Agenda item

To consider the enclosed Motions on Notice submitted under Procedure Rule 11.

a)    Redditch against Hate Crimes

A Notice of Motion had been submitted by Councillor Juliet Brunner in respect of Redditch against Hate Crimes.  This was seconded by Councillor Bill Hartnett.

In proposing the Motion Councillor Brunner explained that the Motion had come about as Members had been approached by residents asking for this to be brought forward.  Councillor Brunner reassured all the communities in Redditch that they were valued and supported and that any acts of Hate Crime would not be tolerated.  The Redditch Anti Hate Partnership was one of the first to be set up in 1995, and pre dated the Crime and Disorder Act.  There had not been an increase in such crimes, but the Council should not be complacent and anyone who had witnessed or experienced such a crime should report it as soon as possible, in order to work together to support officers in dealing with such matters.

In seconding the Motion Councillor Hartnett thanked all the residents who had sent emails to many Members, with a draft notice of motion which this had been based on.  Council was reminded that Redditch had a long and proud history of diversity, tolerance and of communities working together.  Whilst it was unfortunate that the public felt the need to move a notice, it was an opportunity to reaffirm the Council’s rejection of racism, xenophobia and hate crime.  Councillor Hartnett highlighted the work of the Council’s Community Safety Partnership and in particular the anti-hate crime programme which was instigated by them and rolled out across the county, together with the good working relationships which had been built up with community leaders throughout the town.  Redditch was made up of diverse communities with a great community spirit, coming together at many events held throughout the year.  Councillor Hartnett reminded Members that Redditch had been the first town in the county to welcome refugees from Syria.  In supporting the motion he concluded that xenophobia and hate had no place in our society and would not be tolerated in Redditch.

A number of Members spoke in support of the Motion with Councillor Paul Swansborough bringing forward an amendment to the original Motion, to insert the phrase “and working” into the final sentence of the Motion.  This was agreed by the proposer and seconder and subsequently by the Council.

RESOLVED that

The Motion be agreed in the following terms:

"We in Redditch are proud to live in a diverse and tolerant society. Racism, xenophobia and hate crimes have no place in our town or country. 

The Elected representatives on Redditch Borough Council, condemn racism, xenophobia and hate crimes unequivocally. We will not allow hate to become acceptable. 

Councillors and officers of Redditch Borough Council will continue to work to support local bodies and programmes such as the North Worcestershire Hate incident partnership, to prevent and tackle racism and xenophobia.

We reassure all people living and working in Redditch that they are valued members of our community.”

b)    Announcement of emergency temporary change to paediatric inpatient services at the Alexandra Hospital from September 2016

A Notice of Motion had been submitted by Councillor Bill Hartnett in respect of the announcement of emergency temporary change to paediatric inpatient services at the Alexandra Hospital from September 2016.  This was seconded by Councillor Juliet Brunner.

In proposing the Motion Councillor Hartnett thanked the other political groups for supporting it.  He highlighted that the aim of the motion was three fold, to enable the people to have their say, to allow potential other providers to have a say if they chose to and to enable the public to understand what was going on and what the long term plan was for the hospital.

Councillor Hartnett advised that since the Motion had been brought forward both groups had met with senior officers of the Worcestershire Health Trust.  The Council was in support of the staff at the hospital and had campaigned for its services for a long time.  The following points had been reiterated at the meeting:

·         20% of Redditch families do not have access to a car

·         Access was a major issue which needed to be resolved, not only for patients, but also for visitors and staff.

·         The mortality rate for Redditch was the worst in the County by 5 years.

·         Redditch was one of the fastest growing areas in the county – with an estimated 20,000 homes being built in Redditch and Bromsgrove over the next 20 years.

·         Warwickshire was only a matter of yards away from the hospital, with residents in Alcester, Studley and Bidford relying on the hospital. However, Warwickshire had been excluded from the consultations.

·         The Trust remained in “special measures” with a deficit now estimated at £67m.

·         The high vacancy rate and the continued cost and need to use locum consultants.

Members were reminded of the work of the Save the Alex campaigners and reaffirmed the support from the Council.  Councillor Hartnett highlighted the alliance, which had been forged over the last 5 years, with the 3 local councils and corresponding MPs.  This alliance had lobbied government ministers and civil servants tirelessly.

In seconding the Motion Councillor Brunner unequivocally gave the support of her Group and endorsed the comments of the Leader.  It was highlighted that there was not a single family in Redditch who would not have had contact with the hospital and took the opportunity to praise the staff that had to live with this ongoing uncertainty.  She commented on what she considered to be a poor communications strategy of the Trust, together with the importance of the Council and its residents being given the opportunity to have a say in any future plans.  Councillor Brunner also gave details of a meeting which had been chaired by Karen Lumley MP alongside the Trust where the option of a shuttle bus between sites had been discussed and further meetings which would take place.  She concurred that all such areas should have been thought through at the outset.  It was important that all concerned stood together to bring this matter to a satisfactory and speedy outcome. 

A number of Members spoke in favour of the Motion and reiterated the points already made, but also highlighted a number of other areas.  Councillors Pattie Hill and Nina Wood-Ford in their role on the Worcestershire Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee assured Members that they continued to raise the issue of the Hospital at the meetings of this Committee.

Whilst thanking those residents that had attended, Councillor Brunner shared her disappointment in there not being a large number present and stated that it was important that residents made their voices heard.  This was supported by Councillor Hartnett in his summing up and he urged residents to take part in any consultation in order to put across the message of clear support and the need for sustainable and accessible services.  Councillor Hartnett confirmed that the actions within the Motion would be put in place as soon as possible and the fight to retain the services would continue unabated in partnership with our adjoining authorities.

RESOLVED that

The Motion be agreed in the following terms:

“Council notes with dismay the recent announcement from Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Trust (WAHT) with regard to an emergency temporary change to paediatric inpatient services at the Alexandra Hospital from September 2016 which is the latest in a series of changes made to the detriment of our local hospital using the “cover / shield” of safety – all in advance of the much publicised public consultation. Whilst the council fully supports and endorses the need for services to be safe we need to be assured as to what has been done to mitigate this decision and that this does not represent the easy option and a further downgrade of services to the people of Redditch and surrounding areas.

As agreed before the Council’s policy is to look towards Birmingham. This is further proof that this is the correct position and that the Acute Services provision in Worcestershire is simply unsustainable in its current form and we believe will be proven when the Sustainability and Transformation Plan is published.

The Council need to be assured that this isn’t a permanent move in the same way the removal of maternity was. When the latest move was announced the Trust stated that the period between now and September will enable them to engage with the public on the reasons for the changes and how services will be affected:

Council

·         call upon the Chair and Chief Executive of WAHT to host a series of public consultation events in Redditch, Bromsgrove and Stratford to outline the reasons for the change, the actions already taken to address the situation and also what will be done to ensure this isn’t a permanent change;

·         call upon the Chair and Chief Executive of WAHT and the Redditch and Bromsgrove CCG Chief Operating Officer to attend the previously agreed Redditch Borough Council’s  Health Commission to address wider issues around the future of the Alex Hospital ;

·         to write to UHB and the Women and Children's Trusts in Birmingham  to ask  for their views on this matter.”