Agenda item

Motions

Motion 1 in the name of Councillor Joanne Laban

The Council supports the provision of meat options at its events and to exclude them is discriminatory against meat eaters. This chamber agrees that all Enfield Council events where catering is provided should include meat, vegetarian and vegan options to show its commitment to inclusivity.

Motion 2 in the name of Councillor Edward Smith

This Council agrees to review its recently published Climate Change Action Plan which set a target for the Council achieving carbon neutrality by 2030 because it is flawed and was not subject to adequate consultation for such an important and far reaching project.

Motion 3 in the name of Councillor Aramaz

No Return to Austerity Post-Pandemic

Enfield Council recognises that the COVID-19 Pandemic has disrupted the economy significantly. Lockdown measures have meant that the UK economy had shrunk over 20% by the end of August 2020 in comparison to the previous three months.

This will inevitably mean that certain reforms must be made to the economy in order to avoid exacerbating the economic crisis.

Since 2010, austerity measures were introduced and quantitative easing was used to stimulate the economy unsuccessfully. By 2016, up to £445 billion was created and given to the financial markets whereby a minuscule 8% of the wealth trickled down to the real economy, toppling the trickle-down economics argument. In June 2020, this figure now stood at a total of £745billion.

Realistically, quantitative easing should be used not to aid the financial markets but to aid the real economy by investing into building homes, developing infrastructure and creating jobs.

Currently, Enfield Council finds itself at breaking point because of austerity measures introduced by the government. Since 2010, the council has lost more than 60% of its budget in real terms and cannot suffice anymore.

Therefore, Enfield Council demands that the government does not reintroduce austerity measures post-pandemic and instead embraces the opportunity to change society for the better by investing in the real economy.

Motion 4 in the name of Councillor Aramaz

Acknowledgement and Acceptance of Alevi and Kurdish People

The Council recognises that there are a huge number of Alevi and Kurdish people in the borough. It is acknowledged by the British Alevi Federation that the London Borough of Enfield has the highest amount of Alevis and Kurdish people living in one area in the United Kingdom.

Enfield public bodies do not currently have enough information about Alevis. More data would help inform the approach of the education, health, local government and general support towards the Alevi community. Lack of inclusion in the census indicates an underestimation and insufficient recognition of the Alevi community as well as inadequate resources directed towards them.

Enfield Council supports the campaign by the British Alevi Federation to include Alevism in the census. Data about minority groups is vital because underreporting could allow discrimination to go unnoticed.

Therefore, in order to not disenfranchise those that identify themselves as Alevi or Kurdish, Enfield Council will ask officers to explore the possibility to select Alevism as an independent faith option and Kurdish as an independent ethnicity option, when compiling council forms. Enfield Council should also explore the possibility of including other ethnic group as a category on council forms.

Motion 5 in the name of Councillor Cazimoglu

Misogyny - Expanding hate crime laws

This council supports the Law Commissions view that women should be protected under expanded Hate Crime Laws.

Misogyny should be treated in the same way as other discrimination.

Women’s Aid have welcomed the proposal and have said;

“Sexism and women’s inequality are the root causes of violence against women, including domestic abuse, sexual violence, street harassment, including “up-skirting” and online forms of crime. Making clear that crime happens to women ‘because they are women’ could help send a clear message that women will be believed, protected and supported if they experience sexual violence and abuse.”

Motion 6 in the name of Councillor Chibah

Fairtrade

Enfield Council notes that on 7th September 2020 Camden Council passed a motion which resolved to:

• Renew its commitment to achieving ‘Fairtrade Community’ status.

• Actively promote Fairtrade locally, through support for local groups, in the media including social media, and events, including during Fairtrade Fortnight.

• Support local Fairtrade Schools and Universities, and actively promote Fairtrade teaching materials in local schools and educational institutions.

• Celebrate businesses championing Fairtrade products in the local community.

• Review its procurement policy, including its catering offer, to ensure that as far as is lawful Fairtrade produce is chosen wherever possible, and that Fairtrade Standards are included as a preference in any contracts going out to tender.

Enfield’s “Fairtrade Community” status has similarly lapsed but the original community activists in “Fairtrade Enfield” have reformed with a view to regaining Fairtrade Community Status for Enfield. This can only be done with the active support of Enfield Council by agreeing the resolutions above.

This Council also notes that

• 2019 marked 25 years since the FAIRTRADE Mark was launched in the UK.

• Since 1994, consumer demand for fair trade has grown thanks to the efforts of grassroots campaigners and pioneering fair trade businesses.

• There are now over 600 Fairtrade Communities in the UK and more than 2,000 globally.

• As a result of Fairtrade commitments from mainstream brands and retailers, the UK Fairtrade market is now one of the biggest in the world.

• Global Fairtrade sales last year generated £142 million in Fairtrade Premium. Farmers in 73 countries have invested this money in their communities, increasing business productivity and contributing to the achievement of the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

• Despite this positive news, exploitation remains rampant in global supply chains. More than 40 million people are trapped in modern slavery, including forced labour, and 152 million young people in child labour. Hundreds of millions more are earning less than a living income or wage.

• Most of the products we consume from some Caribbean islands, Africa and Asian countries are still produced by people who are living on or around the poverty line with few labour rights and educational opportunities, and some using child labour.

• As individuals, it is almost impossible for us to know how we are to make recompense for the legacies of slavery. Fairtrade is probably the most direct way any of us can start to redress the injustices of the past.

This council believes that:

• Fairtrade, and the wider Fairtrade movement have a significant contribution to make towards ending exploitation in global supply chains and achieving the SDGs.

• The recently agreed International Fairtrade Charter should be welcomed, with its vision of transforming trade to work for people and planet.

• The Fairtrade principles of paying a ‘premium’ that is wholly managed by farmers and workers themselves, and of minimum prices to protect producers from market volatility, are crucial to systemic change.

• Public bodies, including local authorities, should support ethical procurement policies, using their purchasing power to support Fairtrade Standards and ensure their supply chains, at home and abroad, are free of exploitation, including modern slavery.

• Companies operating through global supply chains should go further and take steps to require the payment of living wages and achievement of living incomes for all.

And therefore, this council resolves, as above, to:

• Renew its commitment/commit to achieve ‘Fairtrade Community’ status.

• Actively promote Fairtrade locally, through support for local groups, in the media including social media, and events, including during Fairtrade Fortnight.

• Support local Fairtrade Schools and Universities, and actively promote Fairtrade teaching materials in local schools and educational institutions.

• Celebrate businesses championing Fairtrade products in the local community.

Motion 7 in the name of Councillor Georgiou

Test and trace system

Crucial for defeating Covid-19 is an effective test and trace system. Thus far, government attempts have proved inadequate. This Council believes that local authorities working with local public health teams are best placed to deliver test and trace.

The current test and trace system should be de-centralised with responsibility and government funds given to local authorities to manage and administer.

Motion 8 in the name of Councillor Hamilton

Public Health England

UNIONS and health professionals have condemned the government’s abolition of Public Health England (PHE) to replace it with an NHS management body.

The government’s decision followed Public Health England's criticism of the government’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic and other issues.

They are replacing PHE with a “National Institute for Health Protection. The institute has been created without consultation and with no clear plans for the future of the NHS. It raises the risk of further private-sector encroachment on the service.

We are in the middle of a pandemic which is having a devastating effect on the economy and the nation’s health and instead of dealing with it the government is abolishing the very body responsible for public health.

We, the London Borough of Enfield urge the government to reverse this decision, to maintain Public Health England to ensure that we have a binding commitment to resource the national public health system with sufficient capacity, resilience and access to data, research and analysis over the long term to address all domains of public health effectively.

The decision to abolish PHE and set up the National Institute for Health Protection without consulting unions and considering the staff is another reckless move by this incompetent government.

Motion 9 in the name of Councillor Jewell

Free school meals

The important campaign led by the Premier League footballer, Marcus Rashford, has shone a light on the importance offree school meals to many of our children, particularly during the pandemic when so many families have had their householdincome drop.

Enfield Council condemns the government’s decision not to fund Free School Meals during the October half term this year. If the government can find £7000 a day for consultants for the failed track and trace system, it can fund to help the most vulnerable families in our communities with free school meals during the school holidays.

During the October half term, Enfield Council has been in contact with more than 2,500 families on the free school meal lists, offering support to ensure no child went hungry.

This Council believes that when schools are closed, such as during school holidays, or if children are not able to attend school because of Covid-19, that those children who are entitled to free school meals should have access to food.

Enfield Council believes that no child should ever go hungry whilst at school or during the holidays and we call on the government to quickly resolve to funding FSMs.

Motion 10 to the council in the name of Councillor Savva

Anti-racism

Enfield condemns in the strongest possible way the unlawful killing and continued unfair treatment of Black lives. Racism has no place in Enfield or elsewhere in this Country and the World.

Those found to exercise or practice racism, if found guilty, should be punished with jail and or fines.

Motion 11 in the name of Councillor Maguire

This Council notes the huge financial impact of the cost of dealing with the Covid 19 pandemic and statements from Government ministers that they would reimburse councils for those additional costs. Additional expenditure, loss of income and the impact on the savings programme is forecast to cost us a total of £64.3m. Funding received from the Government so far does not meet those additional costs. We are now facing the further financial uncertainty of a second national lockdown.

This Council further notes that in the 10 years since 2010, funding from the Government has been cut by 60%, while demand for services has been increasing. Despite that, Enfield council had set a budget in February that was resilient and sustainable. The Council and Enfield residents should not be expected to shoulder the burden of the extra costs of dealing with Covid. A large number of our residents and businesses have been adversely affected by the lockdown and it will take them a long time to recover.

In this period of economic uncertainty, what we need is the certainty of funding from the Government on a long-term, sustainable basis so that we can plan and budget with confidence. It is alarming, therefore, to hear rumours that the comprehensive spending review later this year will just cover one year. That will only add to the uncertainty. We call on the Government, therefore, to commit to funding the costs of Covid and to delivering long-term funding stability for this and other councils.

Motion 12 in the name of Councillor Maria Alexandrou

Cervical Cancer Screening

Cervical screening is a way for women to protect themselves from cancer. The sad reality is that fewer women are now having cervical screening. Last year 1.3m women didn’t attend NHS screenings. There are 3,200 new cases of cervical cancer every year and of those 870 women die from it.

According to Cancer Research UK 99.8% of cases are preventable. When Jade Goody fought her cancer battle, nearly 80% of women went for smear tests.10 years later, only 72% of women go. If this rate falls any lower, the rise in deaths will shoot up. In the case of Jade Goody, she ignored letters about her abnormal cells. She needed to go to hospital for surgery to remove those abnormal cells, surgery which most probably would have saved her life.

Many young women in their 20s and 30s are dying from cervical cancer and the tragedy is they are leaving behind their partners and young children. We need to encourage everyone to look after their health and have regular check-ups.

Enfield Council therefore agrees to work together with other agencies for a local campaign on cervical cancer awareness and encourage women to attend that important screening test. It only takes 5 minutes at the doctor’s surgery and this test can save your life.

Motion 13 in the name of Councillor Edward Smith

This Council supports the current guidelines in the Local Plan regarding the location and appropriateness of high-rise residential development in the Borough.

Motion 14 in the name of Councillor Joanne Laban

Covid thank you

The chamber gives it heartfelt thanks to the Enfield Council staff involved in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Motion 15 in the name of Councillor Joanne Laban – Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTN)

This Council admits that the Fox Lane and Bowes Low Traffic Neighbourhood Schemes have been a mistake and acknowledges the disruption they have caused to local residents. It also recognises that the schemes have caused an increase in engine idling, pollution, congestion and division in our local community. Enfield Council agrees to follow the examples set by LB Redbridge and LB Wandsworth and remove both the Fox Lane and Bowes Low Traffic Neighbourhood Schemes.

Motion 16 in the name of Councillor Chris Dey

This Council recognises that the Mayor of London has totally mismanaged Transport for London’s finances, almost bankrupting it. We thank the Government for bailing out TFL once again. We call on the Mayor of London to get a grip of the situation putting TFL on a sustainable financial footing, reviewing revenue and increasing fares if needed each year in line with inflation.

Motion 17 in the name of Councillor Mike Rye

This Council resolves:

· To require all public firework displays within the local authority boundaries to be advertised in advance of the event, allowing residents to take precautions for their animals and vulnerable people.

· To actively promote a public awareness campaign about the impact of fireworks on animal welfare and vulnerable people – including the precautions that can be taken to mitigate risks.

· To encourage local suppliers of fireworks to stock ‘quieter’ fireworks for public display.

Minutes:

Councillor Jewell proposed and Councillor Achilleas Georgiou seconded the following motion:

During the October half term, Enfield Council has been in contact with more than 2,500 families on the free school meal lists, offering support to ensure no child went hungry.

Enfield Council believes that no child should ever go hungry whilst at school or during the holidays and we call on the government to quickly resolve to funding FSMs.

During the debate Councillor Stewart moved and Councillor Barnes seconded a motion to proceed to the next item of business.

This was agreed with the following result:

For: 45

Against: 17

Abstentions: 0

After the debate the motion was agreed with a vote with the following result:

For: 45

Against: 17

Abstentions: 0

Councillor Savva moved and Councillor Rye seconded the following motion:

Enfield condemns in the strongest possible way the unlawful killing and continued unfair treatment of Black lives. Racism has no place in Enfield or elsewhere in this Country and the World.

Those found to exercise or practice racism, if found guilty, should be punished with jail and or fines.

After the debate the motion was agreed unanimously.

Councillor Stewart moved and Councillor Caliskan seconded a motion to extend the time allowed for motions by 35 minutes.

Councillor Aramaz moved and Councillor Ergin Erbil seconded the following motion:

Councillor Aramaz then proposed an alteration to his motion to accept the amendment put forward by Councillor Rye and to replace the fourth paragraph with the following plus the additional final sentence:

Enfield Council calls upon the government to include Alevism as an independent faith option and Kurdish as an independent ethnicity option as categories on all national and local government forms. Enfield Council should also explore the possibility of including other ethnic groups as a category on Council forms.

After a debate, the motion was agreed unanimously.

Councillor Levy proposed and Councillor Barry seconded a proposal that the time allowed for motions should be extended by a further 5 minutes.

This was agreed.

Councillor Chibah proposed and Councillor Yusuf seconded the following motion:

Enfield Council notes that on 7th September 2020 Camden Council passed a motion which resolved to:

• Renew its commitment to achieving ‘Fairtrade Community’ status.

• Actively promote Fairtrade locally, through support for local groups, in the media including social media, and events, including during Fairtrade Fortnight.

• Support local Fairtrade Schools and Universities, and actively promote Fairtrade teaching materials in local schools and educational institutions.

• Celebrate businesses championing Fairtrade products in the local community.

This Council also notes that

• 2019 marked 25 years since the FAIRTRADE Mark was launched in the UK.

• Since 1994, consumer demand for fair trade has grown thanks to the efforts of grassroots campaigners and pioneering fair trade businesses.

• There are now over 600 Fairtrade Communities in the UK and more than 2,000 globally.

• As a result of Fairtrade commitments from mainstream brands and retailers, the UK Fairtrade market is now one of the biggest in the world.

This council believes that:

• Fairtrade, and the wider Fairtrade movement have a significant contribution to make towards ending exploitation in global supply chains and achieving the SDGs.

• The recently agreed International Fairtrade Charter should be welcomed, with its vision of transforming trade to work for people and planet.

• Companies operating through global supply chains should go further and take steps to require the payment of living wages and achievement of living incomes for all.

And therefore, this council resolves, as above, to:

• Renew its commitment/commit to achieve ‘Fairtrade Community’ status.

• Actively promote Fairtrade locally, through support for local groups, in the media including social media, and events, including during Fairtrade Fortnight.

• Support local Fairtrade Schools and Universities, and actively promote Fairtrade teaching materials in local schools and educational institutions.

• Celebrate businesses championing Fairtrade products in the local community.

After a debate, the motion was agreed unanimously.

The following motions lapsed under the guillotine arrangements: 1,2,3,5,7,8,11,12,13,14,15,16 and 17.

Supporting documents: