(a) Mr G. Adamson to move the following motion:-
“This Council notes and supports the campaign by Unite the Union to stamp out the deplorable practice of 'blacklisting' of individuals because of their affiliation and association to a trade union within the construction industry. Blacklisting is a national scandal and too many construction workers have had their lives ruined just because they had legitimate concerns over health and safety in one of Britain's most dangerous industries or just because they belonged to a trade union.
The Council expects our joint venture partners or any organisation or contractor working with or on behalf of the council to have a zero tolerance policy towards this practice and if applicable to be co-signatories to the Construction Industry Joint Council Working Rules Agreement which aims to ensure that this practice is not prevalent in the construction industry.
This Council will take every legitimate step necessary to ensure that the County Council never knowingly engages or contracts with a company that operates a blacklist or has been found to operate a blacklist.”
(b) Mr G. Adamson to move the following motion:-
“This council condemns the forced academisation of Norton Canes Primary School & Heath Hayes Primary School and fully supports their campaign to avoid this process.”
(c) Mr P.E.B. Atkins to move the following motion:-
“That we call upon all Staffordshire health organisations, through the work of the Health and Wellbeing Board, to join with us and all our other partners in the public, private and voluntary sectors by pooling our resources and maximising all our efforts and influence to achieve the County Council's shared vision for Staffordshire to be a place where everyone has the opportunity to prosper, be healthy and happy.”
Minutes:
(a) Motion by Mr G Adamson
Mr Adamson moved, and Ms Atkins seconded, the following motion:-
“This Council notes and supports the campaign by Unite the Union to stamp out the deplorable practice of 'blacklisting' of individuals because of their affiliation and association to a trade union within the construction industry. Blacklisting is a national scandal and too many construction workers have had their lives ruined just because they had legitimate concerns over health and safety in one of Britain's most dangerous industries or just because they belonged to a trade union.
The Council expects our joint venture partners or any organisation or contractor working with or on behalf of the council to have a zero tolerance policy towards this practice and if applicable to be co-signatories to the Construction Industry Joint Council Working Rules Agreement which aims to ensure that this practice is not prevalent in the construction industry.
This Council will take every legitimate step necessary to ensure that the County Council never knowingly engages or contracts with a company that operates a blacklist or has been found to operate a blacklist.”
Mr Adamson indicated that blacklisting was a terrible practice that went against the Government’s policy of encouraging “whistle blowing” and that the County Council needed to follow the example set by other Authorities by taking action to stamp out this illegal practice.
Ms Atkins added that the safety of their employees should be the number one priority for firms in the construction industry. She also indicated and that the practice of blacklisting employees is to be condemned and that those who stand up for the rights of others should not be victimised.
Mr Edwards moved, and Mr Francis seconded, the following amendment:-
That all the words after the words “This Council” be deleted and be replaced with the following:
“deplores illegal and unethical behaviour in any organisation and reaffirms our commitment to work with responsible and considerate partners and encourage them to affirm appropriate codes of practice.”
Several Members spoke in support of the amendment whilst others expressed their support for the original motion. Following a debate, the Chairman put the amendment to the vote. Mr Adamson asked for a named vote on the amendment to his original motion, at which point 22 Members rose in support of the request to hold a named vote.
Those voting in favour of the amendment were as follows:
|
Ben Adams Philip Atkins Len Bloomer Frank Chapman Chris Cooke Tim Corbett Mike Davies Bill Day Mark Deaville Janet Eagland Brian Edwards Terry Finn
|
John Francis Bob Fraser Michael Greatorex Gill Heath Keith James Philip Jones Mike Lawrence Ian Lawson David Loades Robert Marshall Geoffrey Martin Geoff Morrison
|
Ian Parry Kath Perry David Smith Mark Sutton Stephen Sweeney Simon Tagg Martyn Tittley Alan White Conor Wileman David Williams Mark Winnington Mike Worthington
|
The following Members voted against the amendment:
|
George Adamson Margaret Astle Charlotte Atkins Ann Beech Ron Clarke Maureen Compton Peter Davis Derek Davis
|
Carol Dean Alan Dudson Sandra Hambleton Derrick Huckfield Kevin Jackson Brian Jenkins Shelagh McKiernan Christine Mitchell
|
Mark OLszewski Sheree Peaple Trish Rowlands Jeffrey Sheriff John Taylor Diane Todd Caroline Wood Susan Woodward
|
The Chairman declared the amendment agreed by 36 votes to 24.
The Chairman adjourned the meeting until 2.00 pm.
Present at 2.00 pm
|
Ben Adams George Adamson Margaret Astle Charlotte Atkins Philip Atkins Ann Beech Len Bloomer Frank Chapman Ron Clarke Maureen Compton Chris Cooke Tim Corbett Mike Davies Peter Davies Derek Davis, OBE Carol Dean Mark Deaville Alan Dudson Janet Eagland Brian Edwards |
Terry Finn John Francis Bob Fraser Michael Greatorex Sandra Hambleton Gill Heath Derrick Huckfield Kevin Jackson Keith James Brian Jenkins Philip Jones Mike Lawrence Ian Lawson (Chairman) David Loades Robert Marshall Geoff Martin Shelagh McKiernan Christine Mitchell Geoff Morrison Mark Olszewski |
Ian Parry Sheree Peaple Kath Perry Trish Rowlands Jeff Sheriff David Smith Mark Sutton Stephen Sweeney Simon Tagg John Taylor Martyn Tittley Diane Todd Alan White Conor Wileman David Williams Mark Winnington Susan Woodward Caroline Wood Mike Worthington |
Members then debated the substantive motion that:
“This Council deplores illegal and unethical behaviour in any organisation and reaffirms our commitment to work with responsible and considerate partners and encourage them to affirm appropriate codes of practice.”
Mr Adamson moved, and Ms Atkins seconded, that:
“The motion be amended by the addition of the following sentence after the word “practice”:
“This Council will take every legitimate step necessary to ensure that the County Council never knowingly engages or contracts with a company that operates a blacklist or has been found to operate a blacklist”.”
Following a debate and a vote, the Chairman declared the amendment lost by 33 votes to 22.
Mr Atkins moved and Mr Parry seconded that:
“the substantive motion be amended by the addition of the words “including blacklisting” after the word “organisation”.”
Following a further debate and a vote, the Chairman declared the amendment carried.
RESOLVED – That this Council deplores illegal and unethical behaviour in any organization, including blacklisting, and reaffirms our commitment to work with responsible and considerate partners and encourage them to affirm appropriate codes of practice.
(b) Motion by Mr G. Adamson
Mr Adamson moved, and Ms Woodward seconded, the following motion:-
“This Council condemns the forced academisation of Norton Canes Primary School & Heath Hayes Primary School and fully supports their campaign to avoid this process.”
Mr Adamson indicated that for the forced academisation of schools did not necessarily lead to an improvement in the standard of teaching etc. He also expressed the concern that Interim Executive Boards had been given a remit by Government to push through academisation rather than to examine other available options and that, often, the Boards did not include representatives of local people. Mr Adamson added that when a school was experiencing difficulties, it did not need the added distraction of forced academisation.
Several Members spoke about all young people’s right to a quality education and the roles that schools played in their local community. Members also discussed other ways of helping “failing” schools such as through the creation of a foundation with other local schools.
In response, Mr Adams indicated that he would prefer it if the Government did not have to take these steps but that, in the case of these two schools, Ofsted had judged some time ago that they were failing and, subsequently, that the proposed pace detailed in the improvement plans was not satisfactory. It was therefore important to avoid any further delay and to take action to improve the schools.
Members also discussed the role of the County Council in providing support to schools.
Following a vote via a show of hands, the Chairman declared the motion lost.
RESOLVED – That the motion submitted by Mr Adamson be not supported.
(c) Motion by Mr P. Atkins
Mr Atkins moved and Mr Marshall seconded, the following motion:-
“That we call upon all Staffordshire health organisations, through the work of the Health and Wellbeing Board, to join with us and all our other partners in the public, private and voluntary sectors by pooling our resources and maximising all our efforts and influence to achieve the County Council's shared vision for Staffordshire to be a place where everyone has the opportunity to prosper, be healthy and happy.”
Mr Taylor moved and Ms Peaple seconded that the motion be amended so that the last line reads as follows: “... healthy, happy and well cared for.”
Following a debate and a vote, the Chairman declared the amendment carried.
RESOLVED – That That we call upon all Staffordshire health organisations, through the work of the Health and Wellbeing Board, to join with us and all our other partners in the public, private and voluntary sectors by pooling our resources and maximising all our efforts and influence to achieve the County Council's shared vision for Staffordshire to be a place where everyone has the opportunity to prosper, be healthy, happy and well cared for.