Agenda item

Notices of Motion

To consider the following motions submitted by members in accordance with Standing Order 5:

 

(1)      Black Lives Matter.

 

           Motion:

 

           The recent conversations around racism and the Black Lives Matter movement have highlighted the systemic disadvantages suffered by Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities. Such disadvantages manifest in health, educational and employment outcomes and opportunities. The Covid-19 pandemic has further highlighted that the BAME community has been disproportionately affected with reported higher mortality and infection rates. In light of this, this Council considers it important to consider how well the needs of the BAME community are being met within the County. Therefore, this Council will: 

 

           Initiate a cross party Task and Finish group of the Communities OSC, to investigate and to report back on race inequalities across Warwickshire, both internally within the County Council and externally in relation to meeting the needs of BAME communities within Warwickshire.

 

           Proposer: Councillor Helen Adkins

 

           Seconder: Councillor Dave Parsons

 

(2)      Special Education Needs and Disabilities.

 

           Motion:

 

Given the immense pressure that the Council faces in meeting the cost of SEND provision, this council will:

 

Initiate a cross party delegation to lobby Government in relation to the need for more funding for this key service and request the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee to set up a Task and Finish Group to monitor delivery of SEND provision

 

           Proposer: Councillor Caroline Phillips

 

           Seconder: Councillor Corinne Davies

 

(3)      Tuberculosis in Cattle

 

           Motion:

 

This Council recognises that farming is a very important part of the Warwickshire economy and that the county council supports farming in many ways including through its own small holdings. The Council further recognises that Tuberculosis in cattle is a very serious problem for farmers which needs long term sustainable action, including the development of accurate testing and an effective bovine vaccine.

 

Therefore, this Council agrees:

 

·             To actively promote better bio security (including the vaccination of badgers) with tenants of its smallholdings with the aim to reduce cattle-to-cattle transmission; and

 

·             To write to DEFRA stating that the Council is concerned with proposals for the culling of badgers on land in its ownership and wishes to explore with them alternatives that enable a sustainable approach to bovine TB control.

 

           Proposer: Councillor Keith Kondakor

 

           Seconder: Councillor Jonathan Chilvers

 

(4)      Promoting the Warwickshire Canal Network

 

           Motion:

 

The canal network in Warwickshire passes through all five districts and boroughs and is a massive asset for tourism, wellbeing and ecology. In developing recovery plans for Warwickshire and mindful of the need to increase UK based tourism, the County Council will:

 

1)             Actively promote our local canal network and its opportunities for leisure, wellbeing and employment throughout 2021/22 City of Culture and beyond.

 

2)             Work with the Canal and River Trust to identify, prioritise and cost key stretches of towpath for improvement in order to better attract developer funding.

 

           Proposer: Councillor Jonathan Chilvers

 

           Seconder: Councillor Keith Kondakor

 

Decision:

1. Black Lives Matter

Resolved:

The recent conversations around racism and the Black Lives Matter movement have highlighted the systemic disadvantages suffered by Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities. Such disadvantages manifest in health, educational and employment outcomes and opportunities. The Covid-19 pandemic has further highlighted that the BAME community has been disproportionately affected with reported higher mortality and infection rates. In light of this, this Council considers it important to consider how well the needs of the BAME community are being met within the County.

Therefore, this council:

Notes the work that has been initiated to progress the findings of the Public Health England Review of the impact of Covid 19 on BAME communities following the report to Cabinet in July, endorsed by the Health and Wellbeing Board, and the inclusion of the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion programme in the Council’s Recovery Plan and asks that an interim report be brought to a joint meeting of the Communities and Adult Social Care and Health OSC’s by December 2020, so that members can consider the continuing work and the establishment of a task and finish group to investigate and to report back on race inequalities across Warwickshire, both internally within the County Council and externally in relation to meeting the needs of BAME communities within Warwickshire.

2. SEND

Resolved:

Given the immense pressure that the Council faces in meeting the cost of SEND provision, this Council will:

Initiate a cross party delegation to lobby Government in relation to the need for more funding for this key service and request the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee to set up a Task and Finish Group to monitor delivery of SEND provision.

3.  Tuberculosis in Cattle

Resolved:

This Council recognises that farming is a very important part of the Warwickshire economy and that the county council supports farming in many ways including through its own small holdings. The Council further recognises that Bovine Tuberculosis in cattle is a very serious problem for farmers which needs long term sustainable action, including the development of accurate testing and an effective bovine vaccine.

Therefore, this Council agrees:

To write to DEFRA stating that the Council is concerned with proposals for the culling of badgers on land in its ownership and wishes them to explore with them alternatives that enable a sustainable approach to bovine TB control.

4. Promoting the Warwickshire Canal Network

 Resolved:

The canal network in Warwickshire passes through all five districts and boroughs and is a massive asset for tourism, wellbeing and ecology. In developing recovery plans for Warwickshire and mindful of the need to increase UK based tourism, the County Council:   

  1. Acknowledges the work being undertaken to develop a Waterways strategy for Warwickshire as part of the Heritage and Culture Strategy action plan; 
  2. Will actively promote our local canal network and its opportunities for leisure, wellbeing and employment (including 2021/22 City of Culture, Birmingham 2022 and beyond);  
  3. Will work with the Canal and River Trust and other partners to identify, prioritise and cost key stretches of towpath to improve accessibility and connectivity in order to better attract funding. 

 

Minutes:

Four motions were debated by the Council.

 

1) Black Lives Matter

 

Councillor Helen Adkins moved the following motion being seconded by Councillor Dave Parsons who reserved his right to speak.

 

“The recent conversations around racism and the Black Lives

Matter movement have highlighted the systemic disadvantages

suffered by Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME)

communities. Such disadvantages manifest in health,

educational and employment outcomes and opportunities. The

Covid-19 pandemic has further highlighted that the BAME

community has been disproportionately affected with reported

higher mortality and infection rates. In light of this, this Council

considers it important to consider how well the needs of the

BAME community are being met within the County. Therefore,

this Council will:

 

Initiate a cross party Task and Finish group of the

Communities OSC, to investigate and to report back on race

inequalities across Warwickshire, both internally within the

County Council and externally in relation to meeting the needs

of BAME communities within Warwickshire”.

 

In introducing the motion Councillor Adkins acknowledged that no body or individual has all the answers. She considered that more could be done to support the BAME community and that the County Council should lead by example. Positive acknowledgement of inequality was not enough. The Council should ask what more was needed to be done to eradicate discrimination.

 

Councillor Les Caborn (Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care and Health) submitted an amendment which he hoped would be accepted as friendly. It would not, he considered, in any way diminish the basis of the original motion. The reason behind it was to ensure that members were provided with the latest data on the issue before commencing any further work.

 

The amendment (made to the second section of the motion) stated,

 

“Therefore, this council:

 

Notes the work that has been initiated to progress the findings of the Public Health England Review of the impact of Covid 19 on BAME communities following the report to Cabinet in July, endorsed by the Health and Wellbeing Board, and the inclusion of the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion programme in the Council’s Recovery Plan and asks that an interim report be brought to a joint meeting of the Communities and Adult Social Care and Health OSC’s by December 2020, so that members can consider the continuing work and the establishment of a task and finish group to investigate and to report back on race inequalities across Warwickshire, both internally within the County Council and externally in relation to meeting the needs of BAME communities within Warwickshire”.

 

Councillor Kam Kaur (Portfolio Holder for Customer and Transformation) seconded the amendment and reserved her right to speak.

 

Councillor Adkins accepted the amendment as friendly.

 

Councillor Caroline Phillips referenced the Macpherson report produced after the inquiry into the death of Stephen Lawrence. She stated that much of what was contained in the report continued to be relevant. Councillor Phillips also noted a recent OFSTED report which explored the relationship between ethnicity and educational attainment. It was noted that there were significant variations in the level of attainment in some groups across different parts of the country. In many areas the attainment level of children from black and minority ethnic communities was seen to decline as they progressed through school. In some areas they had entered the education system at or close to the top of the range emerged at the bottom.

 

Councillor Kaur thanked Councillor Adkins for reading Councillor Mangat’s statement. She noted that Lord Simon Woolley (founder of Operation Black Vote) had cautioned against relying heavily on the Black Lives Matter banner. The principal focus should be on equality, diversity and inclusion. The County Council has already undertaken much work in this field as reflected in its People Strategy.

 

Councillor Sarah Boad (Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group) expressed her support for the motion. She stated that there is always a danger of being drawn into a false sense of security and that it is good to be prompted to check that all is as it should be.

 

Councillor Izzi Seccombe reminded Council that health within the BAME community had been considered by Cabinet at its meeting in July 2020. She agreed that the outcomes for peoples’ lives should be the same regardless of race. The population of Warwickshire was not as diverse as in some other parts of the country although Council was reminded of the Ghurkha community in Nuneaton. Diversity in communities was to be welcomed. The key, she concluded, will be to ensure that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee had all the information it required to progress its work.

 

Councillor Les Caborn emphasised that within any community there are sub-groups. There are also intergenerational households that present their own characteristics. Thus, as much up to date data as possible is required.

 

Councillor Dave Parsons cited an incident from the 1950’s when his Father and Uncle had misunderstood the political views of the singer Paul Robeson. Councillor Parsons used this example to illustrate the need to understand the issues behind the challenges being faced by black and minority ethnic communities.

 

Councillor Helen Adkins thanked Councillor Caborn for proposing the amendment and stressed the need to listen to the black and minority ethnic community.

 

A vote was held.

 

The amended motion was agreed unanimously.

 

Resolved:

 

The recent conversations around racism and the Black Lives Matter movement have highlighted the systemic disadvantages suffered by Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities. Such disadvantages manifest in health, educational and employment outcomes and opportunities. The Covid-19 pandemic has further highlighted that the BAME community has been disproportionately affected with reported higher mortality and infection rates. In light of this, this Council considers it important to consider how well the needs of the BAME community are being met within the County.

 

Therefore, this council:

 

Notes the work that has been initiated to progress the findings of the Public Health England Review of the impact of Covid 19 on BAME communities following the report to Cabinet in July, endorsed by the Health and Wellbeing Board, and the inclusion of the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion programme in the Council’s Recovery Plan and asks that an interim report be brought to a joint meeting of the Communities and Adult Social Care and Health OSC’s by December 2020, so that members can consider the continuing work and the establishment of a task and finish group to investigate and to report back on race inequalities across Warwickshire, both internally within the County Council and externally in relation to meeting the needs of BAME communities within Warwickshire.

 

2) SEND

 

Councillor Caroline Phillips seconded by Councillor Corinne Davies moved the following motion.

 

“Given the immense pressure that the Council faces in meeting

the cost of SEND provision, this council will:

 

Initiate a cross party delegation to lobby Government in

relation to the need for more funding for this key service and

request the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny

Committee to set up a Task and Finish Group to monitor

delivery of SEND provision”.

 

Councillor Colin Hayfield stated that he supported the motion as did Councillor Sarah Boad who informed the meeting that as the Chair of a Board of School Governors she was constantly seeking additional funding in this area. It was crucial she said that the government provide for resources.

 

Councillor Jerry Roodhouse observed that any task and finish review into SEND should reflect on the demand for services post Covid-19.

 

Councillor Dan Gissane congratulated the Children and Families Team for winning team of the year. He emphasised the role of communication in ensuring that schools and SEND coordinators were aware of what services are available. It is important, he concluded, to speak to schools to develop an understanding of the challenges they are facing.

 

Councillor Yousef Dahmash recognised that some additional funding had been provided by government but considered that this was insufficient.

 

Councillor Pam Williams supported the motion adding that timescales for obtaining support are too long.

 

Councillor Izzi Seccombe agreed that SEND funding was a long running issue. The County Councils Network has lobbied on this issue but as costs increase so does the demand for services. She agreed that services should be delivered in-county adding that this was one rationale behind the establishment of the Pears facility in Bedworth.

 

Councillor Dave Shilton expressed his support.

 

Councillor Caroline Davies, who had seconded the motion thanks speakers for their support adding that it was hoped that any review would result in parents receiving more support.

 

Councillor Phillips, the mover of the motion thanked members for their support.

 

A vote was held.

 

The amended motion was agreed unanimously.

 

Resolved:

 

Given the immense pressure that the Council faces in meeting

the cost of SEND provision, this council will:

 

Initiate a cross party delegation to lobby Government in

relation to the need for more funding for this key service and

request the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny

Committee to set up a Task and Finish Group to monitor

delivery of SEND provision.

 

(3) Tuberculosis in Cattle

 

Councillor Keith Kondakor, seconded by Councillor Jonathan Chilvers tabled the following motion:

 

“This Council recognises that farming is a very important part of

the Warwickshire economy and that the county council

supports farming in many ways including through its own small

holdings. The Council further recognises that Tuberculosis in

cattle is a very serious problem for farmers which needs long

term sustainable action, including the development of accurate

testing and an effective bovine vaccine.

Therefore, this Council agrees:

 

• To actively promote better bio security (including the

vaccination of badgers) with tenants of its smallholdings

with the aim to reduce cattle-to-cattle transmission; and

 

• To write to DEFRA stating that the Council is concerned

with proposals for the culling of badgers on land in its

ownership and wishes to explore with them alternatives

that enable a sustainable approach to bovine TB

control.”

 

Councillor Kondakor spoke regarding the motion stating that a badger cull was due in Warwickshire despite it being shown that such culls do not limit the spread of TB in cattle. He stated that one hundred thousand badgers had been culled to date but the spread of TB is down to lax practice by farmers. The key, he suggested, is good bio security. A badger vaccine exists but a cattle vaccine is required too. In addition, more rigorous checks on cattle herds are required along with restrictions on the movement of slurry, controls on contractors’ vehicles and increased fencing especially around drinking areas.

 

Councillor Peter Butlin tabled an amendment to the motion asking that it be treated as a friendly amendment. The amendment stated,

 

“This Council recognises that farming is a very important part of

the Warwickshire economy and that the county council

supports farming in many ways including through its own small

holdings. The Council further recognises that Bovine Tuberculosis in

cattle is a very serious problem for farmers which needs long

term sustainable action, including the development of accurate

testing and an effective bovine vaccine.

 

Therefore, this Council agrees:

 

To actively promote better bio security (including the

vaccination of badgers) with tenants of its smallholdings

with the aim to reduce cattle-to-cattle transmission; and

 

• To write to DEFRA stating that the Council is concerned

with proposals for the culling of badgers on land in its

ownership and wishes them to explore with them alternatives

that enable a sustainable approach to bovine TB

control.”

 

The amendment was seconded by Councillor Mark Cargill.

 

Councillor Butlin, himself an ex-farmer, explained the rigours of testing for TB in cattle. This had been introduced to reduce the incidence of TB in humans. Cattles, he said, carry TB. This is why cattle are rarely left outside at night. Antibiotics are becoming less effective and although biosecurity (of which much is being done) can be effective, it is difficult to apply.

 

Councillor John Horner supported the use of bio security adding that the amendment should be agreed as Defra is the only organisation that can progress the matter.

 

Councillor Dave Parsons called for another solution to be found that does not involve the killing of badgers.

 

Councillor Mark Cargill, the seconder of the amendment stated that farmers are aware of the value of bio security. The case for badger culling was unclear and it depended on which report was read. He agreed that Defra’s officers are the experts and asserted that they will continue to seek a solution. The Council’s tenant farmers earn very little off their land and are aware of the implications of TB.

 

Councillor Jonathan Chilvers, the seconder of the original motion expressed his disappointment at the amendment adding that the County Council has a general power of competence that it could use to ensure bio security measures at its own smallholdings. He observed that tests for TB in cattle are not entirely reliable adding that the principal cause of increases in the incidence of TB is homelessness and chaotic living.

 

In response, Councillor Butlin observed that TB was introduced into the population from milk.

 

In closing, Councillor Keith Kondakor stated that badgers are not a major cause of Bovine TB. The bets solution was bio security. Citing the 2018 Godfray Report into TB Councillor Kondakor stated that it contained little to suggest that any wildlife played a major role in spreading the disease. Exemplar farms should be identified where bio security was practiced well.

 

 

Vote on Amendment

 

A recorded vote on the amendment was requested.

 

Votes for the amendment.

 

Councillors Bell, Singh Birdi, Butlin, Caborn, Cargill, Clarke, Cockburn, Cooke, Crump, Dahmash, Golby, Gran, Hayfield, Horner, Jenns, Kaur, Morgan, Pandher, Parry, Redford, Reilly, Roberts, Sargeant, Seccombe, Shilton, Simpson-Vince, Timms, Warwick, C. Williams, P.Williams (30)

 

Votes against the amendment.

 

Councillors Adkins, Boad, Chilvers, C.Davies, N.Davies, Falp, Fradgley, Gifford, Gissane, Holland, Kondakor, Phillips, Roodhouse, Webb (14)

 

Abstentions

 

Councillors Dirveiks and Parsons (2)

 

The amendment became the substantive motion. This was carried.

 

Resolved:

 

This Council recognises that farming is a very important part of

the Warwickshire economy and that the county council

supports farming in many ways including through its own small

holdings. The Council further recognises that Bovine Tuberculosis in

cattle is a very serious problem for farmers which needs long

term sustainable action, including the development of accurate

testing and an effective bovine vaccine.

 

Therefore, this Council agrees:

 

• To write to DEFRA stating that the Council is concerned

with proposals for the culling of badgers on land in its

ownership and wishes them to explore alternatives

that enable a sustainable approach to bovine TB

control.”

 

4) Promoting the Warwickshire Canal Network

 

Councillor Jonathan Chilvers, seconded by Councillor Keith Kondakor proposed the following motion.

 

“The canal network in Warwickshire passes through all five

districts and boroughs and is a massive asset for tourism,

wellbeing and ecology. In developing recovery plans for

Warwickshire and mindful of the need to increase UK based

tourism, the County Council will:

 

1) Actively promote our local canal network and its

opportunities for leisure, wellbeing and employment throughout

2021/22 City of Culture and beyond.

 

2) Work with the Canal and River Trust to identify, prioritise

and cost key stretches of towpath for improvement in order to

better attract S106 and CIL funding.

 

In supporting the motion Councillor Chilvers emphasised the need to enhance the profile of the canal network and its role in transport, tourism, wellbeing and ecology. The upcoming Coventry City of Culture event could see arts and the canal network brough together.

 

Councillor Keith Kondakor stated that some parts of the canal network are often overlooked. As a result, their towpaths are neglected and muddy.

 

Councillor Heather Timms proposed a friendly amendment. This was seconded by Councillor Chilvers. This stated,

 

The canal network in Warwickshire passes through all five districts and boroughs and is a massive asset for tourism, wellbeing and ecology. In developing recovery plans for Warwickshire and mindful of the need to increase UK based tourism, the County Council:  

 

1.       Acknowledges the work being undertaken to develop a Waterways strategy for Warwickshire as part of the Heritage and Culture Strategy action plan;

 

2.       Will actively promote our local canal network and its opportunities for leisure, wellbeing and employment (including 2021/22 City of Culture, Birmingham 2022 and beyond); 

 

3.       Will work with the Canal and River Trust and other partners to identify, prioritise and cost key stretches of towpath to improve accessibility and connectivity in order to better attract funding.

 

Vote to continue meeting.

 

At this point the Council meeting had been running for six hours. In accordance with standing orders a vote was held as to whether the meeting should continue. The proposal was made by the Chair and seconded by Councillor Chilvers. A vote was held and it was agreed that the meeting should continue.

 

Resumption of Meeting

 

Councillor Timms expressed her support for the canal network and explained that much work had already been undertaken to enhance it.

 

Members including Councillors parsons, Boad, Cooke, Holland, Cargill, Parry, Dirveiks and Fradgley all spoke regarding the value of the canal network.

 

Councillor Chilvers thanked members for their support. In response to a point made by Councillor Cargill regarding the Canal and Rivers Trust Councillor Chilvers recognised that as an organisation they are stretched and can be difficult to engage with. This made supporting them all the more important.

 

Councillor Timms closed by thanking heritage and culture officers for helping to develop the Waterways Strategy.

 

A vote was held and the amended motion was agreed unanimously.

 

Resolved:

 

The canal network in Warwickshire passes through all five districts and boroughs and is a massive asset for tourism, wellbeing and ecology. In developing recovery plans for Warwickshire and mindful of the need to increase UK based tourism, the County Council:  

 

1.       Acknowledges the work being undertaken to develop a Waterways strategy for Warwickshire as part of the Heritage and Culture Strategy action plan;

 

2.       Will actively promote our local canal network and its opportunities for leisure, wellbeing and employment (including 2021/22 City of Culture, Birmingham 2022 and beyond); 

 

3.       Will work with the Canal and River Trust and other partners to identify, prioritise and cost key stretches of towpath to improve accessibility and connectivity in order to better attract funding.