Agenda item

The following motion had been submitted in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 3.40, moved by Cllr Niall Innes, seconded by Cllr Tony Riordan:

 

“Council notes that:

 

Recent reports into the grooming/child rape gang scandal that has rocked communities across the UK are deeply concerning.

 

The lack of formal review into this scandal fails to ensure justice for the victims and punishment for the perpetrators.

 

Neighbouring Middlesbrough has been named as One of 50 Towns Where Child Exploitation Gangs Have Operated.

 

There is public desire to see this matter properly investigated with a recent survey suggesting 76% of Britons support an inquiry.

 

Council believes that:

 

• We have a duty to protect innocent and vulnerable youngsters from exploitation.

• This is a scandal that should be rooted out entirely and investigated by the full might of the British state.

• This matter transcends party politics and is something we should be united in not only condemning but ensuring a full inquiry is undertaken.

• The safeguarding minister Jess Phillips’ decision to block a public inquiry into the Oldham grooming gangs is inexplicable.

• The full force of the law is used to endure those at the heart of these ‘gangs’ are brought to justice, and a review undertaken into the failings of authorities to protect victims.

 

Council resolves:

 

• To request that the Leader of the Council and Chief Executive write separately to the Prime Minister & Home Secretary to outline the Council’s desire for the Government to enact a full public inquiry in to Grooming Gangs.

•That the Leader of the Council engages with local stakeholders and meets with them alongside other Group Leaders to discuss what this Council can do to robustly support and protect young people of this borough most at risk.”

 

Moved by Cllr Paul Rowling, seconded by Cllr Bob Cook that the motion be amended as follows:

 

“Council notes that:

 

Recent reports into the grooming/child rape gang scandal that has rocked communities across the UK are deeply concerning.

 

Child sexual abuse and violence are the most vile and horrific of crimes.

 

For decades, young women and girls have been let down by a statewide failure to protect them from abuse and sexual violence.

 

Perpetrators of these vile crimes must be punished to the full extent of the law, and the victims must be protected and supported.

 

That a wide-ranging Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IISCSA) was set up under the Inquires Act in 2015, led by Prof Alexis Jay (the ‘Jay inquiry’).

 

The Jay inquiry took place over 7 years, cost £200million, took evidence from over 6,000 victims of child sexual abuse, and in 2022 made 20 key recommendations.

 

That the Government has declared that it is determined to act and strengthen the law, with the view that nobody should ever be victim to these heinous crimes ever again. It has already began implementing the Jay inquiry recommendations via The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill.

 

Since coming into office, the Safeguarding Minister has met with Professor Alexis Jay and with survivors of abuse to consult on the best way forward.

 

There has been a 25% increase in arrests under the Grooming Gangs Taskforce between July and September 2024.

 

The action announced by the Home Secretary on Thursday 16th January that:

·         allows survivors and victims to ask for their cases to be reopened and reviewed where action was not taken,

·         requests officers look again at unsolved and closed grooming gang cases, backed by additional funding for stronger investigations,

·         provides national backing for locally led inquiries.

 

Council believes that:

• We have a duty to protect innocent and vulnerable youngsters from exploitation.

• This matter transcends party politics and is something we should unite in condemning

• The full force of the law is used to ensure those at the heart of these ‘gangs’ are brought to justice, and a review undertaken into the failings of authorities to protect victims.

Council resolves:

To write to the Home Secretary, to

• Support the work of the cross-Government group dedicated to implementing the recommendations set out in Professor Alexis Jay’s IISCSA;

• Call for continued consultation with survivors, victims, and support groups to ensure their voices guide future actions; and

• Request that the Government considers commissioning a new targeted public inquiry, focusing specifically on:

·         Gaps, if any, in existing safeguarding efforts and measures, including areas not fully explored by the Jay Inquiry; and

·         Any aspects not covered by the measures announced by the Home Secretary on 16 January 2025.

 

That the Leader of the Council engages with local stakeholders and meets with them alongside other Group Leaders to discuss what this Council can do to robustly support and protect young people of this borough most at risk.”

 

Cllr Niall Innes raised a point of order that he felt the amendment to the motion should not be allowed as in line with Constitution para 3.50 (a), the amendment negated the original motion.

 

The Worshipful the Mayor ruled that the amendment did not negate the original motion.

 

Following debate, the amendment was put to the vote (25 votes in favour; 25 votes against). The Worshipful the Mayor exercised his casting vote against the amendment and it was not carried.

 

There were no more amendments.

 

Following debate and in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 3.65, it was requested that a recorded vote be taken on the substantive motion, which was supported by at least a quarter of the Members present.

 

Members in favour of the substantive motion:-

 

Cllr Stefan Barnes, Cllr Diane Clarke OBE, Cllr John Coulson, Cllr Ian Dalgarno, Cllr Kevin Faulks, Cllr Jason French, Cllr John Gardner, Cllr Ray Godwin, Cllr Lynn Hall, Cllr Elsi Hampton, Cllr Stefan Houghton, Cllr Niall Innes, Cllr Mohammed Mazi, Cllr Jack Miller, Cllr Mick Moore, Cllr Sufi Mubeen, Cllr David Reynard, Cllr Stephen Richardson, Cllr Tony Riordan, Cllr Andrew Sherris, Cllr Hugo Stratton, Cllr Ted Strike, Cllr Emily Tate, Cllr Laura Tunney, Cllr Hilary Vickers, Cllr Marcus Vickers, Cllr Sylvia Walmsley, Cllr Alan Watson and Cllr Sally Ann Watson.

 

Members against the substantive motion:-

 

Cllr Jim Beall, Cllr Pauline Beall, Cllr Michelle Bendelow, Cllr Clare Besford, Cllr Marc Besford, Cllr Carol Clark, Cllr Nigel Cooke, Cllr Robert Cook, Cllr Richard Eglington, Cllr Lisa Evans, Cllr Nathan Gale, Cllr Barbara Inman, Cllr Eileen Johnson, Cllr Mrs Ann McCoy, Cllr Paul Rowling, Cllr Norma Stephenson OBE, Cllr Mick Stoker, Cllr Marilyn Surtees, Cllr Katie Weston, Cllr Paul Weston and Cllr Barry Woodhouse.

 

29 for the motion

21 against the motion

 

The substantive motion was carried and it was:-

 

RESOLVED

 

Council notes that:

 

Recent reports into the grooming/child rape gang scandal that has rocked communities across the UK are deeply concerning.

 

The lack of formal review into this scandal fails to ensure justice for the victims and punishment for the perpetrators.

 

Neighbouring Middlesbrough has been named as One of 50 Towns Where Child Exploitation Gangs Have Operated.

 

There is public desire to see this matter properly investigated with a recent survey suggesting 76% of Britons support an inquiry.

 

Council believes that:

 

• We have a duty to protect innocent and vulnerable youngsters from exploitation.

• This is a scandal that should be rooted out entirely and investigated by the full might of the British state.

• This matter transcends party politics and is something we should be united in not only condemning but ensuring a full inquiry is undertaken.

• The safeguarding minister Jess Phillips’ decision to block a public inquiry into the Oldham grooming gangs is inexplicable.

• The full force of the law is used to endure those at the heart of these ‘gangs’ are brought to justice, and a review undertaken into the failings of authorities to protect victims.

 

Council resolves:

 

• To request that the Leader of the Council and Chief Executive write separately to the Prime Minister & Home Secretary to outline the Council’s desire for the Government to enact a full public inquiry in to Grooming Gangs.

•That the Leader of the Council engages with local stakeholders and meets with them alongside other Group Leaders to discuss what this Council can do to robustly support and protect young people of this borough most at risk.