety of the residents of York.’
(ii) From Cllr Reid
Grammar Schools
‘Council notes
The government’s green paper Schools that Work for Everyone includes plans to relax the ban against opening grammar schools, allow non-selective schools to introduce selection, and allow existing grammar schools to expand.
Research into grammar schools shows:
· Grammars have no positive impact on social mobilityand the gap between the proportion of children on free school meals attaining 5 A*-C GCSEs (inc English and Maths) and all other children is wider in selective areas of the country (34.1%) than in non-selective areas (27.8%) (Education Policy Institute, 2016)
· Less than 3% of pupils at existing grammar schools are eligible for free school meals, which compares with about 17% of pupils in grammar school areas as a whole (Sutton Trust, 2016)
· Those in selective areas who don’t pass the 11-plus do worse than they would have done in a comprehensive system (Institute for Fiscal Studies, 2016).
The government’s proposals are opposed by, amongst others, the Chair of the Education Select Committee and the Chief of Ofsted. The Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) called the green paper “a massive distraction from the real issues facing our education system”, the National Union of Teachers (NUT) said the plans would “take education back to the 1950s”, and the National Association of Head Teachers said “grammar schools don’t close the education gap, they widen it”.
Council believes
The education system needs to provide excellent schools for all our young people, not just those who pass an exam at 11. This has been the principle behind education in York since the abolition of grammar schools in 1985, and its success is shown by the consistently strong exam results achieved over the last 30 years;
The government should focus on improving attainment for all, giving existing schools in York a fair funding deal, and supporting initiatives such as the pupil premium - rather than spending £50million on grammar schools and undertaking another disruptive reorganisation.
The grammar school green paper is one of a number of harmful education policies recently proposed by the government, including the forced academisation of schools and the attack on parent governors.
Council resolves
· To respond to the consultation Schools that Work for Everyone opposing proposals to open new grammar schools or allow existing non-selective schools to introduce selection;
· To write to York’s MPs calling on them to oppose in Parliament any proposals for new grammar schools;
· To call on the government to introduce a fair funding system for schools in York and end the system whereby the city gets just £4,000 per pupilwhile some areas get double that figure;
· To continue to work in partnership with schools in York to provide an outstanding education for all pupils where everyone has the opportunity to achieve their full potential.’
(iii) From Cllr S Barnes
Grammar Schools
‘Council notes recent announcements from the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Education regarding their policy proposals for new selective grammar schools in England.
Council further notes that since policy introduced by the Labour Government in 1998 to prohibit their opening, no new grammar schools have been created in England.
Council is convinced of the balance of evidence that grammar schools do not improve social mobility and refutes the Government’s claims that they will.
Council believes that the Conservative Government's priority should be to improve all schools and seek to raise attainment amongst all York pupils – rather than being distracted by a policy aimed at benefiting the few.
We call upon all parties in the city to stand up for York and all of its residents rather than kowtowing to Westminster.
Council notes that the Department for Education is currently consulting on the Government’s proposals and is seeking the views of stakeholders, including those of Local Authorities.
Council resolves to:
• Request the Chief Executive, in partnership with the Council’s Director of Children's Services, Education and Skills, to respond to the Government’s consultation on behalf of CYC and express this Council’s ‘firm opposition to government proposals for any legislative changes that could ultimately enable the establishment of new Grammar Schools in York’.
• Request the Chief Executive, in partnership with the Council’s Director of Children's Services, Education and Skills, to write to both of York’s MPs and express this Council’s opposition to legislating for new grammar schools, seeking also confirmation of each MP’s commitment to publicly and actively use their parliamentary position in support of this Council’s opposition to any such draft legislation.’
(iv) From Cllr N Barnes
Fair Funding for York
‘Council notes:
· the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s announcement that the Government intends to cancel its pledge to reduce its budget deficit by 2020, as well as his pledge to maintain austerity measures, including ongoing cuts to local government;
· York’s own budget cuts since 2010-11 – due to the reduction in revenue support grants – of almost £80million or 40% of its expected budget had cuts not taken place , likely to rise to almost £100 million by 2020.
Disproportionate cuts to councils’ grants from Government since 2010 - compared to other areas of national expenditure and income generation potential - have resulted, within York, in:
- Major adult social care cutbacks which seek to make council services a point of last resort;
- Well over £1m in cutbacks to early intervention and prevention services supporting vulnerable children and young people;
- Cutbacks to public health budgets of almost £0.75m in the last two years, resulting in significant reductions in drug and alcohol misuse treatments;
- Significant cutbacks of well over £1m to frontline services, including to bus services and street cleaning;
- A reliance on volunteers to maintain our parks and keep our libraries operating.
Council notes that whilst these disproportionate cuts have been made to local government, resulting in extreme worry and uncertainty for many York residents, successive Governments have not been close to eliminating the deficit, while national debt has risen from £1tn to over £1.5tn.
Council resolves:
· To express its regret that excessive austerity measures imposed by the Government have impacted York residents more quickly and more harshly than was necessary;
· As part of the national fair funding review of local government, to request the Director of Customer, Business & Support Services to respond to all Government consultations, citing historic inequities in York’s funding and making the case for a fairer funding deal for York;
· To request full consultation responses are reported back to Executive so that the public can see how the council is making the case for a fairer funding deal for York.’
Minutes:
Motions submitted for consideration directly by Council, in accordance with Standing Order 23.1
Councillor Carr and Council agreed to accept both Cllr Kramm’s and Aspden’s amendments to his motion related to York Police and Fire Services.
(i) York Police and Fire Services
(proposed by Councillor Carr, seconded by Councillor Aspden)
“Council is aware that proposals are being put forward to merge certain aspects of police and fire services in North Yorkshire and York, including control rooms and other services, under the oversight of the North Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC);
Council also understands that alternative suggestions to increase efficiencies are being put forward by the North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service;
Council supports more efficient and cost effective fire and police services and would welcome the clarification of claims put forward by proponents of both proposals; therefore
Council resolves to seek clarification from the PCC and the fire authority regarding their respective proposals and wishes to emphasise that it expects the final decision to be based on firm economic and management principles displaying clear financial and operational benefits, and a fair and balanced publicconsultation about all the options in York and North Yorkshire, as well as
· maintaining and enhancing the quality of both services
· demonstrating how the needs of York and the safety of our residents will be protected
· maintaining local-decision making and accountability to have support amongst key stakeholders and local communities’’
On being put to the vote the motion was CARRIED.
Resolved: That the motion, as amended, be approved.1.
(ii) Grammar Schools
(proposed by Councillor Reid, seconded by Councillor Runciman)
‘Council notes
The government’s green paper Schools that Work for Everyone includes plans to relax the ban against opening grammar schools, allow non-selective schools to introduce selection, and allow existing grammar schools to expand.
Research into grammar schools shows:
· Grammars have no positive impact on social mobilityand the gap between the proportion of children on free school meals attaining 5 A*-C GCSEs (inc English and Maths) and all other children is wider in selective areas of the country (34.1%) than in non-selective areas (27.8%) (Education Policy Institute, 2016)
· Less than 3% of pupils at existing grammar schools are eligible for free school meals, which compares with about 17% of pupils in grammar school areas as a whole (Sutton Trust, 2016)
· Those in selective areas who don’t pass the 11-plus do worse than they would have done in a comprehensive system (Institute for Fiscal Studies, 2016).
The government’s proposals are opposed by, amongst others, the Chair of the Education Select Committee and the Chief of Ofsted. The Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) called the green paper “a massive distraction from the real issues facing our education system”, the National Union of Teachers (NUT) said the plans would “take education back to the 1950s”, and the National Association of Head Teachers said “grammar schools don’t close the education gap, they widen it”.
Council believes
The education system needs to provide excellent schools for all our young people, not just those who pass an exam at 11. This has been the principle behind education in York since the abolition of grammar schools in 1985, and its success is shown by the consistently strong exam results achieved over the last 30 years;
The government should focus on improving attainment for all, giving existing schools in York a fair funding deal, and supporting initiatives such as the pupil premium - rather than spending £50million on grammar schools and undertaking another disruptive reorganisation.
The grammar school green paper is one of a number of harmful education policies recently proposed by the government, including the forced academisation of schools and the attack on parent governors.
Council resolves
· To respond to the consultation Schools that Work for Everyone opposing proposals to open new grammar schools or allow existing non-selective schools to introduce selection;
· To write to York’s MPs calling on them to oppose in Parliament any proposals for new grammar schools;
· To call on the government to introduce a fair funding system for schools in York and end the system whereby the city gets just £4,000 per pupilwhile some areas get double that figure;
· To continue to work in partnership with schools in York to provide an outstanding education for all pupils where everyone has the opportunity to achieve their full potential.’
An amendment was proposed by Cllr Rawlings (seconded by Cllr Brooks) as follows:
First paragraph, first line, delete ‘relax the ban against’ and replace with ‘change the legislation to permit the’.
First paragraph, second line, add ‘of’ after ‘opening’.
Delete everything beginning with and including ‘Research into grammar schools shows’ , including the three bullet points and including the following paragraph, which ends with ‘...don’t close the education gap, they widen it.’
Third paragraph, second line, delete ‘at 11’. Fourth line, delete ‘over the last 30 years’.
Fourth paragraph, first line, delete ‘The government’ and replace with ‘We’. Second line, insert full stop after ‘premium’ and delete the remainder of the sentence.
Fifth paragraph, delete the entire paragraph (begins ‘The grammar school’ and ends with ‘parent governors’).
Following ‘Council Resolves’:
First bullet point, first line, after ‘To’ add ‘be mindful when’; add ‘ing’ to ‘respond’; after ‘Schools that Work for Everyone’ add ‘in emphasising Full Council’s view of the quality of York’s schools and questioning the need’.
Second line, delete ‘opposing proposals’.
Fourth line, add to the end ‘in York’.
Second bullet point, delete ‘oppose in Parliament any proposals for new grammar schools’ and replace with ‘support the council’s position’.
On being put to the vote the amendment was declared LOST.
A vote was then taken on Cllr Reid’s original motion, which was CARRIED and it was
Resolved: That the original motion, be approved. 2.
(iii) Grammar Schools
(proposed by Councillor S Barnes)
“Council notes recent announcements from the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Education regarding their policy proposals for new selective grammar schools in England.
Council further notes that since policy introduced by the Labour Government in 1998 to prohibit their opening, no new grammar schools have been created in England.
Council is convinced of the balance of evidence that grammar schools do not improve social mobility and refutes the Government’s claims that they will.
Council believes that the Conservative Government's priority should be to improve all schools and seek to raise attainment amongst all York pupils – rather than being distracted by a policy aimed at benefiting the few.
We call upon all parties in the city to stand up for York and all of its residents rather than kowtowing to Westminster.
Council notes that the Department for Education is currently consulting on the Government’s proposals and is seeking the views of stakeholders, including those of Local Authorities.
Council resolves to:
• Request the Chief Executive, in partnership with the Council’s Director of Children's Services, Education and Skills, to respond to the Government’s consultation on behalf of CYC and express this Council’s ‘firm opposition to government proposals for any legislative changes that could ultimately enable the establishment of new Grammar Schools in York’.
• Request the Chief Executive, in partnership with the Council’s Director of Children's Services, Education and Skills, to write to both of York’s MPs and express this Council’s opposition to legislating for new grammar schools, seeking also confirmation of each MP’s commitment to publicly and actively use their parliamentary position in support of this Council’s opposition to any such draft legislation.”
The Lord Mayor advised Council, that in accordance with Standing Orders, he would not allow this motion to be put to the meeting as it was substantially repetitious of the previous motion on Grammar Schools.
(iv) Fair Funding for York
(proposed by Councillor N Barnes, seconded by Councillor Flinders)
‘Council notes:
· the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s announcement that the Government intends to cancel its pledge to reduce its budget deficit by 2020, as well as his pledge to maintain austerity measures, including ongoing cuts to local government;
· York’s own budget cuts since 2010-11 – due to the reduction in revenue support grants – of almost £80million or 40% of its expected budget had cuts not taken place, likely to rise to almost £100 million by 2020.
Disproportionate cuts to councils’ grants from Government since 2010 - compared to other areas of national expenditure and income generation potential - have resulted, within York, in:
- Major adult social care cutbacks which seek to make council services a point of last resort;
- Well over £1m in cutbacks to early intervention and prevention services supporting vulnerable children and young people;
- Cutbacks to public health budgets of almost £0.75m in the last two years, resulting in significant reductions in drug and alcohol misuse treatments;
- Significant cutbacks of well over £1m to frontline services, including to bus services and street cleaning;
- A reliance on volunteers to maintain our parks and keep our libraries operating.
Council notes that whilst these disproportionate cuts have been made to local government, resulting in extreme worry and uncertainty for many York residents, successive Governments have not been close to eliminating the deficit, while national debt has risen from £1tn to over £1.5tn.
Council resolves:
· To express its regret that excessive austerity measures imposed by the Government have impacted York residents more quickly and more harshly than was necessary;
· As part of the national fair funding review of local government, to request the Director of Customer, Business & Support Services to respond to all Government consultations, citing historic inequities in York’s funding and making the case for a fairer funding deal for York;
· To request full consultation responses are reported back to Executive so that the public can see how the council is making the case for a fairer funding deal for York.’
An amendment was proposed by Cllr Cullwick (seconded by Cllr Waller) as follows:
At the end of the first bullet pointafter the words “ongoing cuts to local government” the addition of thefollowing sentence:
‘Following the financial crisis of 2007-09, local government has seen widespread cuts beginning with the 2009 budget which announced a reduction to the budget of the Department of Local Government and Communities of £987million.’
Under the second paragraph delete the following bullet points:
· Major adult social care cutbacks which seek to make council services a point of last resort;
· Well over £1m in cutbacks to early intervention and prevention services supporting vulnerable children and young people;
· Cutbacks to public health budgets of almost £0.75m in the last two years, resulting in significant reductions in drug and alcohol misuse treatments;
· Significant cutbacks of well over £1m to frontline services, including to bus services and street cleaning;
· A reliance on volunteers to maintain our parks and keep our libraries operating.
and following the sentence beginning ‘Disproportionate cuts, add the following:
‘in difficult local budget decisions in areas such as adult social care, early intervention and prevention services, and frontline services. These issues are continuing including cutbacks to public health budgets of almost £0.75m in the last two years, resulting in significant reductions in drug and alcohol misuse treatments, and wider issues such as the continued delay in giving schools in York a fair funding deal and the underfunding of the NHS and Police.’
Insert additional bullet point after Council resolves:
‘To do all it can to protect the vital frontline services that matter to residents in the face of national cuts;’
On being put to the vote the amendment was declared LOST.
A vote was then taken on Cllr N Barnes original motion, which was CARRIED and it was
Resolved: That the original motion, be approved. 3.