History was made at last Tuesday's Full Council meeting when two school students from Highdown and Kendrick School moved a motion on my behalf for the council to give cheaper fares to young people under the age of 18 years. I feel the two young people, who spoke very eloquently put the case for Reading Buses to make fares for young people cheaper and this received unanimous support from councillors. There has been a bid by Reading Borough Council for financing reductions fares for young people from the Transport Innovation Fund and we are confident this bid will be successful.Watch this space!
Tuesday's debate showed that this Labour Administration is at the forefront of promoting young people taking part in activities and shaping decisions that affects their lives. I have attended and enjoyed many Youth Cabinets and I have attended the 11 Million Day campaign in order to get more young people involved in the decision making process. I addressed over 50 school students about being a councillor and making decisions. Whilst I enjoyed the day and found it uplifting I was challenged by many school students about my principles and they rightly put me under scrutiny about what the council is doing for young people.
One of the most valuable moments of the council was to hear a presentation from the head of social care and to hear to young people in care about their experiences. The two young people gave an excellent account of life in care and they showed that you can triumph in adversity. They are role models that have have shaped and influenced their lives through the Children in Care pledge. As a council we owe to the children in care to ensure the pledges that council unanimously agreed are successful in raising educational attainment for Young people in care and ensuring they are safe and prosper when leaving care.
TROOPER POTTS MEMORIAL
I believe one of the other defining moments of Tuesday's council wasn't the spat over City Status, this will gather momentum over the next 18 months whether certain councillors like it or not, but it was the motion to support a memorial to Trooper Potts. I recommend that you go and research this brave and unselfish hero who spent 48 hours saving the life of a fellow soldier, also from Reading. For this brave act Trooper Potts received the Victoria Cross., the only soldier from receive this accolade. A memorial would be fitting to remember his extraordinary actions.
HOMOPHOBIC BULLYING
I fully supported the motion of deploring homophobic bullying of young people. I was moved by the personal experiences of some Tory councillors who described being bullied by homophobes in their youth and the feelings of isolation that they felt. Homophobic bullying in some of the worst kind of abuse and it is also one of the forms of bullying that is carried out by many in society, who would not dream of bullying other sections of society.
The debate had two elements, firstly whether Reading Borough Council was involved with Stonewall. There was a view from the Tories that we weren't engaged. Jon Hartley checked this and he verified that Reading Schools are actively engaged with Stonewall to combat homophobic bullying and to raise awareness of about diversity in sexuality amongst the population. I for one as Lead Councillor will ensure that Stonewall is promoted and used by Schools.
The other, more contentious debate was about the past, and present issue of whether there are homophobes in the Tory Party. I believe it is right to remind the Tories of Clause 28, Thatchers hard right homophobic views and Major's "back to basics" campaign that promoted the "family" as the only way forward at the detriment to others. Whilst Reading Tories maybe enlightened in this issue some of the Tories I met from other boroughs are not as tolerant. Cameron may have apologised for previous Tory administration misdemeanours, such as Clause 28 but he is reinventing the assault on other lifestyles by financially promoting marriage at the expense of one parent families, single people and same sex relationships. As a married person I chose my lifestyle, but it doesn't mean it is the best and only way of life. As the Levellers once said, There is only way one of life and that is your own.
COUNCIL RENTS 2%
I was surprised that the recommended rent for council house tenants of just over 2% by the Reading Federation of Tenants was passed unanimously by the full council. This rise Will assist in the retention of council houses by Reading and pay for improvements to homes and the wider area. Private tenants will also benefit from improved lighting, drainage and green spaces from the Housing Revenue Account. Council tenants will be pleased that the Decent Homes Standard for all council homes will be met by this council.
Labour are proud to invest in council homes and keep the rents as cheap as possible and to ensure pensioners get their homes decorated and gardens looked after and whilst the Tories and Liberal Democrats may criticise the way council housing is funded nationally it is only Labour in Reading that will guarantee retention and investment in council housing and it is only Labour that works in total partnership with tenants representatives to ensure council tenants voices are heard.Whilst Lead Councillor for Housing I met with Margaret Beckett, then Housing Minister and Martin Salter to lobby for more money for Reading Tenants. We were successful in getting money from the Government in order to cut the rents by half and still invest in council housing.
No comments:
Post a Comment