Issue - meetings

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 14.7 (a) Councillor Frank Cant proposed an ALTERED motion as follows, and this was consented to by the meeting and then seconded by Councillor Sue Graham that:`

Burnley Borough Council is aware that the aerospace industry forms a backbone of highly skilled jobs in Burnley.  The contribution of manufacturers such as Safran, MB, Velocity and Elite to the local economy is vital.  The spin-offs from these industries can be found in our education facilities, shops, banks, and housing providers to name a few.  A supply chain hub has been created in the Bancroft Rd, area to bring these industries together to increase competitiveness.

The coronavirus pandemic and resulting lockdowns have had wide ranging and detrimental impacts of the aerospace industry, globally and in Burnley.

Council notes with dismay the announcement by Rolls-Royce that the manufacture of the crown jewels of the company, wide chord fan blades, is to be offshored to Singapore, with the loss of hundreds of skilled jobs at the Barnoldswick plant and the knock-on consequences for the supply chain throughout Burnley and East Lancashire.

This Council resolves to:

a.    Support the recommendations of the `Lancashire Aerospace Task Force – A Recovery Plan for Lancashire`.

b.    Write to our MP and Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy calling for

i.              Government to commit to fully funding the `Aerospace Recovery Plan for Lancashire` through the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership.

ii.            Government to enact legislation urgently to prohibit the offshoring manufacturing processes that are of strategic national importance to the United Kingdom.

An amendment was moved by Councillor Andy Fewings and seconded by Councillor Sarah Hall to add the following words after (a) and (b)(i) `where it puts the immediate needs and support for the workforce affected first` and to add as (b)(iii) `in the event of redundancies for the workforce, the Government to make additional funds available for enhanced support packages for workers to transition to sustainable jobs, based locally`.

On being put to the vote the amendment was declared to be lost.

An amendment was moved by Councillor Gordon Lishman and seconded by Councillor Dale Ferrier that

` that (b) (ii) be deleted from the motion`.

The mover of the motion Councillor Frank Cant accepted the amendment but the seconder Councillor Sue Graham did not.   On being put to the vote the amendment was declared to be lost.

On being put to the vote the altered motion was declared to be carried and it was RESOLVED accordingly.