Agenda item

The Council’s Constitution provides for a maximum of two hours for debate on motions.  The time limit for member speeches is three minutes and the time limit for proposing a motion is five minutes.

 

In accordance with Procedural Rule 10.2 in Part 4 of the Council Constitution, the Chief Executive has prepared a short accompanying note for each motion in respect of any implications for climate change, resources, human rights and any other pertinent factors they may wish to include in accordance with the Council’s Policy Framework.

 

 

 

Gloucestershire biodiversity week

 

Proposed:  Cllr David Gray

Seconded:  Cllr Chloe Turner

 

 

 In 2019, this council declared a climate change emergency and committed to a carbon action plan. We believe that in addition to reducing our carbon outputs, ensuring the resilience of our ecosystem is essential to maintaining a healthy planet.

 

Council notes:

• Biodiversity is essential for keeping our county’s unique and beautiful wildlife healthy, sustainable, and productive.
• Biodiversity is relevant to many Council services and functions, such as planning, highways and land/property management.
• Tenants in our rural estates are already leading the way in ecological and biodiverse innovation.
• The new obligations given to the county council under the Environment Act 2021. Specifically:
  • The introduction of a Local Nature Recovery Strategy, for which the county council is the lead authority.
  • The requirement for a minimum of 10% biodiversity net gains from all new development from 2023.
• The county council is a member of Climate Leadership Gloucestershire which has identified biodiversity as well as food and farming as two of its strategic thematic priorities.

Therefore, Council resolves to:

• Pass a declaration recognising the importance of biodiversity and committing all council decisions to give the same level of consideration to biodiversity as carbon when determining environmental impacts.

 

• Call Cabinet to commit the Council to Hosting a Gloucestershire biodiversity week in which we can actively promote ways in which residents, schools, businesses and Parish and Town councils can get involved to help maintaining the biodiversity of our county.

 

 

We in turn commit to lead by example and follow good biodiversity practices when choosing our Highways Local schemes, supporting Parish and Town councils and other community groups. We also endeavour to pursue a biodiversity net gain on council land wherever possible, including opportunities for offsetting credits for supply to developers under the Gloucestershire Climate and Nature Fund. To emphasise the importance biodiversity in our corporate decision making, we will include ecological impact assessments alongside climate change implications assessments in cabinet reports.

 

 

 

Gloucestershire County Council to enshrine being a Care Leaver as a Protected Characteristic

Proposed: Cllr Rebecca Halifax

Seconder: Cllr Ben Evans

 

This Council Notes:

1. The Independent Review of Children’s Social Care, published in May 2022 (The “Macalister review”), recognised the often negative outcomes for people with care experience and recommended that the government should make ‘Care Experienced’ a protected characteristic.
2. That there is a range of barriers and discrimination care leavers can face throughout life, including but not limited to:
   1. 70% of people who have been in care die earlier than would otherwise be expected
   2. Over half of those in custody up to the age of 21 have been in care
   3. A quarter of the homeless population in England and Wales has experienced of the care system.
3. That many care experienced people in Gloucestershire are among the most resilient and intelligent in the County, and that as corporate parents we should be nurturing and supporting their talents and potential
4. Care experienced young people can face additional barriers in fulfilling their potential such as having moved multiple times, and the services supporting them face considerable pressures.
5. The introduction of the Equality Act in 2010, enshrining ‘protected characteristics’ and outlawing discrimination on the basis of these characteristics
6. The passing of a Motion or policy to consider ‘care experience’ or being a ‘care leaver’ as a protected characteristic at other local authorities, including Blackburn, Cumberland and Sutton.

 

This Council Believes

1. Care leavers often face societal barriers, discrimination and poorer life outcomes than their peers
2. These impacts mean it would be appropriate to treat those with ‘care experience’ as having a protected characteristic in relation to access to the range of Council services
3. The Public Sector Equality Duty requires public bodies, such as councils, to eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment, and victimisation of people with protected characteristics.
4. We can play a role, both directly and through the Local Government Association (LGA), in calling for care experience to be included in future revisions of the Equalities Act.
5. Although what is included in the national legal definition is determined through the Westminster Parliament, as a Council we can adopt this as part of our own practices now
6. As corporate parents, we have a responsibility to do everything we can to support the best possible outcomes for our children
7. Councillors should be champions of the children in our care and challenge the negative attitudes and prejudice that exists in all aspects of society
8. In addition to considering care experience as a protected characteristic, where possible as a Council we should look to take additional steps to support our care leavers and level the playing field in relation to their future opportunities and outcomes

 

 

This Council Resolves

1.      That future decisions made and policies adopted by the council should be assessed through the Equality Impact Assessment to determine the impact of changes on people with care experience, alongside those who formally share a protected characteristic.

2.      That in the delivery of the public sector equality duty the council includes care experience in the publication and review of equality objectives and the annual publication of information relating to people who share a protected characteristic in services and employment

3.      That this council will treat care experience as if it were a protected characteristic

4.      To write to and formally call upon other Councils within Gloucestershire to treat care experience as a protected characteristic until such time as it may be introduced by legislation

5.      Consider the viability of Council tax-exemption for our care-leavers being introduced from the 2024-25 Budget onwards

6.      To explore options for making grants available for 16-19 year old care-experienced young people to access support to access educational or training opportunities (for example support with the cost of bus travel) to be funded in the County council Budget from 2024-25 onwards.

7.      To call on Cabinet to lead on facilitating an awareness campaign in the County about the discrimination care leavers can face, and promoting the potential of our care leavers

8.      To call on Cabinet to direct our economic development team to work with the LEP, Sixth Forms, Colleges, local apprenticeship providers and local employers to incentive local businesses who find employment opportunities for our care leavers and to help ensure our care leavers are in meaningful education, employment or training up to the age of 19.

9.      To call on Cabinet to direct Children’s Services to undertake some work on ensuring that the needs of care-leavers are given the appropriate priority within our assessments of and support offered for SEND.

10.  To request that the NHS locally to undertake a similar piece of work in regards to access to CAMHS, reporting back through the joint boards that operate between all the local health partners.

 

 

 

The future of Community Meals services

Proposed by: Cllr John Bloxsom

Seconded by: Cllr David Drew

 

Council recognises and values the county council’s Community Meals service which has been an essential service enabling older people and vulnerable adults to maintain or regain their independence and remain living in their own home for as long as possible.

 

This includes those who have just come out of hospital or need extra support to prepare a hot meal for a short period of time or who may need help longer term with preparing hot meals and may also need other support from adult social care.

 

We note that the countywide service delivered by the previous provider failed with no bids. We commend the work of staff, who at short notice, contacted recipients, carers, and family members to seek to put alternative arrangements in place.

 

Council notes, however, that there are now reported to be just 60 users of the County funded service whereas there were stated to have been 481 recipients of the GCC funded service at the time when the tender failed in December 2022.

 

 

Council further notes that there are a range of providers have been engaged on short contracts of between six and 12 months and that these include local charities, local community interest companies and local small businesses.

 

 

Council believes the service should meet the needs of recipients across Gloucestershire, be procured and funded on a sustainable basis, and to that end Council asks that the Scrutiny Committee to continue to receive updates.

 

We welcome an examination of the lessons learned for how the Council procures community meals and requests that the report, prepared for the Adult’s Cabinet Members, with recommendations for how we procure community meals moving forward, be shared with the Scrutiny Committee.

 

Motion 916 – Gloucestershire biodiversity week

 

11.1    Cllr David Gray proposed, and Cllr Chloe Turner seconded the following motion (this also reflected a friendly amendment from the Labour Group):

In 2019, this council declared a climate change emergency and committed to a carbon action plan. We believe that in addition to reducing our carbon outputs, ensuring the resilience of our ecosystem is essential to maintaining a healthy planet.

Council notes:

·         Biodiversity is essential for keeping our county’s unique and beautiful wildlife healthy, sustainable, and productive.

·         Biodiversity is relevant to many Council services and functions, such as planning, highways, and land/property management.

·         Tenants in our rural estates are already leading the way in ecological and biodiverse innovation.

The new obligations given to the county council under the Environment Act 2021. Specifically:

·         The introduction of a Local Nature Recovery Strategy, for which the county council is the lead authority.

·         The requirement for a minimum of 10% biodiversity net gains from all new development from 2023.

·         The county council is a member of Climate Leadership Gloucestershire which has identified biodiversity as well as food and farming as two of its strategic thematic priorities.

Therefore, Council resolves to:

·         Pass a declaration recognising the importance of biodiversity and committing all council decisions to give the same level of consideration to biodiversity as carbon when determining environmental impacts.

·         Call Cabinet to commit the Council to Hosting a Gloucestershire biodiversity week in which we can actively promote ways in which residents, schools, businesses and Parish and Town councils can get involved to help maintaining the biodiversity of our county.

We in turn commit to lead by example and follow good biodiversity practices when choosing our Highways Local schemes, supporting Parish and Town councils and other community groups.  We also endeavour to pursue a biodiversity net gain on council land wherever possible, including opportunities for offsetting credits for supply to developers under the Gloucestershire Climate and Nature Fund. To emphasise the importance of biodiversity in our corporate decision making, we will include ecological impact assessments alongside climate change implications assessments in cabinet reports.

11.2    Cllr Gray was very pleased to bring this motion today, reflecting on his recent viewing of the David Attenborough programme where Gloucestershire’s wonderful countryside was well represented. Whilst an enjoyable programme, it very much highlighted how much biodiversity the UK had lost, with many species extinct or in serious and rapid decline.

11.3    He highlighted that GCC had not been idle in the face of the global climate crisis. It had been 4 years since its climate emergency declaration, which had resulted in great progress against its Climate Change Action Plan. These actions included the planting of 130,000 trees to date, designing and beginning to build the 26-mile cycle spine, the replacement of fleet vehicles with electric, installation of electric vehicle chargers and the establishment of Climate Leadership Gloucestershire.

11.4    It was recognised that nature recovery required a broader approach than one that just focused on carbon, putting biodiversity on the same level in terms of decision making and action, with GCC stepping up and showing leadership as it had on carbon reduction. The benefits of improving biodiversity would be felt across the county through healthier soil, more secure food systems, cleaner water, better flood management and attractive tourism. He felt it was our duty to pass on a healthier and more biodiverse landscape to future generations.

 

11.5    Cllr Turner reserved her right as seconder.

 

11.6    Cllr Hay proposed the following amendment:

In 2019, this council declared a climate change emergency and committed to a carbon action plan. We believe that in addition to reducing our carbon outputs, ensuring the resilience of our ecosystem is essential to maintaining a healthy planet.

Council notes:

·         Biodiversity is essential for keeping our county’s unique and beautiful wildlife healthy, sustainable, and productive.

·         Biodiversity is relevant to many Council services and functions, such as planning, highways, and land/property management.

·         Tenants in our rural estates are already leading the way in ecological and biodiverse innovation.

The new obligations given to the county council under the Environment Act 2021. Specifically:

·         The introduction of a Local Nature Recovery Strategy, for which the county council is the lead authority.

·         The requirement for a minimum of 10% biodiversity net gains from all new development from 2023.

·         The county council is a member of Climate Leadership Gloucestershire which has identified biodiversity as well as food and farming as two of its strategic thematic priorities.

Therefore, Council resolves to:

·         Pass a declaration recognising the importance of biodiversity and committing all council decisions to give the same level of consideration to biodiversity as carbon when determining environmental impacts.

·         Call Cabinet to commit the Council to Hosting a Gloucestershire biodiversity week in which we can actively promote ways in which residents, schools, businesses and Parish and Town councils can get involved to help maintaining the biodiversity of our county.

·         That the Cabinet comes forward with a biodiversity strategy by the end of this year (2023) to be incorporated into the ‘Council Strategy/Corporate Plan’ with a vision of where we want to be in the next 5 and 10 years. This will include annual targets with annual goals set by Council in order to monitor progress.

We in turn commit to lead by example and follow good biodiversity practices when supporting Parish and Town councils and other community groups.  We also endeavour to pursue a biodiversity net gain on council land wherever possible, including opportunities for offsetting credits for supply to developers under the Gloucestershire Climate and Nature Fund. To emphasise the importance of biodiversity in our corporate decision making, we will include ecological impact assessments alongside climate change implications assessments in cabinet reports.

11.7    In proposing the amendment, Cllr Hay welcomed the opportunity to discuss a very important issue but stressed that it was big subject that no one was likely to get right the first time. The additional  resolution proposed therefore allowed for a continued review process.

 

11.8    The Chair adjourned the meeting for 15 minutes for members to consider the amendment, following which, an agreement was reached. The following amendment was accepted by the proposer and seconder of the original motion and became the substantive motion:

In 2019, this council declared a climate change emergency and committed to a carbon action plan. We believe that in addition to reducing our carbon outputs, ensuring the resilience of our ecosystem is essential to maintaining a healthy planet.

Council notes:

·         Biodiversity is essential for keeping our county’s unique and beautiful wildlife healthy, sustainable, and productive.

·         Biodiversity is relevant to many Council services and functions, such as planning, highways, and land/property management.

·         Tenants in our rural estates are already leading the way in ecological and biodiverse innovation.

The new obligations given to the county council under the Environment Act 2021. Specifically:

·         The introduction of a Local Nature Recovery Strategy, for which the county council is the lead authority.

·         The requirement for a minimum of 10% biodiversity net gains from all new development from 2023.

·         The county council is a member of Climate Leadership Gloucestershire which has identified biodiversity as well as food and farming as two of its strategic thematic priorities.

Therefore, Council resolves to:

·         Pass a declaration recognising the importance of biodiversity and committing all council decisions to give the same level of consideration to biodiversity as carbon when determining environmental impacts.

·         Call Cabinet to commit the Council to Hosting a Gloucestershire biodiversity week in which we can actively promote ways in which residents, schools, businesses and Parish and Town councils can get involved to help maintaining the biodiversity of our county.

·         Ask cabinet to consider how to best include biodiversity as part of our annual climate strategy review.

We in turn commit to lead by example and follow good biodiversity practices when supporting Parish and Town councils and other community groups.  We also endeavour to pursue a biodiversity net gain on council land wherever possible, including opportunities for offsetting credits for supply to developers under the Gloucestershire Climate and Nature Fund. To emphasise the importance of biodiversity in our corporate decision making, we will include ecological impact assessments alongside climate change implications assessments in cabinet reports.

11.9    Several members spoke of the biodiversity emergency currently unfolding. The UK was one of the most nature depleted countries in the world, it had the lowest levels of biodiversity in the G7 and was 3^rd lowest across Europe. As well as astronomical species decline, the UK was regularly losing vast amounts of tree cover and continued to pump tonnes of sewage into its rivers every day.

 

11.10  They also highlighted the importance of the Council’s role in helping to address this emergency. For example, it had an opportunity to consider the soil health in all its land management from roadside verges to its current 7,000 acres of rural estate, as well as putting more emphasis on improving biodiversity within all its decision making. As with the Climate Change Strategy, members recognised the Council could not do everything on its own, but it could be a leader in coordinating, promoting, raising awareness, and encouraging action within its communities.

 

11.11  It was recognised that communities in Gloucestershire were already doing a lot in this area, which should be celebrated and shared, but there also remained a level of resistance. Members shared examples of residents complaining about not mowing community areas during the wildflower season. There needed to be a wider cultural shift across the Council, its partners, and communities.

 

11.12  Cllr Hawthorne, Leader of Council, felt this motion spoke to the heart of what the Council did, working to change minds and attitudes about the role our communities could play in improving biodiversity. It could work to encourage the acceptance that there were different ways of doing things and ways that would often lead to greater benefit.

 

11.13  Members also spoke of some of the challenges around this motion. It was recognised that the resolutions did not come with additional funding and would therefore need to be absorbed into an already strained budget. It was felt that some of these issues were so big, it would need Government and even worldwide governments to take drastic action before any real progress could be made. Some members felt that this motion did not go far enough to address the extent of the challenge faced.

 

11.14  In terms of the rural estate and farmland in Gloucestershire, a member raised that farmers and rural communities faced a huge strategic crossroad, they were being asked to produce more food, under increasing financial pressure as well as trying to improve practises to reduce their impact on the environment.

 

11.15  In seconding the motion, Cllr Turner endorsed comments made around the scale of depletion this country had faced, reflecting that nature had been squeezed, stressed, and polluted out of our lives, but hoped with hard work, that space could be created again. She recognised the new responsibilities for local authorities deriving from the Environment Act, and GCC’s role as the Nature Partnership lead. It was stressed that this work needed to be properly resourced and supported by Council. Improvements to biodiversity would lead to huge benefits not just for the environment but economic, social, and health too. She looked forward to contributing to this council’s work on this vital area.

 

11.16  In summary, Cllr Gray thanked members for their contributions and broad support for the motion. He felt communities would welcome this commitment to lead from the Council and encouraged members to make such this continued to be in action and not just words.

 

11.17  The substantive motion was then put to the vote and it was unanimously

 

RESOLVEDthat

In 2019, this council declared a climate change emergency and committed to a carbon action plan. We believe that in addition to reducing our carbon outputs, ensuring the resilience of our ecosystem is essential to maintaining a healthy planet.

Council notes:

·         Biodiversity is essential for keeping our county’s unique and beautiful wildlife healthy, sustainable, and productive.

·         Biodiversity is relevant to many Council services and functions, such as planning, highways, and land/property management.

·         Tenants in our rural estates are already leading the way in ecological and biodiverse innovation.

The new obligations given to the county council under the Environment Act 2021. Specifically:

·         The introduction of a Local Nature Recovery Strategy, for which the county council is the lead authority.

·         The requirement for a minimum of 10% biodiversity net gains from all new development from 2023.

·         The county council is a member of Climate Leadership Gloucestershire which has identified biodiversity as well as food and farming as two of its strategic thematic priorities.

Therefore, Council resolves to:

·         Pass a declaration recognising the importance of biodiversity and committing all council decisions to give the same level of consideration to biodiversity as carbon when determining environmental impacts.

·         Call Cabinet to commit the Council to Hosting a Gloucestershire biodiversity week in which we can actively promote ways in which residents, schools, businesses and Parish and Town councils can get involved to help maintaining the biodiversity of our county.

·         Ask cabinet to consider how to best include biodiversity as part of our annual climate strategy review.

Motion 917 – Gloucestershire County Council to enshrine being a Care Leaver as a Protected Characteristic

11.18  Cllr Rebecca Halifax proposed, and Cllr Ben Evans seconded the following motion (this also reflected a friendly amendment from the Conservative Group):

This Council Notes:

1.    The Independent Review of Children’s Social Care, published in May 2022 (The “MacAlister review”), recognised the often negative outcomes for people with care experience and recommended that the government should make ‘Care Experienced’ a protected characteristic.

 

2.    That there is a range of barriers and discrimination care leavers can face throughout life, including but not limited to:

 

a.    70% of people who have been in care die earlier than would otherwise be expected

b.    Over half of those in custody up to the age of 21 have been in care

c.    A quarter of the homeless population in England and Wales has experienced of the care system.

 

3.    That many care experienced people in Gloucestershire are among the most resilient and intelligent in the County, and that as corporate parents we should be nurturing and supporting their talents and potential

4.    Care experienced young people can face additional barriers in fulfilling their potential such as having moved multiple times, and the services supporting them face considerable pressures.

5.    The introduction of the Equality Act in 2010, enshrining ‘protected characteristics’ and outlawing discrimination on the basis of these characteristics

6.    The passing of a Motion or policy to consider ‘care experience’ or being a ‘care leaver’ as a protected characteristic at other local authorities, including Blackburn, Cumberland and Sutton.

This Council Believes:

 

1.    Care leavers often face societal barriers, discrimination and poorer life outcomes than their peers

2.    These impacts mean it would be appropriate to treat those with ‘care experience’ as having a protected characteristic in relation to access to the range of Council services

3.    The Public Sector Equality Duty requires public bodies, such as councils, to eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment, and victimisation of people with protected characteristics.

4.    We can play a role, both directly and through the Local Government Association (LGA), in calling for care experience to be included in future revisions of the Equalities Act and in the meantime encourage partners in Gloucestershire to also consider ‘care experience’ as a protected characteristic to build a Gloucestershire ‘corporate family’.

5.    Although what is included in the national legal definition is determined through the Westminster Parliament, as a Council we can adopt this as part of our own practices now

6.    As corporate parents, we have a responsibility to do everything we can to support the best possible outcomes for our children

7.    Councillors should be champions of the children in and leaving our care and challenge the negative attitudes and prejudice that exists in all aspects of society

8.    In addition to considering care experience as a protected characteristic, where possible as a Council we should look to take additional steps to support our care leavers and level the playing field in relation to their future opportunities and outcomes

This Council Resolves the following to be considered as part of the new Corporate Parenting Strategy

 

1.    That future decisions made and policies adopted by the council should be assessed through the Equality Impact Assessment to determine the impact of changes on people with care experience, alongside those who formally share a protected characteristic.

2.    That in the delivery of the public sector equality duty the council includes care experience in the publication and review of equality objectives and the annual publication of information relating to people who share a protected characteristic in services and employment

3.    That this council will treat care experience as if it were a protected characteristic

4.    To write to and formally call upon other Councils and partners within Gloucestershire to treat care experience as a protected characteristic until such time as it may be introduced by legislation

5.    Consider the viability of extending the Council tax-exemption for our care-leavers from age 21 to 24 being introduced from the 2024-25 Budget onwards

6.    To explore options for making extending existing travel grants currently available for 16-19 year old care-experienced young people up to age 24 to help more of our care leavers access support to access educational or training opportunities (for example support with the cost of bus travel) to be funded in the County council Budget from 2024-25 onwards.

7.    To call on Cabinet to lead on facilitating an awareness campaign in the County about the discrimination care leavers can face, and promoting the skills talent and potential of our care leavers.

8.    To call on Cabinet to direct our economic development team to work with the LEP, Sixth Forms, Colleges, local apprenticeship providers and local employers to incentivise local businesses who find employment opportunities for our care leavers and to help ensure our care leavers are in meaningful education, employment or training up to the age of 19.

9.    To call on Cabinet to direct Children’s Services to undertake some work on ensuring that the needs of care-leavers are given the appropriate priority within our assessments of and support offered for SEND.

10.   To request that the NHS locally to undertake a similar piece of work in regards to access to CAMHS, reporting back through the new Corporate Parenting Group joint boards that operate between all the local health partners.

 

11.19  In proposing the motion Cllr Halifax referred to the Equality Act 2010 which recognised the unique ways that certain characteristics could make an individual vulnerable or subject to abuse if they were no afforded special protections by the law. This motion today gave members the opportunity to cover care leavers with this same special protection and begin to try and tip the scales a little way in their favour. The member highlighted that it was common for care experienced people to face stigma and prejudice in their daily lives.

11.20  Referring to the previous Corporate Parenting report in March, it was noted that 4 out of 5 of care experienced young people had up-to-date Pathway plans and 4 out of 5 care leavers had regular visits from a social worker. However, on the other end of the scale, only 5 out of 10 care experienced young people were in employment or training and just 27 care leavers had gone on to higher education out of a cohort of 500. Anecdotal evidence showed, over and over, that children in care were often let down by the education system and also faced discrimination in the workplace.

 

11.21  Cllr Halifax reflected on her own experience being a mother, knowing her daughter had the support of a loving family at every turn and how difficult it must be for a young person to navigate life without that. Whilst acknowledging the council could not hope to provide the level of support for care leavers the average parent gave their child, this motion would give legal protections to help them on their journey.

 

11.22  Cllr Evans, as the seconder, echoed all the comments made by the proposer, he emphasised the resilience, skill, and perseverance he had seen in working with care experienced young people and felt this further solidified these outcomes were due to system failure.

 

11.23  Cllr Stephen Davies, Cabinet Member for Childrens Services, welcomed this motion which he felt showed an honest reflection of what the council did well, but also that there was much more that could be done. He shared some details with members from the Care Leavers Offer which included things such as financial grants for driving lessons, emergency assistance with food, assistance with clothing for special occasions etc. and had been produced in conjunction with the care leaver ambassadors. It was reiterated that work was ongoing to expand the Corporate Parenting Strategy which this motion gave further support to continue. On a final point, it was acknowledged that better joined up working was needed from partners across the board and welcomed this being highlighted in the motion.

11.24  On being put to the vote and it was unanimously

 

RESOLVEDthat

This Council Notes:

1.    The Independent Review of Children’s Social Care, published in May 2022 (The “MacAlister review”), recognised the often negative outcomes for people with care experience and recommended that the government should make ‘Care Experienced’ a protected characteristic.

 

2.    That there is a range of barriers and discrimination care leavers can face throughout life, including but not limited to:

 

a.    70% of people who have been in care die earlier than would otherwise be expected

b.    Over half of those in custody up to the age of 21 have been in care

c.    A quarter of the homeless population in England and Wales has experienced of the care system.

 

3.    That many care experienced people in Gloucestershire are among the most resilient and intelligent in the County, and that as corporate parents we should be nurturing and supporting their talents and potential

4.    Care experienced young people can face additional barriers in fulfilling their potential such as having moved multiple times, and the services supporting them face considerable pressures.

5.    The introduction of the Equality Act in 2010, enshrining ‘protected characteristics’ and outlawing discrimination on the basis of these characteristics

6.    The passing of a Motion or policy to consider ‘care experience’ or being a ‘care leaver’ as a protected characteristic at other local authorities, including Blackburn, Cumberland and Sutton.

This Council Believes:

 

1.    Care leavers often face societal barriers, discrimination and poorer life outcomes than their peers

2.    These impacts mean it would be appropriate to treat those with ‘care experience’ as having a protected characteristic in relation to access to the range of Council services

3.    The Public Sector Equality Duty requires public bodies, such as councils, to eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment, and victimisation of people with protected characteristics.

4.    We can play a role, both directly and through the Local Government Association (LGA), in calling for care experience to be included in future revisions of the Equalities Act and in the meantime encourage partners inGloucestershire to also consider ‘care experience’ as a protected characteristic to build a Gloucestershire ‘corporate family’.

5.    Although what is included in the national legal definition is determined through the Westminster Parliament, as a Council we can adopt this as part of our own practices now

6.    As corporate parents, we have a responsibility to do everything we can to support the best possible outcomes for our children

7.    Councillors should be champions of the children in and leaving our care and challenge the negative attitudes and prejudice that exists in all aspects of society

8.    In addition to considering care experience as a protected characteristic, where possible as a Council we should look to take additional steps to support our care leavers and level the playing field in relation to their future opportunities and outcomes

This Council Resolves the following to be considered as part of the new Corporate Parenting Strategy

 

1.    That future decisions made and policies adopted by the council should be assessed through the Equality Impact Assessment to determine the impact of changes on people with care experience, alongside those who formally share a protected characteristic.

2.    That in the delivery of the public sector equality duty the council includes care experience in the publication and review of equality objectives and the annual publication of information relating to people who share a protected characteristic in services and employment.

3.    That this council will treat care experience as if it were a protected characteristic.

4.    To write to and formally call upon other Councils and partners within Gloucestershire to treat care experience as a protected characteristic until such time as it may be introduced by legislation.

5.    Consider the viability of extending the Council tax-exemption for our care-leavers from age 21 to 24 from the 2024-25 Budget onwards.

6.    To explore options extending existing travel grants currently available for 16-19 year old care-experienced young people up to age 24 to help more of our care leavers access support to access educational or training opportunities (for example support with the cost of bus travel) to be funded in the County council Budget from 2024-25 onwards.

7.    To call on Cabinet to lead on facilitating an awareness campaign in the County about the discrimination care leavers can face, and promoting the skills talent and potential of our care leavers.

8.    To call on Cabinet to direct our economic development team to work with the LEP, Sixth Forms, Colleges, local apprenticeship providers and local employers to incentivise local businesses who find employment opportunities for our care leavers and to help ensure our care leavers are in meaningful education, employment or training up to the age of 19.

9.    To call on Cabinet to direct Children’s Services to undertake some work on ensuring that the needs of care-leavers are given the appropriate priority within our assessments of and support offered for SEND.

10.   To request that the NHS locally to undertake a similar piece of work in regards to access to CAMHS, reporting back through the new Corporate Parenting Group.

 

Motion 918 – The future of Community Meals services

11.25  Cllr John Bloxsom proposed, and Cllr David Drew seconded the following motion:

Council recognises and values the county council’s Community Meals service which has been an essential service enabling older people and vulnerable adults to maintain or regain their independence and remain living in their own home for as long as possible.

 

This includes those who have just come out of hospital or need extra support to prepare a hot meal for a short period of time or who may need help longer term with preparing hot meals and may also need other support from adult social care.

 

We note that the countywide service delivered by the previous provider failed with no bids. We commend the work of staff, who at short notice, contacted recipients, carers, and family members to seek to put alternative arrangements in place.

 

Council notes, however, that there are now reported to be just 60 users of the County funded service whereas there were stated to have been 481 recipients of the GCC funded service at the time when the tender failed in December 2022.

 

Council further notes that there are a range of providers have been engaged on short contracts of between six and 12 months and that these include local charities, local community interest companies and local small businesses.

 

Council believes the service should meet the needs of recipients across Gloucestershire, be procured and funded on a sustainable basis, and to that end Council asks that the Scrutiny Committee to continue to receive updates.

 

We welcome an examination of the lessons learned for how the Council procures community meals and requests that the report, prepared for the Adult’s Cabinet Members, with recommendations for how we procure community meals moving forward, be shared with the Scrutiny Committee.

 

11.26  Cllr Bloxsom stated this motion had been prompted by the recent demise of the community meals service which had been successfully delivered for many years, reaching a peak of 740 individuals in May 2021. This service had always been valued as a part of the hospital discharge care and support package, and was also offered to house bound or vulnerable adults. It was noted that contact with the staff delivering the meals may be the only social contact that individual received in a day. Members had heard directly from constituents who had real concern around the changes being made and had led to distress and uncertainty.

 

11.27  From its peak in May 2021, members had heard from recent reports to scrutiny that the most recent check now suggested only 65 residents needed to continue to receive this service. It was queried whether the council were satisfied that the need of the hundreds of residents now not in receipt of support was being adequately met. He felt this was an ongoing issue that scrutiny needed to monitor.

 

11.28  Cllr Drew reserved his right as seconder.

 

11.29  Cllr Spivey, Chair of the Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee, fully supported this motion and agreed with the need for scrutiny to continue to monitor this and report back if they felt further action was required. Whilst recognising officers had worked very hard to address the contract withdrawal, the numbers accessing the service had decreased dramatically which caused some concern.

 

11.30  Members noted that many communities had stepped up and offered hyperlocal solutions in place of the previous countywide contract, and that this should not be seen as a bad thing. Examples were given of local services who were now offering outstanding quality food from local producers and being delivered by local people. They felt the corporate response was not always the best response and really welcomed this unforeseen benefit.

 

11.31  Cllr Allaway-Martin, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care Commissioning, thanked members for the very considered motion and whilst sharing members surprise at the sheer drop in access to the service, offered reassurance that officers had made sufficient contact with every service user to address their needs. In some circumstances family had stepped in, some individuals had a change in circumstance, and some had chosen to access more local services. This was a working progress and welcomed the opportunity to bring a full report to scrutiny for sufficient review.

 

11.32  Cllr Drew, as seconder, echoed comments made by members and reinforced the importance of this motion. It concerned vulnerable residents who, in the short run, may have felt let down. There were certainly lessons to be learnt around contract management and re-procurement to ensure this situation did not happen again.

 

11.33  In summing up, Cllr Bloxsom thanked members for their responses and welcomed the constructive debate. The further investigations via scrutiny would enable members to ensure need was being adequately met, review the suitability of contracts and be clear on what the longer-term plan was.

 

11.34  On being put to the vote and it was unanimously

 

RESOLVEDthat

 

Council recognises and values the county council’s Community Meals service which has been an essential service enabling older people and vulnerable adults to maintain or regain their independence and remain living in their own home for as long as possible.

 

This includes those who have just come out of hospital or need extra support to prepare a hot meal for a short period of time or who may need help longer term with preparing hot meals and may also need other support from adult social care.

           

We note that the countywide service delivered by the previous provider failed with no bids. We commend the work of staff, who at short notice, contacted recipients, carers, and family members to seek to put alternative arrangements in place.

 

Council notes, however, that there are now reported to be just 60 users of the County funded service whereas there were stated to have been 481 recipients of the GCC funded service at the time when the tender failed in December 2022.

 

Council further notes that there are a range of providers have been engaged on short contracts of between six and 12 months and that these include local charities, local community interest companies and local small businesses.

 

Council believes the service should meet the needs of recipients across Gloucestershire, be procured and funded on a sustainable basis, and to that end Council asks that the Scrutiny Committee to continue to receive updates.

 

We welcome an examination of the lessons learned for how the Council procures community meals and requests that the report, prepared for the Adult’s Cabinet Members, with recommendations for how we procure community meals moving forward, be shared with the Scrutiny Committee.