HH LibDem Motion at DBC voted down by "Bored" Tories
This is so disappointing.
That thirty Dacorum Conservative Councillors, present at wednesday's Full Council and able to vote on this, would all, without exception, vote against a motion that is so harmless - and the bare minimum of what we would hope they would all feel is due people who have been in limbo for 2.5 years;
...that some would do so not from any deeply held opposition to its content but simply out of boredom.
And finally, that our elected representatives would feel it acceptable to say that they don't know anything about it anyway.
Hemel Lib Dems Councillor Adrian England explained:
"We face a choice which will not go away because of Brexit, whatever goes through - or doesn't. We need migrants to come to this country, not least because of our demographics, which mean that more and more of our population are of an age to be retired from working, yet all of us continue to need care, and to need good public services.
This is a local situation; at a recent Housing and Community OSC the Assistant Director for Finance for Dacorum Borough Council reported that any version of Brexit would be expected to mean problems for Dacorum Borough Council - in staffing shortages in lower-skilled jobs, particularly in cleaning, waste services."
The text of the Motion was:
MOTION TO COUNCIL ON 28th November 2018
Proposed by Councillor Lara Pringle, Seconded by Councillor Adrian England
A recent Freedom of Information request revealed that 321 EU27 citizens employed by West Herts NHS Trust have left nursing and health care posts. This has been due to a
combination of Brexit uncertainty over their rights to remain in the UK and the rise of unacceptable hostility within our communities towards those from other countries,
evidenced by the appalling rise in hate crime.
This has left West Herts Hospitals with a current total of 325 staff vacancies which we can little afford in view of the unacceptable A&E waiting times.
In view of this Dacorum Borough Council could be considered at risk itself of undesired vacancies and needs to keep aware of the situation.
therefore, this council.
(a) recognises the immense value of EU27 citizens to our local area - not only working in vital roles helping our most vulnerable, but contributing in taxes, the voluntary sector and
as valued friends and neighbours and, in these uncertain times.
(b) pledges to our EU27 residents, tenants and employees that regardless of the outcomes of any Brexit agreement, DBC will treat them with dignity, respect and humanity and will
endeavour to implement all government policies with a view to avoiding the inadvertent creation of a hostile environment for our valued colleagues, friends and closest neighbours
from the European Union.