Agenda item

It was moved by Mr Hunt, and seconded by Ms Newton:-

 

“1.      That this Council severely regrets that:-

 

            (a)    since the Coalition Government came into power local services have been disproportionately penalised with a real terms cut in local government funding of 37% with the recent National Audit Office report on local government funding reserving its severest criticism for central government;

 

(b)    after four years of Coalition Government, local government social care services have been forced to take a bigger hit than any other government services and as social care funding constitutes a large proportion of local authority funding,  the funding situation for the County Council will become untenable within the next two years;

 

            (c)    the approach taken by the present administration has failed to understand the significant contribution that the voluntary sector could make to supporting local communities, groups and carers in dealing with cuts being made in services;

 

            (d)    the failure of the Administration to engage in any meaningful way with other political groups on the challenges facing the Council and how these might be tackled.

 

2.         That this Council also notes that many of those in low paid jobs, including a large number of people working in the care sector with which the Council contracts, deserve better pay and conditions.

 

3.         That this Council therefore calls upon the Administration to:-

 

            (a)    work with Councillors of all parties and other County Councils to restore a respectable level of funding to social care services supporting young, disabled and elderly vulnerable people;

 

       (b)    challenge local MPs and Parliamentary Candidates to oppose further cuts to social care in the next Government and support an integrated health and care service;

 

       (c)    review its current approach to working with the voluntary and community sector and engage constructively with them to help deliver the Council’s preventative agenda;

 

       (d)    show its support for the lowest paid social care workers by giving a commitment to introduce the living wage within the Council and making it a requirement for organisations with whom the Council contracts.”

 

An amendment was moved by Mr Galton, and seconded by Mr Bill:-

 

‘That the motion be amended to read as follows:-

 

“1.      That this Council notes that:-

 

(a)      Following the economic crash in 2008, all parties accepted the need to reduce the budget deficit, all went into the 2010 election promising spending reductions to achieve this and all will be promising further cuts to continue reducing the deficit beyond 2015;

 

(b)      During this parliament, local services have been cut heavily with a real terms cut in local government funding of 37% according to the recent National Audit Office report on local government funding;

 

(c)      Local taxes such as Council Tax and Business Rates, have not been designed to meet the pressures of social care, the budget of which has risen each year to meet increased demand from vulnerable people in our society;

 

(d)      Therefore, cuts to local government can be seen as cuts to social care by stealth, and could undermine attempts to reduce demand on NHS through better social care;

 

(e)      A large number of people working in the care sector are on low wages and zero hour contracts and deserve better pay and conditions.

 

2.       That this Council therefore resolves to:-

 

(a)      Work together, with cross party talks, to find common ground on how local government should be funded so that central government can be lobbied from a united Council position;

 

(b)      Work with local MPs and Parliamentary Candidates to protect social care from further cuts in the next Parliament and support an integrated health and social care budget;

 

(c)      Work more closely with the voluntary and community sector and engage constructively with them to help deliver the Council’s preventative agenda;

 

(d)      Show its support for the lowest paid social care workers by working together to introduce the living wage within the Council and encouraging organisations with whom the Council contracts to do also.” ’

 

The amendment was not carried, 10 members voting for the amendment and 40 against.

 

An amendment was moved by Mr Rushton, and seconded by Mr Osborne:-

 

‘That the motion be amended to read as follows:-

 

“That this Council believes that at this stage of the Parliamentary cycle, when the seriousness of the Council’s financial position will be confirmed at the Cabinet on 11 December, when the coalition government parties and the main opposition party have all indicated their intention to adhere to current spending plans and when the Council has already stated that the care and protection of vulnerable people is its priority:-

 

• There is little merit in political game playing by opposition groups.

 

• All the political groups are supportive of the lowest paid workers but increased wage bills must be affordable to the employers.

 

• The best chance of engaging with Government and the political parties to achieve fair funding for Leicestershire is for the parties locally to make best use of their own resources and channels.

 

• The importance of returning to the debate after the General Election outcome is known cannot be over-stated.” ’

 

The amendment was put and carried, 30 members voting for the amendment and 8 against.

 

The substantive motion was put and carried.