12.1 Motion regarding the school cuts.

Councillor Danny Hassell moved and Mayor John Biggs seconded the motion as printed in the agenda.

Following debate, the motion was then put to a vote and was agreed.

RESOLVED:

This Council notes:

1.         £2.8bn of funding has been cut from school budgets nationally since 2015, representing a real-terms cut to school funding.

2.         These school cuts have directly led to a major reduction in the number of secondary teachers, teaching assistants and support staff, across the country including in Tower Hamlets.

3.         There are 15,000 fewer members of staff in secondary schools in England between 14/15 and 16/17, whilst roll numbers have increased by 31,000.

4.         In Tower Hamlets, between 14/15 and 16/17:

a.  49% of schools have seen a reduction in staffing levels;

b.  56% of schools have seen an increase in the pupil to teacher ratio;

c.  There are nearly 500 more pupils.

5.         That schools in Tower Hamlets will receive £448 less in funding per pupil in 2019/20 than they did in 2015/16.

6.         That this represents an overall loss of £15.9m between 2015 and 2020.

This Council further notes that:

1.         Tower Hamlets has some of the best schools in the country: a result of proper funding from a Labour government and the hard work of teachers, pupils, the Council and parents.

2.         There has been a dramatic improvement in the quality of education offered in our schools over the past 20 years. This has not happened by accident but has been a result of partnership and leadership but also crucially of adequate funding.

This Council believes that:

1.         The Government is cutting schools funding. As well as damaging everyone it is doing severe damage to social mobility and the quality of education offered in our schools.

2.         Schools in Tower Hamlets showcase what can be achieved when schools are properly funded.

3.         As staff costs make up the main expenditure for schools, cuts to school budgets inevitably mean fewer members of staff in schools.

4.         Our schools should receive the funding they need.

This Council resolves:

1.         To support the campaign led by the School Cuts alliance of education unions (including the National Education Union, NAHT, GMB, UNISON, Unite and ASCL), local schools, Mayor John Biggs and local MPs Rushanara Ali and Jim Fitzpatrick against the cuts to education funding.

2.         To call on the Government to fully fund the pay increase for teachers that is recommended by the School Teachers’ Review Body.

12.2 Motion regarding the Adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance Guidelines on Anti Semitism

Councillor Peter Golds moved and Councillor Andrew Wood seconded the motion as printed in the agenda.

Following debate, the motion was then put to a vote and was agreed.

RESOLVED:

This Council expresses alarm at the rise in anti-Semitism in recent years across the UK including this borough. This includes incidents when criticism of Israel has been expressed using anti-Semitic tropes.

We therefore welcome the UK Government’s announcement on December 11th 2016 that it will sign up to the internationally recognised International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) guidelines on anti-Semitism, which has been passed by the GLA and many London Boroughs including Brent, Hackney, Harrow, Islington and Redbridge and which defines anti-Semitism thus:

“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.”

Manifestations might include the targeting of the state of Israel, conceived as a Jewish collectivity. However, criticism of Israel similar to that levelled against any other country cannot be regarded as anti-Semitic. Anti-Semitism frequently charges Jews with conspiring to harm humanity, and it is often used to blame Jews for “why things go wrong.” It is expressed in speech, writing, visual forms and action, and employs sinister stereotypes and negative character traits.

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.

Antisemitic acts are criminal when they are so defined by law (for example, denial of the Holocaust or distribution of antisemitic materials in some countries).

Criminal acts are antisemitic when the targets of attacks, whether they are people or property – such as buildings, schools, places of worship and cemeteries – are selected because they are, or are perceived to be, Jewish or linked to Jews.

Antisemitic discrimination is the denial to Jews of opportunities or services available to others and is illegal in many countries.

This Council hereby adopts the above definition of anti-Semitism as set out by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance and pledges to combat this pernicious form of racism.