Agenda item
Notice of Motions
In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 12, the following Motions have been received:-
Motion 1 on Provision of Community Public Access Defibrillators on New Developments. Proposed by Councillor Tom Stowe, seconded by Councillor Stephen Andrews.
This Council notes:
According to the British Heart Foundation there are over 30,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in the United Kingdom each year where emergency medical services attempt to resuscitate the victim. However, the survival rate is very low.
Early use of Automated External Defibrillators can double the chances of survival. However, unfortunately, for every 1 minute delay the chances of survival can reduce by 10%.
Given the rural nature of our district, the chances of swift medical intervention from the emergency services are limited, therefore, access to a good network of Community Public Access Defibrillators, that can be accessed swiftly, is vital to safeguard the health and well-being of our residents.
This council also notes.
In many cases the responsibility for the installation of CPADs in our communities falls to local voluntary and community groups. This presents many challenges, not just for funding, but also working and negotiating with various parties with regards to finding suitable siting and electrical supplies for the devices.
With ongoing and future development throughout the district, keeping up with the installation of new CPADs can be a very difficult task. Best practice guidance states that CPADs should be located no further than 400 metres apart.
This council believes that the Health and Well-being of our residents should be at the forefront of everything that it does.
This council therefore resolves to give authority to the Forward Planning Team to investigate options to amend the Regulations in the new Cotswold Local Plan to address this issue, and to ensure that any new housing developments within the district include the provision for the supply and installation of sufficient Community Public Access Defibrillators to cover the housing and industrial area of the new development. An exception may be considered for smaller developments of less than 6 properties.
Motion 2 on Menopause. Proposed by Councillor Claire Bloomer, seconded by Councillor Andrew Doherty.
Council notes that:
- 51 per cent of the UK population will directly experience the menopause during their lifetime;
- Over 13 million women in the UK are either menopausal or peri-menopausal at any time;
- 4.5 million of those 13 million women are in the workplace;
- Three out of four women experience menopause-related symptoms with one in four experiencing serious symptoms;
- 1.6 million working days are lost to menopause symptoms annually as a result.
Menopause can see women experiencing a wide range of symptoms including hot flushes, fatigue, anxiety, disturbed sleep, heavy and erratic periods, mood swings, rage, heart palpitations, and itchiness.
The intensity and combination of some of these symptoms can be unsettling. In particular, when oestrogen levels decrease in the lead up to menopause, cognition suffers. Women may struggle with memory, word retrieval, and other cognitive activities. For some, the change in cognitive function is so pronounced they fear they are developing dementia or Alzheimer’s. These changes can also reduce their confidence to manage their work, home and social life.
Hormone levels may exacerbate existing conditions such as ADHD, and medication and strategies for managing those conditions may not work as effectively as they once did.
Many menopausal women are finding it difficult to obtain Hormone Replacement Therapy medicines due to increased demand and supply chain issues, adding to their anxiety.
Support for women with menopausal symptoms in the workplace is variable and understanding by managers and other employees is often limited. In some cases, understanding and empathy is so poor that women receive insults and rude comments from colleagues and managers. As a result, many women end up leaving their workplace as they feel unable to continue in their role.
Cotswold District Council welcomes steps taken by Cirencester Town Council to develop a menopause policy for its staff. Adjustments that can be made include:
- Allowing flexibility in work patterns
- Increasing ventilation
- Allowing people to move their work location to be closer to a toilet
- Giving time off to attend medical appointments and support groups
- Designating a member of staff for women to approach about the effect of the menopause on their work
- Providing professional counselling if requested
Cotswold District Council also welcomes the establishment of an All Party Parliamentary Group on Menopause in 2021.
Cotswold District Council asks its Teckal companies, Publica and Ubico, to review their menopause policies to ensure that their staff and CDC retained staff going through the menopause have the understanding and support they need.
The Council also commits to:
- Campaign for menopause support to form a central part of the next national Women’s Health Strategy;
- Working with Gloucestershire County Council and other local health organisations to ensure that support for those experiencing menopause is a central part of the next Gloucestershire Health and Wellbeing strategy;
- Supporting the #MakeMenopauseMatter campaign which is calling for:
a) Mandatory menopause training for all GPs and menopause to be taught as part of every medical school curriculum,
b) Menopause guidance and support in every workplace,
c) Menopause to be added to the Relationships, Sex and Health Education curriculum for schools throughout the UK.
Minutes:
Council debated and passed the following motion;
Motion 1 on Provision of Community Public Access Defibrillators on New Developments. Proposed by Councillor Tom Stowe, seconded by Councillor Stephen Andrews.
This Council notes that according to the British Heart Foundation there are over 30,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in the United Kingdom each year where emergency medical services attempted to resuscitate the victim. However, the survival rate is very low. Early use of Automated External Defibrillators could double the chances of survival, however, unfortunately, for every 1 minute delay the chances of survival can reduce by 10%. Given the rural nature of our district, the chances of swift medical intervention from the emergency services are limited, therefore, access to a good network of Community Public Access Defibrillators, that can be accessed swiftly, is vital to safeguard the health and well-being of our residents.
The Council also noted that in many cases the responsibility for the installation of CPADs in our communities fell to local voluntary and community groups. This presented many challenges, not just for funding, but also working and negotiating with various parties with regard to finding suitable siting and electrical supplies for the devices. With ongoing and future development throughout the district, keeping up with the installation of new CPADs could be a very difficult task. Best practice guidance stated that CPADs should be located no further than 400 metres apart.
This Council believes that the Health and Well-being of our residents should be at the forefront of everything that it does.
RESOLVED: The Council therefore resolves to give authority to the Forward Planning Team to investigate options to amend the Regulations in the new Cotswold Local Plan to address this issue, and to ensure that any new housing developments within the district include the provision for the supply and installation of sufficient Community Public Access Defibrillators to cover the housing and industrial area of the new development. An exception may be considered for smaller developments of less than 6 properties.
Voting Record – For 28, Against 0, Abstentions 0, Absent 0,
Council debated and passed the following motion;
Motion 2 on Menopause. Proposed by Councillor Claire Bloomer, seconded by Councillor Andrew Doherty.
Council notes that 51 per cent of the UK population will directly experience the menopause during their lifetime, over 13 million women in the UK are either menopausal or peri-menopausal at any time, 4.5 million of those 13 million women are in the workplace, three out of four women experience menopause-related symptoms with one in four experiencing serious symptoms, 1.6 million working days are lost to menopause symptoms annually as a result. Menopause can see women experiencing a wide range of symptoms including hot flushes, fatigue, anxiety, disturbed sleep, heavy and erratic periods, mood swings, rage, heart palpitations, and itchiness. The intensity and combination of some of these symptoms can be unsettling. In particular, when oestrogen levels decrease in the lead up to menopause, cognition. Women may struggle with memory, word retrieval, and other cognitive activities. For some, the change in cognitive function is so pronounced they fear they are developing dementia or Alzheimer’s. These changes can also reduce their confidence to manage their work, home and social life. Hormone levels may exacerbate existing conditions such as ADHD, and medication and strategies for managing those conditions may not work as effectively as they once did. Many menopausal women are finding it difficult to obtain Hormone Replacement Therapy medicines due to increased demand and supply chain issues, adding to their anxiety. Support for women with menopausal symptoms in the workplace is variable and understanding by managers and other employees is often limited. In some cases, understanding and empathy is so poor that women receive insults and rude comments from colleagues and managers. As a result, many women end up leaving their workplace as they feel unable to continue in their role.
Cotswold District Council welcomes steps taken by Cirencester Town Council to
develop a menopause policy for its staff. Adjustments that can be made including allowing flexibility in work patterns, increasing ventilation, allowing people to move their work location to be closer to a toilet giving time off to attend medical appointments and support groups designating a member of staff for women to approach about the effect of the menopause on their work and providing professional counselling if requested. Cotswold District Council also welcomes the establishment of an All Party Parliamentary Group on Menopause in 2021.
RESOLVED: Council agreed that Cotswold District Council should:
· asks its Teckal companies, Publica and Ubico, to review their menopause policies to ensure that their staff and CDC retained staff going through the menopause have the understanding and support they need
· commit to campaigning for menopause support to form a central part of the next national Women’s Health Strategy
· work with Gloucestershire County Council and other local health organisations to ensure that support for those experiencing menopause is a central part of the next Gloucestershire Health and Wellbeing strategy
· support the #MakeMenopauseMatter campaign which is calling for mandatory menopause training for all GPs and menopause to be taught as part of every medical school curriculum, menopause guidance and support to be in every workplace, menopause to be added to the Relationships, Sex and Health Education curriculum for schools throughout the UK.
Voting Record – For 24, Against 0, Abstentions 0, Absent 2,