Agenda item

            (Councillors Howard, Hussey, Hutchinson, Pankhurst and Spratt, having declared an interest in this item, left the meeting for the duration)

In accordance with notice on the agenda, Councillor Ferguson proposed:

“This Council notes with alarm the budget cut proposals put forward by the Department for the Economy to reduce university places, massively increase tuition fees, slash student financial support, cut the number of apprentices, and reduce or end the Educational Maintenance Allowance (EMA).

The Council supports an end to tuition fees and an increase in EMA and student financial support. Therefore, the Council agrees that these proposed actions and cuts are completely unacceptable, especially at a time when students across the city are already struggling to make ends meet. As noted by the NUS-USI, these cuts ‘have the potential to decimate the hopes and opportunities of an entire generation’ and could take away ‘their ability to survive day to day, and many will simply drop out of education’.

Therefore, the Council considers the proposals to constitute an unacceptable attack on students, young people, their futures and our education provision; and stands in solidarity with demands from the NUS-USI to oppose these cuts.

The Council will write to the Economy Minister to express our anger and opposition to these proposals and to encourage the Minister to abandon them. In that letter, the Council will invite the Minister to a meeting with Councillors and representatives of the student population, in order to fully understand and appreciate the breadth of our concerns and the danger his proposals present.

The Council calls on the wider Stormont Executive to refuse to give consent to these proposals and cuts and to take all necessary action to defend student places, student financial assistance, apprenticeships, the EMA and to oppose any increase in the cost of student tuition. Accordingly, the Council will write to each Executive Minister to this effect.

The Council also calls on the Finance Minister to work with the Minister for the Economy to find a sustainable solution to funding issues within the higher and further education sectors. The Council considers it utterly unacceptable that young people in our city should be made to pay the price for budgetary pressures and include in our letter to the Minister for Finance a demand that funding is found to secure the future for young people.

Finally, the Council recognises the role of Westminster budgets in creating difficulties for public spending locally and agrees to write to the treasury on behalf of local students to demand increased budgetary funding to stave off these proposals.”

The motion was seconded by Councillor Matt Collins.

Amendment

Moved by Alderman Kingston

Seconded by Councillor Brooks

      That the motion standing in the name of Councillor Ferguson and seconded by Councillor Matt Collins be amended, whereby the entire wording of the original motion is replaced with:

“This Council notes with alarm the draft budget settlement; notes the severe impact it could have on many Departments across the Executive, and in particular notes with concern the impact this is likely to have on young people in university, apprenticeships and training; and calls on the Finance Minister to recalibrate the budget settlement in order to focus on both health and skills of our young people.”

            The proposer of the motion did not accept the amendment and the Council therefore proceeded to vote on it.  Fourteen Members voted for the amendment, twenty-eight against and with nine no votes it was declared lost.

Amendment

Moved by Councillor McLaughlin

Seconded by Councillor Beattie

      That the motion standing in the name of Councillor Ferguson and seconded by Councillor Matt Collins be amended to insert the following between the final 2 paragraphs: 

“This Council recognises that many of these proposed budget cuts are as a result of the loss of EU funds due to Brexit.”

Therefore, the motion, as amended, would read:

“This Council notes with alarm the budget cut proposals put forward by the Department for the Economy to reduce university places, massively increase tuition fees, slash student financial support, cut the number of apprentices, and reduce or end the Educational Maintenance Allowance (EMA).

The Council supports an end to tuition fees and an increase in EMA and student financial support. Therefore, the Council agrees that these proposed actions and cuts are completely unacceptable, especially at a time when students across the city are already struggling to make ends meet. As noted by the NUS-USI, these cuts ‘have the potential to decimate the hopes and opportunities of an entire generation’ and could take away ‘their ability to survive day to day, and many will simply drop out of education’.

Therefore, the Council considers the proposals to constitute an unacceptable attack on students, young people, their futures and our education provision; and stands in solidarity with demands from the NUS-USI to oppose these cuts.

The Council will write to the Economy Minister to express our anger and opposition to these proposals and to encourage the Minister to abandon them. In that letter, the Council will invite the Minister to a meeting with Councillors and representatives of the student population, in order to fully understand and appreciate the breadth of our concerns and the danger his proposals present.

The Council calls on the wider Stormont Executive to refuse to give consent to these proposals and cuts and to take all necessary action to defend student places, student financial assistance, apprenticeships, the EMA and to oppose any increase in the cost of student tuition. Accordingly, the Council will write to each Executive Minister to this effect.

The Council also calls on the Finance Minister to work with the Minister for the Economy to find a sustainable solution to funding issues within the higher and further education sectors. The Council considers it utterly unacceptable that young people in our city should be made to pay the price for budgetary pressures and include in our letter to the Minister for Finance a demand that funding is found to secure the future for young people.

This Council recognises that many of these proposed budget cuts are as a result of the loss of EU funds due to Brexit.

Finally, the Council recognises the role of Westminster budgets in creating difficulties for public spending locally and agrees to write to the treasury on behalf of local students to demand increased budgetary funding to stave off these proposals.”

            The proposer agreed to accept the amendment.  The Council voted on the motion as amended by Councillor McLaughlin, which was now the substantive motion.  On a recorded vote, thirty-seven Members voted for it, thirteen against and with one no vote, it was declared carried.