Agenda item

There were two motions before the Assembly.

Motion – To Increase Canopy Cover

Moved by Councillor Achilleos and Seconded by Councillor Ghani

“The London Borough of Barking and Dagenham recognises the far reaching benefits provided by trees such as tackling climate change through natural carbon capture, improving air quality and people’s well-being, boosting local biodiversity, and assisting with flood management.

In November last year the council, working with external partners and the community, planted the ‘Forest of Thanks’. A woodland creation project which delivered 32,000 trees in Parsloes Park. Whilst providing a way to commemorate those tragically lost to the pandemic and as a testament to the sacrifices of our key workers, it was also a statement of intent in our fight against climate change.

As the largest Miyawaki forest in Europe – a method of planting native trees that significantly increases environmental gains such as biodiversity, carbon capture and water retention, the ‘Forest of Thanks’ is a truly awe-inspiring legacy project.

However, data provided to Friends of the Earth in December 2020 by aerial survey company Bluesky International Ltd, suggests total canopy cover in Barking and Dagenham is less than 10%. It is worth noting that this data only includes trees over a certain height which differs based on species, so our ‘Forest of Thanks’ is not yet accounted for. Although, this project alone will not bring us in line with the 16% average of urban canopy cover in England.

Considering this data and the importance of trees in the face of a climate and ecological crisis, this council resolves to set an ambitious target to double canopy cover within the local authority area by 2040. This will include but will not be limited to, further woodland creation in our parks and open spaces, and an innovative approach to street tree planting.

This council also resolves to write to the Environment Secretary to request more funding for councils to increase canopy cover.”

A number of Councillors spoke in strong support of the motion and the motion was carried unanimously.

Motion – Fairer Funding for Schools

Proposed by Cllr Carpenter, seconded by Cllr Twomey

“With 9 out of 10 schools judged Good or Outstanding, the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham remains committed to delivering the best possible education opportunities for all children. We are proud of our schools and those who work in them.

The impact of the pandemic over the last year means there has never been a greater need to increase funding for our schools which play such a vital role in our children’s and young people’s learning and development.

The government’s own Education Recovery Commissioner recently called on them to invest £15bn in our schools to repair the damage caused by the pandemic. Instead, they have chosen to invest less than 10% of this, or £1.4bn. The government has spoken of its commitment to levelling up the poorest parts of the country, but it has broken this promise.

The government’s funding commitment to schools, amounting to just £50 per pupil per year, is woefully inadequate. In some instances, our schools are being forced to make cuts to staffing and resources. Parents and teachers and all those who work in our schools deserve better and feel rightly let down.

The government has added insult to injury following their decision to alter funding for the most disadvantaged pupils by moving the goalposts for those eligible to the Pupil Premium. This equates to a £150 million funding cut in places like Barking & Dagenham.

It is not only in our children and young people’s interests, but also in the interests of the long-term prosperity of communities up and down our country that the government thinks again.

The London Borough of Barking & Dagenham therefore calls on the government to reverse its decision to cut the Pupil Premium and reinstate the Education Recovery Commissioner’s recommendations which would provide the funding our schools need so we can deliver the best by our children.”

Comment from Section 151 Officer

The Government had provided additional funding to allow schools to increase their provision for disadvantaged pupils as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Each school would receive funding from the Covid Recovery Premium Fund (£6k per primary school, £22k per secondary school) and had access to register for the National Tutoring Programme and Summer School funding. The COVID Education Recovery Plan (worth £1.4bn nationally over three years) would provide £50 per pupil to support tutoring courses and provide training and support to teachers.

The Section 151 Officer stated that the funding fell far short of the funding required to support the most disadvantaged pupils in LBBD to catch up on the learning they had lost over the past 16 months. The prolonged period of lockdown followed in many cases by multiple periods of self-isolation would have a significant impact on the educational achievement of the most disadvantaged pupils.

In addition, the Department for Education (DoE) had changed the timing of when they calculated pupil premium funding. Instead of using January as the annual point for measuring numbers of eligible pupils, the government had used October 2020 data. This change was introduced without notice or consultation. Many children would have become eligible during the period between October 2020 and January 2021, in part due to the effect of the pandemic. Additional funding to support the needs of these pupils (£1,345 per pupil in primary and £955 per pupil in secondary) would not be received.

Nationally this had created a £150m funding shortfall for the 2021-22 school year. It was estimated that the funding shortfall for schools in LBBD would be £1.2m. The Section 151 Officer stated that the DfE should have made this change only after consultation with schools and with consideration of funding a transition period to address shortfalls arising from this change. In the context of increasing need it did not seem the correct approach to move the funding goalposts in this way. As a borough with significant levels of deprivation, this change was likely to disproportionately affect schools in LBBD. The Government should consider introducing an interim payment to make up the shortfall created by this policy change.

A number of Councillors spoke in strong support of the motion and the motion was carried unanimously.