Minutes:
1.1 Councillor McGowan moved and Councillor Taylor seconded the following motion:
“We recently celebrated the 65th birthday of our beloved National Health Service.
Labour created the NHS in 1948, and it is one of our proudest achievements. It’s 65th birthday is an opportunity to celebrate. However, if we are going to commemorate further milestones then we need to make sure our NHS is strengthened and protected for the future.
Will the Council do everything it can do to protect this most important public service to Enfield residents, and make sure on this important anniversary we stay true to the values that have made it the envy of the world”
Having moved the motion, Councillor McGowan immediately moved and Councillor Brett seconded the following amendment:
(a) To amend the second paragraph to read:
“Enfield Council will do everything it can do to protect this most important public service to Enfield residents, and make sure on this important anniversary we stay true to the values that have made it the envy of the world. We will also support the NHS by urging CCGs to make a commitment to maintain NHS services in the public sector where possible.”
(b) To add as a final paragraph:
“Council notes the letter sent to the Secretary of State by the Council Leader and endorses the strategic approach to Chase Farm hospital agreed by Cabinet on July 10th 2013.”
During the debate on this motion the Mayor advised the Council that in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 8 (page 4-8 – Part 4), the meeting was due to end at 10:15pm. As there were still a number of members from both Groups who had indicated they would like to speak on the item the Leader advised that he was minded to recommend an extension to the time of the meeting in order to allow the debate to be concluded.
Councillor Taylor therefore moved and Councillor Constantinides seconded a procedural motion under Council Procedure Rule 8 to extend the time of the meeting for an additional period of 30 minutes. This was agreed by Council, without a vote.
The debate then continued and at the end of the extended time period the amendment to the motion was put to the vote, with the following result:
For: 31
Against: 0
Abstention: 18
The substantive motion (as amended and detailed below) was then put to the vote, without further debate:
“We recently celebrated the 65th birthday of our beloved National Health Service.
Enfield Council will do everything it can do to protect this most important public service to Enfield residents, and make sure on this important anniversary we stay true to the values that have made it the envy of the world. We will also support the NHS by urging CCGs to make a commitment to maintain NHS services in the public sector where possible.
Council notes the letter sent to the Secretary of State by the Council Leader and endorses the strategic approach to Chase Farm hospital agreed by Cabinet on July 10th 2013.”
This was agreed, with the following result:
For: 31
Against: 0
Abstention: 18