The Political Physicist

Agreed on minutes of last meeting and the agenda for this meeting. We were also provided with the minutes for the last EC meeting.

Oxfordshire county Labour group report

Noted massive cuts to council funding. Makes things very difficult. However, noted one major success of reversing an outsourcing contract (with company called Carillion). Working to get home care, school meals, etc. back in house.

Trying to open up the cabinet system in the county. Even non-cabinet Tories fed up and can’t get information. Managed to get a motion passed to conduct a review, although was watered down somewhat.

Noted that merging adult social care and health care is missing the point that quality has suffered due to cuts. For most part these are different systems so integration pointless. In any case, majority of people needing social care aren’t eligible for it through the council.

Have also added system for investigating and addressing elder abuse. Safeguarding children and children social care becoming a big, expensive problem. While built new children’s homes to bring back people who had to be sent out of county. However, that hasn’t happened because so many new children entering care—often because parents can’t afford to feed them. Universal Credit will likely make this worse.

Noted in case of closed Children Centres that cuts were made there because they are non-statutory and the money was needed for (statutory) children’s social care. Austerity makes it very difficult to fund statutory requirements and everything else is cut to the bone.

In responses to questions became clear how shortages of housing, fragmentation of schools, homelessness, crisis in social care are all related and feed into each other.

The unitary authority proposal seems to have stalled.

Annual conference report

Full written report will be provided with the minutes. Cherry gave highlights (Lotte was stuck on a bus from Manchester). Was very positive about the experience, felt was in-tune with everyone for the first time. Notes how well-organised Women’s Conference was and how good the speakers were.

Reminded us that there was discussion of Brexit. She got the impression that, should talks breakdown and there be a Labour government then might see it reversed.

For the most part this was a review of what she told us at the Momentum meeting. For example, she told the story of how the the compositing process tried to neuter the NHS motion.

Felt that conference is too much to have just one delegate. In future we should consider sending more. This will be discussed at an executive meeting next week.

Ann Black circulated a report giving a behind-the-scenes view. Notes there were way more CLP delegates than usual.

Cherry was called out on not voting to debate the Brexit motions. She said while she wants it reversed (and thinks it will be) she didn’t want to tie the PLP’s hands at this point—unlike things like the NHS where she does. Ann noted that there was a vote on the NEC statement of party policy on Brexit and a failed attempt to refer back part of the NPF International report. She also noted that the Brexit motions were varied and contradictory. Cherry added that there wasn’t a clear vision to vote for on the Brexit motion.

The chair said the executive will look to have an AMM discussing Brexit.

Oxford city council report

Co-deputy council leader spoke about a range of issues. Council chief executive given a 3 year contract, despite continued uncertainty over local government. Previously just had a 6 month contract. Westgate due to open on October 24th. Investment going ahead on East Oxford Community Centre. Zero-emissions zone mentioned (although John Tanner knows more), which will be a way to help bring down currently-illegal levels of air pollution. More information on council website.

Spoke about Universal Credit and how disappointed that it will continue. Delays can cause major hardship in terms of paying rent, buying food, etc. Have concerns about the government’s advanced payment system because there is such a quick clawback. City decided to set up a small fund to help people in dire need. This is needed because county council was the first in the country to get rid of their hardship fund. Trying to communicate with landlords to prevent evictions. Also engaging in a publicity campaign to help claimants understand the system.

Other deputy leader (not an official post, just something Oxford is doing) also spoke. Noted that rules now require at least one women in the three leadership positions. Reported finances are stable and shouldn’t be any major cuts in services in next few years. Council taxes will continue to increase at rate allowed without referendum. Continue benefits for low income people who can’t afford tax. Capital funding still strong and engaging commercial development to help pay for services.

Pay deal with unions will expire in a few years which leaves question mark. More risks have also been shifted onto local authorities. Have created own building company as way to get around limits for borrowing for council housing. Have been selling services for past few years to bring in money, but have been pushing up against legal limits set by central government. Setting up council-owned company to allow further expansion of this. Continuing to press central government on housing benefits. Council will not evict its own tenants and has been trying to prepare them for changes.

Legal restrictions make it difficult to help homeless (especially if not citizens). Trying to build another hostel and have other housing options. Commitment to no cuts to homeless services (unlike county council, which has cut it almost entirely).

Council threatening to strip Aung San Suu Kyi of freedom of city if doesn’t step up around ethnic cleansing. Motion pointing out importance of single market access to city. Motion on improving cycling safety. Think I might have missed one because spoke very quickly.

I asked about zero emission zone and what can be done in shorter term to improve air quality. Noted delivery lorries use those roads a lot and this will help. I’m pretty sure that requirement won’t go into force until 2035. Waffled about how changes need to be phased in to allow people/companies to adjust. No time for me to respond.¹

BMW pension dispute

Motion to prevent companies dismissing and rehiring workers to “resolve” a strike (referred to as “termination and re-engagement”). As we were running over and this is an important issue we will discuss it next month when there is more time. Will be a union speaker next month, so will fit in well with that.

Parliamentary report

Handed out copy of detailed report. Didn’t speak very long so time for questions. Says her constituency role is getting harder. Lots of issues around immigration system, housing, and universal credit. Contact with Home Office has gotten even worse. Access to the hotline for Universal Credit only through MPs office, which places an extra hurdle and makes it harder for advocates. DWP no longer sharing info with council which will make it harder for council to offer support. Lots of calls to stop the role-out but government haven’t listened so far. Opposition day debate will be on this and she hopes maybe they can get something done because situation is terrible.

Also talked a bit about conference. She was on compositing committee for pay cap motion and was quite happy with how that went. Pleased with treasury announcements, particularly around credit card debt which she has worked on. Industry hasn’t given much pushback. Positive about PFI announcement and notes that, even if expensive, not changing it is also expensive. Same applies to tuition fees where public purse id dealing with much lower payback rate than expected. Feels lots of common ground in LP over transitional period and limiting consolidation of government power. She’s very concerned about government policy on customs, which she works on. She feels two proposals put forward are a mess and badly thought through (either similar to EU scheme, but not, or different custom scheme for goods destined for EU). Government accruing more power over severance payment. Non-dom reform is inadequate and leaves lots of room to avoid tax. Labour is continuing to develop its own budget plans and draw up amendments for the upcoming budget.

I asked for more details on McDonnell’s “war-gaming”. Backed him on planning for such thing. Her impression is that business thinks Labour seems more sane than Tories. Very concerned about complacency in government over various economic issues and we need to think about how to deal with this.

Responded to various other questions. Noted in particular that we need transparency around Brexit. Lack of transparency breads distrust and doesn’t help anyone. Shouldn’t treat negotiations like a poker game but as something where we have a grown-up discussion.