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 the original motion listed on the agenda. The proposed alterations had been tabled as part of the update sheet at the meeting:
(a) To replace the figure of 9,000 with the figure 8,700.
(b) To delete the words “the Government wants to end the transition period for” in the third paragraph and replace with the words “the Government has ended the transition period to”.
(c) To replace the word “role” with the word “roll” at the end of the fourth paragraph.
(d) To delete the remainder of the wording following “fundamental human right” in the final paragraph and replace with “It condemns Government’s action which has been taken at the expense of democracy for political advantage”
The proposed amendments were accepted by Council and Councillor Barry then moved and Councillor Jemal seconded the following motion, as altered above:
“Many people in Enfield may soon be disenfranchised.
In May, 217,537 people were registered to vote in Enfield. Now, over 8,700 of those are at risk of being removed from the register on 30 November.
Acting against the advice of the Electoral Commission, the Government has ended the transition period to the new Individual Electoral Registration (IER) system in December 2015. This is one year earlier than originally planned.
On 1 December those people that have yet to provide the necessary evidence to remain registered will be taken off the electoral role.
This Council believes that the right to vote is a key foundation of our democracy and a fundamental human right. It condemns government’s action which has been taken at the expense of democracy for political advantage.”
Due to limited time available the motion was put straight to the vote and agreed, with the following result:
For: 34
Against: 0
Abstentions: 0