Agenda item

5.1

It was moved by Councillor Mohammad Maroof, and seconded by Councillor David Barker, that this Council:-

(a)       believes that it is a national scandal that child poverty is rising and school budgets are being cut, and that the country’s children deserve much better than this Government are providing;

(b)       notes that child poverty is rising and food bank usage is increasing for those in and out of work, caused in part by the following:-

(i)         damaging changes to benefits such as universal credit and child benefits;

(ii)        a lack of investment in youth services;

(iii)       cuts to funding for Sure Start;

(iv)       a shortfall worth millions in Special Educational Needs and Disabilities funding;

(v)        supposed fair funding for schools, which this Council believes is anything but fair, as Sheffield schools are losing out on millions;

(vi)       the scrapping of the Educational Maintenance Allowance; and

(vii)      children and young people’s mental health is suffering at the same time as mental health services are becoming increasingly stretched;

(c)        congratulates children and young people for speaking up and protesting about austerity and on the impact of climate change and the need to radically improve our environment, and tribute is paid to the local school children of Watercliffe Meadow Primary School, and children joining from other schools, for their recent demonstrations and for the many letters they have sent to the Government demanding more for their school;

(d)       believes that it does not need to be like this for the city’s young, as continued austerity is a political choice and a Labour government would instead listen to the concerns of young people by reversing the negative impacts of austerity and take head on the challenges of climate change and environmental degradation; and

(e)       notes that a Labour government would give votes to 16 year olds, invest in a proper National Education Service, invest millions more for Sheffield schools and colleges, scrap tuition fees and give our young people the skills and labour market they deserve.

5.2

Whereupon, it was moved by Councillor Martin Smith, seconded by Councillor Andrew Sangar, as an amendment, that the Motion now submitted be amended by:-

1.         the addition of new paragraphs (c) and (d) as follows:-

(c)        notes subjects such as languages, music, drama and art are increasingly being cut from the curriculum to balance budgets;

(d)        is dismayed that there are cases of state schools crowd funding to keep music lessons on the curriculum, and believes education at state schools should be free;

2.         the deletion of original paragraphs (d) and (e), and the re-lettering of original paragraph (c) as a new paragraph (e); and 

3.         the addition of new paragraphs (f) to (h) as follows:-

(f)         further notes that our 16 year olds are politically active, therefore should have the right to vote;

(g)        believes strongly in our children and young people and their right to the education of their choice; and

(h)        asks that the Leader of the Council and the Cabinet Member for Education and Skills write directly to the Secretary of State for Education to demand fairer funding and a reverse to cuts.

5.3

It was then moved by Councillor Alison Teal, seconded by Councillor Kaltum Rivers, that the Motion now submitted be amended by the deletion of paragraphs (d) and (e) and the addition of new paragraphs (d) to (j) as follows:-

(d)        also congratulates High Storrs School for showcasing ways to reduce carbon with its Eco-Expo day;

(e)        believes that it is a scandal that the Labour Administration seeks only to blame the Government and accepts no responsibility for the problems with children’s services and education in the city;

(f)         notes that, in the motion on the agenda, the Administration proposes no action whatsoever be taken to help ameliorate the effects of austerity on children;

(g)        calls on the Government to urgently implement Fairer Funding for schools so that Sheffield children do not continue to be disadvantaged;

(h)        believes the implementation of emotional well-being support for children transitioning to high school, as outlined in the Green Party budget, would be a step towards supporting children more effectively to cope with the challenges they face;

(i)         believes the public health approach with the foundation of understanding Adverse Childhood Experiences can make a significant positive difference for children and their families; and

(j)          calls upon the Chief Executive to report back to the next Council meeting on the range of actions the Council is currently taking to address child poverty.

5.4

After contributions from four other Members, and following a right of reply from Councillor Mohammad Maroof, the amendment moved by Councillor Martin Smith was put to the vote and was carried, except for part 2 of the amendment, which was negatived.  The new paragraphs set out in parts 1 and 3 of the amendment were carried on the basis that they were to be additional paragraphs to the motion.

5.5

The amendment moved by Councillor Alison Teal was then put to the vote and was negatived, except for paragraph (d) of the amendment, which was carried on the basis that it was to be an additional paragraph to the motion.

5.5.1

(NOTE: Councillors Bob Pullin, Richard Shaw, Adam Hanrahan, Joe Otten, Colin Ross, Martin Smith, Roger Davison, Paul Scriven, Sue Alston, Andrew Sangar, Cliff Woodcraft, Ian Auckland, Sue Auckland, Steve Ayris, Gail Smith, David Baker, Penny Baker, Vickie Priestley and Mike Levery voted for paragraphs (d) to (g), (i) and (j) of the amendment, and voted against paragraph (h) of the amendment, and asked for this to be recorded.)

5.6

The original Motion, as amended, was then put as a Substantive Motion in the following form and carried:-

RESOLVED: That this Council:-

(a)       believes that it is a national scandal that child poverty is rising and school budgets are being cut, and that the country’s children deserve much better than this Government are providing;

(b)       notes that child poverty is rising and food bank usage is increasing for those in and out of work, caused in part by the following:-

(i)         damaging changes to benefits such as universal credit and child benefits;

(ii)        a lack of investment in youth services;

(iii)       cuts to funding for Sure Start;

(iv)       a shortfall worth millions in Special Educational Needs and Disabilities funding;

(v)        supposed fair funding for schools, which this Council believes is anything but fair, as Sheffield schools are losing out on millions;

(vi)       the scrapping of the Educational Maintenance Allowance; and

(vii)      children and young people’s mental health is suffering at the same time as mental health services are becoming increasingly stretched;

(c)        notes subjects such as languages, music, drama and art are increasingly being cut from the curriculum to balance budgets;

(d)        is dismayed that there are cases of state schools crowd funding to keep music lessons on the curriculum, and believes education at state schools should be free;

(e)        congratulates children and young people for speaking up and protesting about austerity and on the impact of climate change and the need to radically improve our environment, and tribute is paid to the local school children of Watercliffe Meadow Primary School, and children joining from other schools, for their recent demonstrations and for the many letters they have sent to the Government demanding more for their school;

(f)         also congratulates High Storrs School for showcasing ways to reduce carbon with its Eco-Expo day;

(g)        believes that it does not need to be like this for the city’s young, as continued austerity is a political choice and a Labour government would instead listen to the concerns of young people by reversing the negative impacts of austerity and take head on the challenges of climate change and environmental degradation;

(h)        notes that a Labour government would give votes to 16 year olds, invest in a proper National Education Service, invest millions more for Sheffield schools and colleges, scrap tuition fees and give our young people the skills and labour market they deserve;

(i)         further notes that our 16 year olds are politically active, therefore should have the right to vote;

(j)          believes strongly in our children and young people and their right to the education of their choice; and

(k)        asks that the Leader of the Council and the Cabinet Member for Education and Skills write directly to the Secretary of State for Education to demand fairer funding and a reverse to cuts.

5.6.1

(NOTE: 1. Councillors Bob Pullin, Richard Shaw, Adam Hanrahan, Joe Otten, Colin Ross, Martin Smith, Roger Davison, Paul Scriven, Sue Alston, Andrew Sangar, Cliff Woodcraft, Ian Auckland, Sue Auckland, Steve Ayris, Gail Smith, David Baker, Penny Baker, Vickie Priestley and Mike Levery voted for paragraphs (a) to (f) and (i) to (k), and against paragraphs (g) and (h) of the Substantive Motion, and asked for this to be recorded;

2. Councillors Kaltum Rivers, Douglas Johnson, Rob Murphy, Martin Phipps and Alison Tealvoted for paragraphs (a) to (f) and (i) to (k), and abstained from voting on paragraphs (g) and (h) of the Substantive Motion, and asked for this to be recorded; and

3. Councillors Jack Clarkson and John Booker voted for paragraphs (a) to (f) and (i) to (k), and against paragraphs (g) and (h) of the Substantive Motion, and asked for this to be recorded.)