Motions
Minutes:
1.1 Councillor Chibah moved and Councillor N.Cazimoglu seconded the following motion:
“That this Council recognises the positive contribution that Trade Unions and Trade Union members make in our workplaces. This Council values the constructive relationship that we have with our Trade Unions and we recognise their commitment, and the commitment of all our staff, to the delivery of good quality public services.
This Council notes with concern the Trade Union Bill which is currently being proposed by the Government and which would affect this Council’s relationship with our Trade Unions and our workforce as a whole. This Council rejects this Bill’s attack on local democracy and the attack on our right to manage our own affairs.
This Council is clear that facility time, negotiated and agreed by us and our Trade Unions to suit our own specific needs, has a valuable role to play in the creation of good quality and responsive local services. Facility time should not be determined or controlled by Government in London.
This Council is happy with the arrangements we currently have in place for deducting Trade Union membership subscriptions through our payroll. We see this as an important part of our positive industrial relations and a cheap and easy to administer system that supports our staff. This system is an administrative matter for the Council and should not be interfered with by the UK Government.
The Council resolves to support the campaign against the unnecessary, anti-democratic and bureaucratic Trade Union Bill.
The Council further resolves to seek to continue its own locally agreed industrial relations strategy and will take every measure possible to maintain its autonomy with regard to facility time and the continuing use of check-off.”
During the debate on this motion proceedings were interrupted as a result of comments made by Councillor Stafford.
Given the nature of the language used, the Mayor immediately asked Councillor Stafford to apologise for the comments made or advised that she would move that the member be asked to leave the Chamber.
Councillor Stafford offered an immediate apology, however the Leader of the Opposition did not feel this was sufficient and the Opposition Group subsequently withdrew from the Chamber for the remainder of the meeting.
The debate then continued, without the Opposition present, before the motion was put to the vote and agreed with the following result:
For: 33
Against: 0
Abstentions: 0
It was noted that Councillors Daniel Pearce and Claire Stewart had declared Disclosable Pecuniary Interests in the above motion and neither were therefore present during the debate on this item.
It was noted that Councillors Elaine Hayward, Robert Hayward and Michael Rye had declared non-pecuniary interests in the above motion. They were present during the debate, up until the Opposition Group withdrew from the meeting.
1.2 Prior to commencing the debate on Motion 15.3 Councillor Barry (as the Member who had given notice and would be moving the motion) drew members attention to the following alterations that she wished to make to the wording of ... view the full minutes text for item 93
Motions
Minutes:
Councillor Stewart moved and Councillor Abdullahi seconded the following motion:
“Enfield Council is extremely concerned about the Government’s mismanagement of Employment and Support Allowance. Large backlogs, an increasing number of sanctions and poorly administered Work Capability Assessments are having a devastating effect on the most vulnerable in Enfield. The Leader of the Council is requested to write to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Iain Duncan Smith, to raise our concerns.”
Once the motion had been formally moved and seconded, Councillor Elaine Hayward immediately moved and Councillor Laban seconded procedural motion 12.11 (d) “that the question be now put”. The Mayor put this straight to the vote and it was not agreed, with the following result:
For: 21
Against: 36
Abstentions: 0
The debate therefore continued and following a short discussion the motion was put to the vote and agreed with the following result:
For: 35
Against: 19
Abstentions: 0