Agenda item

To consider the Notices of Motion submitted under Standing Order B36

Minutes:

1.  It was moved by County Councillor Nikki Hennessy and seconded by County Councillor Julie Gibson that:

 

This Council:

 

(i)  Will support and sign the Cooperative Party Charter Against Modern Slavery which sets out the following commitments:

 

·  Train its corporate procurement team to understand modern slavery through the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply’s (CIPS) online course on Ethical Procurement and Supply.

·  Require its contractors to comply fully with the Modern Slavery Act 2015, wherever it applies, with contract termination as a potential sanction for non-compliance.

·  Challenge any abnormally low-cost tenders to ensure they do not rely upon the potential contractor practising modern slavery.

·  Highlight to its suppliers that contracted workers are free to join a trade union and are not to be treated unfairly for belonging to one.

·  Publicise its whistle-blowing system for staff to blow the whistle on any suspected examples of modern slavery.

·  Require its tendered contractors to adopt a whistle-blowing policy which enables their staff to blow the whistle on any suspected examples of modern slavery.

·  Review its contractual spending regularly to identify any potential issues with modern slavery.

·  Highlight for its suppliers any risks identified concerning modern slavery and refer them to the relevant agencies to be addressed.

·  Refer for investigation via the National Crime Agency’s national referral mechanism any of its contractors identified as a cause for concern regarding modern slavery.

·  Report publicly on the implementation of this policy annually.

 

(ii)  Will promote awareness of Modern Day Slavery amongst our residents and work with officers to support survivors.

 

The following amendment was proposed by County Councillor Geoff Driver and seconded by County Albert Atkinson:

 

Lancashire County Council is part of a multi-agency Modern Slavery Group and is working with Lancashire Constabulary and other agencies to develop a strategic plan to combat modern slavery and to protect vulnerable people in Lancashire.

 

Council resolves:

 

(i)  To note that the County Council already:

 

  Requires all contractors to comply fully with the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

  Challenges any abnormally low cost tenders to ensure they do not rely upon the potential contractor practising modern slavery.

  Regularly reviews contractual spending in order, amongst other things, to identify any potential issues with modern slavery.

  Reminds its suppliers that contracted workers are free to join a trade union.

  Ensures that officers in the corporate procurement team are trained to understand modern slavery through Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) online course on Ethical Procurement and Supply.

  Publicises its whistle blowing policy/practice for staff to highlight any suspected cases of modern slavery.

 

(ii)  That the County Council will in future:

 

  Require its tendered contractors to adopt a whistle blowing policy which enables their staff to highlight suspected cases of modern slavery.

  Highlight for its suppliers any risks identified concerning modern slavery to the National Crime Agency’s referral mechanism.

  Request Officers to report annually to Cabinet on the implementation of this policy.

 

(iii)  To work with the ‘Modern Slavery Group’ to ensure that the residents of Lancashire are aware of modern slavery and to ensure that victims are given the necessary support. 

 

The amendment was put to the vote and was CARRIED and became the substantive motion.

 

In accordance with the requirements of procedural Standing Order B45(4), a recorded vote was taken. The names of the County Councillors who voted for or against the Amendment and those who abstained are set out below:

 

The substantive motion was then put to the vote and was CARRIED. It was therefore:

 

Resolved: -

 

(i)  To note that the County Council already:

 

  Requires all contractors to comply fully with the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

  Challenges any abnormally low cost tenders to ensure they do not rely upon the potential contractor practising modern slavery.

  Regularly reviews contractual spending in order, amongst other things, to identify any potential issues with modern slavery.

  Reminds its suppliers that contracted workers are free to join a trade union.

  Ensures that officers in the corporate procurement team are trained to understand modern slavery through Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) online course on Ethical Procurement and Supply.

  Publicises its whistle blowing policy/practice for staff to highlight any suspected cases of modern slavery.

 

(ii)  That the County Council will in future:

 

  Require its tendered contractors to adopt a whistle blowing policy which enables their staff to highlight suspected cases of modern slavery.

  Highlight for its suppliers any risks identified concerning modern slavery to the National Crime Agency’s referral mechanism.

  Request Officers to report annually to Cabinet on the implementation of this policy.

 

(iii)  To work with the ‘Modern Slavery Group’ to ensure that the residents of Lancashire are aware of modern slavery and to ensure that victims are given the necessary support. 

 

2.  It was moved by County Councillor Kim Snape and seconded by County Councillor Matthew Tomlinson that:

 

Lancashire County Council notes the consultation due to be launched by Our Health Our Care regarding the future of Accident & Emergency services in the Chorley, South Ribble and Preston areas. The Council strongly opposes any proposal for a single site Accident & Emergency at either Preston or Chorley & South Ribble Hospital. The Council believes such a proposal would have a detrimental impact on the quality of local health care for the local population and that Chorley & South Ribble Hospital along with Preston Hospital both need a 24 hour Accident & Emergency department.

 

The following amendment was proposed by County Councillor Shaun Turner and seconded by County Councillor Charles Edwards:

 

Lancashire County Council notes the consultation due to be launched by Our Health Our Care regarding the future of Accident & Emergency services in the Chorley, South Ribble and Preston areas. Council notes the range of opinions expressed by the public, partner organisations, and experts in the provision of emergency and urgent medicine on how best to provide emergency care in central Lancashire, and recognises that it would be premature for the council to take a position before a full consultation on all of the options is undertaken, including a full analysis of the impact on the quality of local health care for the local population.  

 

Council therefore:

 

  • Calls upon the NHS, under the Our Health Our Care programme, to undertake a full consultation exercise, setting out all of the options.
  • Recognises that the quality of care for the people of Preston, South Ribble and Chorley should be the priority in determining the future configuration of services.
  • Requests that the Health Scrutiny Committee, on behalf of the authority, examines the proposals in detail to assess the impact of the proposals and whether they are in the interests of the health of the people of the area, and exercises its statutory powers accordingly.

 

The amendment was put to the vote and was CARRIED and became the substantive motion.

 

In accordance with the requirements of procedural Standing Order B45(4), a recorded vote was taken. The names of the County Councillors who voted for or against the Amendment and those who abstained are set out below:

 

The substantive motion was then put to the vote and was CARRIED. It was therefore:

 

Resolved: - That:

 

Lancashire County Council notes the consultation due to be launched by Our Health Our Care regarding the future of Accident & Emergency services in the Chorley, South Ribble and Preston areas. Council notes the range of opinions expressed by the public, partner organisations, and experts in the provision of emergency and urgent medicine on how best to provide emergency care in central Lancashire, and recognises that it would be premature for the council to take a position before a full consultation on all of the options is undertaken, including a full analysis of the impact on the quality of local health care for the local population.  

 

Council therefore:

 

  • Calls upon the NHS, under the Our Health Our Care programme, to undertake a full consultation exercise, setting out all of the options.
  • Recognises that the quality of care for the people of Preston, South Ribble and Chorley should be the priority in determining the future configuration of services.
  • Requests that the Health Scrutiny Committee, on behalf of the authority, examines the proposals in detail to assess the impact of the proposals and whether they are in the interests of the health of the people of the area, and exercises its statutory powers accordingly.

 

3.  It was moved by County Councillor Nikki Hennessy and seconded by County Councillor Margaret Pattison that:

 

Council welcomes the recent commitment by the Scottish Government and the Private Members Bill by Monica Lennon MSP to tackle period poverty through the free provision of sanitary products in educational establishments and notes that Scotland is one of the first countries in the world to tackle 'period poverty' through a pilot scheme in Aberdeen.

 

Council recognises however that whilst many women and girls will benefit from this, others in vulnerable situations, may not.

 

Lancashire County Council therefore instructs the Director of Public Health to consult with women and girls, to develop and implement an action plan to introduce free sanitary products, including menstrual cups, in schools in Lancashire and to scope out extending access to others.

 

The following amendment was proposed by County Councillor Shaun Turner and seconded by County Councillor Cosima Towneley:

 

Council welcomes the recent commitment from the Scottish Government to tackle Period Poverty and the pledge from the Minister for Women, Victoria Atkins, to remove VAT from sanitary products following Brexit.

 

Council notes research that suggests one in ten girls have at some point been unable to afford sanitary products with 49% having missed an entire day of school because of their period.

 

Council also notes some of the work already going on in this area from the likes of Red Box, The Girl Guiding Association and the sanitary ware manufacturer, Always. 


Council recognises however that whilst many women and girls will benefit from this, there is scope to work with partners to provide help to others who may be in vulnerable situations.

 

Lancashire County Council therefore:

 

·  Instructs the Director of Public Health to produce a report to the Health Scrutiny Committee on the issue of Period Poverty and how it can best be addressed.

·  Commits to work with all our partners including the NHS, Schools, Colleges, Universities and those mentioned above to understand the local issues, raise awareness and tackle stigma.

 

Subject to minor changes to the wording, the amendment was accepted and became the substantive motion. The substantive motion was then put to the vote and was CARRIED. It was therefore:

 

Resolved:- That:

 

Council welcomes the recent commitment from the Scottish Government to tackle Period Poverty and the pledge from the Minister for Women, Victoria Atkins, to remove VAT from sanitary products following Brexit.

 

Council notes research that suggests one in ten girls have at some point been unable to afford sanitary products with 49% having missed an entire day of school because of their period.

 

Council also notes some of the work already going on in this area from the likes of Red Box, The Girl Guiding Association and the sanitary product manufacturer, Always. 


Council recognises however that whilst many women and girls will benefit from this, there is scope to work with partners to provide help to others who may be in vulnerable situations.

 

Lancashire County Council therefore:

 

·  Instructs the Director of Public Health to produce a report to the Health Scrutiny Committee on the issue of Period Poverty and how it can best be addressed.

·  Commits to work and consult with all our partners including the NHS, girls, Schools, Colleges, Universities and those mentioned above to understand the local issues, raise awareness and tackle stigma.

 

4.  It was moved by County Councillor Gina Dowding and seconded by County Councillor Paul Hayhurst that:

 

Council notes:

 

The Joint Lancashire Minerals and Waste Local Plan is currently under review.

 

Council believes:

 

That in light of the controversial processes currently underway within the County for exploration and appraisal, and ultimately production of unconventional hydrocarbons, it is imperative that the Minerals and Waste Local Plan includes criteria for the production of hydrocarbons within the plan.

 

Council resolves:

 

As part of the review:

 

-  To instruct officers to include a section in the Minerals and Waste Local Plan on criteria related to the production of hydrocarbons.

-  To include a criterion for production of hydrocarbons which takes into account the growing need for action on reducing carbon emissions.

 

This is in line with ongoing UK government commitments in the 2008 Climate Change Act and as signatories to the COP21 Paris Agreement. National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and National Planning Practice Guidance (NPPG) support a move to a low carbon future and NPPG provides examples of where hydrocarbon extraction proposals can integrate mitigation measures.

 

On being put to the vote, the motion was LOST.

 

A fifth Notice of Motion put forward by County Councillor Gina Dowding was not dealt with as it was out of time and was held over to the next meeting of Full Council on 13 December 2018 in accordance with Standing Order B35.

 

Supporting documents: