Agenda item

1.  It was moved by County Councillor Jean Parr and seconded by County Councillor Samara Barnes that:

 

Women and girls of Lancashire are suffering from misogyny, expressed in sexual harassment, domestic abuse and death. Lancashire women suffer a higher than average rate of deaths – the femicide census ranks Lancashire as 13th highest for female killings in a list of 42 police forces in the UK. There is evidence of a link between domestic abuse and terrorism: misogyny affects everyone, not just women.

 

Council therefore resolves that the Chief Executive and Director of Resources writes to the Minister of State for Crime and Policing, Kit Malthouse MP, with the following requests:

 

(i)  That he prepares legislation to make misogyny a hate crime, to be recorded as such by all police forces across the UK, and be prosecuted by the Crown Prosecution Service with as much vigour as other hate crimes.

(ii)  That police forces should be required to record all instances of femicide, the killing of a woman or girl by a man, with immediate effect.

(iii)  That a task force be set up before the end of this year to assess the extent and impact of incel (involuntary celibate) groups both online and offline, and to work with voluntary groups and experts who have already begun work in this field.

(iv)  That all incidents of domestic violence should be treated as violent assault or grievous bodily harm, to be prosecuted automatically without the victim being required to make a formal complaint.

(v)  That policing resources should be increased to ensure that police forces are able to deal with these new responsibilities. At the very least they should return to pre 2010 strength.

(vi)  That resources be made available to further study the links between domestic abuse and the perpetrators of terrorist actions.

 

The following friendly amendment was proposed by County Councillor Cosima Towneley in accordance with Standing Order B42:

 

Women and girls in Lancashire are suffering from misogyny manifested in sexual harassment domestic abuse and death. This type of misogyny affects a wider circle than the women involved and the impact on children can be considerable. 62% of children living in an abusive household are harmed directly, with 90% being witness to the abuse between parents.

 

There is no excuse for misogyny or indeed misandry or gender based sexual harassment or abuse of any sort.

 

This council offers its wholehearted support to the victims of such harassment, abuse and violence, as well as to the police officers who protect and support our communities and resolves to ask the Chief Executive to write to Andrew Snowden, Lancashire's Police and Crime Commissioner, to request he make personal representation on the following:

 

1. That legislation regarding domestic violence and coercive control be strictly and robustly applied by all police forces across England and Wales and be prosecuted by the Crown Prosecution Service whenever there is sufficient evidence to make a conviction likely, even if the prosecution is not supported by the victim.
2. That he liaises with the Secretary of State, Kit Malthouse MP, to direct police forces to include in their Annual Report details of all cases where a person of one sex commits an offence of homicide against a person of another sex and for Government to consider defining misogyny and misandry as a hate crime.
3. That a task force be set up before the end of the year to assess the extent and impact of online threats (including by so called "incels") and the effect on the behaviour of women and girls, and to work with voluntary groups and experts who have experience in this field.
4. That all incidents of domestic violence be treated as offences against the person and prosecuted in a form commensurate with the harm or injury caused.
5. That policing resources be put into training in the recognition and victim support in cases of suspected domestic abuse and / or suspected coercive control.
6. That resources be made available to further study the links between domestic abuse and the perpetrators of terrorist actions.

 

The friendly amendment was accepted by County Councillor Parr and became the substantive motion.

 

The substantive motion, as amended by County Councillor Towneley's friendly amendment, was then put to the vote and was CARRIED. It was therefore:

 

Resolved: - That:

 

Women and girls in Lancashire are suffering from misogyny manifested in sexual harassment domestic abuse and death. This type of misogyny affects a wider circle than the women involved and the impact on children can be considerable. 62% of children living in an abusive household are harmed directly, with 90% being witness to the abuse between parents.

 

There is no excuse for misogyny or indeed misandry or gender based sexual harassment or abuse of any sort.

 

This council offers its wholehearted support to the victims of such harassment, abuse and violence, as well as to the police officers who protect and support our communities and resolves to ask the Chief Executive to write to Andrew Snowden, Lancashire's Police and Crime Commissioner, to request he make personal representation on the following:

 

1. That legislation regarding domestic violence and coercive control be strictly and robustly applied by all police forces across England and Wales and be prosecuted by the Crown Prosecution Service whenever there is sufficient evidence to make a conviction likely, even if the prosecution is not supported by the victim.
2. That he liaises with the Secretary of State, Kit Malthouse MP, to direct police forces to include in their Annual Report details of all cases where a person of one sex commits an offence of homicide against a person of another sexand for Government to consider defining misogyny and misandry as a hate crime.
3. That a task force be set up before the end of the year to assess the extent and impact of online threats (including by so called "incels") and the effect on the behaviour of women and girls, and to work with voluntary groups and experts who have experience in this field.
4. That all incidents of domestic violence be treated as offences against the person and prosecuted in a form commensurate with the harm or injury caused.
5. That policing resources be put into training in the recognition and victim support in cases of suspected domestic abuse and / or suspected coercive control.
6. That resources be made available to further study the links between domestic abuse and the perpetrators of terrorist actions.

 

2.  It was moved by County Councillor Anna Hindle and seconded by County Councillor Azhar Ali that:

 

Early Diagnosis Brain Tumour symptom cards – Awareness for babies, children, and teenagers

 

HeadSmart is an awareness campaign which informs and empowers parents and healthcare professionals to recognise the signs and symptoms of brain tumours in babies, children, and teenagers to reduce diagnosis times. 

 

Early diagnosis of brain cancer can reduce long-term disabilities and save lives.
Diagnosis of brain tumours is not always easy as the initial symptoms can mimic those of less serious illnesses. 

 

We are told that brain tumours are rare. However, 10 children and teenagers are diagnosed with a brain tumour every week in the UK.  That is more than 1 a day. 

 

Only 12% of people diagnosed with a brain tumour survive beyond five years.  Brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer.  Since national cancer spend records began in 2002, £680 million has been invested in breast cancer, compared to £96 million on brain tumours.  This is a difference of £35 million a year over 17 years.

 

To help overcome such issues HeadSmart have developed several resources to raise awareness and provide support for parents, carers, teenagers, and healthcare professionals. There is a website, animation video, clinical posters, and quick reference guide for GPs.  There are also small symptoms cards, which are a practical way of providing advice to parents about the signs to look out for regarding brain tumours.

 

If Lancashire County Council sent these HeadSmart cards to Lancashire wide educational settings and medical practices it could be meaningful and potentially save lives.

 

This Council therefore resolves to:

 

  (i)  Support the HeadSmart initiative to raise awareness of brain cancer in Lancashire through all appropriate routes, including with partners on the Health and Wellbeing Board and the local Cancer Network.

  (ii)  Work with the local NHS and partners to distribute HeadSmart diagnosis cards across all relevant settings in Lancashire, including:

a.  GP Surgeries and Health Clinics

b.  Schools and Education Settings

c.  Other Children's Service settings

 (iii)  Ask the Chief Executive to write to the Prime Minister to ask for support for more funding for Brain Tumour research.

 (iv)  Ask the Chief Executive to write to Lancashire MPs and encourage them to engage with this issue and support the work of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Brain Tumours. 

On being put to the vote, the motion was CARRIED and it was therefore:

 

Resolved: -

 

Early Diagnosis Brain Tumour symptom cards – Awareness for babies, children, and teenagers

 

HeadSmart is an awareness campaign which informs and empowers parents and healthcare professionals to recognise the signs and symptoms of brain tumours in babies, children, and teenagers to reduce diagnosis times. 

 

Early diagnosis of brain cancer can reduce long-term disabilities and save lives.
Diagnosis of brain tumours is not always easy as the initial symptoms can mimic those of less serious illnesses. 

 

We are told that brain tumours are rare. However, 10 children and teenagers are diagnosed with a brain tumour every week in the UK.  That is more than 1 a day. 

 

Only 12% of people diagnosed with a brain tumour survive beyond five years.  Brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer.  Since national cancer spend records began in 2002, £680 million has been invested in breast cancer, compared to £96 million on brain tumours.  This is a difference of £35 million a year over 17 years.

 

To help overcome such issues HeadSmart have developed several resources to raise awareness and provide support for parents, carers, teenagers, and healthcare professionals. There is a website, animation video, clinical posters, and quick reference guide for GPs.  There are also small symptoms cards, which are a practical way of providing advice to parents about the signs to look out for regarding brain tumours.

 

If Lancashire County Council sent these HeadSmart cards to Lancashire wide educational settings and medical practices it could be meaningful and potentially save lives.

 

This Council therefore resolves to:

 

  (i)  Support the HeadSmart initiative to raise awareness of brain cancer in Lancashire through all appropriate routes, including with partners on the Health and Wellbeing Board and the local Cancer Network.

  (ii)  Work with the local NHS and partners to distribute HeadSmart diagnosis cards across all relevant settings in Lancashire, including:

a.  GP Surgeries and Health Clinics

b.  Schools and Education Settings

c.  Other Children's Service settings

 (iii)  Ask the Chief Executive to write to the Prime Minister to ask for support for more funding for Brain Tumour research.

 (iv)  Ask the Chief Executive to write to Lancashire MPs and encourage them to engage with this issue and support the work of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Brain Tumours. 

 

3.  It was moved by County Councillor Scott Smith and seconded by County Councillor Mike Goulthorp that:

 

Lancashire County Council welcomes the introduction of T-Levels, which widen opportunities for post-16 education by placing technical and academic qualifications on equal footing.

 

This Council further notes that 311 young people are already currently undertakingthis new qualification at colleges across the County. September of this year represented one year of T-Levels, as well as their expansion to encompass a much wider range of industries including construction, healthcare, digital and science.

 

Therefore, Lancashire County Council resolves to support T-Levels, providers and students by:

 

(i)  Asking the Chief Executive to write to teaching and leadership staff of providers across the County to thank them for their work in delivering this new qualification.

(ii)  Encouraging as many new providers as possible to consider providing T-Levels; and

(iii)  Congratulating all students who have undertaken their first year of T-Levels. 

 

4.  It was moved by County Councillor Gina Dowding and seconded by County Councillor Andy Fewings that:

 

Supporting Lancashire’s low carbon businesses: including a call for a comprehensive carbon tax with a citizen dividend

 

Lancashire County Council notes:

 

1.  The stark conclusions from the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report, released on 9 August 2021:

 

“Man-made climate change is widespread, rapid and intensifying, affecting every part of the globe. Since the second half of the 19th century, the release of greenhouse gases (GHGs) from human activities has warmed the planet by 1.1C. Rapid reductions in GHGs are needed immediately, otherwise limiting global warming to 1.5C or even 2C will be beyond reach.”

 

The report presents the findings from years of in-depth work from over 200 scientists in 66 countries. It provides key evidence for the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, also known as COP26, which is hosted by the UK Government and is taking place in Glasgow next month.

 

2.  That Lancashire is home to a number of excellent innovations across its business sectors that are reducing carbon use in industry and production, including those based at the Samlesbury Enterprise Zone site; but 

 

3.  In order to achieve Lancashire’s ambitions for carbon neutrality there is a need for policy support from government for a shift at pace and scale to a low carbon economy, which will give certainty to Lancashire’s businesses who wish to quickly move to low carbon production methods.

 

4.  The broad support for a comprehensive carbon tax with a citizen dividend, based on the polluter pays principle, to help achieve carbon targets.

·  Currently the costs of climate breakdown are not borne by the industries and activities that are causing the damage but by people and communities coming under increasing pressure and danger. Outdoor air pollution from fossil fuels causes three million deaths globally each year, and 30,000 deaths in the UK.

·  A carbon tax, set at the right level, will drive fossil fuel burning out of the economy and promote investment in clean alternatives, and therefore support Lancashire’s renewable energy sector and put clean technologies at the heart of the low carbon economy.

·  A citizen dividend from the carbon tax, returned directly to UK citizens through equal lump sum rebates, would ensure that the less well-off actually benefit financially, and would reduce inequalities across Lancashire's communities.

 

Lancashire County Council therefore resolves:

 

1.  To write to the UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson MP and Alok Sharma MP, President of the COP26 conference (and to notify all of Lancashire's MPs), asking them:

·  To propose an international carbon tax framework to the COP26 talks.

·  If no such agreement is reached in Glasgow, to introduce a UK wide carbon tax as soon as possible and apply this tax to imports as well as to domestic production (and/or 'carbon border adjustment mechanisms').

·  To incorporate the citizens' dividend mechanism to fairly return carbon tax earnings to those who require financial support in the transition to a cleaner economy.

2.  To explore and expand other avenues for supporting Lancashire's growing renewable and clean technology industries to ensure reduction in carbon, and that Lancashire's disadvantaged residents benefit from the new low carbon economy.

 

The following friendly amendment was proposed by County Councillor Shaun Turner in accordance with Standing Order B42:

 

Supporting Lancashire’s low carbon businesses: including a call for a comprehensive carbon tax with a citizen dividend

 

Lancashire County Council notes:

 

The stark conclusions from the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report – that emissions of gases from human activities are responsible for approximately 1.1 degrees centigrade since the end of the 19^th century – and finds that averaged over the next 20 years, global temperature is expected to reach or exceed 1.5 degrees.

 

The report provides key evidence for the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP26, which is hosted by the UK Government in partnership with Italy and takes place in Glasgow next month.

 

The council also notes that Lancashire is home to a number of cutting edge, innovative low carbon technology manufacturing businesses as well as many other forward thinking businesses and organisations who are actively reducing or seeking to reduce their own environmental footprints.  We acknowledge that these businesses currently have access to a broad package of support in order to help them achieve this such as REDCAT and the Lancashire Green Rose programme amongst others and would like to see these continue and grow going forward.

 

We are also acutely aware that some organisations and individuals will, in financial terms, find it much easier than others to make the necessary changes in order that the UK can meet its net zero target.  Therefore, some will need more support than others.

 

In order to achieve Lancashire’s own ambitions for carbon neutrality there is a need for both equitable policy, fiscal measures and financial support from government to enable a shift at pace and scale to a low carbon economy.  This should look to support Lancashire residents and businesses to reduce their carbon footprints and move to low carbon production methods without any individuals or businesses being left behind.

 

Lancashire County Council therefore resolves:

 

1.  To write to the UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson MP and Alok Sharma MP, President of the COP26 conference (and to notify all of Lancashire's MPs), asking them to propose a fair and proportionate international fiscal framework which recognises the complexity around carbon embodied goods and services.  That ensures everybody is supported to transition to Net Zero.

2.  To continue supporting and invest further in Lancashire's growing renewable and clean technology industries to ensure reduction in carbon, more high skilled jobs and that Lancashire's residents benefit from the new low carbon economy.

 

Following a brief adjournment, the friendly amendment was accepted by County Councillor Dowding and became the substantive motion.

 

The substantive motion, as amended by County Councillor Turner's friendly amendment, was then put to the vote and was CARRIED. It was therefore:

 

Resolved: - That:

 

Supporting Lancashire’s low carbon businesses: including a call for a comprehensive carbon tax with a citizen dividend

 

Lancashire County Council notes:

 

The stark conclusions from the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report – that emissions of gases from human activities are responsible for approximately 1.1 degrees centigrade since the end of the 19^th century – and finds that averaged over the next 20 years, global temperature is expected to reach or exceed 1.5 degrees.

 

The report provides key evidence for the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP26, which is hosted by the UK Government in partnership with Italy and takes place in Glasgow next month.

 

The council also notes that Lancashire is home to a number of cutting edge, innovative low carbon technology manufacturing businesses as well as many other forward thinking businesses and organisations who are actively reducing or seeking to reduce their own environmental footprints.  We acknowledge that these businesses currently have access to a broad package of support in order to help them achieve this such as REDCAT and the Lancashire Green Rose programme amongst others and would like to see these continue and grow going forward.

 

We are also acutely aware that some organisations and individuals will, in financial terms, find it much easier than others to make the necessary changes in order that the UK can meet its net zero target.  Therefore, some will need more support than others.

 

In order to achieve Lancashire’s own ambitions for carbon neutrality there is a need for both equitable policy, fiscal measures and financial support from government to enable a shift at pace and scale to a low carbon economy.  This should look to support Lancashire residents and businesses to reduce their carbon footprints and move to low carbon production methods without any individuals or businesses being left behind.

 

Lancashire County Council therefore resolves:

 

1.  To write to the UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson MP and Alok Sharma MP, President of the COP26 conference (and to notify all of Lancashire's MPs), asking them to propose a fair and proportionate international fiscal framework which recognises the complexity around carbon embodied goods and services.  That ensures everybody is supported to transition to Net Zero.

2.  To continue supporting and invest further in Lancashire's growing renewable and clean technology industries to ensure reduction in carbon, more high skilled jobs and that Lancashire's residents benefit from the new low carbon economy.