Agenda item

Report of the County Solicitor (CSO/18/21) on the Notices of Motion referred to the Cabinet by the County Council on 24 May 2018, incorporating relevant briefing notes to facilitate the Cabinet’s discussion of the matters raised.

 

(a)        Traffic on A35 at Wilmington

(b)        Gender Pay Gap in Devon

(c)        Adult Social Care Sector - Workforce Issues

(d)        Grammar Schools and Additional Funding

(e)        Customs Union and Sarah Wollaston MP Campaign

(f)         Stagecoach Southwest and Increased Fares

(a) Traffic on A35 at Wilmington

 

Councillor Shaw attended in accordance with Standing Order 8 and Councillors Connett, Dewhirst and Hannaford attended in accordance with Standing Order 25(2) and spoke to this item).

 

The County Council expresses its concern about the effects of heavy traffic on the A35 on the people of Wilmington, East Devon, and other communities along the route. The Council notes that Highways England commissioned a report which recommended remedial measures for Wilmington, including two pedestrian crossings, which was published in April 2015, but three years later no decisions have been made to introduce any of these measures. The Council urges Highways England to give greater priority to improvements in Wilmington as a matter of urgency.

 

The Mover of the Notice of Motion (wording of Motion outlined above) had sought the Cabinet’s support for the course of action originally suggested and raised further concerns over the proposals being still awaited from Highways England. Members considered the Officer’s factual briefing note on the matter and their support for the recommendation now before the Cabinet, representations previously made and to actions now proposed or already undertaken and any other relevant factors (e.g. public health, financial, environmental, risk management and equality and legal considerations and Public Health impact):

 

It was MOVED by Councillor Hughes, SECONDED by Councillor Hart, and

 

RESOLVED that the County Council engages as a consultee with Highways England on their proposals for the A35 route corridor, and requests that the proposals are brought forward and implemented as soon as practicable.

 

(b) Gender Pay Gap in Devon

 

Councillor Atkinson attended in accordance with Standing Order 8 and Councillors Connett, Dewhirst, Hannaford and Shaw attended in accordance with Standing Order 25(2) and spoke to this item).

 

This Council is concerned about the gender pay gap in Devon (details available from the ONS gender pay gap website.) and understands that it needs to carry out further research into what is causing it and what needs to be done to address it for instance is it as a result of the concentration of women in occupations with lower hourly pay and/or part-time work. the so-called “glass ceilings”, fundamental stereotyping in gender roles in our societies from birth that lead to gendered economic roles and outcomes.

 

In view of cross party concern not only about gender pay gap but ethnicity and disability pay gaps this Council should review the ECHR report and recommendations set out in ‘Fair opportunities for all – A strategy to reduce pay gaps in Britain’ and other recent and planned reports and develop an action plan for Devon

 

Further the Council recognises that addressing these pay gaps is a fundamental part of improving productivity and economic outcomes for all and will ensure that this issue and research is included in the work of the Heart of the South West Joint Committee.

 

The Mover of the Notice of Motion (wording of Motion outlined above) had sought the Cabinet’s support for the course of action originally proposed and raised further concerns over the importance of a regional approach to consider and tackle the issue. Members considered the relevant Officer’s factual briefing note on the matter and their support for the recommendation now before the Cabinet, representations made by the Corporate Infrastructure and Regulatory Services Scrutiny Committee and to actions now proposed or already undertaken and any other relevant factors (e.g. public health, financial, environmental, risk management and equality and legal considerations and Public Health impact):

 

It was MOVED by Councillor Parsons, SECONDED by Councillor Hart, and

 

RESOLVED that the Council welcomes the Motion and is currently preparing an action plan for the Council to ensure improvements are made.  The Council further notes the recommendations for the Public Sector in the ECHR report and will be mindful of these when preparing the Council's Action Plan.   The Corporate Infrastructure and Regulatory Services Scrutiny Committee considered the issue on 12 June 2018 and resolved; ‘that the Committee welcome the commitment of officers to undertake further research and analysis on the gender pay gap, in order to formulate an action plan, which will report back to the Committee in due course’. The Council fully endorses this approach and, additionally, will ask the new Joint Scrutiny Committee with responsibility for scrutinising the LEP, when established, to consider this matter as part of its work programme.

 

(c) Adult Social Care Sector - Workforce Issues

 

Councillor Atkinson attended in accordance with Standing Order 8 and Councillors Connett, Dewhirst, Hannaford and Shaw attended in accordance with Standing Order 25(2) and spoke to this item).

 

This Council supports the findings of the Public Accounts Committee whose report of 9th May concluded:

 

The adult social care sector is underfunded, with the care workforce suffering from low pay, low esteem and high turnover of staff. The care sector is in a precarious state but the Department of Health and Social Care (the Department) has not yet said how it intends to put in place a long-term, sustainable funding regime to meet the ever-increasing demand for care. The Department does not know whether the ways that local authority’s commission care, and the prices they pay providers, are contributing to the problems within the care workforce. We are not convinced that the lack of regulation within the care sector workforce and the balance of regulation versus a market-based approach, is supporting the care sector to provide the best care possible. The UK’s departure from the EU is causing uncertainty over how the workforce will be sustained, particularly in areas that are more reliant on non-UK workers. There is an urgent need to reverse the poor public image that care work must boost recruitment and retention across the care sector. We are also concerned that the move to supporting people with substantive and critical care needs only is contributing to growing levels of unmet need for people with moderate care needs. These moderate needs may well grow into substantial or critical needs if support is not given. The Department has committed to addressing all these issues through the health and care workforce strategy that it is currently consulting on, and the promised Green Paper on funding of care for older adults. But given the pressures on the sector, we are concerned that the Department sees the Green Paper as a cure all and underestimates the scale of the challenge. The Department must ensure that its delivery partner, Skills for Care, is properly supported and funded to implement the workforce strategy.

 

And resolves to write to all Devon M.P’s to support cross party working to solve the crisis in social care health and care workforce and funding

 

The Mover of the Notice of Motion (wording of Motion outlined above) had sought the Cabinet’s support for the course of action originally proposed and mentioned the importance of the Carer role including raising the profile of the profession. Members considered the relevant Officer’s factual briefing note on the matter and their support for the recommendation now before the Cabinet, representations previously made and to actions now proposed or already undertaken and any other relevant factors (e.g. public health, financial, environmental, risk management and equality and legal considerations and Public Health impact):

 

It was MOVED by Councillor Leadbetter, SECONDED by Councillor Hart, and

 

RESOLVED that the Cabinet Member with responsibility for Adult Social Care and Health Services raises issue of cross party working in his regular sessions with individual Devon MPs.

 

(d) Grammar Schools and Additional Funding

 

Councillor Greenslade attended in accordance with Standing Order 8 and Councillors Connett, Dewhirst, Hannaford and Shaw attended in accordance with Standing Order 25(2) and spoke to this item).

 

                  County Council expresses its concern at the Government’s announcement of an extra £50 million to allow existing Grammar Schools to extend their premises and take on more pupils while Devon Schools remain significantly underfunded compared to the national average.

 

                  Accordingly, the County Council writes to all Devon MP’s asking them to oppose this proposal in favour of providing more funding to Devon Schools.

 

The Mover of the Notice of Motion (wording of Motion outlined above) had sought the Cabinet’s support for the course of action originally proposed and raised further concerns over the current position of funding for Devon’s schools. Members considered the relevant Officer’s factual briefing note on the matter and their support for the recommendation now before the Cabinet, representations previously made and to actions now proposed or already undertaken and any other relevant factors (e.g. public health, financial, environmental, risk management and equality and legal considerations and Public Health impact):

 

It was MOVED by Councillor McInnes, SECONDED by Councillor Hart, and

 

RESOLVED that Council be advised that Devon only has one Grammar School and the measurable effect of this announcement on the school population of Devon is negligible. Therefore, Cabinet recommends no further action on the Notice of Motion.

 

(e) Customs Union and Sarah Wollaston MP Campaign

 

Councillors Connett, Hannaford and Shaw attended in accordance with Standing Order 25(2) and spoke to this item).

 

County Council supports the UK remaining in the Customs Union and welcomes and congratulates Sarah Wollaston MP on the strength and clarity of her campaigning in support of the UK remaining in the Customs Union.

 

Therefore, County Council recommends all Devon MP’s support Dr Wollaston position.

 

Councillor Connett spoke on behalf of the mover of the Notice of Motion (wording of Motion outlined above).  Members considered the relevant Officer’s factual briefing note on the matter and their support for the recommendation now before the Cabinet, representations previously made and to actions now proposed or already undertaken and any other relevant factors (e.g. public health, financial, environmental, risk management and equality and legal considerations and Public Health impact):

 

It was MOVED by Councillor Gilbert, SECONDED by Councillor Hart, and

 

RESOLVED that Council be advised that now would not be an appropriate time to take a Brexit position on the opinions of any of our MP’s, therefore Cabinet recommends no further action on the Notice of Motion.

 

(f) Stagecoach Southwest and Increased Fares

 

Councillor Brennan attended in accordance with Standing Order 8 and Councillors Hannaford, Connett and Shaw attended in accordance with Standing Order 25(2) and spoke to this item).

 

‘This Council condemns the decision by Stagecoach Southwest to remove the £1 child add-on fares, replacing them with child single or dayrider tickets.

 

In Exeter, this decision has resulted in a 200% increase in fares for children aged 5-15 who are travelling with an adult. Before 29th April 2018, a parent and child could travel together all day for £4.90, but this has now increased to £7 (£4 for an adult dayrider plus £3 for a child dayrider) – a total increase of £2.10, or 43%. Similarly, an adult travelling with two children could previously travel all day for £5.90, but this now requires a group dayrider of £8 – again, an increase of £2.10. Similar significant increases have also taken place across Devon.

 

This action by Stagecoach hits the poorest families hardest, including single parent families and those unable to afford a car. As the majority of single parents are women, and most adults travelling alone with children are likely to be women, the action disproportionately impacts women more than men.

 

This action also undermines Stagecoach’s supposed commitment to working with Devon County Council to reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality, pushing higher numbers of families into cars for city journeys as it may be cheaper, and therefore also increasing Devon’s contribution to climate change. Furthermore, Devon County Council’s work to increase the take up of sustainable methods of transport to school, and to increase safety around schools by reducing vehicle numbers, is also largely undermined and threatened by this move.

 

Additionally, there is a negative economic impact towards businesses in central areas, as more people choose to take their cars to out-of-town shopping areas, further depleting our high streets and lessening the viability of independent businesses.

 

This change took place without informing or consulting with councillors or passengers. A petition has been handed to Stagecoach Southwest regarding the increase in Exeter. It contains over 1700 signatures from concerned families and other residents, and calls upon Stagecoach Southwest ‘to consider their social and environmental responsibilities, to reverse this decision, and to retain the £1 child add-on tickets’.

 

In accordance with what thousands of concerned families are telling us, this Council resolves to put pressure on Stagecoach Southwest to reverse their recent decision, and to bring back the £1 child add-on fares with immediate effect.’

 

The Mover of the Notice of Motion (wording of Motion outlined above) had sought the Cabinet’s support for the course of action originally proposed and raised further concerns over the increase of the fares and the impact on families, also mentioning that a meeting with Stagecoach was taking place on 14 June 2018. Members considered the relevant Officer’s factual briefing note on the matter and their support for the recommendation now before the Cabinet, representations previously made and to actions now proposed or already undertaken and any other relevant factors (e.g. public health, financial, environmental, risk management and equality and legal considerations and Public Health impact):

 

It was MOVED by Councillor Hughes, SECONDED by Councillor Hart, and

 

RESOLVED that Council be advised Cabinet recognises the pressure Stagecoach is under in running commercial services, however, it is concerned regarding the change in provision for child fares within Exeter and will continue to work with Stagecoach to achieve the best possible service for all passengers.