All eyes on the metro mayors from UNISON U digital

The balance of power in English politics will be shifting ever so slightly this year – away from Whitehall and Westminster towards the regions, in the form of the first tranche of directly elected “metro mayors”.

On 4 May, the public will elect mayors in six city-regions: Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Greater Manchester, Liverpool City Region, Sheffield City Region, Tees Valley, West Midlands and West of England.

These mayors will exercise a significant amount of power over areas such as housing, transport and even health.

And that’s why UNISON has been working hard to ensure that public services are at the forefront of people’s minds during the mayoral elections.

With the support of the general political fund, regions have been promoting the union’s Public Service Champions campaign, and encouraging people to vote for candidates who are prepared to support and protect public services.

James Anthony, who chairs the union’s general political fund, says: “While the mayors have different powers in different parts of the country, what these elections share is an opportunity to raise our concerns about the current state of public services.

“The committee has approved bids to support local mayoral campaigns in Greater Manchester, Tees Valley and West Midlands.  This will be backed up by UK-wide advertising that highlights the way in which the invaluable work that our members do and which communities depend upon is being dangerously undermined by austerity.”

Mr Anthony adds that all elections offer an opportunity to achieve the same goal as the union’s Public Service Champions campaign – “to highlight the pressures facing our schools, local government, social care, the NHS and policing, and to send a message to the government that they must change course urgently.”

Born of the Tory Party’s general election manifesto, the Cities and Local Government Devolution Act 2016 has paved the way for a level of regional devolution akin to that currently enjoyed by the London Mayor.

Working alongside combined authorities – which represent existing local councils – the metro mayors will set strategies to grow their area’s economy, while exercising powers over housing, transport and skills.

Their powers will vary, depending on the devolution deals that each city-region has agreed with the government.

For example, Greater Manchester’s mayor will also have responsibility for health and social care and will take over the powers of the police and crime commissioner.

The new role is attracting some high profile politicians, who spy a greater opportunity to effect change than they might have on the back benches or in opposition.

Sadiq Khan has already made the transition in London, and now the former Labour health secretary Andy Burnham (above, speaking to the NHS Confederaton) is the party’s candidate in Greater Manchester.

Another notable candidate is UNISON member Sue Jeffrey, who is contesting Tees Valley for Labour.

Ms Jeffrey, who is leader of Redcar and Cleveland council, is committed to bringing meaningful job growth, sustainability, and investment across the whole of the Tees Valley.

She is also a strong campaigner for the protection and promotion of the region’s public services.

UNISON regional secretary Clare Williams says: “UNISON is proud to support Sue Jeffrey. We know that strong leadership is required to bring investment into the area, provide quality jobs and training, and enhance and protect our vital public services.

“Sue is  an experienced campaigner and woman’s rights activist with a tried and tested record in speaking up for the people of the Tees Valley and promoting the interests of the area.”

Find out about our Public Service Champions campaign

Response to “Better Oxfordshire” proposal from Oxford City Council

Oxford City Council response to “Better Oxfordshire” proposal

Councillor Bob Price, Leader of Oxford City Council, responds to the launch of Oxfordshire County Council’s “Better Oxfordshire” proposal.

Councillor Price said: “The County Council’s revised proposal confirms its plan to remove from local control almost all issues that really matter to people’s quality of life.

• Decision making on key issues affecting people’s lives will no longer be made locally. For example, control over council housing, economic growth and development planning would be removed from local control and managed centrally.
• Governance of the city is still not addressed in a way that city residents would find acceptable. Instead, Oxford residents are offered a ‘convention’ that no one really understands and shows that the County Council still does not know how to manage the unique requirements of the city.
• The proposals have continually been altered. The County Council should send the latest proposals to every household in Oxfordshire for comment before wholesale changes are made to local accountability and decision making.
• We just do not believe the County Council’s figures. The latest figures suggest that council tax would be kept low in the rural districts and inflated in the city through what is currently an illegal additional charge to city residents (known as a precept).

“Our position remains the same. We call on the County Council to end this wasteful exercise that now seems more confused than ever and focus instead on solving the issues we are all facing over housing, infrastructure and skills shortages.”

Leaders unite to extend Government invite

Political leaders opposed to plans for a single unitary authority in Oxfordshire have requested an urgent meeting with the Government Minister responsible for deciding their future.

Last week a letter was sent to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Sajid Javid MP, on behalf of the leaders of Cherwell District Council, Oxford City Council and West Oxfordshire District Council.

The leaders are united in their opposition against Oxfordshire County Council’s proposals for a unitary authority and have requested an opportunity to discuss the plans with Mr Javid before any decision is undertaken.

In a joint statement, council leaders Cllr Barry Wood (Cherwell), Cllr Bob Price (Oxford) and Cllr James Mills (West Oxfordshire) said: “These proposals affect all of Oxfordshire so it is vitally important that all of Oxfordshire has the opportunity to have their voice heard before any decision is made. We three councils stand united against the proposals for a unitary council which we maintain are flawed and will disregard the specific needs of each individual city and district.

“Cherwell, Oxford City and West Oxfordshire are similar in that we are three strong performing councils but we are different in the way we operate and that is what’s key to our success. By operating at a local level we can tailor services to meet the needs of our individual communities and address challenges specific to our own areas. It is this approach that makes us so successful but this would be lost if a unitary model were to proceed and Mr Javid needs to be aware of the devastating consequences before any decision is made.”

Under Oxfordshire County Council’s proposals, the area’s city and four district councils would be disbanded and replaced with a single unitary authority tasked with delivering all services across Oxfordshire.

In the letter to Mr Javid, the leaders stipulate four of the county’s five MPs have joined them in opposing the proposals and reference the “growing levels of opposition” and “concerns about increases in council tax” which have been expressed by local residents.

They add that they “want to avoid committing taxpayers’ money to commissioning further studies and analysis in response to the county’s proposals” given there is “no realistic chance of a consensus being achieved” between the city, district and county councils.

In ending the letter, the leaders request an opportunity to meet with the Minister and local MPs, stating it is “essential that such a decision should not be undertaken without robust and independent evaluation of the proposals and their deliverability”.

The leaders are now waiting to hear back from Mr Javid’s office regarding the invitation to discuss the plans.  In the meantime residents can find out more about the campaign to oppose the proposals at:

• Cherwell District Council: www.cherwell.gov.uk
• Oxford City Council: www.oxford.gov.uk
• West Oxfordshire District Council: www.westoxon.gov.uk

A Massive thank you, we hit 5000 signatures

Dear All,

I just wanted to say a humongous thank you to you all for giving up your precious time to help with the Hands Off Oxford City campaign. So far I have received over a thousand hard copy signatures and I’m 100% certain that all your efforts have contributed to the on-line petition too, which has almost reached 5000 on-line signatures and is steadily rising.

Can I ask if any of you have any good stories that you’ve heard whilst you have been out and about, if you have can you please email them to me. If you have any hard copy petitions in your possession, can you let me have them by tomorrow, here in the Unison Office in the Town Hall or leave them with the receptionist for my attention. I’m on leave from Wednesday the 1^st March, Jo Sadler our Admin Officer will be in the Office from 10am till 14.00hrs Monday to Thursday.

The campaign will continue so watch out for any up-dates as to what’s next. Once again thank you and some of those that helped may not be on my email list, if that’s the case and you know who those individuals are. Can you please pass this message on. 

Best wishes

Caroline

P.s as I have been writing this we just hit 5001 on-line signatures!!!

Caroline Glendinning UNISON Branch Secretary, OXFORD CITY BRANCH, The Old Police Cells, Oxford Town Hall, St. Aldates, Oxford. OX1 1BX.

Tel 01865 252522 

http://www.oxfordcityunison.com/

DISRESPECT NOBODY

There’s a person attached to every body, respect both.

Healthy relationships are all about respecting each other. You should feel loved, safe and free to be yourself.

Relationships can be confusing and it can be difficult to understand what is and isn’t normal behaviour.

But disrespectful and unacceptable behaviour can come in many forms. It isn’t limited to just physical behaviour; it can also go way beyond that. For example, it’s not OK for someone to try and pressure you into sending a nude pic, or to expect the same things to happen that they’ve seen in a porn film. If someone makes you do something you don’t want to, makes you feel scared, intimidated or tries controlling you, it’s not acceptable and is never OK.

Read up on the different types of abuse, get advice and have a look at the organisations that can help.

What is devolution and why is it important?

DON'T BE LEFT IN THE DARK

Devolution is one of the most fundamental changes to the way decisions are made for local areas and how public services are funded. click the below link to read a non bias explanation from the Local Government Association.

Click to Shine a Light on the Answer  

National march to save the NHS from destruction - March 4th.

National demonstration
called by HealthCampaigns Together and supported by most major unions

• For a fully funded, publicly owned, NHS & social care service
• No cuts, no closures, no privatisation
• End the pay restraint for NHS staff

Book your seat on the Oxfordshire transport online http://ouh.org.uk/bookings/March4.html or call 07503169657
Transport organised by Oxfordshire UNISON Health branch and Banbury GMB.
We must fight to save the NHS from destruction. The threat is real. It is happening now. Hospitals, GPs, mental health, ambulance and community services are on their knees.
Rather than address the crisis in the NHS the government is accelerating it with planned cuts of £22 billion pounds with its 'Sustainability and Transformation Plans".  These plans will see whole departments, even hospitals close.  

In Oxfordshire 200 beds at the Oxford University Hospitals Trust are earmarked for closure, along with downgrading of Horton maternty services , community hospitals and mental health services.

Private companies are gaining an ever greater foothold within the NHS. Years of pay restraint has seen the value of NHS staff salaries reduce by 14% since 2010. The Government’s Sustainability and Transformation Plans are a smokescreen for a massive programme of hospital and community service closures, and are its latest instrument for privatisation.

The NHS is one of our greatest achievements. We cannot allow it to be undermined and ultimately destroyed. Join us on Saturday 4 March and send a clear message to this Government.

“the NHS will last as long as there are folk with the faith to fight for it.” Nye Bevan - founder of the NHS