Agenda item

The following Motions have been notified in accordance with the requirements of Council Procedure Rule 15, to be moved and seconded by the Members indicated:

(i)            Motion in the names of Councillor Kiran Ramchandani and Councillor Christine Robson.  The tabled amendment was voted upon and was carried:

“Better Funding for Harrow’s schools Motion

This Council notes that as a result of the Government's proposed plan to change the way schools are funded, Harrow schools will lose £15 million by 2019.  This equates to £504 per pupil.

Harrow is known for our excellent schools and this Council does not want these funding cuts to jeopardise our high education standards.  We do not want to end up with cash-strapped schools that struggle to give our children a good education, with larger classrooms and overworked teachers.

Whilst the School's National Funding Formula consultation proposals will benefit some schools, the vast majority will be worse off.

Harrow Council instructs the Council Leader and Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State for Education, the Rt Hon Justine Greening MP, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Rt Hon Phillip Hammond MP, to call on them to protect and enhance funding for Harrow's schools.”

Upon a vote, the Motion was agreed.

RESOLVED:  That the Motion set out at (i) above be adopted.

(ii)          Motion in the names of Councillor Barry Kendler and Councillor Michael Borio:

“Harrow Council recognises working definition of anti-Semitism

2016 will be the year remembered for a number of reasons historically. Tragically one of the factors that have marked out 2016 has been the rise in all forms of hate crime and we have witnessed or read about increased attacks and humiliation heaped on Eastern Europeans and Muslims living in the UK.  2016 has also seen the rise of anti-Semitism.  Harrow has always had excellent community relations and tolerance of peoples of different faith and it is right that a public body like the Council demonstrates its seriousness in fighting the causes and perpetrators of racial and religious hatred.  In December 2016, HM Government formally adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance working definition of anti-Semitism, as quoted below:

“Anti-Semitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of anti-Semitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.”

The guidelines highlight manifestations of anti- Semitism as including:

“·     Calling for, aiding, or justifying the killing or harming of Jews in the name of a radical ideology or an extremist view of religion.

·           Making mendacious, dehumanizing, demonizing, or stereotypical allegations about Jews as such or the power of Jews as collective — such as, especially but not exclusively, the myth about a world Jewish conspiracy or of Jews controlling the media, economy, government or other societal institutions.

·           Accusing Jews as a people of being responsible for real or imagined wrongdoing committed by a single Jewish person or group, or even for acts committed by non-Jews.

·           Denying the fact, scope, mechanisms (e.g. gas chambers) or intentionality of the genocide of the Jewish people at the hands of National Socialist Germany and its supporters and accomplices during World War II (the Holocaust).

·           Accusing the Jews as a people, or Israel as a state, of inventing or exaggerating the Holocaust.

·           Accusing Jewish citizens of being more loyal to Israel, or to the alleged priorities of Jews worldwide, than to the interests of their own nations.

·           Denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination, e.g., by claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavour.

·           Applying double standards by requiring of it behaviour not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation.

·           Using the symbols and images associated with classic anti-Semitism (e.g., claims of Jews killing Jesus or blood libel) to characterize Israel or Israelis.

·           Drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis.

·           Holding Jews collectively responsible for actions of the state of Israel.”

It is important that the Council send a clear message to its Jewish population that we support them and will do all in our power to deter the promoters of anti-Semitism from attacking our Harrow Jewish community. 

Harrow Council instructs the Council Leader and the Chief Executive to write to the Rt Hon Sajid Javid MP, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, to express our support towards the initiative of establishing a working definition of anti-Semitism and informing the Secretary of State of the fact that Harrow Council will be formally adopting the definition.”

Upon a vote, the Motion was agreed.

RESOLVED:  That the Motion set out at (ii) above be adopted.