Agenda item

This Council is appalled that the Conservative’s General Election 2015 manifesto promise to “support people to stay healthy” has been so quickly disregarded through the announcement of in-year cuts of £200million of Health funding that is being clawed back from local authorities.

Council notes this betrayal is part of a fast growing list of broken promises from this Government that directly affects the lives and wellbeing of the people of Leeds. This includes not progressing with the promised electrification of the transpennine rail route or the promise to cap care costs and the in-year cut to Youth Offending spending.

Council calls on the Government to rethink its approach to funding cuts in preparing its Comprehensive Spending Review, in line with Conservative party promises made to Leeds residents only a matter of months ago.

Council believes the damage that will be done by Government decisions announced to date cannot be overestimated and will work with partners in the city on the effects of the cuts. 

Council calls on officers to make representations to ministers on behalf of the people of Leeds to ensure the Government recognises the needs of the city and the impact their approach to funding can have, especially in relation to the protection of vulnerable people.

It was moved by Councillor Mulherin, seconded by Councillor Yeadon that this Council is appalled that the Conservative’s General Election 2015 manifesto promise to “support people to stay healthy” has been so quickly disregarded through the announcement of in-year cuts of £200million of Health funding that is being clawed back from local authorities.

Council notes this betrayal is part of a fast growing list of broken promises from this Government that directly affects the lives and wellbeing of the people of Leeds. This includes not progressing with the promised electrification of the transpennine rail route or the promise to cap care costs and the in-year cut to Youth Offending spending.

Council calls on the Government to rethink its approach to funding cuts in preparing its Comprehensive Spending Review, in line with Conservative party promises made to Leeds residents only a matter of months ago.

Council believes the damage that will be done by Government decisions announced to date cannot be overestimated and will work with partners in the city on the effects of the cuts. 

Council calls on officers to make representations to ministers on behalf of the people of Leeds to ensure the Government recognises the needs of the city and the impact their approach to funding can have, especially in relation to the protection of vulnerable people.

An amendment was moved by Councillor Lay, seconded by Councillor Campbell to ;

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Council therefore calls on the Executive Member for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care to show the political leadership necessary to deal with the challenge this presents to the city and bring forward proposals at the earliest opportunity setting out potential means by which the council may absorb these cuts to the public health budget.

A second amendment was moved by Councillor Buckley, seconded by Councillor Robinson;

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‘notes the success of the Conservative Manifesto in May 2015 and the failure of the Labour Party to present credible policies that appealed to the British public.

Council further notes the difficult financial position inherited in 2010 and the long term economic plan that is being delivered to repair the British economy.

However, this Council is concerned that the electrification of the Trans-Pennine route between Leeds and Manchester has been delayed and recognises the challenges in year funding reductions, particularly those in health, could create for services in Leeds. Council is concerned that in year funding reductions could impact on the excellent work done by, for instance, Neighbourhood Networks and Children’s Centres and would be concerned if any funding reductions were implemented against these budgets.

Council believes that constructive dialogue with the Government could lead to the Trans-Pennine rail plans being resurrected through the ongoing and ground breaking Government led devolution negotiations, and that those same negotiations have the potential to provide greater control over health budgets in Leeds.

This Council therefore calls on the ruling administration to work constructively with government and partners to minimise the impact of funding reductions on Leeds residents and seek to get the Trans Pennine rail proposals back up and running.’

Motion would read:

‘This Council notes the success of the Conservative Manifesto in May 2015 and the failure of the Labour Party to present credible policies that appealed to the British public.

Council further notes the difficult financial position inherited in 2010 and the long term economic plan that is being delivered to repair the British economy.

However, this Council is concerned that the electrification of the Trans-Pennine route between Leeds and Manchester has been delayed and recognises the challenges in year funding reductions, particularly those in health, could create for services in Leeds. Council is concerned that in year funding reductions could impact on the excellent work done by, for instance, Neighbourhood Networks and Children’s Centres and would be concerned if any funding reductions were implemented against these budgets.

Council believes that constructive dialogue with the Government could lead to the Trans-Pennine rail plans being resurrected through the ongoing and ground breaking Government led devolution negotiations, and that those same negotiations have the potential to provide greater control over health budgets in Leeds.

This Council therefore calls on the ruling administration to work constructively with government and partners to minimise the impact of funding reductions on Leeds residents and seek to get the Trans Pennine rail proposals back up and running.’

The amendments in the name of Councillors Lay and Buckley were declared lost and upon being put to the vote it was;

RESOLVED – That this Council is appalled that the Conservative’s General Election 2015 manifesto promise to “support people to stay healthy” has been so quickly disregarded through the announcement of in-year cuts of £200million of Health funding that is being clawed back from local authorities.

Council notes this betrayal is part of a fast growing list of broken promises from this Government that directly affects the lives and wellbeing of the people of Leeds. This includes not progressing with the promised electrification of the transpennine rail route or the promise to cap care costs and the in-year cut to Youth Offending spending.

Council calls on the Government to rethink its approach to funding cuts in preparing its Comprehensive Spending Review, in line with Conservative party promises made to Leeds residents only a matter of months ago.

Council believes the damage that will be done by Government decisions announced to date cannot be overestimated and will work with partners in the city on the effects of the cuts. 

Council calls on officers to make representations to ministers on behalf of the people of Leeds to ensure the Government recognises the needs of the city and the impact their approach to funding can have, especially in relation to the protection of vulnerable people.