To debate a motion which has been submitted with advance notice, in accordance with the constitution.
Oxfordshire County Council consultation on the options for the future of the Children’s Centres and Early Intervention Service
This Council notes the public consultation launched by the County Council on options for the future of the Children’s Centres and Early Intervention Service with the aim of cutting the budget by a staggering £8m.
This Council states that these cuts are ideologically motivated as an attack on public services pursued by the government and by its forerunners in the Coalition. Having imposed reductions in local government funding which has led to atrocious cutbacks in these services, and also in youth services, services for those with learning disabilities, support for the homeless, and cuts in adult social care; these cutbacks represent a comprehensive assault on the most vulnerable in our society.
This Council finds the proposals to close all 44 children’s centres entirely unacceptable and asks the Leader to inform the County Council that this would have very serious impacts indeed, not only on the most vulnerable, but on all the users of the centres who find their support invaluable as well as on wider society within Cherwell District and beyond.
While this Council acknowledges the appalling cuts in local government funding, it asks that proper consultation with the centres and the public is done to develop alternative ways to achieve the savings without taking away what is for many a lifeline.
It therefore asks the Leader to respond in the strongest terms to the County’s consultation imploring the County Council to save as many of the vital services in children’s centres as it can, and also asking the Leader to consider any ways in which this authority (although it is also subject to similar government cutbacks) might support the retention of any services.
Proposer: Councillor Sean Woodcock
Decision:
Resolved
(1) That the following motion be adopted:
This Council notes the public consultation launched by the County Council on the options for the future of the childrens centres and Early Intervention Service. This Council looks to respond to the consultation after receiving officer advice. This Council believes that improving the outcomes for Cherwell children can form the basis of an innovative response.
Minutes:
a) Oxfordshire County Council consultation on the options for the future of the Children’s Centres and Early Intervention Service
Prior to consideration of the motion, Jill Huish, Joanna Lovell and Amy Herbert addressed the Council.
It was moved by Councillor Woodcock, and seconded by Councillor Dhesi that the following motion be adopted:
“This Council notes the public consultation launched by the County Council on options for the future of the Children’s Centres and Early Intervention Service with the aim of cutting the budget by a staggering £8m.
This Council states that these cuts are ideologically motivated as an attack on public services pursued by the government and by its forerunners in the Coalition. Having imposed reductions in local government funding which has led to atrocious cutbacks in these services, and also in youth services, services for those with learning disabilities, support for the homeless, and cuts in adult social care; these cutbacks represent a comprehensive assault on the most vulnerable in our society.
This Council finds the proposals to close all 44 children’s centres entirely unacceptable and asks the Leader to inform the County Council that this would have very serious impacts indeed, not only on the most vulnerable, but on all the users of the centres who find their support invaluable as well as on wider society within Cherwell District and beyond.
While this Council acknowledges the appalling cuts in local government funding, it asks that proper consultation with the centres and the public is done to develop alternative ways to achieve the savings without taking away what is for many a lifeline.
It therefore asks the Leader to respond in the strongest terms to the County’s consultation imploring the County Council to save as many of the vital services in children’s centres as it can, and also asking the Leader to consider any ways in which this authority (although it is also subject to similar government cutbacks) might support the retention of any services.”
Councillor Wood proposed the following amendment to the motion, which was duly seconded by Councillor Reynolds:
“This Council notes the public consultation launched by the County Council on the options for the future of the children’s centres and Early Intervention Service. This Council looks to respond to the consultation after receiving Officer advice. This Council believes that improving the outcomes for Cherwell children can form the basis of an innovative response.”
Councillor Richards raised a point of order seeking to challenge the legitimacy of the amendment. With the leave of the meeting the Head of Law and Governance advised members that he did not consider that the amendment negated the original motion and that accordingly it was legitimate.
The motion, as amended, was debated and subsequently put to the vote. In accordance with the request that had been moved and seconded for a recorded vote, this was duly taken. Members voted as follows:
Councillor Chris Heath - For
Councillor Ken Atack – For
Councillor Andrew Beere – Against
Councillor Maurice Billington – For
Councillor Norman Bolster – For
Councillor Mark Cherry – Against
Councillor Colin Clarke - For
Councillor Ian Corkin - For
Councillor Surinder Dhesi – Against
Councillor John Donaldson – For
Councillor Michael Gibbard – For
Councillor Tim Hallchurch MBE – For
Councillor Simon Holland – For
Councillor David Hughes – For
Councillor Shaida Hussain – Against
Councillor Tony Ilott – For
Councillor Ray Jelf – For
Councillor James Macnamara – For
Councillor Kieron Mallon – For
Councillor Nicholas Mawer – For
Councillor Alistair Milne Home - For
Councillor Nigel Morris – For
Councillor Richard Mould - For
Councillor James Porter – For
Councillor Lynn Pratt – For
Councillor Neil Prestidge - For
Councillor Nigel Randall – For
Councillor G A Reynolds – For
Councillor Sandra Rhodes - For
Councillor Barry Richards - Against
Councillor Daniel Sames – For
Councillor Les Sibley – For
Councillor Lawrie Stratford – Abstain
Councillor Rose Stratford – For
Councillor Lynda Thirzie Smart – For
Councillor Bryn Williams - For
Councillor Barry Wood – For
Councillor Sean Woodcock – Against
The amendment was therefore adopted, becoming the substantive motion.
The substantive motion, was debated and subsequently put to the vote. In accordance with the request that had been moved and seconded for a recorded vote, this was duly taken. Members voted as follows:
Councillor Chris Heath - For
Councillor Ken Atack – For
Councillor Andrew Beere – For
Councillor Maurice Billington – For
Councillor Norman Bolster – For
Councillor Mark Cherry – For
Councillor Colin Clarke - For
Councillor Ian Corkin - For
Councillor Surinder Dhesi – For
Councillor John Donaldson – For
Councillor Michael Gibbard – For
Councillor Tim Hallchurch MBE – For
Councillor Simon Holland – For
Councillor David Hughes – For
Councillor Shaida Hussain – For
Councillor Tony Ilott – For
Councillor Ray Jelf – For
Councillor James Macnamara – For
Councillor Kieron Mallon – For
Councillor Nicholas Mawer – For
Councillor Alistair Milne Home - For
Councillor Nigel Morris – For
Councillor Richard Mould - For
Councillor James Porter – For
Councillor Lynn Pratt – For
Councillor Neil Prestidge - For
Councillor Nigel Randall – For
Councillor G A Reynolds – For
Councillor Sandra Rhodes - For
Councillor Barry Richards - For
Councillor Daniel Sames – For
Councillor Les Sibley – For
Councillor Lawrie Stratford – Abstain
Councillor Rose Stratford – For
Councillor Lynda Thirzie Smart – For
Councillor Bryn Williams - For
Councillor Barry Wood – For
Councillor Sean Woodcock – For
Resolved
That the following motion be adopted:
This Council notes the public consultation launched by the County Council on the options for the future of the children’s centres and Early Intervention Service. This Council looks to respond to the consultation after receiving Officer advice. This Council believes that improving the outcomes for Cherwell children can form the basis of an innovative response.
(Having declared a disclosable pecuniary interest, Councillor Bell left the meeting for the duration of this item)