To receive Notices of Motion submitted under Standing Order No.12
1. “We call on Nottinghamshire County Council to create a street parking strategy for West Bridgford in cooperation with this Council which improves opportunities for residents and the livelihood of local businesses.”
Councillor R Jones
2. “This Council fully supports the rights of free speech, including the right of any political party to present their message on the streets of Rushcliffe, providing it is in full compliance with the laws and by laws.
However, this Council commits to ensuring local community events organised by Rushcliffe Borough Council are organised to support the objectives of the Authority and that unless expressly authorised there will be:
i. No organised political group presence to promote, campaign or recruit to a particular ideology or campaign.
ii. No facilities sanctioned to display political material, banners, or leaflets”
Councillor S J Robinson
3. “This Council acknowledges and celebrates the incredible achievement of being double winners of two of the sectors most prestigious national awards.
By winning both the LGC Entrepreneurial Council and MJ Commercial Council of the Year Awards it reflects the tremendous work done by officers and members to generate new and innovative streams of income. These initiatives have thus enabled this Borough to maintain the very best of front line services and maintain Rushcliffe with the lowest Council Tax charge in Nottinghamshire.”
Councillor S J Robinson
Minutes:
Notices of Motion
a) The following motion was moved by Councillor Jones and seconded by Councillor Khan
“We call on Nottinghamshire County Council to create a street parking strategy for West Bridgford in cooperation with this Council which improves opportunities for residents and the livelihood of local businesses.”
Councillor Jones in moving the motion explained the need for a street parking strategy for West Bridgford and noted that residents in many of the roads with older housing, which he named, within West Bridgford, had serious parking problems. Councillor Jones noted that on those roads most of the houses lacked off-street parking provision, with those off Melton Road often resorting to overnight double-parking. Councillor Jones also advised that many community groups close to West Bridgford town centre which used the Methodist and Baptist church halls, relied heavily on on-street parking, as did two GP surgeries, Clinics and Mental Health services. Councillor Jones noted that the County Council’s approach to the parking situation, which he believed was at breaking point, was is to introduce more resident parking permit schemes, which he believed concentrated the problems onto other roads. Councillor Jones also expressed disappointment that County Highways continually did not object when planning applications in these areas provided no designated parking spaces because these areas were a sustainable location. Councillor Jones noted that with the current trajectory, parking would become more intolerable in West Bridgford and hoped that Councillors would not want to see community events reduced, venues decline and community activities close. Councillor Jones summed up by saying that Rushcliffe Borough Council had a role in off street parking but needed the County Council to change its approach on planning applications with no designated or partial parking spaces and called for the two councils to discuss the problem and propose changes which would improve the parking situation.
The motion was seconded by Councillor Khan who reserved the right to speak.
Councillor Edyvean thanked Councillor Jones for proposing the motion and advised that while he fully supported the motion and its aims, he wanted to propose an amendment to the motion as follows.
“Once issues relating to street parking are identified, we will seek to work with Nottinghamshire County Council, and for County to create a street parking strategy for West Bridgford, which improves opportunities for residents and the livelihoods of local business.”
Councillor Edyvean in moving the amendment to the motion advised that it was important for the Council to first understand what the issues were regarding street parking in West Bridgford and what the desired outcomes were before working alongside Nottinghamshire County Council to develop a street parking strategy. Councillor Donoghue seconded the amended motion and reserved the right to speak.
Councillor Jones advised that he had provided details regarding the problems of parking in West Bridgford in moving the original motion. Councillor Clarke disagreed and advised that the problems with regard to street parking in West Bridgford had not been stated adequately in the moving of the original motion and that if the Council first researched into the issues of street parking in West Bridgford it would strengthen the need for Nottinghamshire County Council to develop an on street parking strategy.
Councillor MacInnes referenced with concern the ongoing planning applications which proposed for Victorian houses to be converted into houses of multiple occupation no provision for parking. Councillor MacInnes also expressed concern that this would have a disadvantageous effect on the ability of households that possessed more than one car to be able to park near their property. Councillor Robinson reiterated Councillor Edyvean’s statement that the Conservative Group were in full support of the principles of the original motion but noted the importance of first collecting data from local residents, the West Bridgford Growth Board and other stakeholders in order to fully determine what the issues were in regards to street parking in West Bridgford.
Councillor Sue Mallender stated that because cars were getting bigger there was a greater need for an on street parking strategy in West Bridgford but also noted that there was greater need for residents to be encouraged to use public transport, carpooling and cycling to get about and hoped that there would be better provision for cyclists in the future, especially with the Tour of Britain coming to Rushcliffe in September 2018.
Councillor Davidson stated that if the amendment to the motion was carried it would only slow down the process of producing an on street parking strategy for West Bridgford and asked if Councillor Robinson would commit to producing the data on the issues relating to street parking in West Bridgford by the end of 2018 in order for an on street strategy to be produced as soon as possible. Councillor Khan advised that he was willing to support the amendment to the motion but only if the strategy could be reviewed by the West Bridgford Growth Board and that consideration be made for a reduction of car parking charges in West Bridgford. Councillor Plant noted that a set timescale for the required research and drafting of the strategy should be produced and noted that it was important for the Borough Council to work closely with Nottinghamshire County Council as provision for both on street and off street parking were interlinked. Councillor Lawrence noted that problems with on street parking exceeded the West Bridgford area and suggested if consideration could be made for a Borough wide on street parking strategy.
In response to comments made regarding the amendment to the motion Councillor Edyvean stated that workshops would take place to determine the issues of street parking in West Bridgford and that the West Bridgford Growth Board would be involved in the process. Councillor Edyvean stated that the amendment would give officers at Rushcliffe Borough Council time to research the problems of on street parking before working with Nottinghamshire County Council to develop an on street parking strategy for West Bridgford.
Councillor Cottee stated that he was abstaining from the vote as he was the Chairman of the Communities and Place Committee at Nottinghamshire County Council. On being put to the vote the amendment to the motion was declared as carried.
There was no further debate. On being put to the vote the motion was declared as carried. Councillor Cottee abstained from the vote.
b) The following motion was moved by Councillor Robinson and seconded by Councillor Mason.
“This Council fully supports the rights of free speech, including the right of any political party to present their message on the streets of Rushcliffe, providing it is in full compliance with the laws and by laws.
However, this Council commits to ensuring local community events organised by Rushcliffe Borough Council are organised to support the objectives of the Authority and that unless expressly authorised there will be:
i. No organised political group presence to promote, campaign or recruit to a particular ideology or campaign.
ii. No facilities sanctioned to display political material, banners, or leaflets”
In moving the motion, Councillor Robinson stated that it was important for Council to note the guidelines included in the Local Government Act 1972 with regard to political activity at events. Councillor Robinson noted that the motion had to be brought to the Council following an incident where the Labour Party had been actively promoting themselves in celebrating 70 years of the NHS during the Taste of Rushcliffe and YouNG Market event which had taken place on Central Avenue, West Bridgford on 7 July 2018. Councillor Robinson noted that it was important for political parties to respect the five community events which the Council ran within the Borough every year and that these events should not be used to promote any political ideology or belief, with residents and visitors being able to enjoy the events without political beliefs being promoted. Councillor Robinson stated that Council staff at the event on 7 July had been placed in a difficult position in having to deal with the activity and that it was not acceptable to them to have had to deal with the incident.
In seconding the motion Councillor Mason stated that families should be able to enjoy visiting Rushcliffe Borough Council’s community events without being subjected to the promotion of political ideology and that the use of megaphones by some Labour Party members at the event on 7 July had been totally inappropriate and was not acceptable behaviour. Councillor Mason also noted that the behaviour of some of the Labour Party members at the event had been disappointing and had been disrespectful to the YouNG Market entrepreneurs and performers at the event.
Councillor Plant in responding to the motion advised that the local Labour Party had had a stand in West Bridgford for over thirty years and that the stand attended by Labour members and councillors provided residents with an opportunity to raise local and national issues with the Labour councillors and that the presence of the stall had never attracted any complaints. Councillor Plant stated that the stall on 7 July had not been obstructing the highway and that having looked into the matter she was unable to find any by-laws that stated that a political stand would not be allowed at that community event. Councillor Plant noted that the motion lacked clarity and could be misinterpreted in numerous ways for example if an event was taking place in West Bridgford did that mean than an political stand could not be held elsewhere in the Borough on that day. Councillor Plant also questioned how, if at all such a restriction on political activity could be enforced. Councillor Plant reassured Council that the local Labour Party had not attempted to hi-jack the Taste of Rushcliffe Food Festival/YouNG Market but were instead there as part of a national Labour Party event to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the NHS which by coincidence happened to coincide with the Council’s event.
Councillor Jones noted that while he did not seen a problem with the Labour Party stand that the use of a megaphone had perhaps been inappropriate. Councillor Jones stated that the motion was not precise enough in many ways, for example who would apply for permission and to whom, and could if approved could easily be misinterpreted. In response to his concerns Councillor Jones proposed an amendment to the motion as follows:
“This Council fully supports the rights of free speech and expression as long as this is within the laws of the land such as not inciting racial hatred. This includes the right of political parties to present their message on the pavements of Rushcliffe as long as they do not obstruct the highway. The Council considers that it is not appropriate for organised public political campaigns to occur within or interfere with official community events organised by the Council. The Council accepts that political campaigns can occur in public locations which are nearby Council community events as long as they are clearly separate and do not interfere with access to or egress from the community event and do not interfere or intrude upon the community event by sound, lighting or other electronic means.”
In seconding the amendment to the motion, Councillor Davidson stated that he was supporting the amended motion but could not support the original motion as submitted as it was far too vague and did not include details with regard to spatial limitation.
Councillor Sue Mallender agreed with Councillor Davidson’s comments and noted that those political groups that promoted racial hatred should not be allowed to promote their political ideology on Council land. Councillor Sue Mallender also noted her agreement with Councillor Plant’s comments on the vagueness of the motion and that caution was needed so that the motion could not be misinterpreted as the Council limiting free speech. Councillor Khan also noted that free speech had its limits and that freedom speech should not be allowed to cause harm and as such clear boundaries on what was acceptable and was not acceptable needed to be made clear.
Councillor Clarke noted the excellent quality of life enjoyed by Rushcliffe residents and that Rushcliffe was an area where people wanted to come and live. Councillor Clarke also noted that in his many years in local politics he had seen much political activity, and that while members of different parties had always disagreed the political debate had always been conducted in an atmosphere of mutual respect, however there was a time and a place for debate and that local community events were neither the appropriate time or place. Councillor Clarke noted that the amended motion did not add clarity but instead would create confusion due to its potential subjective interpretation. Councillor Robinson agreed that that the amendment to the motion made it more subjective and that specific guidelines should not need be put in place in order for the Council’s events to be respected parties
Councillor Lawrence noted that local community events would always create a temptation for those involved in politics to express their ideologies to residents but that it also gave events a bad reputation. Councillor Lawrence also raised questions about who would enforce the motion if carried. Councillor Donoghue stated that she had worked as a nurse for the NHS for over 20 years and had worked hard under both Labour and Conservative Governments for the benefit of patients. Councillor Donoghue stated that she was disappointed that the Labour Party had attempted to hijack the Taste of Rushcliffe/YouNG Market event and the 70th anniversary of the NHS to promote their political beliefs and questioned how this activity celebrated the achievements of the NHS. Councillor Donoghue reiterated that the NHS looked after everybody noted her disappointment that Rushcliffe councillors would participate in this type of activity and noted that the Labour Party should have been representing their constituents rather than promoting political ideology.
Councillor Jones advised that it had been an unfortunate coincidence that the two events had coincided and along with and Councillor Khan raised further concerns about how the proposed motion would be enforced. Councillor Butler noted that the incident on 7 July had been a serious and concerning incident and stated that the Council events staff would be in a position to enforce the requirements of the motion if it was passed. Councillor Moore agreed with the comments of Councillor Butler and noted that the original motion was straight forward and that the motion would be enforced during the five Rushcliffe Borough Council events which were held in West Bridgford every year and that the Council would monitor their events themselves.
In responding to the points raised in the debate on the amendment, Councillor Jones asked for a recorded vote to be taken on the amendment. In accordance with Standing Order 9.2 the vote was taken immediately. The recorded vote was taken as follows.
FOR: Councillors H Chewings, G Davidson, M Edwards, S Hull, K Khan, R Jones, A MacInnes, S Mallender, L Plant.
AGAINST: Councillors S Bailey, K Beardsall, A Brown, M Buckle, B Buschman, R Butler, T Combellack, B Cooper, N Clarke, J Cottee, A Dickinson, J Donoghue, A Edyvean, J Greenwood, R Inglis, N Lawrence, J Lungley, Mrs M Males, D Mason, G Moore, A Phillips, F Purdue-Horan, S Robinson, Mrs J Smith, J Stockwood, J Thurman, R Upton, J Wheeler.
ABSTENSION: Councillors Mrs C Jeffreys and Mrs M Stockwood.
On being put to the vote the amended motion was declared as lost.
In debating the original motion, Councillor Robinson stated that Rushcliffe Borough Council events should not need to be monitored for political activity and asked for political parties to be respectful to not hold stands at Rushcliffe Borough Council events. Councillor Robinson stated that Council officers had been put in a difficult situation during the Taste of Rushcliffe/YouNG Market and that this should not happen. Councillor Purdue-Horan advised of his support for the motion and noted that a Labour Party stand at a recent Bingham Town Council event had received some negative feedback from local residents as to its appropriateness of being at the event.
In responding to the issues raised in the debate Councillor Robinson restated his belief that politics and community events should be kept separate, and that while enforcement would be carried out on a case by case basis, the responsibility of adhering to the motion should fall to local political parties acting considerately and responsibly.
After being put to the vote the motion was declared as carried.
c) The following motion was moved by Councillor Robinson and seconded by Councillor Edyvean
“This Council acknowledges and celebrates the incredible achievement of being double winners of two of the sectors most prestigious national awards.
By winning both the LGC Entrepreneurial Council and MJ Commercial Council of the Year Awards it reflects the tremendous work done by officers and members to generate new and innovative streams of income. These initiatives have thus enabled this Borough to maintain the very best of front line services and maintain Rushcliffe with the lowest Council Tax charge in Nottinghamshire.”
In moving the motion, Councillor Robinson advised how proud he was that Rushcliffe Borough Council was able to continue to maintain frontline services and the lowest Council Tax charges in Nottinghamshire whilst also maintaining high levels of resident satisfaction in services. Councillor Robinson noted that the Council was able to maintain its front line services due to the Council’s Transformation Strategy which brought in £1.8 million of income annually to the Council. Councillor Robinson also highlighted the employment units at Cotgrave, the reopening of Bridgford Hall and the opening Rushcliffe Arena as some of the Council’s key achievements over the last eighteen months which had enabled the Council to win two prestigious national awards which demonstrated the Council’s commercial approach to income generation.
In seconding the motion, Councillor Edyvean advised that the Council fully embraced commerciality and that business was in the Council’s DNA which had been stated during the recent Corporate Peer Challenge which had taken place in January 2018. Councillor Edyvean also noted that the Council’s awards were welcome but were of secondary importance to the Council’s primary desire to deliver quality services to its residents. Councillor Edyvean highlighted the reopening of Bridgford Hall as great achievement for the Council and that the Hall now generated £120,000 of income per annum for the Council.
Councillor Jonathan Wheeler noted that the Council winning two prestigious awards was a testament to the work of the officers and stated that their hard work was appreciated by the Councillors. Councillor Liz Plant congratulated the Council on behalf of the Labour Party and thanked staff for working hard to generate a substantial income to the Council. Councillor Robinson thanked Councillors Edyvean, Jonathan Wheeler and Plant for their comments and was pleased to note that Rushcliffe was the number one place to live in the East Midlands for quality of life as well as scoring highly with regards to educational achievement and social mobility.
After being put to the vote the motion was declared as carried.