NF targeting Bradford

National Front says it's planning to march in Bradford. This may be an attempt to reclaim the ground from the EDL but cannot be dismissed as just a publicity stunt.

We Are Bradford has been very quiet since we saw off the EDL thugs last year - many of WAB activists are now active in the anti-cuts campaign - but the fascists won't go away.

We can expect even more thuggery as the cuts begin to hit the working class.

Points from Chris Howson for People's Coalition Conference, today (Sat Jan 22)

Chris is not well and won't be at today's conference, but he has submitted the following items for discussion:

1) Cuts & recession = Debts. 12.30-1.30 Thurs 3rd Feb, Impressions Gallery, is a lunchtime event with Alan Thorton from 'Debt on the Doorstep/Church Action on Poverty' and Karen from Bradford Met Credit Union. Come and share your experiences and views on Debt in Bradford. Members of the coalition very welcome (we'll probably hand a letter over to the Provident across the road - asking for a cap on interest rates for the doorstep loans that built their new offices)  

 

2) Jan 30th UKuncut are focusing on Boots, holding clinic and hospital themed demo's inside and outside their stores - if anyone had any props (hospital beds/bandages etc) and ideas that could help show the link between tax avoidance and the cost to the NHS - that would be great.

 

3) A day of action, perhaps focusing on the Barclays and/or Topshop/Arcadia is still planned for the 12th Feb, (maybe with a valentines day theme - with drums) thoughts/ideas welcome. For these events, someone who can effectively 'tweet' would be helpful.

What Chris doesn't say is that his book, A Just Church, is being launched at Waterstones on March 1, 5pm at University bookshop, 6pm at the Wool Exchange Branch. Be there!

A thought from 1994

"From that moment on, I was no longer a liberal, a believer in the self-correcting character of American democracy. I was a radical, believing that something fundamental was wrong in this country - not just the existence of poverty amidst great wealth, not just the horrible treatment of black people, but something rotten at the root. The situation required not just a new president or new laws, but an uprooting of the old order, the introduction of a new kind of society - cooperative, peaceful, egalitarian."

-Howard Zinn, from his 1994 memoir, "You Can't Be Neutral on a Moving Train"

------------------

I'm using Opera Unite to post audio of my songs, poems, interviews etc on the web. With all the recordings I've done over the past half century or so, it's a lot of sorting out to do, but check out this link to lend an ear to this work in progress. The page opens with some miscellaneous items, followed by a series of folders which you can use for navigating through the clips.

Go well.

Karl Dallas

Please get posting

Thanks to all those who have posted. But we need more contributions. What do you know that they're trying to cover up? Blow the whistle!

Executive members

Members of the Executive, which will consider the People's Coalition petition on Feb 11 are as follows:

Cllr Ian Greenwood (Chair) (01274 432084, ian.greenwood@bradford.gov.uk)

Cllr Ralph Berry (01274 770869, mobile 07976 382993, ralph.berry@bradford.gov.uk)

Cllr Paul Flowers (01274 575477, paul.flowers@bradford.gov.uk)

Cllr David Green (01274 773661, mobile 07876 038279, david.green@bradford.gov.uk)

Cllr Amir Hussain (01274 483778, mobile 07958 551756, amir.hussain@bradford.gov.uk)

Cllr Imran Hussain (01274 432085, mobile 07765 220894, cllr.imranhussain@bradford.gov.uk)

Cllr Ghanzanfer Khaliq (01274 660459, mobile 07889 967647, ghazanfer.khaliq@bradford.gov.uk)

Cuts Cafe in Leeds opening soon

Cuts cafe is going to be an occupied space in the city centre that we’ll put to use with workshops, talks, art spaces, actions and entertainment. It’ll be open all week with tea and a space to chill as well as ongoing activites to engage with to help us explore the way the cuts are affecting Leeds, how we use public services and what the government spends our money on.

There will be a timetable of events published nearer the time which will include talks about the NHS, housing in Leeds, education and benefits, discussions on how we can learn from past and present resistance movements, a film night, games night, live music and a poetry slam. There will also be spaces to talk about how to organise collectively in Leeds.

Words sharp as razors comin’ at ya like David Cameron’s favourite pair of scissors…

Slam the Cuts Open Poetry Slam

2nd February, Cuts Cafe, Central Leeds
6.30 Food, 7.30 start

Guests include:

Pete the Temp

Susie Showers

Reclairethestreets

Danny Chivers

A poetry slam is a live poetry competition where random members of the audience are made judges giving scores to a series of 3 minute spoken word perfomances.

Sign up to take part in the slam on the door!

The Cuts Cafe is a week long occupation with music, art, films, discussion and workshops against cuts and privatisation

www.cutscafeleeds.wordpress.com

Watch out for cuppa VAT rises

VAT went up to 20 per cent accompanied by rises all round. They should be going up by roughly 2.1p in  the pound, so a formerly £1 cuppa should now be no more than £1.05, say. According to a BBC presenter, prices in the Corporation's own canteen have risen by 25 per cent for a cup of tea and 7.1 per cent for a bag of chips.
Please let us know of the most outrageous price rises, and not only for cafes either.

Plans to reopen mothballed Little Horton school dealt a severe blow (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Plans to reopen mothballed Little Horton school dealt a severe blow (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus):

According to the report, "lead ha[s] been ripped from the building, pipes and roof slates ha[ve] been stolen and there was evidence that the outdoor toilets were being used for 'inappropriate liaisons'".

Of course, the report hints at the usual suspects. But why was this quite serviceable building mothballed in the first place.

Council leader, Ian Greenwood, who's the chair of governors for the school, has some questions to answer.

It’s not a hippy peacenik thang, it’s a rock hard revolutionary thang

A useful guide for how to behave during demonstrations can be viewed at http://libcom.org/organise/demonstrations/articles/guide-public-order-situations.php. Among the useful advice, we read:

• Don’t be tempted to stand around and fight – get to where you can cause disruption without the police around.
• Keep moving, as a group and individually. Fill gaps. Never stand still – chaos puts the police off.
• Nip police attempts to form lines or divide the crowd in the bud.
• Don’t be intimidated.
• Do everything in small teams, prepare in advance.
• Think defensively. Protect each other and escape routes.
• Always face outwards, ie. away from us and towards them.
• Link arms as often as possible, form barriers, use your body.
• Move quickly and calmly, never giving the police time to react.

Related articles

• Letters: The right to protest and police tactics (guardian.co.uk)

Bradford's National Media Museum is the jewel in  the crown of the city's culture, and the regular Tuesday and Thursday morning pensioners' film shows are one of the museum's most successful events.
Instituted by Christine Schofield when she worked for the nearby (and sadly neglected) Odeon, they have been widely copied, though never so successfully.
One of the innovative aspects of the shows has been the informal discussions after the Thursday showings, which the museum has facilitated with free coffee for all participants.
However, NMM is of course a branch of the Science Museum in London, and thus at risk from the Government's cuts. Hitherto, the pensioners' discussions have been facilitated by a member of staff, but someone has decided they can't afford this, so volunteers are being called for.
No probs, so far. Often, when the discussion has not been announced before the film show, members have gathered for a chat anyway, coffee or no coffee. The sort of people who attend are well able to handle themselves in this sort of discussion.
But, being part of what is effectively a Government department, nothing is ever as simple as that. Here's an extract from the official call for volunteers.

Volunteers should be able to research information to assist with the facilitation of the film discussion, keep the group focused and ensure group participation.

Recruit new people to join in the film discussion group, and promote film related events.

Requirements for role Commitment:

We envisage 4 volunteers working on a 4 week rota for this role, We would ask each volunteer to commit to approximately 3.5 hours every 4th week. 1 free ticket to see the film for facilitator. Regular meetings with line manager.

Report discussion group figures and group feedback.

Skills:

Applicants for this role should have the following skills: 

• Professional outlook

• Enthusiasm for film

• Public speaking

• Friendly, approachable and helpful manner • Good time keeping

• Be flexible and motivated Training:

• To attend an induction course

• To attend all relevant Health and Safety training including passing NMSI E-learning H&S test

• To attend internal and external training as required

• To pass a 3 month trial period

Please note that we are unable to reimburse travel expenses.

No surprise with that last qualification then.

The whole thing seems to be bureaucracy gone mad. Some current attenders have pointed out that they are entirely entitled to gather together in the museum caff for a chat after the show without any of this Health & Safety malarkey.

Some media students from Bradford Uni are rumoured to be applying to be interviewed for the post. We don't fancy their chances if the attenders start flexing some Grey Power muscles.

Jan 22 Anti-cuts conference - venue

Venue for Saturday's an ti-cuts conference will be Student Central (Communal Building) on  Bradford University campus (flyer illustrated at left), from 10am to 3pm.
See map below for way to the Communal Building (marked in red).

Ilkley imposes first ASBOs - for drunken behaviour

Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) have been issued in Ilkley for the first time.
George Mckenzie, of Ilkley, and John Bulmer, of Langbar, have been banned from getting drunk in public, acting in a threatening manner and begging for money.
Ludicrously, they are allowed to do these things as long as they stay on licensed premises.

Ilkley could lose museum and loos

Fears Bradford will sell buildings (From Ilkley Gazette):

Ilkley is at risk of losing its museum, leisure facilities and public toilets under plans being drawn up by Bradford Council.

That is the stark warning from district and Ilkley councillor Mike Gibbons, who told fellow parish councillors on Monday that he had “grave” concerns about the future of services in the town as local authority cuts begin to bite.

At a full meeting of Ilkley Parish Council, Coun Gibbons said he understood lists of possible savings included all public toilets in the district, and that the Manor House Museum and swimming pools were not safe.

He later said all the town’s public buildings were at risk, including the King’s Hall and Winter Gardens, the lido and the library.

Bradford People's Coalition Against the Cuts conference, Jan 22.

Bradford People's Coalition Against the Cuts conference is taking place this Saturday January 22, 2011. 
There will be workshops on:

• NHS "re-organisation"
• Legal Rights / Non Violent Direct Action
• Imaginative Campaigning / Publicity and Website
• Discussions around areas impacted on by the cuts

Where will it be? Venue isn't listed in emails, but the very successful (100-plus attendance) one in November was in  Bradford University Stuydents' Union. More details, please, Coalitioners!

BCB up for an award.

The Radio Academy will be announcing the ‘Nations & Regions’ (small-scale) Radio Station of the Year at the Wardrobe in Leeds tomorrow (Thursday, January 20). Bradford Community Broadcasting is a possible for an award.

The event is open to the public, at The Wardrobe, St Peter’s Square, Leeds, LS9 8AH at 6.30pm

Who was the Tory Councillor who was texting?

Who was the Tory Councillor who was texting throughout yesterday's Bradford Council meeting? The Lord Mayor appealed to everyone to turn off their phones, but as was pointed out, vocally, from the public gallery, at least one member took no notice.
One law for the public and another for our "betters", eh?

Bradford cuts petition goes to Council Executive on Feb 11

The Bradford People's Coalition Against the Cuts petition was presented to the Council at its full meeting yesterday (Jan 18) and it was referred to the Council Executive, which meets on Friday February 11, at 10.30am. This meeting is open to the public.
Text of the People's Coalition's submission to the Council follows:

We present this petition on behalf of Bradford People's Coalition against the Cuts: individuals, groups, and trades union representatives who wish to speak out against what we know to be unjust. We are realists. We are looking for councillors - Conservative - Liberal Democrat - Green - Labour, who - although they may not agree with all within the campaign - recognise the basic unfairness and dishonesty of proposals to cut back on staffing levels and funding in the public and voluntary sectors.
Statement of intent
We are asking you, councillors, to make a statement of intent: to argue for a budget based upon the needs of this district, not a programme of cuts designed to make the poor pay for the benefit of the super rich.
The proposed cuts target the most vulnerable - disabled people, single parents, those on housing benefit, black and other ethnic minority communities, students, migrant workers, pensioners, and lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender people. Women are expected to bear 75% of the burden. The poorest will be hit six times harder than the richest. Internal Treasury documents estimate 1.3m job losses in public and private sectors. The FSA reported (Jan 2011) that Lloyds, HSBC, Barclays, RBS between them will pay 800 people over a million pounds each. There are 18 millionaires in the cabinet. A government of millionaires says'we're all in it together' and 'there is no alternative'.
We say: There are alternatives
We are asking you counter the lie that there are no alternatives to cutbacks in the public and voluntary sectors.


Alternative 1: There are more effective ways of reducing the deficit.

Jospeh Stiglitz: Nobel Prize winner for Economics - ex Senior Vice President of the World Bank:

"So this is my hope for the new year: we stop paying attention to the so-called financial wizards who got us into this mess - and who are now calling for austerity - and start using a little common sense. If there is pain to be borne, the brunt of it should be felt by those responsible for the crisis, and those who benefited most from the bubble that preceded it."(January 3rd 2011)

Sixty-eight per cent of the public sector workforce is female: Depriving a £21,000-a-year council worker and single mother of her livelihood would cost £19,000 in lost tax and National Insurance income and extra benefits to be paid. The local economy will suffer the loss of her and others' purchasing power.
Minimum tax rates of 40% and 50% on incomes above £100,000 and £150,000: would raise £14.9 billion. A 0.05% financial transaction tax between UK financial institutions would raise £38 billion. We could raise £25 billion missing through tax avoidance; raise £70 billion missing through tax evasion.


Alternative 2: There is no crisis
From 1918 to 1961 the UK national debt was over 100% of GDP. During that period the government introduced the welfare state, the NHS, state pensions, comprehensive education, built millions of council houses, and nationalised a range of industries. The public sector grew and there was economic growth. Today UK national debt is around 60%: less than Germany, France and the US.
For example: Today there are over 5 million people on council house waiting lists. There is an urgent need to build affordable housing. House building generates jobs, income and revenue (and tenants pay rent for housing). People in work generate economic growth, benefit payments are lowered and tax revenues are increased.

Alternative 3: The crisis is caused by a lack of demand
In the UK, the value of wages has declined from nearly 65% of GDP in the 1970s to 55%
today. Over the same period, the rate of corporate profit has increased from 13% to 21%.
Ordinary people can't afford to buy the goods we make.


The cuts so far in Bradford
As you know, over £7m has been cut from this year's budget, including:
- More than £3.8 million ring-fenced for education;
- £1.5m to encourage business growth.
- £1 .4m of cuts from the working neighbourhood fund - helping get people back into work.
- £250,000 from a programme helping people to live independently.

(T & A 11th June 2010)

We call for a needs-based budget - not a banker's budget.

"The cuts for the next financial year will still have a massive affect on us. It's still several thousand jobs almost certainly, it's still a massive effect on frontline services and it's still people not getting the services they so desperately need "

(Ian Greenwood 14th December)

We call on you to stand up against this assault upon human decency. Don't hide behind a consensus that only exists between the party machines - whether you are - Conservative, Liberal Democrat, Green or Labour - look not to party affiliation - but to the people of your ward. Stand up against what you know in your heart is wrong. Make yourself known to the people of Bradford.


Editor's note:
While it's important to go through established negotiation procedures, it would be naive to expect that reasoned argument will change things. Indeed, the Council's unanimous decision to refer the petition to the Executive is probably, in some councillors' intention (and not only the Tories') to sweep matters under the carpet.
There was a medium-sized attendance in the public gallery yesterday, and apart from one vocal intervention (see a later posting) it was more well-behaved than the rather larger gathering which attended the December meeting.
While it will be necessary to work for a larger turnout for the Executive meeting on February 11, matters will really be sorted by actions outside the council chamber, and in particular targeting councillors who vote for cuts.

UncutUK actions on Jan 30

Expect some UncutUK anti-cuts actions in Bradford on Sunday January 30, which has been declared a national day of action. Previous Bradford actions have targeted Vodafone and Topshop and there have been a couple of arrests (one, a young anarchist accused of assaulting a police officer when all he'd done was to walk in to the Kirkgate mall carrying a black flag). In the event, no one was charged.
Go to http://www.ukuncut.org.uk/actions for details of actions already planned (which also include an action in Sheffield organised by Sheffield Anti-Cuts Allience. They will be meeting in Western park at 12:00 and moving to the town hall from there.
Brighton UncutUK are using Twitter for action training on January 23: go to www.twitter.com/brightonuncut for more info.

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

Editor's note:
But is it a good idea to keep the police informed about action plans? Wouldn't be better to spring guerrilla actions and catch them unawares?

2011-01-18 Items from Council agenda

6. PETITIONS (Standing Order 11)        Ward

To consider up to five requests for the Council to receive petitions in accordance with Standing

Orders.  

(i) Bradford People’s Coalition Against the Cuts – Request that the Council sets a needs

based budget that is fair and protects the most vulnerable people in the District

    

If any further requests are received, in writing, by mid-day  three working days before the

meeting (Thursday), details will be circulated.      

    

        (Palbinder Sandhu- 01274 432269)

9.  MEMBER QUESTION TIME (Standing Order 12)

To deal with supplementary questions arising from the attached questions of which written

notice has been given.  

Notes:

(i) Answers to each written question shall be circulated at the commencement of the

meeting.

  

(ii) The Lord Mayor will have regard to the list of questions and the political composition of

the Council in calling on Members to put their supplementary question to the Leader of

Council.

(iii) A period of up to 15 minutes shall be available for supplementary questions to the

Leader of Council.  

10.  RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE EXECUTIVE AND COMMITTEES

(Standing Order 15)

 To consider any recommendations (if any) arising from  the Executive and Committee

meetings held after the despatch of this agenda and prior to the Council meeting.  

11. NOTICES OF MOTION (Standing Order 17)

To consider the attached motions of which notice has been given.5

MEMBER QUESTION TIME

Questions submitted in accordance with Standing Order 12

 ______________________________________________________________

1.  Councillor L’Amie

Can the Leader confirm that the Council will take all  reasonable actions in order to actively

discourage the unlawful occupation of Land by travellers and  can he confirm that policies

such as those which have enabled the multi agency Rapid Response Unit in Leicestershire to

reduce complaints about illegal encampments from hundreds per year to dozens per year,

whilst reducing clean up costs from about £80,000 per year to about £10,000 per year, will be

examined and given due consideration?

2.  Councillor Ruding

How many LA schools in the district have had a  temporary closure in term time during the

previous three months, for how long and for what reasons?

3.  Councillor Palmer

Can the Leader explain why the waste collection services  provided by smaller refuse

collection vehicles to many rural communities and areas with narrow roads, were cancelled

without notice over the Christmas period, in order to prioritise services provided by the larger

vehicles in more urban areas and can he provide assurance to residents of the affected

areas that the council is not pursuing a policy of two tier service provision, to the detriment of

outlying communities?

4.  Councillor Lynne Smith

Can the Leader of Council provide a list of consultants and advisors that have

been employed since October 2009 either directly or indirectly by the Council or paid for by

the Council in full or in part on behalf of a partnership or other body? Can the Leader also

provide the following information:

a) Who authorised the use of consultants or advisors

b) The full costs of the consultancy or advice and the amount of Council

contribution

c) The purpose of the consultancy or advice and whether this purpose

has been fulfilled?

5.  Councillor L’Amie

What action is the Council taking to speed up the installation of Vehicle Activated Signs?

6.  Councillor Lynne Smith

What Government support has been made available to Local Authorities to assist with

redundancy costs and does the Leader believe that this will be sufficient given the current

spending cuts?

7.  Councillor Watmough

Given the success that the recent employment of alcohol clinical nurse specialists has

achieved in reducing A&E hospital admissions at Bradford Royal Infirmary, what efforts is

Bradford Council making to ensure that Airedale General Hospital will in future also have

alcohol clinical nurse specialists?

8.  Councillor Ellis

What actions does the council intend to take  to encourage local sustainability, including

initiatives such as the use of brown field sites to minimise the development of unspoilt land

and the micro generation of electricity on council owned or influenced property?

9.  Councillor Dodds

What is the Council doing to ensure  that more people have a recycling bin?

10.  Councillor Miller

Can the Leader acknowledge that despite the legal advice which this Council has received,

numerous unitary and district  councils including the council with the largest budget of any

local authority in Europe, have managed to publish on-line details of every item of their

spending in excess of £500 without legal challenge. 

Further can he confirm that he welcomes the spirit of greater transparency and accountability

that this publication represents, and request that the Chief Executive prepares proposals for

this council’s on-line publication of all spending in excess of £500 to be complimented by the

publication of detailed expense information for  all Councillors and Directors regardless of

amount ?

11.  Councillor Khadim Hussain

Can the Leader comment on the performance of Council services in the light of the recent

inclement weather conditions?

12.  Councillor Middleton

What are Bradford MDC Human Resources doing to action its commitments under the

Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy for Bradford District to ‘provide its employees with access

to on-line free and confidential alcohol identification and brief advice’ (Alcohol Health Needs

Assessment & Equity Audit 2010)? 7

13.  Councillor Engel

Can the Leader provide us with an assessment of the likely  impact on the District of

Government policy changes on Housing and Housing Welfare services?

14.  Councillor Warburton

Given that the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government has urged local

authorities not to cut Supporting People funding for services to homeless people can the

leader tell us:

1) Of the previously specific grant funding now rolled into the Council’s greatly reduced

formula grant how much has the Government indicated is intended to fund Supporting People

Services?

2) How great a reduction is this on the 2010/11 allocation to Bradford for Supporting People

services both in absolute and percentage terms?

15.  Councillor Warnes

Does the Leader of Council agree that establishing a network of community 'snow wardens'

across the District, in localities where volunteers are willing to perform this role, would ensure

that many more key residential pedestrian routes are made accessible during periods of

severe weather at minimal cost to the Council?

16.  Councillor Vanda Greenwood

Can the Leader confirm that the Council has released funding to ensure that a new play area

at Claremont Fields, Wrose can be built?

17.  Councillor Love

Can the Leader of Council tell us the cost incurred by the Council in responding to Freedom

of Information and any other requests from the 'Taxpayers Alliance' during 2010?

18.  Councillor Warnes

Can the Leader of Council please confirm whether or not the Council's asset disposal

programme has been subject to a strategic environmental impact assessment?

19.  Councillor Warnes

Can the Leader of Council please outline the progress that Bradford Council has made in

facilitating greater numbers of local residents to cycle to work in the District, what impact

these measures have had on the proportion of commuters who cycle to work, and how this

Council's performance in this aspect of sustainable travel compares to other local authorities? 8

20.  Councillor Love

Can the Leader of Council tell us the cost of each of the two traffic information signs installed

on the A650 in Shipley Ward  in 2010 and why ward members were not consulted regarding

their installation?

 

21.  Councillor Warnes

Can the Leader of Council please provide a list of all the sites that Asset Management have

scheduled for disposal by 2018, along with an assessment of the impact of these sales on

public green space and the environment? 9

NOTICES OF MOTION

   

1. DIOCESE OF BRADFORD   

To be moved by Councillor Ian Greenwood

Seconded by Councillor David Green

This Council notes the important community leadership role played by the Church of

England’s Diocesan Bishop of Bradford.

It notes with concern that the recent review of The Dioceses Commission recommends the

abolition of the Diocese of Bradford and its amalgamation into a West Yorkshire Diocese,

with Episcopal area Bishops and believes that this could undermine the prominence, status

and influence of the office of the Bishop of Bradford and the Diocese of Bradford itself.

The Council therefore requests the Chief Executive to write to the Dioceses Commission

expressing its strong view that Bradford should keep a full Diocesan Bishop.

2.  POLICE GOVERNANCE  

        

To be moved by Councillor Wainwright

Seconded by Councillor Imran Hussain

The Council recognises the achievements of West Yorkshire Police in its progress on tackling

crime in the Bradford District and in particular its introduction and implementation of

Neighbourhood Policing which provides the opportunity for local people to influence local

policing priorities.

The Council notes with concern the proposal in the Police Reform and Social Responsibility

Bill to impose a Directly Elected Police Commissioner on West Yorkshire and believes that

this proposal,  will undermine local influence and control over policing priorities, place

disproportionate power in the hands of a single individual and risk the politicisation of

policing.

The Council welcomes the recognition in the Bill of the need for strong proposals for checks

and balances on the powers of Police Commissioners through Police and Crime Panels

however we believe that the proposed combination of Elected Members and laypersons

already exists in the form of the Police Authority.

While accepting the need to ensure that the Police are held accountable to the public the

Council believes that the proposals for Directly Elected Police Commissioners risk having the

opposite effect.

The Council therefore resolves to request the Chief Executive to write on its behalf to:

1)  Sir Denis O’ Conor, Chief HMI in support of the Association of Police Authority’s calls for 10

him to undertake a full risk assessment of the proposed policy changes.

2) The District’s MPs urging them to oppose the proposed legislation.

3.  CHILD POVERTY   

To be moved by Councillor Sunderland

Seconded by Councillor Beardmore

This Council believes that poverty blights people’s lives.

 This Council supports a strategy that prevents poor children from becoming poor adults.

This Council is acknowledges concerns about the likely impact of the Governments decision

to abolish the Education Maintenance Allowance on children and young people from deprived

backgrounds.

This Council resolves to:

a). Maximise the numerous educational opportunities announced by the Government

for children whose lives are impacted by material and financial deprivation.

b) Create a working group specifically tasked to identify all those new opportunities

that  will maximise educational opportunity.

c) Identifies what further activities and policies the Council can undertake to ensure

that children from poor households do not become poor adults.

d) Writes to the Government highlighting the impact of its recent decision to abolish

the Educational Maintenance Allowance.

e) Prepares a report to Council on a delivery plan that specifically addresses these

challenges.

4.  SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN  

To be moved by Councillor Sunderland

Seconded by Councillor Middleton

This Council believes the responsibility for safe guarding children is a key responsibility of all

Councillors and that all decisions of Council should take this key responsibility into account.

This Council notes that two recent planning applications have been approved without the

Director of Children’s Services being included in the consultation process despite the Council

being judged on the ability of these institutions in the future.

This Council therefore resolves to:

a) Review the planning consultation process to ensure that where planning

applications that involve the care of children and young people by either the private,

public or third sector,  the Director of Children’s Services is included in the formal

consultation process.

b) Amend the processes of the Council to ensure that the outcome of this consultation

is reported to the planning panel prior to a decision being taken.

c) The outcome of the review is reported to the Council for consideration. 11

5.  ACCESS TO BROADBAND  

To be moved by Councillor Palmer

Seconded by Councillor Ellis

This Council believes that access to modern communication networks throughout the District

is critical to the success of the local economy and is also to the benefit of residents and thus

welcomes the roll-out of high speed fibre-optic broadband throughout the majority of the

District, whilst regretting that this roll out currently excludes the 3,006 households and

businesses served by the Burley in Wharfedale Exchange.

The Council congratulates the residents of Burley for responding  to BT's 'Race to Infinity'

competition by demonstrating the demand for faster broadband by casting the third highest

number of votes of the 2,475 communities taking part. The council notes that whilst Burley

came 9th by percentage vote and therefore was not in the  top 5, BT have committed to

engage with the local community and have now indicated that the roll-out could be extended

to include Burley and the other top 10 exchanges in the competition.

The Council therefore asks the Chief Executive to write to BT setting out the Council's view.

The Council asks the Chief Executive to contact BT outlining the council’s support and

engages with and supports the company and the local community to ensure that fast fibre

optic broadband is made available in Burley at the earliest opportunity.

6.  LICENSING

To be moved by Councillor Shah

Seconded by Councillor Ellis

This council welcomes the coalition government’s proposals to rebalance the licensing act

and in particular commits to making full use of the provisions enabling the council to work in

partnership with West Yorkshire Police in order to:

• take much stronger action to remove (or refuse to grant) licenses at problem premises 

• permanently close any outlet consistently selling alcohol to children and double the

fine for this offence to £20,000 

• examine the cost to the council and police of the night time economy and consider

increasing the cost of later night licenses to reflect these and banning the sale of alcohol below cost price.   

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