Agenda item - Impact of Covid-19 on Children & Young People

Proposed by Councillor Yates on behalf of the Labour Group.

131.1      The Mayor informed the meeting that he had been informed by Councillors Yates and Littman of a request to withdraw their notices of motion listed as Items 131 and 135 respectively on the agenda and to replace them with a new composite notice of motion. He states that he was happy to accept the request and for the new motion which was listed in addendum 2 for the meeting to be taken and regarded as Item 131. In so doing, he was required to ask both movers of their motions to confirm their wish to withdraw the motions before putting this to the council for confirmation.

131.2      Councillor Yates formally requested that the motion listed as Item 131 on the agenda should be withdrawn.

131.3      Councillor Littman formally requested the motion listed as Item 135 on the agenda should be withdrawn and both motions then replaced by the new motion 131 as listed in addendum 2.

131.4      The Mayor noted the both motions were to be withdrawn and sought confirmation from the Council which was agreed. He then invited Councillor Littman to move the new motion 131 as detailed in addendum 2.

131.5      The Notice of Motion as listed in addendum 2 was proposed by Councillor Littman on behalf of the Green and Labour Groups and an Independent Member, Councillor Knight and formally seconded by Councillors Allcock and Knight.

131.6      Councillor Brown moved an amendment on behalf of the Conservative Group, which was seconded by Councillor McNair and accepted by Councillor Littman.

131.7      The Mayor noted that the amendment had been accepted and therefore put the following motion as amended to the vote:

This Council recognises and acknowledges:

1.  The challenging financial, social, wellbeing and educational impacts the pandemic has brought to children, young people and households city-wide;

2.  That additional Government funding (Emergency Assistance Grant) expires 31 March;

3.  The significant support the city’s services, community groups and the Government have provided to alleviate these impacts, including commissioning of money advice services, third sector funding, welfare support and housing benefit teams, to ensure families and individuals are supported;

Council therefore resolves to:

1)  Join the Children’s Society ‘Funding local crisis support,’ campaign by asking the Chief Executive to detail to government our support and concerns regarding funding ending 31 March;

2)  Request the Chief Executive writes to Robert Jenrick MP, recognising the resources provided by the Government to date, and calling for long-term, dedicated Treasury funding to enable councils to provide a safety-net for the most vulnerable;

3)  Request a report to a CYPS committee in this council year to outline the impacts of Covid-19 and lockdown on children and young people, and further support to mitigate these impacts including:

a)     Mental health and wellbeing support;

b)     Rebuilding young people’s community support networks;

c)     Ensuring every child on Free School Meals has access to nutritional food through School Holidays, not just term time;

d)     Enabling greater access to existing council services through increased concessionary fees;

e)     Enabling free travel for young people across the city and learners with disabilities who attend college;

f)      Broadening out-of-school and after-hours educational support long-term, to address new and entrenched disadvantage.

131.8      The Mayor then called on each of the Group Leaders to confirm their position as well as the Groups in turn followed by each of the Independent Members:

Councillor Mac Cafferty stated that the Green Group were in favour of the motion as amended and this was confirmed by the Green Group Members;

Councillor Platts stated that the Labour Group were in favour of the motion as amended and this was confirmed by the Labour Group Members;

Councillor Bell stated that the Conservative were in favour of the motion as amended and this was confirmed by the Conservative Group Members;

Councillor Brennan confirmed that she was voting for the motion as amended;

Councillor Fishleigh confirmed that she was voting for the motion as amended;

Councillor Janio confirmed that he was voting for the motion as amended;

Councillor Knight confirmed that she was voting for the motion as amended.

131.9      The Mayor confirmed that the motion as amended had been carried.