6 Anti-bullying Motion from Council 
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Council on 24 September 2020 Agreed to refer the attached motion to the Civic Affairs Committee.
Decision:
The Civic Affairs Committee Agreed
A) To designate a three-member Task and Finish Group to
i. Consider options for adopting the LGA Model Code of Conduct when the final version is published
ii. Review the whistle-blowing and anti-bullying policies, and work with HR and Democratic Services to consider how best to raise awareness of the provisions of these policies.
B) Request that the communications team include anti-bulling messages in their communications plan for anti-bullying week.
C) Appoint Councillor Heather Williams (Chair), Councillor Clare Daunton and one other Liberal Democrat Councillor to the Task and Finish Group.
Minutes:
The Deputy Head of Legal reminded the Committee that the last Council meeting had referred a motion on anti-bullying to the Committee. Councillor Heather Williams proposed and Councillor Aidan Van de Weyer seconded the setting up of a Task and Finish Group to examine how the LGA Model Code of Conduct could be adopted, consider how the current whistle-blowing and anti-bullying policies could be reviewed and request the Communications team to disseminate the anti-bullying message as part of anti-bullying week. The Committee unanimously agreed this proposal by affirmation.
The Deputy Head of Legal told members that the Council had recently received an announcement that the final Code will be submitted to the LGA board for approval on 3 December 2020 and was therefore expecting to receive the Model Code shortly thereafter and it would come to this Committee for discussion.
With regards to the membership of the Task and Finish Group, the Committee unanimously agreed to appoint Councillor Heather Williams as Chair and Councillor Claire Daunton as a member of the Group. The final member of the Group to be agreed by the Liberal Democrat group.
The Civic Affairs Committee Agreed
A) To designate a three-member Task and Finish Group to
i. Consider options for adopting the LGA Model Code of Conduct when the final version is published
ii. Review the whistle-blowing and anti-bullying policies, and work with HR and Democratic Services to consider how best to raise awareness of the provisions of these policies.
B) To request that the communications team include anti-bulling messages in their communications plan for anti-bullying week.
Standing in the name of Cllr Heather Williams
Council expresses deep concern that:
· Trades Union Congress (TUC) research revealed nearly half of workers had witnessed bullying at their workplace. https://www.tuc.org.uk/resource/bullying-work
· Female employees are more likely to be victims of bullying than males. https://www.tuc.org.uk/sites/default/files/Bullying%20at%20Work%202019.pdf
Council notes that:
· 16th to 20th? November 2020 is Anti-Bullying Week, organised by the Anti-Bullying Alliance.
· The theme of this year’s Anti-Bullying Week is ‘United against bullying’.
· The Anti-Bullying Alliance’s definition of bullying is: ?“the repetitive, intentional hurting of one person or group by another person or group, where the relationship involves an imbalance of power. It can happen face to face or online”?.
· Bullying behaviour can be done by an individual or by a group, and can be physical, verbal, emotional, sexual or online.
Council resolves:
· That bullying in any form, by any group or individual, in any walk of life, is unacceptable.
· To adopt the Anti-Bullying Alliance’s definition of bullying.
· That as councillors we should lead by example in our actions and interactions, and will support efforts in our communities to highlight and end bullying. We will further demonstrate this by asking members to sign a pledge that we will refrain from bullying behaviour.
· That once signed these pledges will be displayed on councillors’ official Council website profiles to show that we take bullying seriously and are determined to stand up for our communities.
· To launch a review to ensure that for Council colleagues and our residents, there is clear signposting to helplines and support groups- such as Childline, ACAS, Citizens Advice Bureau, Bullying UK, and others.
Decision:
Council
Agreed To refer the following motion to the Civic Affairs Committee.
Council expresses deep concern that:
Council notes that:
Council resolves:
Minutes:
Councillor Heather Williams proposed the following motion, as laid out in the agenda:
“Council expresses deep concern that:
· Trades Union Congress (TUC) research revealed nearly half of workers had witnessed bullying at their workplace. https://www.tuc.org.uk/resource/bullying-work
· Female employees are more likely to be victims of bullying than males. https://www.tuc.org.uk/sites/default/files/Bullying%20at%20Work%202019.pdf
“Council notes that:
· 16th to 20th? November 2020 is Anti-Bullying Week, organised by the Anti-Bullying Alliance.
· The theme of this year’s Anti-Bullying Week is ‘United against bullying’.
· The Anti-Bullying Alliance’s definition of bullying is: ?“the repetitive, intentional hurting of one person or group by another person or group, where the relationship involves an imbalance of power. It can happen face to face or online”?.
· Bullying behaviour can be done by an individual or by a group, and can be physical, verbal, emotional, sexual or online.
“Council resolves:
· That bullying in any form, by any group or individual, in any walk of life, is unacceptable.
· To adopt the Anti-Bullying Alliance’s definition of bullying.
· That as councillors we should lead by example in our actions and interactions, and will support efforts in our communities to highlight and end bullying. We will further demonstrate this by signing a pledge that we will refrain from bullying behaviour.
· That once signed these pledges will be displayed on councillors’ official Council website profiles to show that we take bullying seriously and are determined to stand up for our communities.
· To launch a review to ensure that for Council colleagues and our residents, there is clear signposting to helplines and support groups- such as Childline, ACAS, Citizens Advice Bureau, Bullying UK, and others.”
Councillor Heather Williams explained that a 2018 report discovered that every 1.2 minutes a woman was abused in her party and there was every reason to believe that this research would be replicated in other parties. Sutton Council had passed a similar motion in 2018 and she expressed the hope that the political parties of this Council could also unite against bullying.
The motion was seconded by Councillor Mark Howell.
Councillor Dr Claire Daunton proposed the following amendment, which was seconded by Councillor Pippa Heylings.
Following the words “Council resolves:”, delete the first four bullet points and replace with the following text:
“In order to keep all code of conduct guidance, including that on bullying and coercion, in one readily accessible place and up to date, to request that Civic Affairs Committee considers adopting the new LGA Member Code of Conduct, once it has been formally launched later this year.
The Deputy Head of Legal explained that the Council could refer this matter to the Civic Affairs Committee and that the amendment did not negate the original motion and so could be discussed.
Councillor Heather Williams stated that she would not accept the amendment.
Councillor Mark Howell stated that the amendment included a link to a document that councillors had not read and Council should not agree the motion without seeing the document.
On taking the advice of the Chief Executive ... view the full minutes text for item 14