Agenda and minutes

Venue: PLEASE NOTE THE CHANGE OF VENUE: The meeting will now be held in the Auditorium at University Academy 92 (UA92) Campus, Brian Statham Way, Old Trafford, Manchester, M16 0PU

Contact: Ian Cockill  Governance Officer

Note: Public attendance at this meeting is limited at the venue and anyone wishing to attend is asked to contact democratic.services@trafford.gov.uk to register in advance as the Council continues to manage the risk of Covid-19. The Council has a duty to protect the health, safety and welfare of staff and others from Covid transmission risks so far as is reasonably practicable and all attendees are reminded of the need for self-isolation where positive cases and contacts have been identified. Please note that the meeting will also be streamed live in line with the principles of openness and transparency in local government. To access the live stream of the meeting, please paste the following into your browser's address bar: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjwbIOW5x0NSe38sgFU8bKg 

Items
No. Item

14.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 311 KB

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the Annual Meeting of the Council held on 26 May 2021 for signature by the Mayor as Chair of the Council.

Minutes:

That the Minutes of the Annual Meeting of the Council held on 26 May 2021, be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

 

15.

Announcements

To receive any announcements from the Mayor, Leader of the Council, Members of the Executive, Chairs of Scrutiny Committees and the Head of Paid Service.

Minutes:

(a)       Her Majesty the Queen’s Birthday Honours

 

The Mayor took the opportunity to recognise those citizens and persons connected with Trafford who had been named in Her Majesty the Queen's Birthday Honours List, namely:

 

Jackie Driver of Stretford, awarded the citation of Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to Hearing Impaired People, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion;

 

Francis McCarron of Altrincham, awarded the OBE for services to Education;

 

Syed Naeem Pasha Shah of Stretford, awarded the OBE for services to Faith Communities;

 

Abdul Hafeez of Warburton, awarded the citation of Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to the NHS particularly during Covid-19;

 

John Shiels of Sale, awarded the MBE for services to Young People through Football;

 

Tony Lloyd, Member of Parliament and a former Member of Council, awarded a Knight Bachelor of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for public service; and

 

Theresa Grant, former Chief Executive, awarded the OBE for services to Local Government and Public Sector.

 

The Mayor conveyed the Council’s congratulations for their achievements and richly deserved recognition.

 

(b)       Incident at Trafford General Hospital

 

The Deputy Leader of the Council referred to an earlier incident that day at Trafford General Hospital and advised that the Council was supporting the NHS and emergency services and that the Council’s thoughts were with those affected.

16.

Questions By Members pdf icon PDF 377 KB

This is an opportunity for Members of Council to ask the Mayor, Members of the Executive or the Chairs of any Committee or Sub-Committee a question on notice under Procedure Rule 10.2.

Minutes:

The Mayor reported that 7 questions had been received under Procedure Rule 10.2 and that in accordance with the procedure rules, full written answers were to be provided to the questioners at a later date and in addition the responses would be published on the Council’s website.

17.

Petition - A 20mph Zone for Safer Streets in North Altrincham pdf icon PDF 210 KB

To consider the following petition requiring debate:

 

“We the undersigned (513 signatories) petition the Council to create a 20mph zone, comprising all the residential streets north of Altrincham Town Centre, between the Bridgewater Canal, A56 and the railway (including Bridgewater Road, Brunswick Road, Navigation Road, Grosvenor Road, Gaskell Road, Hazel Road and Sandiway Road, and the roads off them). Install warning signs asking vehicles to slow down, where children are likely to be crossing or playing.”

 

Note: In accordance with the Council’s Petition Scheme, a petition containing more than 500 signatures will be debated by the Council. The petition organiser will be given five minutes to present the petition and then it will be discussed by the Council for a maximum of 15 minutes.

Minutes:

(Note: Councillor Welton declared a personal interest in the matter as a resident in the area of the petition.)

 

Petition organiser, Mrs. Stanker introduced the following petition containing 513 signatures, which had been presented to the Council:

 

“We the undersigned petition the Council to create a 20mph zone, comprising all the residential streets north of Altrincham Town Centre, between the Bridgewater Canal, A56 and the railway (including Bridgewater Road, Brunswick Road, Navigation Road, Grosvenor Road, Gaskell Road, Hazel Road and Sandiway Road, and the roads off them). Install warning signs asking vehicles to slow down, where children are likely to be crossing or playing.”

 

Addressing the Council, the lead petitioner explained that her decision to put forward a petition for a 20mph zones was to improve the safety for children walking around and playing in the streets. Mrs. Stanker identified dangerous blind spots in the area and poor visibility in the area was exacerbated in winter months due to the lower reduced street lighting in the area. New developments locally and the increased entries to schools were adding to the volume of traffic.

 

Councillor Adshead the Executive Member for Environment and Regulatory Services and Councillors Morgan, Brophy and Welton responded to the petition on behalf of the political parties and made the following points:

 

Councillor Adshead: As had been acknowledged by Mrs. Stanker, the Executive in June 2021 had approved a process and criteria for considering requests for 20mph zones and streets. Any schemes or proposals would be assessed as part of future capital bids and importantly issues of safety, particularly around schools, were to be prioritised.

 

Councillor Morgan: Supported implementation of the petition proposals as soon as feasible and considered it an example of where 20mph zones should be introduced as it has defined boundaries, an entirely residential area and additionally a popular primary school where large numbers of children walk to school each day.

 

Councillor Brophy: Welcomed the petition and expressed support for 20mph zones in general on the grounds of safety and environmental benefits.

 

Councillor Welton: Supported the petition and spoke in favour of 20mph zones for all residential roads.

 

Following the discussion the Deputy Leader of the Council, Councillor Hynes thanked Mrs. Stanker and the residents for bringing the petition to Council and summarised the action the Council planned to take.

 

The Deputy Leader welcomed the suggestions made and considered that with the introduction of a policy the Council was now being bold in its approach to 20mph zones. The petitions proposals would now be considered in line with the Council’s agreed policy and any proposals put forward for inclusion in the capital programme.

18.

Petition - STOP signage on Woodbourne Road, Sale pdf icon PDF 211 KB

To consider the following petition requiring debate:

 

“We the undersigned (597 signatories) petition the Council to place clear and prominent STOP signage on Woodbourne Road, at the junction with Framingham Road.”

 

Note: In accordance with the Council’s Petition Scheme, a petition containing more than 500 signatures will be debated by the Council. The petition organiser will be given five minutes to present the petition and then it will be discussed by the Council for a maximum of 15 minutes.

 

Minutes:

Petition organiser, Mrs. de Latour introduced the following petition containing 597 signatures, which had been presented to the Council:

 

“We the undersigned petition the Council to place clear and prominent STOP signage on Woodbourne Road, at the junction with Framingham Road.”

 

The lead petitioner addressed the Council and explained that the petition arose as a result of an accident that occurred at the junction in April 2021 which was the third accident of such nature that she could recall over the past few years, two of which happened in daylight with good visibility. Markings had been refreshed but irrespective of markings or signage it would appear that drivers were not aware that it was a junction. Over 350 houses had to use the junction as their only access point and Brooklands Primary School was located close to the junction generating a lot of pedestrian and vehicle traffic. In addition a sports field at the end of Woodbourne Road draws traffic from outside of the area which might not be familiar with the junction. Despite Greater Manchester Police not supporting STOP signage, it was clear from the strength of support that action was needed to improve the safety of the junction and to limit traffic and speed.

 

Councillor Adshead the Executive Member for Environment and Regulatory Services, Councillor Boyes the Deputy Mayor and Councillors Newgrosh and Welton responded to the petition on behalf of the political parties and made the following points:

 

Councillor Adshead: As Mrs. de Latour was aware, extensive discussions had been held with the police and highways engineers but unfortunately the junction did not conform to Department of Transport regulations. Whilst the location did not meet the national criteria, all parties believed that the safety of the junction needed to be improved and the enhancement of existing road signs and road markings had been actioned. Furthermore a review of local waiting restrictions would be undertaken and as part of the consultation, the Council would welcome any additional proposals to improve the safety of the area.

 

Councillor Boyes: Supportive of the petition and commented on the recent accidents and the concerns for safety. Being aware of STOP signage at another comparative location, could not understand why the same signage could not be placed at a potentially very dangerous junction.

 

Councillor Newgrosh: Supported the petition and all the safety measures subsequently proposed for such a dangerous junction.

 

Councillor Welton: Supported the petition and further to the Executive Member’s appeal for suggestions, advocated a 20mph zone and a School Street scheme stating that the area around should be a low traffic neighbourhood and that Framingham Road needed to be filtered and not a through road.

 

Following the discussion the Deputy Leader of the Council, Councillor Hynes thanked Mrs. de Latour and the residents for bringing the petition to Council and summarised the action the Council planned to take.

 

Acknowledging the response from Greater Manchester Police, the Department of Transport’s regulations and that the Council was unable to implement the petition’s proposal,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.

19.

Places for Everyone Plan (2021): Approval of Places for Everyone 2021 for submission to the Secretary of State pdf icon PDF 816 KB

To consider a report of the Executive Member for Housing and Regeneration seeking approval of the Places for Everyone: Publication Draft 2021 for submission to the Secretary of State for examination following the period for representations.

Minutes:

The Executive Member for Housing and Regeneration submitted a report summarising the content of the final draft Places for Everyone Plan (PfE) 2021 and its relationship to the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework (GMSF). The report detailed the Trafford allocations and land supply position in the PfE and sought approval to submit the PfE to the Secretary of State for Examination in Public, following consultation on the Plan in Summer 2021.

 

In moving the report’s recommendations a recorded vote was called for, in accordance with Procedure Rule 16.5. The recommendations were seconded and then debated.

 

(Note: During the debate, the time being 8:01 p.m., the Mayor indicated that speeches on this matter would now be limited to a maximum of two minutes per speaker.)

 

Following the debate on the matter, the Motion was put to the vote and this resulted as follows:

 

Those in favour of the Motion: Councillors Acton, Adshead, Akinola, Bennett, Brophy, Brotherton, Dr. Carr, G. Carter, K. Carter, Coggins, Cordingley, Dagnall, Dillon, Freeman, Harding, Hartley, Hassan, Haughey, Hynes, Lloyd, Longden, Maitland, Minnis, New, Newgrosh, O’Sullivan, Patel, Procter, Ross, Slater, Taylor, Thomas, Thompson, Walsh, Welton, D. Western, Whyte, Williams, Winstanley and Wright.

 

Those against the Motion: Councillors Dr. Barclay, Miss Blackburn, Boyes, Bunting, Butt, Carey, Chalkin, Evans, Holden, Lamb, Mirza, Mitchell, Morgan, Whetton and Mrs. P. Young.

 

Those choosing to abstain: None.

 

With the result of the vote being 40 in favour and 15 against, with no abstentions, the Motion was declared carried.

 

RESOLVED: That the Council approves submission of the Places for Everyone Publication Plan 2021 to the Secretary of State for examination following the period for representations.

20.

Greater Manchester Clean Air Final Plan pdf icon PDF 892 KB

To consider a report of the Leader of the Council following recommendation from the Executive Meeting held on 26 July 2021.

 

[PLEASE NOTE: The appendices to this report are especially extensive and have been published in full on the Council’s website, together with the rest of the agenda papers for the meeting, however, they are not included in the circulated paper version.]

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Council considered a report of the Leader of the Council setting out the proposed Greater Manchester Final Clean Air Plan and policy following a review of all of the information gathered through the consultation and wider data, evidence and modelling work. The report advised that the proposed plan required agreement by the ten Greater Manchester local authorities and sought the Council’s approval.

 

The report’s recommendations were moved and seconded and during the debate a recorded vote was called for, in accordance with Procedure Rule 16.5. Following the debate on the matter, the Motion was put to the vote and this resulted as follows:

 

Those in favour of the Motion: Councillors Acton, Adshead, Akinola, Bennett, Brophy, Brotherton, Dr. Carr, G. Carter, K. Carter, Coggins, Cordingley, Dagnall, Dillon, Freeman, Harding, Hartley, Hassan, Haughey, Hynes, Lloyd, Longden, Maitland, Minnis, New, Newgrosh, O’Sullivan, Patel, Procter, Ross, Slater, Taylor, Thomas, Thompson, Walsh, Welton, D. Western, Whyte, Williams, Winstanley and Wright.

 

Those against the Motion: None.

 

Those choosing to abstain: Councillors Dr. Barclay, Miss Blackburn, Boyes, Bunting, Butt, Carey, Chalkin, Evans, Holden, Lamb, Mirza, Mitchell, Morgan, Whetton and Mrs. P. Young.

 

With the result of the vote being 40 in favour and none against, with 15 abstentions, the Motion was declared carried.

 

RESOLVED: That the Council:

 

(1)       Notes the progress of the Greater Manchester Clean Air Plan.

 

(2)       Notes the progress in the distribution of Bus Retrofit funding.

 

(3)       Notes Ministers’ agreement to include the sections of the A628/A57 in Tameside which form part of the Strategic Road Network within the Greater Manchester’s Clean Air Zone (CAZ) and their request for Tameside MBC, Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) and Highways England to establish the most appropriate solution for the charging mechanism to be applied on this section of the Strategic Road Network (SRN).

 

(4)       Approves the Greater Manchester Clean Air Plan Policy, as set out at Appendix 1 to the report, noting that the policy outlines the boundary, discounts, exemptions, daily charges of the Clean Air Zone as well as the financial support packages offered towards upgrading to a compliant vehicle, including the eligibility criteria to be applied, as recommended by the Executive.

 

(5)       Notes the Equalities Impact Assessment as agreed by the Executive, as set out at Appendix 2 to the report.

 

(6)       Notes the AECOM Consultation Report as agreed by the Executive, as set out at Appendix 3 to the report.

 

(7)       Notes the proposed Response to the Consultation at Appendix 4 to the report which has been prepared by TfGM on behalf of the ten Greater Manchester local authorities.

 

(8)       Notes the Impacts of the COVID-19 Report as agreed by the Executive, as set out at Appendix 5 to the report.

 

(9)       Notes the Modelling report of the final Clean Air Plan (CAP) package as agreed by the Executive, as set out at Appendix 6 to the report, and in particular that the modelling outputs of the final plan scheme show the achievement of compliance with the legal limits for Nitrogen Dioxide  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.

21.

Revenue Budget Increase

Further to a recommendation set out in the Period 2 (April to May 2021) Budget Monitoring 2021/22 report to the Executive on 26 July 2021, the Council is requested to approve an increase to the net Revenue Budget of £168,000 to £179,472,000, as a result of a minor late change in the financial settlement relating to resources to support the Public Health budget.

 

The Council is required to formally approve any change to the Revenue Budget.

 

Minutes:

Further to a recommendation set out in the Period 2 (April to May 2021) Budget Monitoring 2021/22 report to the Executive on 26 July 2021, the Council was requested to approve an increase to the net Revenue Budget as a result of a minor late change in the financial settlement relating to resources to support the Public Health budget.

 

          RESOLVED: That an increase to the net Revenue Budget of £168,000 to £179,472,000, be approved.

22.

Treasury Management Annual Performance 2020/21 Report pdf icon PDF 889 KB

To note a joint report of the Executive Member for Finance and Governance and the Director of Finance and Systems referred from the Executive Meeting held on 26 July 2021.

Minutes:

Further to meetings of the Accounts and Audit Committee on 22 July 2021 and the Executive on 26 July 2021, the Executive Member for Finance and Governance and the Director of Finance and Systems submitted a joint report outlining the key treasury management activities undertaken during 2020/21.

 

RESOLVED: That the report be noted.

 

23.

Year End Corporate Report on Health, Safety and Wellbeing 1 April 2020 - 31 March 2021 pdf icon PDF 471 KB

To note a report of the Executive Member for Finance and Governance.

Minutes:

The Executive Member for Finance and Governance submitted a report providing information on council wide health and safety performance and trends in workplace accidents. The report also provided a summary of other key developments in health and safety for the period 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021.

 

RESOLVED: That the report be noted.

24.

Accounts and Audit Committee Annual Report to Council 2020/21 pdf icon PDF 562 KB

To note a report of the 2020/21 Chair and Vice-Chair of the Accounts and Audit Committee referred from the Accounts and Audit Committee meeting held on 22 July 2021.

Minutes:

The Chair and Vice-Chair of the Accounts and Audit Committee submitted to the Council a report setting out the Committee’s Annual Report for 2020/21. The Annual Report which had been presented to the Accounts and Audit Committee on 22 July 2021 summarised the work undertaken by the Committee during the year and its impact and also provided assurance to the Council on the fulfilment of the Committee’s responsibilities.

 

RESOLVED: That the report be noted.

 

25.

Motion Submitted by the Labour Group - Proposed cut to Universal Credit

 

To maintain the income of low and middle income households and single people, the Council notes that: 

From the end of September the UK Government plans to cut benefits for millions of in-work and out- of-work claimants by cutting the basic rate of Universal Credit by £20 per week.


This will reverse the £20 a week increase to Universal Credit made in March 2020. This increase reflected the reality that the level of benefits in the UK does not sufficiently support low and middle income households. The increase was a very significant and welcome move to bolster low and middle-income living standards, and cutting it will be a huge loss to the many people who have already suffered hardship during the pandemic. 


The £20 increase was welcome given the backdrop of ten years’ worth of cuts to working age benefits that have driven up child and working age poverty.


The cut will significantly damage local efforts to tackle poverty, undermining the work of Trafford council and partners being delivered through our local poverty strategy.


The £20 increase in Universal Credit has had a positive effect on the lives of thousands of local claimants who are better able to pay for life’s essentials such as food, clothing and utilities. The financial pressures facing these households will still be there after September.


The cut will hit the local economy in Trafford, taking £1000s out of the pockets of residents. This is money that will no longer be spent in local shops and businesses.


There has been no such increase in Carers Allowance, with many unpaid carers facing extreme financial hardship. Rather than cutting Universal Credit, the government should be focussed on boosting disability and legacy benefits to ensure that the basic needs of households can be met.


The Council resolves to:  


Write to the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, and to the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, demanding that the £20 increase to Universal Credit is made permanent and extended to claimants on all legacy benefits including Carers Allowance. 

Minutes:

It was moved and seconded that:

 

“To maintain the income of low and middle income households and single people, the Council notes that:

 

From the end of September the UK Government plans to cut benefits for millions of in-work and out- of-work claimants by cutting the basic rate of Universal Credit by £20 per week.

 

This will reverse the £20 a week increase to Universal Credit made in March 2020. This increase reflected the reality that the level of benefits in the UK does not sufficiently support low and middle income households. The increase was a very significant and welcome move to bolster low and middle-income living standards, and cutting it will be a huge loss to the many people who have already suffered hardship during the pandemic. 

 

The £20 increase was welcome given the backdrop of ten years’ worth of cuts to working age benefits that have driven up child and working age poverty.

 

The cut will significantly damage local efforts to tackle poverty, undermining the work of Trafford council and partners being delivered through our local poverty strategy.

 

The £20 increase in Universal Credit has had a positive effect on the lives of thousands of local claimants who are better able to pay for life’s essentials such as food, clothing and utilities. The financial pressures facing these households will still be there after September.

 

The cut will hit the local economy in Trafford, taking £1000s out of the pockets of residents. This is money that will no longer be spent in local shops and businesses.

 

There has been no such increase in Carers Allowance, with many unpaid carers facing extreme financial hardship. Rather than cutting Universal Credit, the government should be focussed on boosting disability and legacy benefits to ensure that the basic needs of households can be met.

 

The Council resolves to:  

 

Write to the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, and to the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, demanding that the £20 increase to Universal Credit is made permanent and extended to claimants on all legacy benefits including Carers Allowance.”

 

Following a debate on the matter, the Motion was put to the vote and declared carried.

 

RESOLVED: That to maintain the income of low and middle income households and single people, the Council notes that:

 

From the end of September the UK Government plans to cut benefits for millions of in-work and out- of-work claimants by cutting the basic rate of Universal Credit by £20 per week.

 

This will reverse the £20 a week increase to Universal Credit made in March 2020. This increase reflected the reality that the level of benefits in the UK does not sufficiently support low and middle income households. The increase was a very significant and welcome move to bolster low and middle-income living standards, and cutting it will be a huge loss to the many people who have already suffered hardship during the pandemic. 

 

The £20 increase was welcome given the backdrop of ten years’ worth of cuts to working age benefits  ...  view the full minutes text for item 25.

26.

Motion Submitted by the Labour Group - Labour's Children's Recovery Plan

 

The impact of the pandemic on children and young people has been significant and far-reaching.

 

Ofsted reported that children hardest hit by school closures and restrictions have regressed in some basic skills and learning. Whilst a survey conducted earlier this year by Young Minds revealed that many young people are anxious the pandemic will have a long term negative effect on their mental health.

 

Although concerns are widespread, the impact of the pandemic has not been the same for all children. Nationally, professionals have reported apprehension about the impact of the virus on the lives of children who were already vulnerable. Additionally, children in Greater Manchester and the North West have been further impacted by higher rates of coronavirus, leading to increased periods of missed education as children have been required to self-isolate. 

 

The Government support package for children and young people has been widely criticized, with the Government appointed UK Education Tsar resigning over the lack of sufficient catch- up funding, stating on his resignation that  “without a comprehensive and urgent response”, the Government “risk failing hundreds of thousands of pupils”.

 

This Council is proud of the hard work and dedication of our Social Workers, teachers and all those working in services that support children and young people in Trafford. The Council will continue to provide a high level of support to children, young people and their families but also calls upon the Government to provide a properly funded, comprehensive package of support that will meet the needs of those impacted by the pandemic.

 

The Council welcomes the measures announced by the Shadow Education Secretary, Kate Green MP as part of the Labour’s Children’s Recovery Plan.

 

The Council calls upon the Government to implement the measures below, as outlined in the plan;

 

·         Breakfast clubs and new activities for every child: from breakfast clubs to sport, drama, book clubs and debating societies, a fully funded expanded range of extracurricular clubs and activities to boost time for children to play and socialise after months away from their friends;

·         Quality mental health support in every school: give every child the support they need to transition back to school and manage personal challenges, with access to qualified in-school counselling staff alongside boosting wellbeing through extra activities;

·         Small group tutoring for all who need it, not just 1%: make small group teaching available to all children who need it not just 1%, by reforming the Government’s failing tutoring programme to make sure no child falls behind because of pandemic disruption;

·         Continued development for teachers: Teachers have had one of the toughest years of their careers – it is only by supporting them with training to stay on top of the latest knowledge and techniques that we can give every child a brilliant classroom experience;

·         An Education Recovery Premium: support every child to reach their potential by investing in children who have faced the greatest disruption during the pandemic.

Minutes:

It was moved and seconded that:

 

The impact of the pandemic on children and young people has been significant and far-reaching.

 

Ofsted reported that children hardest hit by school closures and restrictions have regressed in some basic skills and learning. Whilst a survey conducted earlier this year by Young Minds revealed that many young people are anxious the pandemic will have a long term negative effect on their mental health.

 

Although concerns are widespread, the impact of the pandemic has not been the same for all children. Nationally, professionals have reported apprehension about the impact of the virus on the lives of children who were already vulnerable. Additionally, children in Greater Manchester and the North West have been further impacted by higher rates of coronavirus, leading to increased periods of missed education as children have been required to self-isolate. 

 

The Government support package for children and young people has been widely criticized, with the Government appointed UK Education Tsar resigning over the lack of sufficient catch- up funding, stating on his resignation that  “without a comprehensive and urgent response”, the Government “risk failing hundreds of thousands of pupils”.

 

This Council is proud of the hard work and dedication of our Social Workers, teachers and all those working in services that support children and young people in Trafford. The Council will continue to provide a high level of support to children, young people and their families but also calls upon the Government to provide a properly funded, comprehensive package of support that will meet the needs of those impacted by the pandemic.

 

The Council welcomes the measures announced by the Shadow Education Secretary, Kate Green MP as part of the Labour’s Children’s Recovery Plan.

 

The Council calls upon the Government to implement the measures below, as outlined in the plan;

 

·       Breakfast clubs and new activities for every child: from breakfast clubs to sport, drama, book clubs and debating societies, a fully funded expanded range of extracurricular clubs and activities to boost time for children to play and socialise after months away from their friends;

·       Quality mental health support in every school: give every child the support they need to transition back to school and manage personal challenges, with access to qualified in-school counselling staff alongside boosting wellbeing through extra activities;

·       Small group tutoring for all who need it, not just 1%: make small group teaching available to all children who need it not just 1%, by reforming the Government’s failing tutoring programme to make sure no child falls behind because of pandemic disruption;

·       Continued development for teachers: Teachers have had one of the toughest years of their careers – it is only by supporting them with training to stay on top of the latest knowledge and techniques that we can give every child a brilliant classroom experience;

·       An Education Recovery Premium: support every child to reach their potential by investing in children who have faced the greatest disruption during the pandemic.”

 

Following a debate on the matter, the Motion  ...  view the full minutes text for item 26.

27.

Motion Submitted by the Labour Group - Sewell Report

 

This Council notes the publication in March this year of the Report of the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities, chaired by Dr. Tony Sewell.

 

Council is concerned by the analysis provided within the Report and rejects several of its key findings.

 

Trafford Council believes that:

 

-            This Report is add odds with almost every other report ever completed looking at issues of race in the UK

-            That much of the evidence submitted by key contributors to the Report has been ignored or in some cases manipulated to drive the eventual conclusion of the Report to a specific predetermined outcome

-            That socio-economic status is a critical driver in life chances, but that addressing class inequalities must not mean denying structural racism exists

-            That structural racism in and of itself is a key barrier to life chances

-            That some communities faring well in parts of the education system is not evidence that structural racism cannot exist

-            That selective use of evidence has led to demonstrably incorrect conclusions in findings, for example in suggesting inequalities in the labour market have narrowed

 

Trafford Council calls upon Government to:

 

-            Reject the findings of the Sewell Report

-            Legislate for a Race Equality Act at the earliest opportunity

-            Publish the ethnicity pay gap of all government departments

-            Require organisations and businesses to publish their ethnicity pay gap as they do their gender pay gap

Minutes:

It was moved and seconded that:

 

This Council notes the publication in March this year of the Report of the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities, chaired by Dr. Tony Sewell.

 

Council is concerned by the analysis provided within the Report and rejects several of its key findings.

 

Trafford Council believes that:

 

-       This Report is add odds with almost every other report ever completed looking at issues of race in the UK.

-       That much of the evidence submitted by key contributors to the Report has been ignored or in some cases manipulated to drive the eventual conclusion of the Report to a specific predetermined outcome.

-       That socio-economic status is a critical driver in life chances, but that addressing class inequalities must not mean denying structural racism exists.

-       That structural racism in and of itself is a key barrier to life chances.

-       That some communities faring well in parts of the education system is not evidence that structural racism cannot exist.

-       That selective use of evidence has led to demonstrably incorrect conclusions in findings, for example in suggesting inequalities in the labour market have narrowed.

 

Trafford Council calls upon Government to:

 

-       Reject the findings of the Sewell Report.

-       Legislate for a Race Equality Act at the earliest opportunity.

-       Publish the ethnicity pay gap of all government departments.

-       Require organisations and businesses to publish their ethnicity pay gap as they do their gender pay gap.

 

Following a debate on the matter, the Motion was put to the vote and declared carried.

 

RESOLVED: That this Council notes the publication in March this year of the Report of the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities, chaired by Dr. Tony Sewell.

 

Council is concerned by the analysis provided within the Report and rejects several of its key findings.

 

Trafford Council believes that:

 

-       This Report is add odds with almost every other report ever completed looking at issues of race in the UK.

-       That much of the evidence submitted by key contributors to the Report has been ignored or in some cases manipulated to drive the eventual conclusion of the Report to a specific predetermined outcome.

-       That socio-economic status is a critical driver in life chances, but that addressing class inequalities must not mean denying structural racism exists.

-       That structural racism in and of itself is a key barrier to life chances.

-       That some communities faring well in parts of the education system is not evidence that structural racism cannot exist.

-       That selective use of evidence has led to demonstrably incorrect conclusions in findings, for example in suggesting inequalities in the labour market have narrowed.

 

Trafford Council calls upon Government to:

 

-       Reject the findings of the Sewell Report.

-       Legislate for a Race Equality Act at the earliest opportunity.

-       Publish the ethnicity pay gap of all government departments.

-       Require organisations and businesses to publish their ethnicity pay gap as they do their gender  ...  view the full minutes text for item 27.

28.

Motion Submitted by the Green Party Group - Universal Basic Income Trial

 

This Council notes:

 

Many argue a Universal Basic Income (UBI) is the fairest, most effective way to mitigate the effects of coronavirus on people’s incomes. A network of Universal Basic Income Labs has been set up and works with local authorities across the UK developing UBI proposals to address problems such as poverty, inequality, discrimination and environmental damage, long-term and immediately, in relation to coronavirus.

 

GM Poverty Action: “The rise of in-work poverty in the UK has been a growing trend over the last decade and suggests that employment alone is often not an effective means of escaping poverty.”

 

UBI is a non-means-tested sum paid by the state to cover the basic cost of living, which is paid to all citizens individually, regardless of employment status, wealth, or marital status, and which has been more widely debated in recent months than ever before. It replaces a complex panoply of means-tested benefits of which £10 billion remains unclaimed each year.

 

Trafford Council is ideally placed to pilot a UBI, given its economic and demographic diversity.

 

This Council believes:

 

That with UBI so many other benefits exist:

 

·         More flexible workforce and greater freedom to change jobs

·         Supporting a caring economy to value unpaid work

·         Removing the negative impacts of benefit sanctions and conditionality

·         Breaking the link between work and consumption, thus helping reduce strain on the environment

·         Enabling greater opportunities for people to work in community and cultural activities or to train or reskill in areas that will be needed to transition to a lower carbon economy

 

That Andy Burnham, GM Mayor, is right when he says:

 

·         UBI should be ‘seriously considered’

·         Essential workers and those on insecure contracts need this vital support

·         “All people should be paid enough at work so they have a decent amount to live on”

 

This Council resolves to:

 

·         Write to the Government calling for a fully evaluated basic income trial in Trafford with reference to the benefits listed

Additional documents:

Minutes:

 

RESOLVED: That consideration of this Motion be deferred to the next meeting of the Council.