Agenda item

To consider the following motion:

·  Save Southwark’s Nurseries.

MOTION 1 – SAVE SOUTHWARK NURSERIES

(see page 14 of the main agenda)

This motion was considered prior to the guillotine having fallen.

Councillor Graham Neale, seconded by Councillor Catherine Bowman, moved the motion.

Councillor Dora Dixon-Fyle, seconded by Councillor Renata Hamvas, moved Amendment E.

Following debate (Councillors Nick Stanton, Lewis Robinson, Stephen Govier, Tim McNally and Andy Simmons), Councillor Graham Neale exercised his right of reply.

Amendment E was put to the vote and declared to be carried.

The substantive motion was put to the vote and declared to be carried.

RESOLVED:

1.  That council assembly noted that Tenda Road and Bishop’s House children’s centres will remain open and this has always been the case and regrets the mendacious campaign by local Liberal Democrat councillors that gave the impression that these centres would close.

2.  That council assembly noted that the consultation will continue until 31 July 2012 and urges parents and relevant stakeholders to submit their views.

3.  That council assembly also noted that Southwark has had a real terms cut of 25% of its budget in the last 2 years – far greater than other local authorities including more affluent boroughs like Richmond.

4.  That it noted the hypocrisy of the local Liberal Democrat MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark, Simon Hughes, to campaign against nursery closures while voting to cut their funding.

5.  That council assembly calls on the leaders’ of each political group on the council and the local MP to write a joint letter to the Liberal Democrat Children’s Minister, Sarah Teather MP, urging her to rethink her cuts to nursery funding.

Note: This motion will be referred as a recommendation to the cabinet for consideration.