Agenda item

To receive the report of the Head of Legal and Democratic Services on any Notices of Motion received by him (Lilac pages).  Councillors are asked to note that any Notices of Motion must be received by the Head of Legal and Democratic Services no later than noon on Thursday, 8 September 2016.

In view of the public interest in this item the Chairman agreed to take Notice of Motion 2 first.

The Council had before it a Notice of Motion standing in the names of Mr P M McDonald, Ms P A Hill, Mr P Denham, Mr C J Bloore, Mr L C R Mallett, Ms P Agar, Mr G J Vickery, Mr A Fry and Mr R M Udall.

The Notice of Motion was moved by Mr P M McDonald and seconded by Mr P Denham who both spoke in favour of it.

The Council then agreed to consider and deal with the Motion on the day.

A debate ensued during which the following principal points were made.  Those speaking in favour of the Motion:

·           the whole consultation process had been opaque and not open as it should have been.  Both consultations had been inadequate and had not set out the shape and scope of future service provision

·           Children's Centres were part of a wider framework of community services and community-based services, and if the Council were really serious about its commitment to the "Children and Families" priority in its Corporate Plan, its role as corporate parent and outcomes for children, the present proposals were short-sighted and very damaging and should be deferred

·           the proposals would create a fragmented service and put service provision back decades

·           it was inappropriate to suggest volunteers, however, well-meaning and well trained, could fulfil adequately what dedicated professionals had offered to service users through Children's Centres

·           there was much evidence to suggest outcomes for children were largely dictated and established in the first two years of life – these proposals ran counter to that evidence

·           if the proposals were deferred for 12 months realistic alternatives could be worked up and the Scrutiny process could ensure transparency and openness

·           the Council would be doing a great disservice to users of Children's Centres if it did not listen to their concerns and anxieties.

Those speaking against the Motion:

·           did not accept the assertions that the consultation had not been open and transparent.  There had been extensive debate at Cabinet, OSPB and the Children and Young People's Panel.  In addition there had been media briefings

·           Children's Centres were not being closed and the services provided were not essentially buildings-based.  It was inaccurate to say that services would become a "postcode lottery" – some areas had never had access to Children's Centres and it was suggested that not all improvement to outcomes for children was down to Children's Centres

·           the proposals were a sensible and proportionate response to the climate the Council now had to operate in; opposition to the proposals had been much exaggerated and some politicians were using it for their own ends

·           despite claims that alternative funding could be identified, those opposing what the Council were trying to do had not offered any credible alternatives despite opportunities during the consultation process for doing so

·           elected members were charged with making difficult decisions in a difficult environment and to defer this particular decision would not help and would only cause more stress and anxiety.

On a named vote the Motion was lost.

Those voting in favour were:

Ms P Agar, Mrs S Askin, Mr J Baker, Mr C J Bloore, Mr P J Bridle, Mr S C Cross, Mr P Denham, Mr A Fry, Ms P A Hill, Mr M E Jenkins, Ms R E Jenkins, Mr R C Lunn, Mr P M McDonald, Mrs F M Oborski, Prof J W Raine, Mrs E B Tucker, Mr R M Udall, Mr G J Vickery, Mr T A L Wells and Mr G C Yarranton (20).

Those voting against were:  Mr A P Miller, Mr A A J Adams, Mr R C Adams, Mr A T Amos, Mr R W Banks, Mr M L Bayliss, Mr A N Blagg, Mrs S L Blagg, Mr J P Campion, Mr S J M Clee, Mrs P E Davey, Mr N Desmond, Mrs L R Duffy, Mr S E Geraghty, Mrs J M L A Griffiths, Mr P Grove, Mr A I Hardman, Mr M J Hart, Mrs A T Hingley, Mrs L C Hodgson, Mr C G Holt, Mr I Hopwood, Mr A A Muir, Dr K A Pollock, Mr D W Prodger, Mr A C Roberts, Mr J H Smith, Mr C B Taylor, Mr R P Tomlinson and Mr P A Tuthill (30).

Mr S R Peters and Mr J W R Thomas abstained (2).