Agenda item

Motions

Meeting of Council, Wednesday, 18th November, 2020 2.00 pm (Item 42.)

(a) Proposed by Councillor Fitzhenry

This Council calls on the Labour Executive to suspend all parking charges across our city centre and district centre car parks until spring 2021, to help protect local jobs and to support our cities businesses, key workers and residents.

(b) Proposed by Councillor Fitzhenry

A successful city needs visible and accountable political leadership, as such this Council regrets the lack of political leadership from the current Executive.

Council calls on the current Labour Executive to start taking proper accountability for its decision making and the impacts of its decisions, especially now at a time when people in our City and our staff need strong and accountable political leadership and support.

“The Southampton City Council calls on the UK government to join with us to end holiday hunger. We call on the government to commit to fully fund holiday food provision for every child on free school meals in Southampton for the next three years. Further, we call on the government to support the development of a longer term plan to ensure that every child in Southampton is food secure.

We call on the government to develop and fund a long term approach so that all children are well fed throughout the year, including during school holidays.

We welcome the recent u-turn by the government to fund holiday food provision. We regret that this decision came after the recent October half term holiday, that put our children at risk of hunger. During the recent half term break in October Southampton City Council, together with local community groups, restaurants and other groups, stepped up to ensure every child on free school meals in the city had access to food during the holiday. The people of Southampton showed that they will not stand by while children go hungry, but this ad hoc approach it is not a sustainable way to ensure food security for all our children.

Now is the time to address long term food insecurity in Southampton. Over 9000 children now depend on free school meals, and family use of food banks has been rising sharply over recent years. This will only get worse as the effects of Covid-19 on job losses and loss of family income increase. Food security is a fundamental human right, no child should go to bed hungry. This is bad for them in the short and long term and our children deserve the best possible start in life.

(d) Proposed by Cllr Keogh

This Council is both alarmed and concerned at the decision of the Education Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) to withdrawn its financial support for the proposed merger of Southampton City College and Itchen College.

This decision, that the ESFA had previously been in support of, will only cause continued anxiety and uncertainty for the staff and students of Southampton’s three FE institutions and City College in particular. This is now the third merger proposal that has rejected in recent years for City College.

This Council calls on the Cabinet member for Children and Learning to write to the Secretary of State for Education requesting that the future of FE provision in the City of Southampton is given the most urgent of attention and priority and a viable solution to the current issue is found as quickly as possible and that the Government guarantees to provide the necessary finance and support.

Young people are being disadvantaged as a result of funding issues in this sector and the current Covid pandemic has only highlighted that challenges faced by the three FE institutions in the City.

We all want the very best of facilities, structures and opportunities for our young people in this City. It is further the intention of this Council that this letter is signed by the leaders of both parties in the Council and the City’s three MP’s.

(e) Proposed by Cllr Hammond

This Council recognises that the democratic process is sacrosanct, and elections held in Southampton must be free, fair and easy to participate in.

The upcoming local election (May 2021) will be like no other. Set during the worst global pandemic in nearly 100 years, it will require changes to proceed safely. Council believes that our residents must be able to safely participate in our local democracy.

Although we recognise that there are different ways to vote, the most convenient way is to register for a postal vote and vote at home. Whilst we do publicise this option, it is not widely known that Postal Voting is available to anyone who requests it and take-up is currently 15% of the electorate.

Council resolves that it enhances its publicity around postal voting and continues its work with the Electoral Commission on the national campaign to raise awareness.

Furthermore, due to the extraordinary circumstances, Council calls on the Government and the Electoral Commission to consider an opt-out system of mass postal voting, as an interim measure, helping to ensure that everyone who wishes to vote can do so. Those that wish to vote in person and not by post, would still be able to do so at a polling station.

Minutes:

(a) Councillor Fitzhenry moved and Councillor Fuller seconded.

UPON BEING PUT TO THE VOTE THE MOTION WAS DECLARED LOST.

RESOLVED: that the motion be rejected.

(b) Councillor Fitzhenry moved and Councillor Hannides seconded.

A successful city needs visible and accountable political leadership, as such this Council regrets the lack of political leadership from the current Executive.

UPON BEING PUT TO THE VOTE THE MOTION WAS DECLARED LOST.

RESOLVED: that the motion be rejected.

“The Southampton City Council calls on the UK government to join with us to end holiday hunger. We call on the government to commit to fully fund holiday food provision for every child on free school meals in Southampton for the next three years. Further, we call on the government to support the development of a longer-term plan to ensure that every child in Southampton is food secure.

We call on the government to develop and fund a long-term approach so that all children are well fed throughout the year, including during school holidays.

We welcome the recent u-turn by the government to fund holiday food provision. We regret that this decision came after the recent October half term holiday, that put our children at risk of hunger. During the recent half term break in October Southampton City Council, together with local community groups, restaurants and other groups, stepped up to ensure every child on free school meals in the city had access to food during the holiday. The people of Southampton showed that they will not stand by while children go hungry, but this ad hoc approach is not a sustainable way to ensure food security for all our children.

Amendment moved by Councillor J Baillie and Councillor Prior seconded.

First Paragraph, first line after “Council” delete “calls on the UK government to join with us to end holiday hunger. We call on the government to commit to fully fund holiday food provision for every child on free school meals in Southampton for the next three years. Further” and replace with “joins with the UK government to do all we can to ensure no child need go hungry. We welcome the government’s huge uplift to Universal Credit to support those families in most need during the pandemic along with the unprecedented decision to create a voucher scheme throughout the summer for Free School Meal children”.

Third Paragraph, first line after “recent” delete “u-turn by the government to fund holiday food provision. We regret that this decision came after the recent October half term holiday, that put our children at risk of hunger” and replace with “decision by the government to increase the funding for holiday food provision. We are pleased that the extra funding for local authorities allows them to get food to those in need without burdening schools already under great pressure.”

Third Paragraph, seventh line after “hungry” delete “but this ad hoc approach is not a sustainable way to ensure food security for all our children”.

Fourth Paragraph, second line sentence after “children” delete “now depend on” and replace with “are eligible for”

Amended Motion to read:

“The Southampton City Council joins with the UK government to do all we can to ensure no child need go hungry. We welcome the government’s huge uplift to Universal Credit to support those families in most need during the pandemic along with the unprecedented decision to create a voucher scheme throughout the summer for Free School Meal children. We call on the government to support the development of a longer-term plan to ensure that every child in Southampton is food secure.

We call on the government to develop and fund a long-term approach so that all families have the support they need to ensure children are well fed throughout the year, including during school holidays.

We welcome the recent decision by the government to increase the funding for holiday food provision. We are pleased that the extra funding for local authorities allows them to get food to those in need without burdening schools already under great pressure. During the recent half term break in October Southampton City Council, together with local community groups, restaurants and other groups, stepped up to ensure every child on free school meals in the city had access to food during the holiday. The people of Southampton showed that they will not stand by while children go hungry.

Now is the time to address long term food insecurity in Southampton. Over 9000 children are eligible for free school meals, and family use of food banks has been rising sharply over recent years. This will only get worse as the effects of Covid-19 on job losses and loss of family income increase. Food security is a fundamental human right, no child should go to bed hungry. This is bad for them in the short and long term and our children deserve the best possible start in life.”

UPON BEING PUT TO THE VOTE THE AMENDMENT IN THE NAME OF COUNCILLOR J BAILLIE WAS DECLARED LOST.

UPON BEING PUT TO THE VOTE THE MOTION IN THE NAME OF COUNCILLOR MARGETTS WAS DECLARED CARRIED.

RESOLVED: that the motion be approved.

(d) Motion in the name of Councillor Keogh was withdrawn.

(e) Councillor Hammond moved and Councillor Rayment seconded.

This Council recognises that the democratic process is sacrosanct, and elections held in Southampton must be free, fair and easy to participate in.

Council resolves that it enhances its publicity around postal voting and continues its work with the Electoral Commission on the national campaign to raise awareness.

UPON BEING PUT TO THE VOTE THE MOTION WAS DECLARED CARRIED.

RESOLVED: that the motion be approved.