Decision details

Motions

Decision Maker: Council

Decision status: Approved

Is Key decision?: No

Is subject to call in?: No

Decisions:

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 10, Councillors were able to submit Motions on Notice for consideration at meetings of Council.

 

a)         The following motion was submitted for consideration by Councillor Steve Fritchley:

 

Further to the Motion agreed at Council on 30 November 2016 -

 

That this Council notes that:

·         The TUC’s Dying to Work Campaign seeks to have terminal illness recognised as a ‘protected characteristic’ so that an employee with a terminal illness would enjoy a protected period where they could not be dismissed as a result of their condition.

·         The Dying to Work Charter states the following:

-       We recognise that terminal illness requires support and understanding and not additional and avoidable stress and worry

-       Terminally ill workers will be secure in the knowledge that we will support them following their diagnosis and we recognise that, safe and reasonable work can help maintain dignity, offer a valuable distraction and can be therapeutic itself

-       We will provide our employees with the security of work, peace of mind and the right to choose the best course of action for themselves and their families which helps them through this challenging period with the dignity and without undue financial loss

-       We support the TUC’s Dying to Work campaign so that all employees battling terminal illness have adequate employment protection and have their death in service benefits protected for the loved ones they leave behind.

This Council resolves to:

·         Support the TUC’s Dying to Work Campaign calling for terminal illness to be made a protected characteristic.

·         Commit to signing up to the TUC’s Dying to Work Charter.

The motion was moved by Councillor Steve Fritchley and seconded by Councillor Sandra Peake.  Both Councillors spoke to the motion and emphasised the need to be a compassionate employer and how important it was to both employees and their families.

 

On being put to the vote the motion was carried.

 

RESOLVEDthat this Council notes that:

·         The TUC’s Dying to Work Campaign seeks to have terminal illness recognised as a ‘protected characteristic’ so that an employee with a terminal illness would enjoy a protected period where they could not be dismissed as a result of their condition.

·         The Dying to Work Charter states the following:

-       We recognise that terminal illness requires support and understanding and not additional and avoidable stress and worry

-       Terminally ill workers will be secure in the knowledge that we will support them following their diagnosis and we recognise that, safe and reasonable work can help maintain dignity, offer a valuable distraction and can be therapeutic itself

-       We will provide our employees with the security of work, peace of mind and the right to choose the best course of action for themselves and their families which helps them through this challenging period with the dignity and without undue financial loss

-       We support the TUC’s Dying to Work campaign so that all employees battling terminal illness have adequate employment protection and have their death in service benefits protected for the loved ones they leave behind.

This Council resolves to:

·         Support the TUC’s Dying to Work Campaign calling for terminal illness to be made a protected characteristic.

·         Commit to signing up to the TUC’s Dying to Work Charter.

 

b)        The following motion was submitted for consideration by Councillor Duncan McGregor:

 

This council notes:

 

Local government has endured central government funding cuts of more than 50% since 2010. Between 2010 and 2020, councils lost 60p out of every £1 they have received from central government. Councils across England are now facing a collective funding gap of £2.4bn for the financial year 2023/24 and a cumulative funding gap of £4.08bn for 2024/25 according to UNISON research.

 

Councils led the way in efforts against the Covid-19 pandemic, providing a huge range of services and support for our communities. Local government has shown more than ever how indispensable it is. But Covid has led to a massive increase in expenditure and loss of income, and as we emerge from the pandemic, local authorities and schools need far more support from Westminster. Recent funding announcements from the Government relating to schools did nothing to help.

 

Council and school workers kept our communities safe through the pandemic, often putting themselves at considerable risk as they work to protect public health, provide quality housing, ensure our children continue to be educated, and look after older and vulnerable people.

 

Since 2010, the local government workforce has endured years of pay restraint with the majority of pay points losing at least 25 per cent of their value since 2009/10. Staff are now facing the worst cost of living crisis in a generation, with inflation hitting 10% and many having to make impossible choices between food, heating and other essentials. This is a terrible situation for anyone to find themselves in.

 

At the same time, workers have experienced ever-increasing workloads and persistent job insecurity. Across the UK, 900,000 jobs have been lost in local government since June 2010 – a reduction of more than 30 per cent. Local government has arguably been hit by more severe job losses than any other part of the public sector.

 

There has been a disproportionate impact on women, with women making up more than three-quarters of the local government workforce.

 

Recent research shows that if the Government were to fully fund the unions’ 2023 pay claim, around half of the money would be recouped thanks to increased tax revenue, reduced expenditure on benefits and tax credits, and increased consumer spending in the local economy.

 

This council believes:

 

Our workers are public service super-heroes. They keep our communities clean and safe, look after those in need and keep our towns and cities running.

 

Without the professionalism and dedication of our staff, the council services our residents rely on would not be deliverable.

 

Local government workers deserve a proper real-terms pay increase. The Government needs to take responsibility and fully fund this increase; it should not put the burden on local authorities whose funding has been cut to the bone and who were not offered adequate support through the Covid-19 pandemic.

 

This council resolves to:

 

Support the pay claim submitted by UNISON, GMB and Unite on behalf of council and school workers, for an increase of RPI + 2%.

 

Call on the Local Government Association to make urgent representations to central government to fund the NJC pay claim.

 

Write to the Chancellor and Secretary of State to call for a pay increase for local government workers to be funded with new money from central government.

 

Meet with local NJC union representatives to convey support for the pay claim and consider practical ways in which the council can support the campaign.

 

Encourage all local government workers to join a union.

The motion was moved by Councillor Duncan McGregor and seconded by Councillor Steve Fritchley.  

 

On being put to the vote the motion was carried.

 

RESOLVEDthat this council notes:

 

Local government has endured central government funding cuts of more than 50% since 2010. Between 2010 and 2020, councils lost 60p out of every £1 they have received from central government. Councils across England are now facing a collective funding gap of £2.4bn for the financial year 2023/24 and a cumulative funding gap of £4.08bn for 2024/25 according to UNISON research.

 

Councils led the way in efforts against the Covid-19 pandemic, providing a huge range of services and support for our communities. Local government has shown more than ever how indispensable it is. But Covid has led to a massive increase in expenditure and loss of income, and as we emerge from the pandemic, local authorities and schools need far more support from Westminster. Recent funding announcements from the Government relating to schools did nothing to help.

 

Council and school workers kept our communities safe through the pandemic, often putting themselves at considerable risk as they work to protect public health, provide quality housing, ensure our children continue to be educated, and look after older and vulnerable people.

 

Since 2010, the local government workforce has endured years of pay restraint with the majority of pay points losing at least 25 per cent of their value since 2009/10. Staff are now facing the worst cost of living crisis in a generation, with inflation hitting 10% and many having to make impossible choices between food, heating and other essentials. This is a terrible situation for anyone to find themselves in.

 

At the same time, workers have experienced ever-increasing workloads and persistent job insecurity. Across the UK, 900,000 jobs have been lost in local government since June 2010 – a reduction of more than 30 per cent. Local government has arguably been hit by more severe job losses than any other part of the public sector.

 

There has been a disproportionate impact on women, with women making up more than three-quarters of the local government workforce.

 

Recent research shows that if the Government were to fully fund the unions’ 2023 pay claim, around half of the money would be recouped thanks to increased tax revenue, reduced expenditure on benefits and tax credits, and increased consumer spending in the local economy.

 

This council believes:

 

Our workers are public service super-heroes. They keep our communities clean and safe, look after those in need and keep our towns and cities running.

 

Without the professionalism and dedication of our staff, the council services our residents rely on would not be deliverable.

 

Local government workers deserve a proper real-terms pay increase. The Government needs to take responsibility and fully fund this increase; it should not put the burden on local authorities whose funding has been cut to the bone and who were not offered adequate support through the Covid-19 pandemic.

 

This council resolves to:

 

Support the pay claim submitted by UNISON, GMB and Unite on behalf of council and school workers, for an increase of RPI + 2%.

 

Call on the Local Government Association to make urgent representations to central government to fund the NJC pay claim.

 

Write to the Chancellor and Secretary of State to call for a pay increase for local government workers to be funded with new money from central government.

 

Meet with local NJC union representatives to convey support for the pay claim and consider practical ways in which the council can support the campaign.

 

Encourage all local government workers to join a union.

Publication date: 18/04/2023

Date of decision: 08/03/2023

Decided at meeting: 08/03/2023 - Council

Accompanying Documents: