Agenda item

(see pages 6-7 of the main agenda)

MOTION ON THEMED DEBATE: ACHIEVEMENTS OF SOUTHWARK’S YOUNG PEOPLE

Councillor Veronica Ward, seconded by Councillor Renata Hamvas, moved the motion.

Councillor Rosie Shimell, seconded by Councillor Graham Neale, moved Amendment A.

During debate on Amendment A (Councillors Peter John, Andy Simmons, Richard Livingstone, Toby Eckersley, Fiona Colley and Anood Al-Samerai), a procedural motion to move to the vote was moved by Councillor Tim McNally and seconded by Councillor Nick Stanton.  The procedural motion was put to the vote and declared to be lost.

Following further debate (Councillors Catherine Bowman, Neil Coyle, Adele Morris, Renata Hamvas and Nick Stanton), Amendment A was put the vote and declared to be lost.  The time allowed for the themed debate having expired, the substantive motion was put to the vote and declared to be carried.  Amendments B to D and G to H were formally noted, having not been moved and seconded at the meeting. 

RESOLVED:

1.  That council assembly recognises and celebrates the achievements of Southwark’s children and young people; their sporting achievements; their improving attainment including record GCSE results; their contribution to the arts especially music and drama and their contribution to our communities.

2.  That it be noted that this administration’s support for young people includes free healthy school meals for primary school children, keeping all our children's centres open, setting up a £3 million Youth Fund and setting up a Teenage Pregnancy Commission.  This council also notes the investment put into our leisure centres and this administration’s commitment to a leisure centre at the Elephant and Castle and to a continuation of community games despite financial constraints.

3.  That council assembly believes that sports can make a significant difference to the lives of young people and that it delivers a wide range of benefits, from improving young people’s health to encouraging team working and embedding discipline.  It is a core offer for all our young people, as well as an important element of our targeted interventions for vulnerable young people.

4.  That council assembly notes the significant reductions in funding for sports made by government:

·  Withdrawal of free school swimming

·  Withdrawal of funding to the School Sports Partnership

·  Withdrawal of funding available to the council and to national sporting bodies to support community led sport.

5.  That council assembly believes that despite these cuts it is vitally important that the council continues to ensure that young people in Southwark have access to sport and sporting opportunities.

6.  That council assembly notes the focus of the debate as outlined to all councillors in advance:

·  Showcasing the talents and potential of young people in Southwark

·  What sport means to young people, and the capacity of sport to open pathways to broader opportunities and achievements

·  How different sectors and partners can work together at a time when budgets are tight to maximise provision and access to sport for young people.

7.  That council assembly believes that securing future sporting opportunities in Southwark require the following questions to be discussed:

·  How can the council continue to ensure that young people have access to sport and sporting opportunities, with little direct funding, by working with the voluntary, community, educational and private sectors?

·  How can the council work to make sure that all resources available for sport, both facilities and available funding, are maximised across all departments and communities?

·  What are the most effective ways that the council can use its limited resources to encourage young people to get involved in sport?

8.  That council assembly calls on the cabinet to note the content of the debate and points raised to feed into a review of the council’s sports strategy which runs to 2013.

Note: The motion was referred as a recommendation to the cabinet for consideration.