Agenda item

To consider the attached Motion.

Consideration was given to the above-named Motion.

The Leader of the Labour Group commenced by explaining that the Motion had been submitted to request that Council correct an equality injustice suffered by employees who had missed out on the Welsh Government’s Financial Recognition Scheme and to recognise and recompense the hard work and dedication of employees from Workforce Development, Early Years Childcare and Play, Families First and Flying Start who were all part of the Social Services Directorate.

These diligent and dedicated employees who were some of the lowest paid, had been working at the outset and throughout the course of the pandemic.  It was noted that when the Welsh Government’s Financial Recognition Scheme had first been announced this cohort of employees had been included to receive this payment but the policy had subsequently been amended to include only health and social care sectors.  The Leader of the Labour Group concluded by expressing his concern that this was an injustice, these employees very often worked side by side with their counterparts in health and social care and requested the Council to consider the Motion and recompense these employees of the authority.

The Executive Member for Education said that she had a great deal of sympathy for these staff who had been caught up in this situation and felt that it had been unfortunate that Welsh Government had changed the parameters of eligibility in the way that it did.  She expressed her concern that the Motion that had been put forward had the potential to create inconsistencies for the workforce across the Council and was likely to be quite divisive.  Within her own portfolio for example, education colleagues had worked tirelessly to either directly provide or support essential frontline services throughout the course of the pandemic and they continue to do so.  She also recognised that this hard work and dedication had been replicated across many other service areas of the organisation and was concerned that if the Motion was carried it could have a detrimental impact on staff in those areas.

The Executive Member continued by stating that it was an unfortunate situation of Welsh Government’s making and was not sure if it was appropriate for Council to intervene and whilst she was genuinely sympathetic to the staff involved, unfortunately for the reasons outlined above she would be unable to support the Motion.

The Executive Member for Environment advised that her comments were in a similar vein to the Executive Member for Education.  Whilst she hugely sympathised with the position these staff that had been put in from her point of view it was the impact and message this potentially would send to other frontline staff that had also been working throughout the pandemic from day one i.e. in her portfolio refuse collectors had continued to provide a service with no interruption, environmental health had been on the front line and housing solutions, just to name a few.  For the same reasons she also found it difficult to support the Motion.

A Member said he understood the comments made by the Executive Members and acknowledged that other colleagues had worked on the frontline during the pandemic.  However, the Council now had the opportunity to right the wrong that had been done and show its appreciation to the staff (some of the lowest paid) working on the frontline during the pandemic which, had allowed key workers to undertake their roles. 

The Executive Member for Social Services commenced by stating that this was very divisive policy that Welsh Government had set out but he referred to the facts:

-      17^th March, 2021 – the then Minister for Health and Social Care, Vaughan Gethin had made a statement that all health and social care staff would be paid £735 in recognition of their efforts during the pandemic.

-      24^th April, 2021 – Welsh Government issued guidance on the Social Care Financial Recognition Scheme at which point all social services staff including Families First and Flying Start were included and eligible for the payment.  This cohort of staff had been recognised twice in that policy.

-      June 2021 – Welsh Government updated the guidance stating that Families First and Flying Start service were no longer eligible for the payment.  This was despite evidence that had been provided to Welsh Government that staff had been working with families and children throughout the course of the pandemic.

The Executive Member continued by confirming that he together with his counterparts from across Gwent had raised their concerns with the Minister at meetings and in addition, the Leader and Members of the Executive had written to the Minister requesting that the decision be overturned.

In conclusion, he stated that it was disappointing the Members of the opposition groups at that time had not supported the action taken of the administration against a divisive Welsh Government policy.

The Leader of the Labour Group commenced by stating that this Motion had been brought to Council because it was a particular injustice. He said he differed with the comments made by the Executive Member for Social Services and pointed out that Welsh Government would end up having to pay 200,000 members of staff as part of this scheme and had provided the Council with hardship funding over the last two years.

He continued by stating that his focus was on valuing colleagues in Blaenau Gwent who had worked on the frontline without vaccinations looking after children.  These were some of the lowest paid staff who had gone the extra mile looking after children to allow key workers to attend work and they deserved to be treated the same as their colleagues in health and social care sector.  He concluded by proposing that the Motion be supported.  This proposal was seconded.

A recorded vote was, thereupon, requested.

In Support of the Motion – Councillors  P. Baldwin, D. Bevan, M. Cross, P. Edwards, L. Elias, K. Hayden,
H. McCarthy, J. Millard, M. Moore, J. C. Morgan, L. Parsons, K. Pritchard, T. Smith, S. Thomas, H. Trollope, D. Wilkshire, B. Willis and L. Winnett.

Against the Motion – Councillors J. Collins, M. Cook, N. Daniels, D. Davies, G. A. Davies, G. L. Davies, M. Day, D. Hancock, S. Healy, J. Hill, W. Hodgins, J. Holt, J. Mason, C. Meredith, J. P. Morgan, G. Paulsen, K. Rowson, B. Summers, B. Thomas, G. Thomas, J. Wilkins.

The Motion was, therefore, not carried.

RESOLVED, subject to the foregoing, that the above-named Motion be not supported.