Agenda item

8.1

It was moved by Councillor Will Sapwell, and seconded by Councillor Sophie Thornton, that this Council:-

notes:-

(a)      the UK Government currently has a Youth Mobility Scheme in place with several non-EU countries, allowing a set number of young people to live and work in those countries for a specified duration of time, on a reciprocal basis;

(b)      in April 2024, the European Commission proposed a Youth Mobility Scheme between the UK and the EU;

(c)      the proposed Youth Mobility Scheme was rejected by both the previous and current Governments;

(d)      red tape at the UK/EU border has prevented children from taking part in overseas educational trips and that the School Travel Forum has reported a 30% reduction in overseas educational visits between 2019 and 2023;

(e)      between 2007 and 2013 the UK received over £500m more in funding from the EU for education and training than it invested in the Erasmus plus scheme;

(f)       the UK ceased participation in the Erasmus plus scheme in 2021 under the then Conservative government and the new government has not committed to rejoining the scheme;

(g)      barriers to touring erected by Brexit have impacted 30% of musicians, with lowest earners losing 49% of EU revenue on average;

believes that:-

(h)      the former government erected significant barriers to young people with their botched deal with Europe, including removing the right of young people to move, live and work across EU countries;

(i)       young people should not face such barriers to travelling, living and working in Europe;

(j)       Sheffield’s universities, manufacturing and healthcare sectors, and local economy would all benefit from accessing the Youth Mobility Scheme;

(k)      Sheffield’s cultural offering, if given easier access to European countries, would enrich the lives of our neighbours;

(l)       every opportunity should be taken to repair the country’s broken relationship with Europe;

resolves to ask the Leader of the Council to write to the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, calling for him to:-

(m)     open negotiations with the EU and EEA to extend the Youth Mobility Scheme on a reciprocal basis to EU countries;

(n)      expand opportunities for young people to study, teach and volunteer abroad by returning to the Erasmus Plus programme as an associated country; and

(o)      open discussions with the EU with the goal of reaching a reciprocal exemption from electronic travel authorisation schemes.

8.2

Whereupon, it was moved by Councillor Fran Belbin, and seconded by Councillor Ben Miskell, as an amendment, that the Motion now submitted be amended by:-

1.       the deletion of all the words after paragraph (l); and

2.       the addition of new paragraphs (m) to (r) as follows:-

(m)     notes the new government has promised to mend the broken relationships with the EU, which was left behind by the previous government, prioritising a new UK-EU security pact, improvements to the UK’s trade and investment relationship with the EU, and further agreements on agricultural products, and greatly welcomes these developments;

(n)      supports the Government’s work in resetting relationships with Europe and notes that since taking office the Prime Minister has visited overseas heads of European states and hosted Leaders of more than 40 countries from across the continent for the European Political Community meeting in Oxfordshire;

(o)      notes that whilst the European Commission’s proposal for a Youth Mobility Scheme was rejected by the previous government in April, this was also opposed by representatives of UK universities due to the proposal that students on the scheme could pay the home fees of the university they attended, with UK universities making clear this would lead to a significant loss in income;

(p)      notes that further proposals on the Youth Mobility Scheme will come forward from the EU Commission next year, and hopes this will be more satisfactory to UK universities than the original proposal;

(q)      believes the previous government failed spectacularly to tackle skills shortages and other problems in the UK labour market, and supports the new government pursuing a different approach which links migration policy to skills and labour market policies; and

(r)       believes that the previous government did significant economic damage to the country through their divisive and reckless approach to our European friends, neighbours and allies.

8.3

It was then moved by Councillor Paul Turpin, and seconded by Councillor Peter Gilbert, as an amendment, that the Motion now submitted be amended by:-

1.       the addition of a new paragraph (g) as follows, and the re-lettering of the original paragraphs (g) to (o) as new paragraphs (h) to (p):-

(g)      that rejoining the Erasmus Programme was one of the recommendations of the UK Trade and Business Commission in 2023;

2.       the addition of a new paragraph (q) as follows:-

(q)      consider rejoining the EU at the earliest opportunity to allow all UK citizens the right of free movement and the right to live and work in the EU without restriction.

8.4

After contributions from five other Members, and following a right of reply from Councillor Will Sapwell, the amendment moved by Councillor Fran Belbin was put to the vote and was lost.

8.4.1

(NOTE: The result of the vote was FOR - 32 Members; AGAINST - 38 Members; ABSTENTIONS – 1 Member.)

8.5

The amendment moved by Councillor Paul Turpin was then put to the vote and was carried.

8.5.1

(NOTE: The result of the vote was FOR - 38 Members; AGAINST - 32 Members; ABSTENTIONS – 1 Member.  Although Labour Group Members voted against, they abstained from voting on Part 1 of the amendment.)

8.6

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

RESOLVED: That this Council:-

notes:-

(a)      the UK Government currently has a Youth Mobility Scheme in place with several non-EU countries, allowing a set number of young people to live and work in those countries for a specified duration of time, on a reciprocal basis;

(b)      in April 2024, the European Commission proposed a Youth Mobility Scheme between the UK and the EU;

(c)      the proposed Youth Mobility Scheme was rejected by both the previous and current Governments;

(d)      red tape at the UK/EU border has prevented children from taking part in overseas educational trips and that the School Travel Forum has reported a 30% reduction in overseas educational visits between 2019 and 2023;

(e)      between 2007 and 2013 the UK received over £500m more in funding from the EU for education and training than it invested in the Erasmus plus scheme;

(f)       the UK ceased participation in the Erasmus plus scheme in 2021 under the then Conservative government and the new government has not committed to rejoining the scheme;

(g)      that rejoining the Erasmus Programme was one of the recommendations of the UK Trade and Business Commission in 2023;

(h)      barriers to touring erected by Brexit have impacted 30% of musicians, with lowest earners losing 49% of EU revenue on average;

believes that:-

(i)       the former government erected significant barriers to young people with their botched deal with Europe, including removing the right of young people to move, live and work across EU countries;

(j)       young people should not face such barriers to travelling, living and working in Europe;

(k)      Sheffield’s universities, manufacturing and healthcare sectors, and local economy would all benefit from accessing the Youth Mobility Scheme;

(l)       Sheffield’s cultural offering, if given easier access to European countries, would enrich the lives of our neighbours;

(m)     every opportunity should be taken to repair the country’s broken relationship with Europe;

resolves to ask the Leader of the Council to write to the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, calling for him to:-

(n)      open negotiations with the EU and EEA to extend the Youth Mobility Scheme on a reciprocal basis to EU countries;

(o)      expand opportunities for young people to study, teach and volunteer abroad by returning to the Erasmus Plus programme as an associated country;

(p)      open discussions with the EU with the goal of reaching a reciprocal exemption from electronic travel authorisation schemes; and

(q)      consider rejoining the EU at the earliest opportunity to allow all UK citizens the right of free movement and the right to live and work in the EU without restriction.

8.6.1

(NOTE: The result of the vote on the Substantive Motion was FOR - 37 Members; AGAINST - 0 Members; ABSTENTIONS – 33 Members.  Although Labour Group Members abstained, they voted against paragraphs (c) and (n) to (q) of the Substantive Motion.)