Agenda item

To consider the following motions which have been submitted in accordance with Procedure Rule 12.1.

9          LANCASHIRE COMBINED FIRE AND RESCUE AUTHORITY 

Motion:   Having submitted notice, Councillor T Williams proposed (and Councillor Jackson seconded):

‘Lancashire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority remains committed to delivering the best possible service to its communities, with the resources it has available.  It continues to work productively and effectively with a range of stakeholders.  The new statutory duty to collaborate with other emergency services is also acknowledged, while recognising many initiatives were already in place or in development irrespective of this mandate.

The Fire and Rescue Authority remains confident that current governance arrangements present the best way to deliver a fire and rescue service for its communities.  It will though provide the information required for the work proposed by the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), which it believes will evidence that it is already effectively progressing collaborative opportunities within existing structures.

Consequently, this Council places on record its opposition to any proposals that transfer any current responsibilities of the Fire and Rescue Authority in Lancashire to the Police and Crime Commissioner.

Blackpool Council therefore asks the Chief Executive to write to the Police and Crime Commissioner and the Home Secretary explaining this view, sending copies to all Lancashire Members of Parliament.’

Members went on to debate the motion.

Motion carried:  The motion was submitted to the Council and carried.

10        LEARNING DISABILITIES

Motion:   Having submitted notice, Councillor Collett proposed (and Councillor Ryan seconded):

‘Blackpool is home to a number of exceptional schools, services and groups dedicated to the inclusion and support of residents with a learning disability, who are a treasured part of our town and our communities.

This Council notes that due to health inequalities, gaps in care and poor specialist health provision, people with learning disabilities are at significantly higher risk of dying avoidable deaths, both in hospital and at home.  Both the LeDer and Mencap’s “Treat Me Well” reports have set out what ought to be done about this national scandal, yet little progress has been made in the past decade.

This Council therefore instructs the Chief Executive to write to both the Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to outline the Council’s position and to urge meaningful action on the following points:

·         The introduction of basic mandatory training for all hospital staff and social workers, regarding the care for people with learning disabilities.

·         An urgent and comprehensive review of NHS resources, training and recruitment, and provision of specialist nurses, doctors and associated health professionals with a detailed knowledge of the needs of patients with learning disabilities.

·         A detailed review of NHS policy and process in relation to the identification and tracking of people with learning disabilities and the systems used to make reasonable adjustments for them, such as access to in-patient specialist services, accessible verbal and written communication and longer appointment times.

·         The creation of a ministerial role for learning disabilities in Health and Social Care.’

Members went on to debate the motion.

Motion carried:  The motion was submitted to the Council and carried.

11        REINSTATEMENT OF THROUGH TRAINS

Motion:   Having submitted notice, Councillor O’Hara proposed (and Councillor Mitchell seconded):

‘This Council instructs the Chief Executive to write to the Chairman of Transport for the North, Sir John Cridland and the Secretary Of State for Transport, insisting that “THROUGH” trains to and from Blackpool, connecting the resort with East Lancashire and West Yorkshire, are reinstated as soon as possible.

Visitors from these areas have for over a century, been the mainstay of inbound tourism. Many people who use the train to come to Blackpool have no alternative means of transport, many are elderly or suffer from disabilities - requiring them to change trains, often at stations which may be legally compliant, but hardly disabled friendly, is an intolerable situation.’

Members went on to debate the motion.

Motion carried:  The motion was submitted to the Council and carried.

12        SINGLE USE PLASTICS

Motion:   Having submitted notice, Councillor Humphreys proposed (and Councillor Critchley seconded):

‘This Council supports Surfers Against Sewage “Plastics Free Coastlines” movement, committing to plastic free alternatives and supporting plastic free initiatives within Lancashire.

The Council commits to lead by example to remove single-use plastic items from its premises.  It must also encourage plastic free initiatives, promoting the campaign and supporting its events.

A representative of this Council, appointed by the Leader, will volunteer to become a member of the Surfers Against Sewage “Plastic Free Coastlines” Steering group, in order to support them in developing a local action plan.

Blackpool Council therefore commits to eliminating, wherever practically possible, its use of single use plastics by May 2020 and to work with our wholly owned companies to the same end.’

Members went on to debate the motion.

Motion carried:  The motion was submitted to the Council and carried.

13        SAVE CREATIVE ARTS GCSE SUBJECTS IN BLACKPOOL

Motion:   Having submitted notice, Councillor L Taylor proposed (and Councillor Ryan seconded):

‘Since the announcement of the English Baccalaureate, Blackpool secondary schools are having to prioritise subjects within the EBacc as the Government has said that schools’ performance will be measured on the success rate of pupils studying these qualifications. The Government expects 90% of all secondary school pupils to be choosing this combination by 2025.

Subjects within the new qualification are English language and literature, maths, the sciences, geography or history and a language.  This does not leave much room for creative subjects such as art, dance, drama and music.

With the increased emphasis on core academic subjects, together with funding pressures, resources for creative subjects are being cut back. 

The Council is therefore asked:

·         To support teachers and parents who want young people to study arts in Blackpool secondary schools.

·         To support that further work be carried out with Blackpool secondary schools and the Council looking at ways to work together to ensure Blackpool’s creative talent is not lost at secondary school, providing a dedicated resource looking at funding opportunities and ways to support creative subjects at GCSE level.

·         To assess the feasibility of an arts-based secondary school in Blackpool.

·         That the Chief Executive writes to the Secretary of state for Education on the Council’s behalf to ask if Blackpool secondary school students can choose a creative arts subject as part of their EBacc.’

Members went on to debate the motion.

Motion carried:  The motion was submitted to the Council and carried.

14        THE RAIL NETWORK AND ITS IMPACT ON BLACKPOOL’S ECONOMY

Motion:   Having submitted notice, Councillor Collett proposed (and Councillor Hutton seconded):

‘This Council deplores the current chaotic state and catastrophic decline in performance of our rail network and its impact on Blackpool’s economy, as well as the human and financial costs to our residents and local business.

This Council therefore requests its Chief Executive to write the Secretary of State for Transport to outline this situation and to support the Leader of the Council’s call (made in his role as a Director of Transport for the North) for a compensation scheme for Blackpool businesses to be rapidly developed, alongside a “disaster recovery” marketing scheme for the Fylde Coast, both to be funded jointly by Northern and Network Rail.’

Members went on to debate the motion.

Motion carried:  The motion was submitted to the Council and carried.