Agenda item

Motion (1) – Disability

It was moved by Councillor Stokes,

Seconded by Councillor MacIsaac,

“This Council resolves to:

·  Support the continuing campaign by Mobilise - the charity that supports disabled drivers – to combat Blue Badge fraud.

·  Require SBC Officers to produce a Blue Badge fraud control action plan for consideration by this Council within three months.

·  Liaise with big retail units – such as supermarkets – to ensure that they enforce the regulations surrounding the use of blue badges effectively (such as encouraging spot checks of blue badge users to ensure that badges are in their name, etc).

·  Look again at all measure brought in by the current administration and re-consider their impact on people living with disabilities in Slough.

·  Liaise with Non-Governmental Organisations working in the field of disability rights to ensure that all measures that SBC instigates in order to cut the council’s budget do not impact adversely on those living with disabilities in Slough”.

A document providing a response from Officers to a letter received from Councillor Stokes was tabled.

It was moved as an amendment by Councillor Anderson,

Seconded by Councillor Swindlehurst,

That the motion be amended as follows:-

“This Council resolves to:

• Support the continuing campaign by Mobilise - the charity that supports disabled drivers – to combat Blue Badge fraud.
• Require SBC Officers to produce a ensure that Blue Badge facilities in the Borough are not fraudulently used control action plan for consideration by this Council within three months.
• Liaise with big retail units – such as supermarkets – to ensure that they enforce advise them of the regulations surrounding the use of blue badges effectively (such as encouraging spot checks of blue badge users to ensure that badges are in their name, etc).
• Look again at all measure brought in by the current administration and re-consider their impact on people living with disabilities in Slough.
• Continue to design disability compliance into all new Council facilities, and adapt existing buildings, where appropriate, to make Council facilities accessible to all
• Liaise with Continue to take prudent budget decisions and protect front line services from cuts while having regard to the work of Non-Governmental Organisations working in the field of disability rights to ensure that all measures that SBC instigates in order to cut the council’s budget do not impact adversely on those living with disabilities in Slough”.

Councillor Stokes as mover of the original motion, with the agreement of his seconder, Councillor MacIsaac, indicated that he was prepared to accept the proposed amendment which was agreed by the Council as the substantive motion.

Resolved - This Council resolves to:

• Support the continuing campaign by Mobilise - the charity that supports disabled drivers – to combat Blue Badge fraud.
• Require SBC Officers to ensure that Blue Badge facilities in the Borough are not fraudulently used
• Liaise with big retail units – such as supermarkets – to advise them of the regulations surrounding the use of blue badges effectively (such as encouraging spot checks of blue badge users to ensure that badges are in their name, etc).
• Continue to design disability compliance into all new Council facilities, and adapt existing buildings, where appropriate, to make Council facilities accessible to all.
• Continue to take prudent budget decisions and protect front line services from cuts while having regard to the work of Non-Governmental Organisations working in the field of disability rights to ensure that all measures that SBC instigates in order to cut the council’s budget do not impact adversely on those living with disabilities in Slough”.

Motion (2) -   Putting residents in the driving seat

It was moved by Councillor Anderson,

seconded by Councillor Swindlehurst,

“This Council resolves:

·  To remain true to local priorities and context and not to allow the Government cuts to force the Council into actions which would be damaging to the local economy, in so far as funding allows.

·  To continue the  protection of  front line services which are important to residents from damaging Government cuts, and explore ways of delivering these services in new ways to reduce costs and drive up service levels.

·  To continue investment in infrastructure projects in Slough which are crucial to the local economy in the face of Government decimation of the Homes & Communities Agency budget from £30bn a year to £2.5bn a year.

·  To compel any  ruling group to adopt their election manifesto as Council policy at the first Cabinet meeting of the new municipal year, so that residents and Council Officers are clear about the priorities of the ruling group and so that their achievements can be judged against their proposed legislative programme”.

It was moved as an amendment by Councillor Dale-Gough,

Seconded by Councillor A S Wright,

That the motion be amended as follows:-

“This Council resolves –

• To remain true to local priorities and context and not to allow the

Government cuts savings caused by the previous Labour governments gross mismanagement and uncontrolled expenditure to force the Council into actions which would be damaging to the local economy, in so far as funding allows.

• To continue the protection of front line services which are important to

residents from damaging Government cuts savings caused by the previous Labour governments gross mismanagement and uncontrolled expenditure, and explore ways of delivering these services in new ways to reduce costs and drive up service levels.

• To continue investment in infrastructure projects in Slough which are

crucial to the local economy in the face of Government savings caused by the previous Labour governments gross mismanagement and uncontrolled expenditure decimation of the Homes & Communities Agency budget from £30bn a year to £2.5bn a year.

• To compel any ruling group to adopt their election manifesto as

Council policy at the first Cabinet meeting of the new municipal year,

so that residents and Council Officers are clear about the priorities of

the ruling group and so that their achievements can be judged against

their proposed legislative programme”.

The amendment was put and lost by 7 votes to 21 votes with 2 abstentions.

The substantive motion was put and carried by 22 votes to 0 votes with 7 abstentions. 

Resolved – This Council resolves:

·  To remain true to local priorities and context and not to allow the Government cuts to force the Council into actions which would be damaging to the local economy, in so far as funding allows.

·  To continue the  protection of  front line services which are important to residents from damaging Government cuts, and explore ways of delivering these services in new ways to reduce costs and drive up service levels.

·  To continue investment in infrastructure projects in Slough which are crucial to the local economy in the face of Government decimation of the Homes & Communities Agency budget from £30bn a year to £2.5bn a year.

·  To compel any  ruling group to adopt their election manifesto as Council policy at the first Cabinet meeting of the new municipal year, so that residents and Council Officers are clear about the priorities of the ruling group and so that their achievements can be judged against their proposed legislative programme.