Agenda item

To consider the enclosed four notices of motion submitted by Councillor Peter Wilson.

The Council considered four motions submitted in accordance with Procedure Rule 10, by Councillor Peter Wilson:

1.    Youth Unemployment

“This council recognises the growing problem of youth unemployment within the borough of Chorley. The council expresses alarm at the 243% increase in long term youth unemployment since January this year. In response to this trend the council pledges to invest £400,000 to create employment and training opportunities for young people within the borough.”

Councillor Alistair Bradley proposed and Councillor Peter Wilson seconded this motion.

The motion was put to the vote and the votes were recorded as follows:

FOR: Councillors J Berry, A Bradley, T Brown, M Crow, D Edgerley, C France,  A Gee, S Holgate, C Hoyle, H Khan, R Lees, A Lowe, M Lowe, J Molyneaux, S Murfitt, B Murray, P Phipps, D Rogerson, J Snape, R Snape, P Walmsley and P Wilson.

AGAINST: Councillors K Ball, E Bell, H Caunce, A Cullens, M Cullens, David Dickinson, Doreen Dickinson, P Goldsworthy, M Gray, H Heaton, K Iddon, K Joyce, P Leadbetter, G Morgan, S Moulton, M Muncaster, M Perks, A Platt, D Platt, G Russell, R Russell, J Walker, S Walsh, the Mayor, Councillor P Case.

The motion was declared LOST.

Councillors Mark Perks and Alan Cullens declared personal and prejudicial interests in the following item and left the room during the debate and vote.

2.    Free School Proposal

“This council recognises the excellence of Primary, Secondary, Sixth Form, Further and Adult Education together with the comprehensive Vocational Training supplied by schools and colleges both within, and specifically sited on the boundaries of the Borough for the young people of Chorley.

This is evidenced by the significantly above average exam and inspection results obtained by our local education providers. This Council will write to the Secretary of State for Education asking him to identify which of these existing facilities he believes is failing and which would necessitate the requirement for a free school in Chorley, which by its very nature will take valuable and scarce resources away from the existing establishments and threaten their future.”

Councillor Peter Wilson proposed and Councillor Dave Rogerson seconded this motion.

The motion was put to the vote and the votes were recorded as follows:

FOR: Councillors J Berry, A Bradley, T Brown, M Crow, D Edgerley, C France,  A Gee, S Holgate, C Hoyle, H Khan, R Lees, A Lowe, M Lowe, J Molyneaux, S Murfitt, B Murray, P Phipps, D Rogerson, J Snape, R Snape, P Walmsley and P Wilson.

AGAINST: Councillors K Ball, E Bell, H Caunce, M Cullens, David Dickinson, Doreen Dickinson, P Goldsworthy, M Gray, H Heaton, K Iddon, K Joyce, P Leadbetter, G Morgan, S Moulton, M Muncaster, A Platt, D Platt, G Russell, R Russell, J Walker, S Walsh, the Mayor, Councillor P Case.

The Mayor declared there was an equal number of votes for and against the motion and she then used her casting vote against. The motion was then declared LOST.

3.    BBC Radio Lancashire

“This council recognises the importance of regional radio broadcasting and pays tribute to the work done by BBC Radio Lancashire in providing quality local news throughout our county, actively helping to identify and express our local identity. The council expresses concern over the proposed budget cuts in local radio and in particular the job cuts proposed at BBC Radio Lancashire. Therefore the council pledges to write to BBC Radio Lancashire in support of their objections to the extent of the cuts being imposed and express clearly our support for this valuable media outlet.”

Councillor Julia Berry proposed and Councillor Matthew Crow seconded this motion.

The motion was put to the vote and LOST.

Councillors Joyce and Ralph Snape declared personal interests in the following item and left the room during the debate and vote.

4.    NHS Re-organisation

“Chorley Council expresses alarm at the decision taken by the Tory-led government to impose NHS re-organisation through the Health and Social Care Bill which will cost Central Lancashire Primary Care Trust £29,591,614.  The council recognises that this money has to be drawn from existing budgets and therefore would be better spent on patient care rather than a top-down re-organisation which the government promised it would not carry out. 

The council notes that since May 2010 the number of patients in the Central Lancashire PCT area waiting for 18 weeks or more for NHS treatment has increased by 56%. 

Therefore the Council supports the campaign backed by the British Medical Association to drop the Health and Social Care Bill in order to protect our NHS and ensure that scarce resources are directed towards patient care rather than unnecessary and damaging reorganisations.”

Councillor Peter Wilson proposed and Councillor Alistair Bradley seconded this motion.

The motion was put to the vote and the votes were recorded as follows:

FOR: Councillors J Berry, A Bradley, T Brown, M Crow, D Edgerley, C France,  A Gee, S Holgate, C Hoyle, H Khan, R Lees, A Lowe, M Lowe, J Molyneaux, S Murfitt, B Murray, P Phipps, D Rogerson, P Walmsley and P Wilson.

AGAINST: Councillors K Ball, E Bell, H Caunce, A Cullens, M Cullens, David Dickinson, Doreen Dickinson, P Goldsworthy, M Gray, H Heaton, K Iddon, K Joyce, P Leadbetter, G Morgan, S Moulton, M Muncaster, M Perks, A Platt, D Platt, G Russell, R Russell, J Walker, S Walsh, the Mayor, Councillor P Case.

The motion was declared LOST.