Local democracy

Decision details

NOTICES OF MOTION (Standing Order 17)

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: No

Is subject to call in?: No

Decision:

12.1    MOTION – IMPROVING PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN ELECTIONS

 

Resolved-

 

This Council welcomes the Government’s recently published response to Sir Eric Pickles’ review, entitled, “A Democracy that Works for Everyone:  A Clear and Secure Democracy” which seeks to improve the integrity and robustness of the electoral system in the UK. 

 

It also notes that Bradford is included as one of 18 pilots which includes places as far apart as Peterborough and Woking.  These pilots are expected to take place in May 2018 Local Elections.

 

Council resolves to:

·         Work with the Cabinet Office and Electoral Commission to ensure that the ID requirement is widely advertised among the electorate.

·         Use the pilot as an opportunity to publicise voting and get more people voting in Bradford in local council elections.

·         Press the Cabinet Office to ensure details and funding is made available to pilot local authorities as soon as possible to make sure that good preparations can be made well in advance.

Congratulate the police for all the good work they have done in ensuring free and fair elections in Bradford in previous years and continue our good working partnership with them, ensuring all Bradfordians feel confident to vote according to their will.

 

ACTION:       Director Corporate Services/City Solicitor     

 

 

12.2.   BRADFORD REQUESTS A BETTER DEAL IN THE SCHOOLS NATIONAL FUNDING FORMULA

 

Resolved-

 

This Council notes the second stage of the Government consultation on the National Funding Formula for schools. This will hit the budget of every school in Bradford District. We are greatly concerned it could have a major detrimental impact on the education of our children who are the future of this district. The new formula could also result in significant job losses in Bradford schools.

 

This is a cut in education spend in Bradford District at a time when schools are just starting to turn round and improve their performance. This is a huge distraction from accelerating the performance in education that Bradford needs.

 

The Government should change the National Funding Formula so that it takes into account:

·         The additional needs of a large metropolitan district

·         Rising real term costs

·         The drop in funding for early years already announced.

This Council resolves to:

·         Ask the Government to account for growth in demand of additional SEN in this district.

·         Instruct council officers to make strong representations on this issue as part of the consultation process.

·         Ask each of the District’s five MPs to make their views known on this to the Secretary of State for Education.

ACTION:       Chief Executive/Strategic Director Children’s Services

 

 

12.3    SOCIAL CARE FUNDING CRISIS

 

Resolved-

 

1.         Council supports national efforts by the Local Government Association and Parliamentary Select Committees to secure cross-party agreement on future funding for social care and that local government leaders should be part of that review process

2.         Council believes that the use of Council Tax as the primary funding mechanism is inequitable to areas like Bradford which starts from a lower Council tax base

 

Council resolves:

1.         To reflect the emerging national cross-party consensus on this issue, the Leader of Council and Leader of Opposition to seek an urgent meeting with the Secretary of State for Health to raise Bradford’s concerns about the sustainability of social care funding

2.         To continue working with health colleagues to improve the interface of health and social care

3.         To start the implementation, together with all our partners, of the current plans across health, social care and housing for the long term care infrastructure needed to meet Bradford’s future needs

 

ACTION:       Leader of Council/Leader of the Conservative Group/Strategic Director Health and Wellbeing/Strategic Director Adult Services/ Strategic Director Place   

 

 

12.4.   BRADFORD EXPRESSES ITS SUPPORT FOR THE “INTERNATIONAL DAY OF ZERO TOLERANCE FOR FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION”

 

Resolved-

 

This Council notes that:

 

The International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital mutilation (FGM) takes place annually on 6th February. This is a UN-sponsored day to raise awareness of this issue as part of efforts to bring FGM to an end throughout the world.

 

FGM refers to altering or injuring the female genitalia for non-medical reasons.

This is an extreme form of abuse, it is a violation of the human rights of girls and women, it can lead to long term physical and emotional trauma and it is a criminal act.

 

Council officers and colleagues in the health service and the voluntary sector already work to monitor and combat FGM, but by supporting the international zero tolerance campaign we can help raise awareness of this safeguarding issue and build on the hard work already done in the district to put a stop to FGM.

 

Bradford Council, the Safeguarding Adults board, the Bradford Safeguarding Children Board and its partners stands firmly against FGM and resolves to:

 

·         Support the International Day of Zero Tolerance against FGM

·         Continue to work closely together to fulfil our shared responsibility to safeguard and protect local women and girls against FGM

·         Continue to work with all partner organisations including the voluntary sector to raise awareness about this issue and make it clear that any form of FGM is not acceptable.

ACTION:       Chief Executive/Strategic Director Health and Wellbeing/Strategic Director Adult Services/Strategic Director Children’s Services

Publication date: 17/01/2017

Date of decision: 17/01/2017

Decided at meeting: 17/01/2017 - Council