Agenda item

Councillor J Ewan, Vice Chair of Council, took the Chair for consideration of Motion No.166.

 

Motion No. 166

 

Consideration was given to Motion No. 166 moved by Councillor Mason and seconded by Councillor Coupe of which notice had been given in accordance with Council Procedure Rules No. 53-60 as follows:

 

Motion of No Confidence in the Chair of Middlesbrough Council

 

This Council expresses its deep concern and dissatisfaction with the manner in which full council meetings have been conducted under the current Chair's leadership.

 

We believe that effective governance and robust democratic processes are paramount for the success of our council and the well-being of our constituents. Unfortunately, recent practices under the Chair's guidance have fallen short of these expectations. In particular, we are deeply troubled by the Chair's refusal to allow supplementary questions during full council meetings.  Supplementary questions are a vital component of our democratic process. They allow elected members to seek necessary clarifications, challenge responses, and ensure accountability. By denying members the opportunity to ask supplementary questions, the Chair is effectively stifling debate, limiting transparency, and undermining the ability of this council to serve our community effectively.

 

This approach has created an atmosphere where crucial issues cannot be thoroughly examined, and where members are unable to adequately represent the concerns of their constituents. Such practices are unacceptable and do not align with the principles of open and accountable governance that this council should uphold.

 

Given the ongoing issues with the conduct of full council meetings and the lack of faith we have in the Chair to change their approach to full Council meetings, we hereby submit this motion of no confidence in the Chair of Middlesbrough Council, Councillor Julia Rostron.

 

This Council therefore resolves to:

 

1) Express its disapproval of the manner in which recent Council meetings have been held.

2) Call on Cllr Julia Rostron to resign from the position of Chair of the Council with immediate effect.

 

Councillor Coupe reserved his right to speak to the motion.  Councillor Mason spoke in support of the motion.

 

The Chair invited members to speak to the motion.

 

Councillors Smiles, Saunders, Livingstone and Coupe spoke in support of the motion.

 

Councillors Walker and Henman spoke against the motion.  

 

On a vote being taken the motion was REJECTED.

 

Councillor Rostron, Chair of Council, in the Chair.

 

Motion No. 167

 

Consideration was given to Motion No. 167 moved by Councillor Walker and seconded by Councillor L Young of which notice had been given in accordance with Council Procedure Rules No. 53-60 as follows:

 

Motion to commend the work Middlesbrough Council is doing to enrol more eligible pensioners onto Pension Credit, to resolve to prioritise the use of the Household Support Fund to help pensioners on low incomes or liable to higher heating bills due to disability, who will lose the Winter Fuel Payment and therefore could struggle to pay their bills, to resolve to continue and enhance the council’s awareness campaign and to call on HM Treasury to reform the means testing of the  Winter Fuel Payment eligibility so as to bring more people into the scheme.

 

This Council acknowledges the huge black hole in public finances left by the previous Tory Government and the need for savings and the government’s changes to the Winter Fuel Payment and recognises that many pensioners will still receive the payment and some pensioners on higher incomes will not need it. There are many lower income pensioners in Middlesbrough who will just miss out on receiving Winter Fuel Payment because of these changes.  This will leave many just above the Pension Credit threshold, including for example those with a small private pension who are no longer eligible for the Winter Fuel payment.

 

The Council commends the work of its Revenues and Benefits team for its ongoing work in identifying and supporting eligible pensioners to apply for Pension Credit and thus to receive the Winter Fuel Payment.

 

This council resolves to, as far as government guidance permits, prioritise the use of Central Government funding under the Household Support Fund to assist those pensioners on low incomes, or liable to higher heating bills due to disability.

 

This Council also resolves to continue and enhance its awareness campaign, targeting those who may be eligible to maximise the uptake of Pension Credit, and to publicise assistance available in Middlesbrough for those who may struggle this winter, in particular support available under the Household Support Fund for those pensioners who will just miss out on Winter Fuel Payments.

 

Finally, this Council resolves to write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer asking that HM Treasury considers reforming eligibility for the Winter Fuel Payment to protect those pensioners who will struggle without the Winter Fuel Payment, and provide further mitigation for those in need who will no longer qualify, and to ask the Government to ensure that vulnerable pensioners, particularly those eligible who do not claim Pension Credit, are encouraged to do so.

 

Councillor L Young reserved his right to speak to the motion. 

 

Councillor Walker spoke to the motion.

 

The Chair invited members to speak to the motion.

 

Councillors Coupe, Smiles, Saunders and spoke against the motion.

 

Councillors Livingstone and  L Young spoke in support of the motion.

 

On a vote being taken the motion was CARRIED.

 

Motion No. 168

 

Consideration was given to Motion No. 168 moved by Councillor Saunders and seconded by Councillor J Platt of which notice had been given in accordance with Council Procedure Rules No. 53-60 as follows:

 

I call on this chamber to agree to the Council sending a letter to the Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer calling on them to reverse the decision (taken by Parliament on the 10th September) to remove winter fuel payments from pensioners.

 

Councillor J Platt reserved his right to speak to the motion. 

 

Councillor Saunders spoke to the motion.

 

The Chair invited members to speak to the motion.

 

Councillor Clynch spoke against the motion.

 

On a vote being taken the motion was REJECTED.

 

Motion No. 169

 

Consideration was given to Motion No. 169 moved by Councillor J Platt and seconded by Councillor Saunders of which notice had been given in accordance with Council Procedure Rules No. 53-60 as follows:

 

The people of Middlesbrough voted for a mix of Labour, Independent, Conservative and Liberal Democrat Councillors.  The Mayor promised the people of Middlesbrough that he would ensure fairness and scrutiny by ensuring opposition councillors were given chairs of scrutiny panels.

 

This Council needs to move to a system of electing chairs on the basis of proportional representation;  with the Mayor electing his Executive based on Proportional Representation and proportional representation being used to allocate the chairs of all committees / panels to relevant political denominations.  This is to ensure that the people of Middlesbrough are fairly represented and their voices are heard.

 

Councillor Platt spoke to the motion. 

 

Councillor Saunders reserved his right to speak to the motion.

 

The Chair invited members to speak to the motion.

 

Councillor Livingstone spoke in support of the motion.

 

An amendment to the Motion was moved by the Mayor as follows:

 

The people of Middlesbrough voted for a mix of Labour, Independent, Conservative and Liberal Democrat Councillors. The Mayor promised the people of Middlesbrough that he would ensure fairness and scrutiny.

 

Accordingly, this Council resolves to assess how minority voices can be given a significant formalised role within the scrutiny process, as part of broader constitutional reforms which will be explored over the coming year through Constitution and Members’ Development Committee. These reforms would be subject to consultation and the concurrent introduction of measures to improve standards in key areas such as attendance, standards of behaviour, and other reasonable expectations of members.

 

In line with our commitment to learning from best practice across the country, we will look to successful measures implemented by other councils to inform this process, such as formalised ‘opposition lead’ positions and other solutions. This is to ensure that the people of Middlesbrough are fairly and conscientiously represented and their voices are heard.

 

The proposed amendment was seconded by Councillor Clynch.

 

Responding to a question from Councillor Morrish as to whether the proposed amendment was valid in accordance with the Constitution, the Monitoring Officer confirmed that the proposed amendment was valid.   Councillor Morrish stated that the amendment looked to be a replacement to the original motion and read out the relevant paragraphs from the Constitution in relation to amendments to motions.   The Monitoring Officer confirmed that the proposed amendment was valid as it did not negate the effect of the motion.

 

Cllrs Smiles and Grainge asked whether the proposed amendment would mean that there would be Scrutiny Chairs from other parties. 

 

The Mayor spoke in support of the amendment, stating that Councillors needed to try and work together in a way that was fair for everyone which was set out clearly in the Constitution.

 

Councillor Platt spoke against the proposed amendment.

 

Councillors L Young and Heman spoke in support of the proposed amendment.

 

Councillor Grainge spoke against the proposed amendment.

 

The amended motion was put to the vote.

 

On a vote being taken the amended motion was declared CARRIED.

 

Councillor J Platt exercised his right of reply.

 

The amended motion became the substantive motion.

 

The substantive motion was put to the vote.

 

On a vote being taken the motion was declared CARRIED.

 

Motion No. 170

 

Consideration was given to Motion No. 170 moved by Councillor Storey and seconded by Councillor Romaine of which notice had been given in accordance with Council Procedure Rules No. 53-60 as follows:

 

Baby Loss Awareness Week is held annually from 9 to 15 October and is a special opportunity to mark the loss of pregnancies and the brief lives of babies lost at or soon after birth.

 

Miscarriage is a common, but horrendous experience, it is estimated that one in six confirmed pregnancies ends in miscarriage and this can be devastating for the people affected.

 

According to SANDs, currently in the UK, 13 families a day suffer the heartbreak of losing their baby before, during or shortly after birth. That’s around 4,500 babies a year. And at least 15% of pregnancies end in miscarriage. These numbers are shocking and show the scale of the problem and grief this causes.

 

Currently, far too many babies die without scientists, doctors, midwives, or their own parents understanding why. That’s why we believe research is vital in improving our understanding of how to save babies’ lives and using that evidence to drive changes in maternity policy and practice.

 

As a large employer within Middlesbrough, Middlesbrough Borough Council is in a position to help employees affected by pregnancy loss. As an organisation that exists to serve the people of Middlesbrough, it is also in a position to deal supportively with residents who have experienced miscarriage and baby loss.

 

This motions calls for:

 

•  Managers have the correct training to help employees who miscarry or who have suffered a loss.

•  Managers have good quality resources on miscarriage and baby loss in the workplace, such as SANDS, Tommys and Still Parents Teesside.

•   Frontline staff have training and resources to help understand the needs of residents in Middlesbrough affected by miscarriage and baby loss and to be able to recognise the affect it can have on long term mental health.

•  That Middlesbrough Libraries and Community Hubs hold and display information on local support groups, such as Still Parents Teesside, as well as national support organisations such as SANDS and Tommys so families can access help.

•  That Middlesbrough Council calls on the Government to work closely with SANDS to improve maternity services, so that more small lives can be saved.

 

The Chair invited members to speak to the motion.

 

Councillor Romaine spoke in support of the motion.

 

Councillor Storey spoke in support of the motion.

 

Councillor Smiles queried the amount of leave granted by Middlesbrough Council to those who sadly experienced pregnancy loss and asked whether this could be given further consideration.  Whilst the motion did not include this proposal, the Deputy Mayor suggested that this issue could be raised at Works Council.

 

On a vote being taken, the motion was declared unanimously CARRIED.