Motion 1
The following Motion has been received from:
Proposer: Councillor Emma Williamson
Seconder: Councillor Mark Fryer
The Independent Review of Children’s Social Care headed by Josh McCallister published in May 2022 a final report and recommendations that included:
“Government should make care experience a protected characteristic” and “New legislation should be passed which broadens corporate parenting responsibilities across a wider set of public bodies and organisations.”
On Protected Characteristics for Care Experience – (Care Review May 2022)
“Many care experienced people face discrimination, stigma, and prejudice in their day to day lives. Public perceptions of care experience centre on the idea that children are irredeemably damaged and that can lead to discrimination and assumptions being made.
One young person told the review that a teacher had told them “You’re smart - for a kid in care”, another young person said “I don’t want people to point out that I am in care if I don’t want that mentioned. It makes me so cross – that shouldn’t happen.”
This stigma and discrimination can be explicit, and often comes with assumptions about the likely characteristics of children and adults that have care experience. They can also be implicit and are evidenced in the way care experience is discussed in schools, workplaces, and the media.
At its worst this can lead to care experienced people being refused employment, failing to succeed in education or facing unfair judgements about their ability to parent when they have children and families of their own.
Hearing testimony from care experienced people sharing the discrimination they have experienced, even from a very young age, it is clear that such discrimination can be similar in nature to other groups that have a legally protected characteristic under the Equality Act (2010). So, while there may be ways that society can help reduce stigma and discrimination, including creating greater public consciousness on these issues, just as with other areas of equality, there is a case to go further. Therefore, the government should make care experience a protected characteristic.
Making care experience a protected characteristic would provide greater authority to employers, businesses, public services, and policy makers to put in place policies and programmes which promote better outcomes for care experienced people. It will make the UK the first country in the world to recognise care experienced people in this way. As a measure, it will bolster and pave the way for a number of the recommendations in this chapter.”
Care Review May 2022
Care experienced people face significant barriers that impact them throughout their lives;
- Despite the resilience of many care experienced people, society too often does not take their needs into account;
- Care experienced people often face discrimination and stigma across housing, health, education, relationships employment and in the criminal justice system;
- Care experienced people often face a postcode lottery of support;
- As corporate parents, councillors have a collective responsibility for providing the best possible care and safeguarding for the children who are looked after by us as an authority;
- All corporate parents should commit to acting as mentors, hearing the voices of looked after children and young people and to consider their needs in any aspect of council work;
- Councillors should be champions of our looked after children and challenge the negative attitudes and prejudice that exists in all aspects of society;
- The Public Sector Equality Duty requires public bodies, such as councils, to eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment, and victimisation of people with protected characteristics;
This Shadow Authority therefore resolves:-
That in preparing to become a Unitary authority when making any decisions in relation to its policies or formulating its Council plan that it recognises that care experienced people are an oppressed group who face discrimination;
- That it recognises that Councils have a duty to put the needs of oppressed people at the heart of decision-making through co-production and collaboration;
- That future decision, services and policies made and adopted by the Council should be assessed through Equality Impact Assessments to determine the impact of changes on people with care experience, alongside those who formally share a Protected Characteristic.
That in the delivery of the Public Sector Equality Duty the Council includes care experience in the publication and review of Equality Objectives and the annual publication of information relating to people who share a Protected Characteristic in services and employment.
- That when it becomes a Unitary authority it will treat Care Experience as if it were a Protected Characteristic by this council.
- To formally call upon all other bodies to treat care experience as a protected characteristic until such time as it may be introduced by legislation.
- For the council to proactively seek out and listen to the voices of care experienced people when developing new policies based on their views.
Motion 2
The following Motion has been received from:
Proposer: Councillor Tim Pickstone
Seconder: Councillor Roger Dobson
Openness, Transparency and Public Participation
This Council notes:
1 The work currently being undertaken to develop a full Constitution for Cumberland Council, in advance of 'vesting day' on 1 April 2023.
2 The existing good work in the predecessor sovereign councils to ensure good levels of openness, transparency and public participation in their work.
3 Government guidance on openness and transparency, and the minimum standards all councils must meet.
This Council therefore resolves:
1 To be, from the outset, a Council which puts openness, transparency and public participation at the heart of how it operates, going above and beyond the minimum standards set by Government.
2 To ask the Constitution Working Group to bring forward proposals to a meeting of this Council before 1 April 2023 to ensure that as a minimum:
(a) Time is set aside at every formal meeting of the authority (Council, Executive, Scrutiny, quasi-judicial etc) for questions by members of the public, including provision for questions without notice.
(b) All such formal meetings, with the exception of exempt items, are 'live streamed' to the public and made available online for members of the public to view at a later date.
(c) Forward Plan and work programmes for all appropriate meetings are published in advance, where possibly for the whole municipal year.
(d) A low barrier to members of the public initiating debate through a petition, so that our smallest communities are able to raise issues with us in this way.
(e) That grants made through any grants programmes, including any delegated councillor budgets or ward based grants, are published online.
3 To ask the Constitution Working Group and the Executive Committee to look at other ways members of the public can be involved in the work of the Authority moving forwards, in local decision making, and also through the use of technology to allow for public participation so that geography and people's caring, employment or other responsibilities are not a barrier to participation.
Motion 3
The following Motion has been received from:
Proposer: Councillor Lisa Brown
Seconder: Councillor Mark Fryer
A Right to Food in Cumberland
This shadow authority is deeply concerned by new figures released by End Child Poverty showing 10,799 children are living in relative poverty in Cumberland.
This shadow authority also notes with concern the high rates of poverty and lower life expectancy in multiple wards across its current districts (source - Cumbria Observatory.) We recognise the growing concern amongst our health, care and teaching professionals of the current situation and the exacerbation of poverty figures through the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and cost of living crisis.
This shadow authority makes clear the intention of the Cumberland Council from April 2023 will be to have the health and wellbeing of all its residents (and tackling inequality) at the heart of everything it does. This Shadow Authority believes that working on the principle that each of its residents has a “Right to Food” is one of the ways we will achieve this.
A “Right to Food” means: Food should be adequate; Food should be available; Food should be accessible. This does not mean relying on charity, but having dignity, choice and the resources to access and cook good food, not just cheap food.
This Shadow Authority notes that policies need to be changed at a national level and would demand more support for residents with the cost of living crisis and steps to be taken to end child poverty. This Shadow Authority also notes that our food system is complicated and different issues are connected across it; from food insecurity, climate change, public health, and animal welfare to food waste, workers’ rights, trade, and biodiversity. These are all important issues that are affected by the food system and we are committed to making a positive impact locally.
This Shadow Authority therefore resolves :
That our Interim Chief Executive gives consideration to the wishes of the shadow authority in the planning for taking over full functions to ensure that this is a key focus, and incorporates the Right to Food into the Council Plan so that the following can be implemented from April 2023:
·
Executive, Officers and
Scrutiny Panels to support local recognition of food poverty and
insecurity as issues demanding priority action, and steps to be
taken to measure annually food insecurity in Cumberland as a
whole.
·
Promotion of existing community and food network
initiatives, expansion of existing food work by district councils
e.g. Food Carlisle.
·
Officers to work with communities and members to
understand need accurately, and to tackle food insecurity. Develop
local food democracy, allowing the public to channel their ideas
into local government and ensuring a food system that reflects what
people really care about.
·
Scrutinise the
availability of healthy food vs. junk food in local areas. Consider
local transport and accessibility to healthy food
outlets.
· Look at how the council can use procurement across its services to work with local food producers and farmers.
This Shadow Authority also resolves that we urge our Interim Chief Executive to liaise with the District and County Chief Executives on this Shadow Authority’s proposal with effect from Vesting day and urges them to write to the MPs of Carlisle, Penrith and the Borders, Copeland and Workington to take steps to tackle child poverty and the effects of the cost of living crisis on the most vulnerable by lobbying for a robust plan which will:
• Uprate housing assistance in line with inflation;
• Reintroduce of the £20 Universal Credit uplift
• End the benefit cap and the two-child limit on benefits;
• Invest in all children with an increase to child benefit
• Introduce Universal Free School Meals
• Enshrine the Right to Food in UK Law
Minutes:
Motion 1
Councillor Williamson presented her motion seeking the Council’s agreement to the following resolutions:
That in preparing to become a Unitary authority when making any decisions in relation to its policies or formulating its Council plan that it recognises that care experienced people are an oppressed group who face discrimination;
· That it recognises that Councils have a duty to put the needs of oppressed people at the heart of decision-making through co-production and collaboration;
· That future decision, services and policies made and adopted by the Council should be assessed through Equality Impact Assessments to determine the impact of changes on people with care experience, alongside those who formally share a Protected Characteristic.
· That in the delivery of the Public Sector Equality Duty the Council includes care experience in the publication and review of Equality Objectives and the annual publication of information relating to people who share a Protected Characteristic in services and employment.
· That when it becomes a Unitary authority it will treat Care Experience as if it were a Protected Characteristic by this council.
· To formally call upon all other bodies to treat care experience as a protected characteristic until such time as it may be introduced by legislation.
· For the council to proactively seek out and listen to the voices of care experienced people when developing new policies based on their views.
Councillor Fryer seconded the motion and reserved the right to speak.
Councillor Lynch spoke in support of the motion and highlighted some reasons as to why this motion was needed.
Councillor Dobson noted that the Liberal Democrats would support the motion and encouraged others to support it as well. Councillor Dobson also thanked Councillors Williamson and Fryer for drawing attention to the report.
Councillor Cannon supported the motion and thanked Mr Galloway for his question. Councillor Cannon also asked for a copy of the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care by Josh McCallister be sent out to all councillors.
Councillor Davison noted that the Green Party would support the motion and thanked both Councillor Williamson for the motion and Mr Galloway for his question. Councillor Davison also highlighted some reasons as to why this motion was needed.
Councillor Patrick added her support for the motion, thanked the Executive for the tone they were setting for the Shadow Authority and noted the hope for cross party support.
Councillor Moore noted that the Conservatives would support the motion and applauded both Councillor Williamson for the motion and the passion shown by all for the motion.
Councillor Fryer thanked the number of people who showed the support for the motion and both Councillor Williamson and Mr Galloway. Councillor Fryer also noted that this was not just a responsibility for the Portfolios but for all councillors to support and champion.
Councillor Williamson commented that she was overwhelmed with the support given for the motion and noted that care and compassion was key going forward.
RESOLVED – That,
a) The motion be unanimously agreed
b) A copy of the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care by Josh McCallister be sent out to all councillors.
Motion 2
Councillor Pickstone presented his motion seeking the Council’s agreement to the following resolutions:
1. To be, from the outset, a Council which puts openness, transparency and public participation at the heart of how it operates, going above and beyond the minimum standards set by Government.
2. To ask the Constitution Working Group to bring forward proposals to a meeting of this Council before 1 April 2023 to ensure that as a minimum:
(a) Time is set aside at every formal meeting of the authority (Council, Executive, Scrutiny, quasi-judicial etc) for questions by members of the public, including provision for questions without notice.
(b) All such formal meetings, with the exception of exempt items, are 'live streamed' to the public and made available online for members of the public to view at a later date.
(c) Forward Plan and work programmes for all appropriate meetings are published in advance, where possibly for the whole municipal year.
(d) A low barrier to members of the public initiating debate through a petition, so that our smallest communities are able to raise issues with us in this way.
(e) That grants made through any grants programmes, including any delegated councillor budgets or ward based grants, are published online.
3. To ask the Constitution Working Group and the Executive Committee to look at other ways members of the public can be involved in the work of the Authority moving forwards, in local decision making, and also through the use of technology to allow for public participation so that geography and people's caring, employment or other responsibilities are not a barrier to participation.
Councillor Dobson seconded the motion.
Councillor Brown recommended an amendment to the motion, to have the matter referred to the appropriate body, the Constitutional Working Group, for them to consider.
Councillor Fryer seconded the amendment.
Councillor Mallinson noted support for the amendment.
Councillor Pratt supported transparency but highlighted that not all facilities were at the same standards and would need further infrastructure to be able to meet some of the requests within the motion.
Councillor Pickstone noted that he did not support the amendment.
Councillor Fryer noted that the Constitutional Working Group had their own agenda.
Councillor Davison commented that she was against the amendment, believing that it is important for all councillors to be able to feed into the Constitutional Working Group.
RESOLVED – That,
a) The amendment be carried with a majority of 28 for and 8 against
b) The amended motion be unanimously agreed
Motion 3
Councillor Brown presented her motion seeking the Council’s agreement to the following resolutions:
That our Interim Chief Executive gives consideration to the wishes of the shadow authority in the planning for taking over full functions to ensure that this is a key focus, and incorporates the Right to Food into the Council Plan so that the following can be implemented from April 2023:
· Executive, Officers and Scrutiny Panels to support local recognition of food poverty and insecurity as issues demanding priority action, and steps to be taken to measure annually food insecurity in Cumberland as a whole.
· Promotion of existing community and food network initiatives, expansion of existing food work by district councils e.g. Food Carlisle.
· Officers to work with communities and members to understand need accurately, and to tackle food insecurity. Develop local food democracy, allowing the public to channel their ideas into local government and ensuring a food system that reflects what people really care about.
· Scrutinise the availability of healthy food vs. junk food in local areas. Consider local transport and accessibility to healthy food outlets.
· Look at how the council can use procurement across its services to work with local food producers and farmers.
This Shadow Authority also resolves that we urge our Interim Chief Executive
to liaise with the District and County Chief Executives on this Shadow
Authority’s proposal with effect from Vesting day and urges them to write to
the MPs of Carlisle, Penrith and the Borders, Copeland and Workington to
take steps to tackle child poverty and the effects of the cost of living crisis
on the most vulnerable by lobbying for a robust plan which will:
· Uprate housing assistance in line with inflation;
· Reintroduce of the £20 Universal Credit uplift
· End the benefit cap and the two-child limit on benefits;
· Invest in all children with an increase to child benefit
· Introduce Universal Free School Meals
· Enshrine the Right to Food in UK Law
Councillor Fryer seconded the motion and reserved the right to speak.
Councillor Rollo noted support for the motion to fight for change.
Councillor Hawkins noted support for the motion and thanked
Councillor Brown for the motion tackling inequality.
Councillor Wernham noted support for the motion and encouraged further support.
Councillor Davison commented that the Green Party would support the motion while highlighting the issues of the current situation.
Councillor Ghayouba noted support for the motion and commented on the impact the issue has on every aspect of people lives.
Councillor Fryer thanked Councillor Brown for the motion and commented on the passion for Public Health.
Councillor Brown thanked those for the support received noting looking towards the future.
RESOLVED – That the motion be agreed with 35 votes for and 2 abstentions.
[Note: The Interim Head of Paid Service for Cumberland left the room in advance of the next two agenda items]