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There was submitted a notice of motion by Councillors Andy Doig and Cameron in the following terms:-
“This Council believes that the election of another Tory led Westminster Government would be detrimental to the well being of Renfrewshire’s children, and looks forward to SNP MP’s representing Renfrewshire who will promote positive action to improve the position of Renfrewshire’s children by
• Pushing for child tax credits and child benefit to be uprated instead of frozen as the Conservatives plan.
• Promoting action that supports in-work families by calling for an increase in the minimum wage to £8.70 by the end of the next parliament.
• Supporting an increase in the work allowance – helping those in work benefit from their earnings.
• Delivering an end to austerity and oppose the renewal of nuclear weapons to help fund a further expansion of childcare.
• The SNP Government has already extended free childcare provision to 600 hours and has pledged that if re-elected at the next Holyrood election, childcare provision will be extended further still to 1,140 hours per year”.
In terms of Standing Order 20, Councillor Andy Doig, seconded by Councillor Lawson, then moved the motion.
Councillor Holmes, seconded by Councillor Grady, moved as a first amendment that Council notes that Full Fiscal Autonomy as favoured by the SNP would mean a £7.6billion deficit in Scotland’s finances. If Scotland were to be fully fiscally autonomous today this would result in a minimum cut of 11.4% available for child tax and child benefit, resources available to support in-work families including resources available to uprate the minimum wage and the work allowance and in the funding available to provide childcare provision. Council notes it would also require further additional cuts of £30million from the services we provide including education, social work, roads and other important matters.
Councillor McCartin, seconded by Councillor J MacLaren, moved as a second amendment that Council recognises the hypocrisy of the SNP in saying they will support childcare provision in a Westminster context, when their record in Holyrood has been of appalling neglect of support for children and young people. The SNP in Holyrood took over two years, after they had received millions of pounds in funding from the Westminster Government to start to provide extra pre-school hours; and to provide free school meals for all P1-3 year olds. There is as yet no action on the “Pupil Premium” which supports every individual child from a deprived background, and which has been so successfully rolled out in England, but instead we are now getting an “attainment fund” where not one penny is coming to Renfrewshire, even although it has some of the most deprived areas in Scotland.
Council further recognises the damage done by the SNP in slashing places at local colleges for those students, many from very underprivileged backgrounds, which has prevented many such young people from progressing a career in further education.
SEDERUNT
Councillor Mylet left the meeting prior to the roll being called.
On the roll being called, between the motion and the first amendment, the following members voted for the first amendment: Councillors B Brown, Murrin, M Devine, Grady, J Sharkey, M Sharkey, Kelly Williams, E Devine, Glen, Henry, M Macmillan, Caldwell, Hood, I McMillan, Bibby, Gilmour, Clark, Provost Hall, Councillors Holmes, J MacLaren and Harte.
The following members voted for the motion: Councillors Perrie, Lawson, K MacLaren, M MacLaren, McGurk, McGee, Andy Doig, Audrey Doig, Noon, M Brown, McQuade and Nicolson.
The following members abstained: Councillors Mack and McCartin.
22 members having voted for the first amendment, 12 members having voted for the motion and 2 members having abstained, a vote was then taken between the first amendment and the second amendment.
On the roll being called, the following members voted for the second amendment: Councillors Mack, McCartin and J MacLaren.
The following members voted for the first amendment: Councillors B Brown, Murrin, M Devine, Grady, J Sharkey, M Sharkey, Kelly, Williams, E Devine, Glen, Henry, M Macmillan, Caldwell, Hood, I McMillan, Bibby, Gilmour, Clark, Provost Hall, Councillors Holmes and Harte.
The following members voted for the second amendment: Councillors Mack, McCartin and J MacLaren.
The following members abstained: Councillors Perrie, Lawson, K MacLaren, M MacLaren, McGurk, McGee, Andy Doig, Audrey Doig, Noon, M Brown, McQuade and Nicolson.
21 members having voted for the first amendment, 3 members having voted for the second amendment and 12 members having abstained, the first amendment was accordingly declared carried.
DECIDED: Council notes that Full Fiscal Autonomy as favoured by the SNP would mean a £7.6billion deficit in Scotland’s finances. If Scotland were to be fully fiscally autonomous today this would result in a minimum cut of 11.4% available for child tax and child benefit, resources available to support in-work families including resources available to uprate the minimum wage and the work allowance and in the funding available to provide childcare provision. Council notes it would also require further additional cuts of £30million from the services we provide including education, social work, roads and other important matters.