Agenda item

1.  The Chairman notified Full Council that Notice of Motion 1 had been withdrawn.

 

2.  It was moved by County Councillor Jennifer Mein and seconded by County Councillor Lorraine Beavers that:

 

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.

 

Lancashire County Council led the way in efforts against the Covid-19 pandemic, providing a huge range of services and support for our communities. Local government in Lancashire 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, ensure our children continue to be educated, and look after older and vulnerable people. 

 

Since 2010, the local Lancashire 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 Lancashire workers are public service super-heroes. They keep our communities clean and safe, look after those in need and keep our towns, cities and villages running.

 

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

 

Lancashire County Council 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:

 

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

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

(iii)  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.

(iv)  Meet with local NJC union representatives to convey support for the pay claim and consider practical ways in which Lancashire County Council can support the campaign.

(v)  Encourage all local government workers across Lancashire to join a union.

 

On being put to the vote the Motion was LOST.

 

3.  It was moved by County Councillor Mark Clifford and seconded by County Councillor Steve Holgate that:

 

The Council resolves:

 

(i)  To set the ambitious goal of Lancashire County Council itself as an authority becoming Carbon Net Zero by 2030.

(ii)  To join the UK 100 network of local leaders who have pledged to lead a rapid transition to Net Zero with Clean Air in their communities ahead of the government's legal target.

 

Following a period of debate, and in accordance with Standing Order B45(4), a recorded vote was taken. The names of the county councillors who voted for or against the Motion and those who abstained are set out below:

 

For (32)

 

Aldridge	Brown	Fillis	Khan, N	Potter
Ali	Clifford	Gibson	Lewis	Serridge
Arif	Collinge	Hindle	Mein	Snape
Aziz	Dad	Holgate	Oakes	Tomlinson
Barnes	De Molfetta	Howarth	Parr
Beavers	Dowding	Iqbal	Pate
Berry	Fewings	Khan, H	Pattison

 

Against (44)

 

Ashton	Cullens	Iddon	Rigby, P	Towneley
Bailey	Edwards	Kay	Rigby, S	Turner
Britcliffe	Gardiner	Maxwell-Scott	Riggott	Vincent
Buckley	Gooch	Mirfin	Schofield	Westley
Burrows	Goulthorp	Morris	Shedwick	Whittam
Cheetham	Green	O'Toole	Singleton	Williamson
Clarke	Hartley	Pope	Smith	Woollam
Clempson	Hind	Purcell	Sutcliffe	Yates
Couperthwaite	Hurn	Rear	Swarbrick

 

Abstain (1)

 

Salter

 

The Motion was therefore LOST.

 

4.  It was moved by County Councillor Julie Gibson and seconded by County Councillor Azhar Ali that:

 

The Chancellor announced 12 new investment zones in the recent Budget. Not one of these investment zones was situated in Lancashire.

 

This Council notes:

 

(i)  There are parts of Lancashire, particularly the East of the County, that are crying out for such a zone, and yet not one area of Lancashire was chosen. 

(ii)  That this Government is either serious about levelling up or it isn't and maybe if less time was spent on fighting ex-footballers and more time was spent on the issues that matter the UK might actually be moving in the right direction.

 

This Council resolves to:

 

(i)  Write to the Chancellor to tell us what options he considered in Lancashire.

(ii)  Ask the Chancellor to review the situation and look at the case for an investment zone in the East of the County.

 

The following Amendment was proposed by County Councillor Aidy Riggott and seconded by County Councillor Scott Smith:

 

The Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt, Chancellor of the Exchequer, announced 12 new investment zones in the Spring Budget (March 2023).  Not one of these investment zones was situated in Lancashire.

 

This Council notes:

 

(i)  There are parts of Lancashire, particularly the East of the County, that are crying out for such a zone, and yet not one area of Lancashire was chosen. 

(ii)  That this Government has awarded this Council £49.6m from Round 2 of the Levelling Up Fund for its bid focussed on East Lancashire, and a total of £245m to Lancashire across both rounds – more funding per head than anywhere else in the UK in Round 2 and is focussing on the issues that matter – halving inflation, getting the economy growing, get debt falling, cutting waiting lists and stopping the small boats.

 

This Council resolves to:

 

Request that the Chief Executive:

 

(i)  Writes to the Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt, Chancellor of the Exchequer, to express this Council's view that there is massive potential across Lancashire and to also include a copy of Lancashire's new Inward Investment Prospectus 'Invest in Lancashire – a place for Growth'.

(ii)  Asks the Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt, Chancellor of the Exchequer, to consider placing Lancashire at the centre of any future Investment Zone plans, noting that Lancashire County Council is ready to move at pace using our existing development pipeline as well as new, ambitious opportunities including those aligned to the development of our historic new 'Lancashire 2050' strategy, to help drive forward growth right across Lancashire.

 

On being put to the vote, the Amendment was CARRIED and therefore became the substantive Motion.

 

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

 

For (45)

 

Ashton	Cullens	Iddon	Rigby, P	Swarbrick
Bailey	Edwards	Kay	Rigby, S	Towneley
Britcliffe	Gardiner	Maxwell-Scott	Riggott	Turner
Buckley	Gooch	Mirfin	Salter	Vincent
Burrows	Goulthorp	Morris	Schofield	Westley
Cheetham	Green	O'Toole	Shedwick	Whittam
Clarke	Hartley	Pope	Singleton	Williamson
Clempson	Hind	Purcell	Smith	Woollam
Couperthwaite	Hurn	Rear	Sutcliffe	Yates

 

Against (29)

 

Aldridge	Berry	Dowding	Khan, H	Pate
Ali	Brown	Fewings	Khan, N	Pattison
Arif	Clifford	Fillis	Lewis	Serridge
Aziz	Collinge	Gibson	Mein	Snape
Barnes	Dad	Hindle	Oakes	Tomlinson
Beavers	De Molfetta	Holgate	Parr

 

Abstain (1)

 

Potter

 

The Motion was therefore CARRIED.

 

It was therefore:

 

Resolved: - That:

 

The Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt, Chancellor of the Exchequer, announced 12 new investment zones in the Spring Budget (March 2023).  Not one of these investment zones was situated in Lancashire.

 

This Council notes:

 

(i)  There are parts of Lancashire, particularly the East of the County, that are crying out for such a zone, and yet not one area of Lancashire was chosen. 

(ii)  That this Government has awarded this Council £49.6m from Round 2 of the Levelling Up Fund for its bid focussed on East Lancashire, and a total of £245m to Lancashire across both rounds – more funding per head than anywhere else in the UK in Round 2 and is focussing on the issues that matter – halving inflation, getting the economy growing, get debt falling, cutting waiting lists and stopping the small boats.

 

This Council resolves to:

 

Request that the Chief Executive:

 

(i)  Writes to the Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt, Chancellor of the Exchequer, to express this Council's view that there is massive potential across Lancashire and to also include a copy of Lancashire's new Inward Investment Prospectus 'Invest in Lancashire – a place for Growth'.

(ii)  Asks the Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt, Chancellor of the Exchequer, to consider placing Lancashire at the centre of any future Investment Zone plans, noting that Lancashire County Council is ready to move at pace using our existing development pipeline as well as new, ambitious opportunities including those aligned to the development of our historic new 'Lancashire 2050' strategy, to help drive forward growth right across Lancashire.