Agenda item

NOTE: Discussion on this motion stood adjourned from the last ordinary meeting of the Council Meeting on 5 April 2018. 

The item will commence with debate on the motion, as amended (the substantive motion) as transcribed below:-

This Council acknowledges that:

·         breastmilk is recognised by the World Health Organisation as the ideal first food for babies to promote the best start in life, which also reduces risk of a range of infections and conditions including allergic disease, diabetes and some cancers;

·         the World Health Organisation also recommends continued breastfeeding along within complementary foods up to two years of age or beyond;

·         whilst due to a range of hard work and recognised initiatives, progress has been made to increase breastfeeding in Stockport over recent years, last year saw a decline in overall breastfeeding rates;

·         alongside this, significant inequalities persist in breastfeeding rates between the least and most deprived areas of Stockport;

·         it is for mothers to decide how long they wish to breastfeed and returning to work does not mean a mother has to stop breastfeeding and should not be a barrier to either initiation or continuation of breastfeeding; and

·         although the Equality Act 2010 has specifically clarified that is in unlawful to discriminate against a woman because she is breastfeeding a child, there is some way to go until this is accepted as the norm on all premises.

The Council further notes that:

·         the decision whether or not to breastfeed – and for how long – is a complex one, with powerful cultural and familial factors involved;

·         confidence over breastfeeding outside the family home is a recognised barrier to breastfeeding which the Stockport Breastfeeding Welcome scheme, run by the Infant Feeding Team, aims to address;

·         alongside this, significant inequalities persist in breastfeeding rates between the least and most deprived areas of Stockport;

·         access to skilled support and advice is highly important in helping mothers feel confident in choosing to breastfeed, and the delivery of mandatory training for all health visitors, midwives and paediatric nurses, alongside community and hospital support groups and clinics to offer specialist assistance, are key to this; and

·         employers are required to provide suitable facilities where pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers can rest (this should include space to lie down) and guidelines recommend breastfeeding mothers should have access to a private and comfortable room in which to express (a toilet is not suitable for this purpose) and a safe fridge in which to store milk.

The Council believes that:

·         all women who have chosen to or are able to breastfeed should be supported to feel confident and comfortable in breastfeeding their babies in line with WHO recommendations, across the social spectrum, to help all babies (and mothers) to receive the benefits of breastfeeding;

·         Stockport should be seen as a “Breastfeeding Friendly” town and that it should be made clear to everyone that breastfeeding is welcomed in all public areas; and

·         That ultimately the decision whether or not to breastfeed must lie with the mother and no action should be taken which may make mothers feel guilty if they are unable or choose not to breastfeed.

This Council therefore resolves to;

·         ensure that all Council premises are aware of their duty under the Equality Act 2010 not to discriminate against breastfeeding mothers and display signage to indicate that breastfeeding is welcome;

·         encourage all local businesses to sign up to the “Breastfeeding Welcome” scheme;

·         write to all schools, colleges and educational establishments to encourage them to display “Breastfeeding Friendly” signage in their reception areas; and

·         lead the way in good practice as an employers by ensuring that it follows NHS and HSE recommendations on good practice policies for breastfeeding mothers returning to work and that the Head of Paid Service ensures all breastfeeding mothers returning to work are provided with a suitable private, clean, warm, safe and comfortable room in which to express milk and a suitable clean, safe place to store and refrigerate equipment and milk and that employees and managers are clearly notified of where this is.

The Mayor advised the Council Meeting that debate on this motion was adjourned at the last ordinary meeting of the Council Meeting on 5 April 2018, and as such consideration of this item recommenced with debate on the motion (as amended) as detailed on the Summons.

FURTHER AMENDMENT MOVED AND SECONDED - This Council acknowledges that:

·         breastmilk is recognised by the World Health Organisation as the ideal first food for babies to promote the best start in life, which also reduces risk of a range of infections and conditions including allergic disease, diabetes and some cancers;

·         the World Health Organisation also recommends continued breastfeeding along within complementary foods up to two years of age or beyond;

·         whilst due to a range of hard work and recognised initiatives, progress has been made to increase breastfeeding in Stockport over recent years, last year saw a decline in overall breastfeeding rates;

·         alongside this, significant inequalities persist in breastfeeding rates between the least and most deprived areas of Stockport;

·         it is for mothers to decide how long they wish to breastfeed and returning to work does not mean a mother has to stop breastfeeding and should not be a barrier to either initiation or continuation of breastfeeding; and

·         although the Equality Act 2010 has specifically clarified that is in unlawful to discriminate against a woman because she is breastfeeding a child, there is some way to go until this is accepted as the norm on all premises.

The Council further notes that:

·         the decision whether or not to breastfeed – and for how long – is a complex one, with powerful cultural and familial factors involved;

·         confidence over breastfeeding outside the family home is a recognised barrier to breastfeeding which the Stockport Breastfeeding Welcome scheme, run by the Infant Feeding Team, aims to address;

·         alongside this, significant inequalities persist in breastfeeding rates between the least and most deprived areas of Stockport;

·         access to skilled support and advice is highly important in helping mothers feel confident in choosing to breastfeed, and the delivery of mandatory training for all health visitors, midwives and paediatric nurses, alongside community and hospital support groups and clinics to offer specialist assistance, are key to this; and

·         employers are required to provide suitable facilities where pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers can rest (this should include space to lie down) and guidelines recommend breastfeeding mothers should have access to a private and comfortable room in which to express (a toilet is not suitable for this purpose) and a safe fridge in which to store milk.

The Council believes that:

·         all women who have chosen to or are able to breastfeed should be supported to feel confident and comfortable in breastfeeding their babies in line with WHO recommendations, across the social spectrum, to help all babies (and mothers) to receive the benefits of breastfeeding;

·         Stockport should be seen as a “Breastfeeding Friendly” Borough and that it should be made clear to everyone that breastfeeding is welcomed in all public areas; and

·         That ultimately the decision whether or not to breastfeed must lie with the mother and no action should be taken which may make mothers feel guilty if they are unable or choose not to breastfeed.

This Council therefore resolves to;

·         ensure that all Council premises are aware of their duty under the Equality Act 2010 not to discriminate against breastfeeding mothers and display signage to indicate that breastfeeding is welcome;

·         encourage all local businesses to sign up to the “Breastfeeding Welcome” scheme;

·         write to all schools, colleges and educational establishments to encourage them to display “Breastfeeding Friendly” signage in their reception areas; and

·         lead the way in good practice as an employers by ensuring that it follows NHS and HSE recommendations on good practice policies for breastfeeding mothers returning to work and that the Head of Paid Service ensures that within the Council Civic Building complex all breastfeeding mothers returning to work are provided with a suitable private, clean, warm, safe and comfortable room in which to express milk and a suitable clean, safe place to store and refrigerate equipment and milk and that employees and managers are clearly notified of where this is.

AMENDMENT CARRIED

The amendment was then put as the substantive motion and it was

RESOLVED - This Council acknowledges that:

·         breastmilk is recognised by the World Health Organisation as the ideal first food for babies to promote the best start in life, which also reduces risk of a range of infections and conditions including allergic disease, diabetes and some cancers;

·         the World Health Organisation also recommends continued breastfeeding along within complementary foods up to two years of age or beyond;

·         whilst due to a range of hard work and recognised initiatives, progress has been made to increase breastfeeding in Stockport over recent years, last year saw a decline in overall breastfeeding rates;

·         alongside this, significant inequalities persist in breastfeeding rates between the least and most deprived areas of Stockport;

·         it is for mothers to decide how long they wish to breastfeed and returning to work does not mean a mother has to stop breastfeeding and should not be a barrier to either initiation or continuation of breastfeeding; and

·         although the Equality Act 2010 has specifically clarified that is in unlawful to discriminate against a woman because she is breastfeeding a child, there is some way to go until this is accepted as the norm on all premises.

The Council further notes that:

·         the decision whether or not to breastfeed – and for how long – is a complex one, with powerful cultural and familial factors involved;

·         confidence over breastfeeding outside the family home is a recognised barrier to breastfeeding which the Stockport Breastfeeding Welcome scheme, run by the Infant Feeding Team, aims to address;

·         alongside this, significant inequalities persist in breastfeeding rates between the least and most deprived areas of Stockport;

·         access to skilled support and advice is highly important in helping mothers feel confident in choosing to breastfeed, and the delivery of mandatory training for all health visitors, midwives and paediatric nurses, alongside community and hospital support groups and clinics to offer specialist assistance, are key to this; and

·         employers are required to provide suitable facilities where pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers can rest (this should include space to lie down) and guidelines recommend breastfeeding mothers should have access to a private and comfortable room in which to express (a toilet is not suitable for this purpose) and a safe fridge in which to store milk.

The Council believes that:

·         all women who have chosen to or are able to breastfeed should be supported to feel confident and comfortable in breastfeeding their babies in line with WHO recommendations, across the social spectrum, to help all babies (and mothers) to receive the benefits of breastfeeding;

·         Stockport should be seen as a “Breastfeeding Friendly” Borough and that it should be made clear to everyone that breastfeeding is welcomed in all public areas; and

·         That ultimately the decision whether or not to breastfeed must lie with the mother and no action should be taken which may make mothers feel guilty if they are unable or choose not to breastfeed.

This Council therefore resolves to;

·         ensure that all Council premises are aware of their duty under the Equality Act 2010 not to discriminate against breastfeeding mothers and display signage to indicate that breastfeeding is welcome;

·         encourage all local businesses to sign up to the “Breastfeeding Welcome” scheme;

·         write to all schools, colleges and educational establishments to encourage them to display “Breastfeeding Friendly” signage in their reception areas; and

·         lead the way in good practice as an employers by ensuring that it follows NHS and HSE recommendations on good practice policies for breastfeeding mothers returning to work and that the Head of Paid Service ensures that within the Council Civic Building complex all breastfeeding mothers returning to work are provided with a suitable private, clean, warm, safe and comfortable room in which to express milk and a suitable clean, safe place to store and refrigerate equipment and milk and that employees and managers are clearly notified of where this is.