Agenda item

Notice of Motion put forward by Councillor Paul Penlington on behalf of the Plaid Group for consideration by Full Council (copy attached).

Notice of Motion put forward by Councillor Paul Penlington on behalf of the Plaid Cymru Group for consideration by Full Council:

‘In order to reduce staff shortages, and to ensure our most frail and vulnerable citizens are properly cared for, this council writes to the UK Gov asking that social care workers are urgently designated as skilled workers so they meet the entry requirements of the post-Brexit points-based immigration system introduced in January 2021.’

The Lead Member for Well-being and Independence, Councillor Bobby Feely responded.  Councillor Feeley thanked the Plaid Cymru Group for presenting the Notice of Motion at Full Council as it highlighted the alarming shortage of social care workers.  The legislation referred to was yet another obstacle to add to the difficulties of recruiting and retaining social care staff at this time, not only in Denbighshire but across Wales and the UK. 

Councillor Feeley expressed outrage that social care workers were not designated as skilled workers and as a consequence did not meet the entry requirements of the post-brexit points based immigration system introduced in January 2021 referred to in the Notice of Motion. 

The Notice of Motion had given Councillor Feeley the opportunity to inform members about the hard work which had gone on in the background as soon as the Governments intentions were publicised.  DCC Cabinet and Officers as far back as 2019 had been engaged in discussions with the Welsh Government and the Home Office on this point. 

Through the Welsh Local Government Association and the Association of Director of Social Services Cymru, DCC contributed to and endorsed the Welsh NHS Confederation Policy response to the UK Government future skills based immigration system, the White Paper, which was in September, 2019.  The report highlighted that the new laws would have a negative impact on the social care workforce which had already been experiencing serious shortages and difficulties in recruiting new staff.   Councillor Feeley confirmed she would share the report with all members following the Full Council meeting. 

In addition, the Director of Social Services, Nicola Stubbins, in her role as President of the Association of Director of Social Services Cymru at that time issued a press statement in September of last year calling for care workers to be included on the shortage occupation list.  Again, Councillor Feeley confirmed she would share a copy of the press statement with all members following the Full Council meeting.

Despite all of these efforts, the new immigration system was introduced without designating social care workforce as skilled and I am not hopeful that Denbighshire alone now calling on the UK Government would have the desired effect.    

Councillor Feeley gave Full Council her assurance that DCC through Officers and Members were working with Welsh Government and Westminster on the bigger issue of how to have a social care system which was dignified and sustainable and acknowledged the valuable role of all those who worked in the sector. 

Councillor Paul Penlington proposed the Notice of Motion, seconded by Councillor Meirick Lloyd Davies.

At this juncture, Councillor Paul Penlington requested a recorded vote.  The Head of Legal, HR and Democratic Services confirmed that 5 members present were required to support a recorded vote.  6 Members raised their hands in support of a recorded vote.

The vote took place and the result was as follows –

FOR – Councillors Brian Blakeley, Joan Butterfield, Ellie Chard, Ann Davies, Meirick Lloyd Davies, Hugh Evans, Bobby Feeley, Huw Hilditch-Roberts, Alan Hughes, Alan James (Chair),Brian Jones, Pat Jones, Gwyneth Kensler, Richard Mainon, Christine Marston, Barry Mellor, Melvyn Mile, Bob Murray, Merfyn Parry, Paul Penlington, Peter Prendergast, Arwel Roberts, Peter Scott, Glenn Swingler, Tony Thomas, Rhys Thomas, Julian Thompson-Hill, Graham Timms, David G. Williams, Emrys Wynne and Mark Young.   (31)

AGAINST – 0

ABSTAIN - 0

RESOLVED that the Notice of Motion be passed and that this council writes to the UK Government asking that social care workers are urgently designated as skilled workers so they meet the entry requirements of the post-Brexit points-based immigration system introduced in January 2021