Agenda

That the Minutes of the proceedings of the Meeting of Council held on 26 May 2020 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair of Council Business (or other person presiding) (Minutes attached).

To receive any declarations of interest from Members of the Council.

The Civic Mayor to make any appropriate announcements.

To receive any announcements or communications from the Chair of Council Business, the Executive Leader, Members of the Executive Cabinet or the Chief Executive.

To consider any questions submitted by Members of the public in accordance with Standing Orders 31.12 and 31.13.

To receive the minutes of the Meetings of the Executive Cabinet held on 22 April 2020, 27 May 2020 and 24 June 2020.

To consider the minutes of the meeting of the Democratic Processes Working Group held on 6 July 2020.

To consider the following motions:

Motion A in the name of Councillor Ryan:

That this Council notes –

·                The heroic work of the NHS and other public services in fighting the Covid-19 pandemic;

·                In particular the astonishing commitment of Tameside Council’s own key workers who have worked tirelessly since the start of the pandemic;

·                Councils across the country have been working alongside their local communities to lead the frontline response to the crisis and support local people;

·                At the beginning of the crisis, Tameside Council responded, at pace, to set up a new dedicated helpline for local people who needed help getting food, medicine, or financial support. The service has managed over 7,000 requests for help and supported more than 2,100 local residents in need of food or medicine so far;

·                The commitment at the beginning of the crisis, from the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak MP, was to do “whatever it takes” in response to the Covid-19 crisis;

·                The funding received to date from central government to help deliver the Council’s response to the crisis, but also notes that this support is currently inadequate to meet the council’s on-going costs of Covid - not only now, but for the foreseeable future.

This Council further notes –

·                Council workers are public service heroes. They keep our communities clean, look after those in need and have kept our borough running. Without the professionalism and dedication of our staff, the council services our residents rely on would not be deliverable.

·                Since 2010, central government, has pursued an austerity agenda that has seen huge cuts to public services and forced Tameside to make almost £150m of savings;

·                Despite central government cuts, Tameside Council has prioritised the protection vital services that local people rely on and has tackled the issues that matter most to local people;

·                The latest Local Government Association (LGA) analysis shows that local councils have lost £3.2bn in income from council tax and business rates, and from sales, fees and charges as result of the Covid-19 pandemic;

·                The recent findings published by the LGA show that local councils require as much as £6bn more in central government funding to cover the costs of the Covid-19 pandemic through the course of this financial year.

This Council believes –

·                The crisis has proven that local councils play a vital role in working with communities to provide services that residents rely on and the Government must listen to, and consult with, local government in developing its response to this crisis;

·                That the Government must keep its promise to local councils to fully fund all costs related to the Covid-19 crisis. Local services cannot be expected to sustain any further cuts in funding especially following a decade of austerity, and cannot pay the price for this national crisis;

·                Without additional emergency funding to make up the true losses sustained, central government will be forcing local councils to cut vital services which local people have relied on through this period.

This Council resolves –

·                To  ...  view the full agenda text for item 9.

To answer questions (if any) asked under Standing Order 17.2, for which due notice has been given by a Member of the Council.

To consider any other items which the Chair of Council Business (or other person presiding) is of the opinion shall be dealt with as a matter of urgency.