Agenda item

To consider any Notices of Motion that have been received in accordance with paragraph 1.34 of the Council Procedure Rules

Consideration was given to the following Notices of Motion, which had been submitted in accordance with paragraph 1.34 of the Council Procedure Rules.

 

1          Universal Credit

Proposed by Councillor L Smith and Seconded by Councillor D Marren

 

This Council notes:

 

·      This April the Government plan to cut the benefit level for millions of claimants by ending of the time limited increase to the basic rate of Universal Credit (and the tax credit equivalent) announced by the Chancellor on 20th March as part of his pandemic response package.

 

·      The £20 a week boost reflected the reality that the level of benefits were not adequate to protect the swiftly increasing number of households relying on them as the crisis hit. Exactly because that increase was a very significant and welcome move to bolster low- and middle-income families living standards, its removal will be a huge loss.

 

·      Pressing ahead would see the level of unemployment support fall to its lowest real-terms level since 1990-91, and it’s lowest ever relative to average earnings. Indeed, the basic level of out-of-work support prior to the March boost was – at £73 a week (£3,800 a year) – less than half the absolute poverty line.

 

·      The increase in benefits have had a positive effect on the lives of thousands of local claimants who are better able to pay for life’s essentials such as food, clothing, and utilities.

 

·      The local economy has also benefited from the increase in benefit levels as claimants spend their money locally thereby supporting local businesses and jobs.

 

This Council resolves to:

 

·      Write to the Chancellor, Rushi Sunak and to the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson demanding that the £20 increase to Universal Credit is made permanent and extended to claimants on legacy benefits.

 

·      Work with other local government organisations to form a coalition to pressure the government to make the £20 increase to Universal Credit permanent.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That the Motion be referred to Cabinet.

 

 

 

 

2          International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of Anti-Semitism

Proposed by Councillor S Gardiner and Seconded by Councillor
M Asquith

 

This Council reaffirms its commitment to employ the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of anti-Semitism as a key pillar of the Council’s equality and diversity policies.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That the Motion be referred to Cabinet via the relevant overview and scrutiny committee.

 

 

3          Covid 19 Vaccination Programme Thanks

            Proposed by Councillor R Bailey and seconded by Councillor M Beanland

 

This Council places on record their thanks to all involved in the Covid 19 vaccination programme within Cheshire East.  This includes all health staff, Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service and volunteers.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That the Motion be approved.

 

 

Before consideration of the next Notice of Motion, the Mayor announced that it would be inappropriate for him to chair the meeting whilst the Motion was being considered and would therefore leave the meeting during its consideration and that, following consultation with the Group Leaders, Councillor Rod Fletcher would take the chair.

 

The  Mayor left the meeting room and Councillor Fletcher took the Chair.

 

4.         Mayor of Cheshire East Council

Proposed by Councillor L Wardlaw and Seconded by Councillor
J Saunders

 

The recent national coverage of the Handforth Parish Council meeting and our Mayors’ participation in that meeting has led us to believe he has brought this Council and his role within this Council into disrepute.

 

He made no attempt to intervene as it became clear participants in that meeting were being bullied.

 

The work that has been done at Cheshire East over the last 3 years with the cooperation and commitment of all Members and officers to transform its culture and reputation from one of bullying and intimidation has been undermined by this sad episode.

 

The inaction of the Mayor could be seen as a demonstration of his complicity in the bullying that occurred, and this cannot be ignored if the integrity of the Brighter Futures Programme is to be maintained.

 

The role of Mayor is one that should promote Cheshire East Council, its residents, and its businesses across the country. In accepting the role as representative of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, the Mayor should be mindful at all times of his reputation and of those he represents. Sadly, the recent highly publicised events have shown that this has not been the case for Cllr Mr Barry Burkhill.

 

Motion

 

In light of the above this Council resolves that it has no confidence in the Mayor and that his term of office as Mayor and Chairman of the Council will cease immediately.

 

Councillor Fletcher referred to the Monitoring Officer’s advice note which concluded that the Motion ‘must be referred to the Standards Committee’ via the standards procedure and, in the light of this, he invited the mover to introduce their Motion and speak for 2 minutes and thereafter the Motion would stand referred to the Standards Committee without debate or vote.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That the Motion be referred to the Standards Committee.

 

 

 

Councillor Fletcher vacated the Chair and the Mayor returned to the meeting room and took the Chair.