Agenda item

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

"That this Council recognises that the uncapped cost of school uniforms and PE kits is causing financial hardship for many families across the borough. A recent poll from Save the Children NI revealed that a third of parents in Northern Ireland have had to borrow money to pay for their child’s uniform and PE items, while 6 in 10 parents were financially challenged trying to cover the cost. In recognition of this ongoing hardship, this Council will write to the Permanent Secretary of the Department of Education expressing concern for children and their parents and request that his department take action as a matter of urgency to address the long-standing problem."

            The motion was seconded by Councillor Kelly

Amendment

Moved by Councillor Doherty,

Seconded by Councillor de Faoite,

      That the following paragraphs be added to the end of the motion:

“and request that his Department put in place robust and enforceable measures to require schools to provide for affordable uniform options from a range of suppliers.

Furthermore, this Council notes that work to address this issue had commenced before the collapse of the last Executive but has been stalled as a result of the absence of an Education Minister, and regrets that it is families who are being impacted from the resulting lack of progress. This is being compounded by the continued unconscionable budget cuts made by Chris Heaton-Harris MP as a tactic in his attempts to negotiate with the Democratic Unionist Party. 

Belfast City Council will therefore write to Jeffrey Donaldson MP to express its frustration at the DUP’s failure to live up to its responsibilities, and ask that it take up its place in an Executive without further delay so Ministers rather than civil servants can make decisions to tackle the cost of living crisis facing our community.”

            On a vote, forty-one Members voted for the amendment and fourteen against and it was declared carried.

            The Motion, as amended, was thereupon put the Council as follows:

"That this Council recognises that the uncapped cost of school uniforms and PE kits is causing financial hardship for many families across the borough. A recent poll from Save the Children NI revealed that a third of parents in Northern Ireland have had to borrow money to pay for their child’s uniform and PE items, while 6 in 10 parents were financially challenged trying to cover the cost. In recognition of this ongoing hardship, this Council will write to the Permanent Secretary of the Department of Education expressing concern for children and their parents and request that his department take action as a matter of urgency to address the long-standing problem and request that his Department put in place robust and enforceable measures to require schools to provide for affordable uniform options from a range of suppliers.

Furthermore, this Council notes that work to address this issue had commenced before the collapse of the last Executive but has been stalled as a result of the absence of an Education Minister, and regrets that it is families who are being impacted from the resulting lack of progress. This is being compounded by the continued unconscionable budget cuts made by Chris Heaton-Harris MP as a tactic in his attempts to negotiate with the Democratic Unionist Party. 

Belfast City Council will therefore write to Jeffrey Donaldson MP to express its frustration at the DUP’s failure to live up to its responsibilities and ask that it take up its place in an Executive without further delay so Ministers rather than civil servants can make decisions to tackle the cost of living crisis facing our community.”

            On a vote, forty-one Members voted for the amended Motion and fourteen against and it was declared carried.