Agenda item

Where a motion concerns an executive function, nothing passed can be actioned until approved by the Executive or an officer with the relevant delegated power.

Motion 1: Fair votes now

Motion 2: Save Islington’s buses

Motion 3: Welcoming refugees, migrants and asylum seekers to Islington

Motion 4: Solidarity with Ukraine migrants in Islington

Motion 1: Fair Votes Now

The Mayor advised that a proposed amendment to the motion was circulated in the second despatch of papers.

The motion was moved by Councillor Hamdache. Councillor Russell seconded. Councillor Ward moved his amendment.

Councillor Hamdache exercised his right of reply on the motion. Councillor Ward exercised his right of reply on the amendment.

The amendment was put to the vote and CARRIED.

The motion as amended was put to the vote and CARRIED.

RESOLVED:

(i)     To call for a national review of voting systems in all elections in England and UK elections;

(ii)    To oppose this Conservative Government’s efforts to remove existing PR systems, and to write a letter to Priti Patel condemning the removal of the supplementary vote from London’s elections for Mayor;

(iii)  To consult young people on their choice of voting system for Youth Council elections.

Save Islington’s Buses

The Mayor advised that an alteration to the motion had been circulated in the second despatch of papers and this was formally noted.

The Mayor noted that the motion asked the Council to express its support for the RMT and all other trade unions taking industrial action this year. As the majority of councillors present were members of trade unions, those members held an interest in this motion, as detailed in the Council’s register of interests.

Councillor Hyde moved that, under paragraph 14.2 of the Member Code of Conduct, a dispensation should be granted for those councillors to vote on a matter in which they hold an interest, otherwise the number of persons prohibited from participating in any particular business would be so great as to impede the transaction of the business.  This was put to the vote and the dispensation was granted.

Councillor Ozdemir moved the motion. Councillor Convery seconded. Councillors Graham and Russell contributed to the debate.

The motion was put to the vote and CARRIED.

RESOLVED:

(i)    To call on Central Government to agree a long-term funding deal with TfL that would protect public transport and active travel investment in London;

(ii)   To campaign to save the Number 4 bus route and oppose cuts to bus routes in Islington;

(iii) To work with the Mayor of London to increase the amount of local people walking, wheeling or cycling;

(iv) To support the RMT union and all other trade unions taking action this year to protect workers’ pensions and conditions, oppose job cuts and call for a proper pay rise.

Motion 3: Welcoming refugees, migrants and asylum seekers to Islington

The Mayor advised that an alteration to the motion had been circulated in the second despatch of papers and this was formally noted.

Councillor Cinko-Oner moved the motion. Councillors Staff and Jegorovas-Armstrong seconded.

The motion was put to the vote and CARRIED.

RESOLVED:

(i)    To write to the Government to publicly oppose plans to send asylum seekers to Rwanda and to support welcoming all migrants, refugees and asylum seekers in the UK;

(ii)   To call on the Government to seek to expand safe and legal routes for refugees, migrants and asylum seekers to come to the UK, properly fund local authorities so they can meet the diverse needs of the communities they serve and make legal aid available for immigration cases;

(iii) To write to Arsenal Football Club, asking them to reconsider their sponsorship with the Rwandan Government following its role in the UK Government’s shameful proposals;

(iv) To continue welcoming all migrants, refugees and asylum seekers who wish to make Islington their home, in line with the council’s pledge to be a borough of sanctuary.;

(v)   To share and develop educational resources for schools to support refugees, like Educational Above All (EAA) resources for Afghan and Ukrainian refugee children;

(vi) To share resources with refugees and asylum seekers about the benefits of joining a trade union;

(vii)          To celebrate Independence Day of Ukraine on Wednesday 24th August with an event where refugees can meet relevant Islington Council Staff, ward councillors and partner organisations;

(viii)        To offer support to Ukrainian refugees who are hosted in Islington to ensure they have access to vital services and feel at home in our borough, and inform host residents of the opportunity to welcome refugees through Community Sponsorship;

(ix) To continue to lobby the government to reform the No Recourse to Public Funds condition so that people are no longer blocked from fully participating in society for years while they wait for their status to be resolved. We will continue to put pressure on Central Government to put in place a fully-functional Windrush Compensation Scheme.

Motion 4: Solidarity with Ukraine migrants in Islington

The Council formally noted that the motion had been withdrawn.