To receive Notices of Motion submitted under Standing Order No.12
a) Following the resounding election result in December 2019 and our welcome departure from the EU in January 2020, this Council calls on the new Government to:
· Increase infrastructure investment across the East Midlands and in our Towns and Villages;
· Implement new, higher, national environmental standards for house building;
· Increase funding to Local Authorities, Police, Health and Schools;
· Redesign the business rates system to one that supports the local economy and is also fit for purpose to support Local Government in the future; and
· Create a healthy and prosperous environment for businesses in the Borough to grow and take full advantage of new freedoms outside EU bureaucracy and regulation.
Councillor S Robinson
b) This Council resolves:
· to actively promote a public awareness campaign about the impact of fireworks on vulnerable people and animal welfare – including the precautions that can be taken to mitigate risks;
· to encourage all public firework displays within the local authority boundaries to be advertised in advance of the event, allowing residents to take precautions for their vulnerable people and animals;
· similarly, to encourage residents to advise their neighbours in advance of private displays;
· to promote awareness of alternatives for both public and private displays including laser/light shows and quieter fireworks; and
· to actively consider such alternatives when planning Rushcliffe's own displays and celebrations.
Councillor C Thomas
c) Having regard to the extent of approved building in Rushcliffe and evidence of non compliance by developers, the Council will review its planning enforcement policy with a view to increasing efforts to enforce compliance with approved plans, conditions and Council Planning Documents in conjunction with the Growth Scrutiny Group and report any recommendations back to Cabinet.
Councillor R Jones
d) We call on this Council to actively support alternative forms of transport into Nottingham, in particular cycling, and ask that a detailed piece of work is undertaken by Scrutiny and reported back to Cabinet, on improvements that could be made to the cycling network in Rushcliffe and how these could be achieved.
Councillor J Walker
Minutes:
a) The following motion was moved by Councillor Robinson and seconded by Councillor Brennan.
“Following the resounding election result in December 2019 and our welcome departure from the EU in January 2020, this Council calls on the new Government to:
· Increase infrastructure investment across the East Midlands and in our Towns and Villages;
· Implement new, higher, national environmental standards for house building;
· Increase funding to Local Authorities, Police, Health and Schools;
· Redesign the business rates system to one that supports the local economy and is also fit for purpose to support Local Government in the future; and
· Create a healthy and prosperous environment for businesses in the Borough to grow and take full advantage of new freedoms outside EU bureaucracy and regulation.”
Councillor Robinson, in moving the motion stated that it was important and timely to put this forward, as the country had left the EU and a new Government had been elected. The motion sent a clear message that the East Midlands needed Government investment. As discussed earlier in the meeting, formal bodies were in place to drive the region forward and the investment would help all of the Borough’s residents. The motion referred to increasing infrastructure, improving environmental standards for house building, which Rushcliffe was already championing, and ensuring that local businesses received more support from central Government by redesigning the business rates system, which currently gave large organisations a huge advantage over local retailers. The decision to finally leave the EU had been welcomed by local businesses and there was a growing confidence of a prosperous future, free from EU bureaucracy and protectionism, with the freedom to make decisions ourselves. The motion sent a strong message on behalf of Rushcliffe to the Government and it was hoped that it would be supported.
In seconding the motion, Councillor Brennan reiterated the comments made by Councillor Robinson that it was timely and pertinent that this motion should come before Council for the benefit of Rushcliffe businesses and residents. Whilst it was acknowledged that leaving the EU remained a divisive issue, the country was now free to trade and define itself once again on the global stage. Released resources should be invested into our own infrastructure and spent on our priorities. The Council called on the Government to use those resources in the East Midlands and particularly across Rushcliffe to enable the Council to support local residents and businesses to take advantage of the new opportunities this era would bring. Business rates should be fair, with the system recognising new shopping trends and the challenges faced by traditional high street retailers. A greater proportion of business rates should be retained in the Borough to support key Council services and to invest in the local economy. Historically the East Midlands region has been under funded and the Council calls upon the Government to invest in public services and local government. It was time to look forward to future achievements that would benefit everyone in the Borough.
Councillor Gray proposed the following amendment:
“Following the election result in December 2019 and our departure from the EU in January 2020, this Council calls on the new Government to:
· Increase infrastructure investment across the East Midlands and in our Towns and Villages;
· Legislate for new, higher, national environmental standards for house building;
· Increase funding to Local Authorities, Police, Health and Schools;
· Redesign the business rates system to one that supports local economy and also fit for purpose to support Local Government in the future; and
· Create a healthy and prosperous environment for residents and businesses in the Borough to thrive, in particular considering the needs of the East Midlands in arrangements for leaving the EU.”
Councillor Gray, in moving the amendment stated that the sense of the motion would not be changed by removing the words ‘resounding’ and ‘welcome’ which were unacceptable and divisive, and it would still send a clear message to the Government of the Borough’s future aspirations. Brexit had led to great division within the country and it was hoped that those divisions could be healed. The amendment called for the Government to legislate for new housing standards rather than implement them, and included a reference to residents as well as businesses and it was hoped that the Council could move forward together and accept the amendment.
In seconding the amendment, Councillor Gowland referred to the importance of the Council ensuring a healthy, happy and thriving environment for local residents. Some of the wording in the original motion was unwelcome and unnecessary. Many people remained unhappy about the Referendum result and the motion would upset them. The proposed amendment would be more acceptable and meaningful.
Councillor Jones agreed that some of the wording in the original motion was unacceptable and divisive and it was noted that the majority of residents in Rushcliffe had voted to remain in the Referendum. It was important to include a reference to legislative power and to refer to residents of the Borough and he confirmed that the Liberal Democrat Group would be supporting the amendment.
Councillor Richard Mallender stated that the main body of the motion was acceptable; however, some of the initial wording was unnecessary and he would be supporting the amendment. This was a divisive issue, which many people still felt very strongly about and the amendment reflected that.
Councillor Moore referred to unwelcome comments from Labour Councillors about Conservative Councillors on social media. He stated that Councillor Robinson was entitled to put this motion forward and confirmed that the Conservative Group would be voting against the amendment.
Councillor Thomas confirmed that she supported the amendment. Rushcliffe had delivered a resounding Referendum result in favour of remaining in the EU and to welcome our departure from the EU would be in conflict with the views of the majority of Rushcliffe’s residents. Councillor Thomas requested a recorded vote on the amendment.
Councillor Gaunt reiterated the comments made about the Referendum result in Rushcliffe. He stated that although the majority of people had accepted the result, they did not welcome it and were fearful of the future. By removing the words ‘resounding’ and ‘welcome’ from the motion, it would help everyone to move forward and work together.
Councillor Gray referred to comments he may have made on his social media account and stated that he would check his account and if he had made those comments, he did not believe that it reflected his general feelings about the Conservative Group and he reiterated that the amendment made the motion more acceptable to everyone and hoped that everyone would support it.
Councillor Robinson advised that the motion referred to both the national election and referendum results. The country had voted to leave the EU and it was time to move on and make changes.
In accordance with Standing Orders - Council 16.4, a recorded vote was taken for the amended motion as follows:
FOR: Councillors B Bansal, N Begum, M Gaunt, P Gowland, B Gray, L Howitt, R Jones, A Major, R Mallender, K Shaw, C Thomas, J Walker and L Way
AGAINST: Councillors R Adair, S Bailey, K Beardsall, A Brennan, B Buschman, R Butler, N Clarke, T Combellack, J Cottee, G Dickman, A Edyvean, L Healy, R Hetherington, R Inglis, D Mason, G Moore, A Phillips, F Purdue-Horan, S Robinson, D Simms, J Stockwood, Mrs M Stockwood, R Upton, D Virdi, R Walker, D Wheeler, J Wheeler and G Williams
ABSTENTIONS: Councillors Mrs C Jeffreys and S Mallender
The amended motion was declared as lost.
In debating the original motion, Councillor Virdi stated that on 31 January 2020, the UK gained a firm direction with an end to uncertainty and a sense of optimism amongst local businesses. There would now be the opportunity to negotiate trade deals directly with non-EU countries. Local business owners had very positive expectations on increasing investment, allowing support for local businesses. The economy had not entered a recession and the business community was relieved to be able to plan for the future. More resources would become available and the motion requested investment for the East Midlands, and Rushcliffe in particular to assist with long-term growth. This was an unprecedented opportunity to attract more investment to create a healthy and prosperous environment for all.
Councillor Clarke stated that the motion would provide the Council with greater impetus and power to lobby central Government for funding to address the current imbalance. Infrastructural improvements drove business growth and improved standards of living. There were so many different funding ‘pots’, it was essential that the Council was proactively requesting support.
Councillor Gaunt stated that the motion was attempting to draw a line under the events of the last ten years, when the East Midlands had been let down by previous Governments. Growth in the Borough would be welcomed; however, the motion had been presented too late. Since 2015, there had been no motions calling for investment in the area. According to a recent Treasury report, the East Midlands continued to lose out in all aspects of public investment, including transport, health and education and in particular, local schools were struggling with under investment.
Councillor Purdue-Horan stated that he agreed with the phrasing of the motion and referred to the new era following the General Election in December 2019. The previous 10 years had consisted of a coalition Government and then uncertainty over Brexit. This marked a new opportunity for the Borough to challenge the Government and he was confident of its success.
Councillor Robinson thanked Councillors for the debate and stated that the UK was the sixth biggest economy in the world and the country should be confident in the decision that it had made to leave the EU. The country was blessed with the best industries in the world, some represented in Rushcliffe. The Economic Prosperity Fund has been established, with decisions now made in Westminster, and local MPs making decisions. This was a constructive and ambitious Borough, the motion was pertinent and relevant, and he asked Councillors to support the motion.
There was no further debate. After being put to the vote, the motion was declared as carried.
Councillor Adair left the meeting
“This Council resolves:
· to actively promote a public awareness campaign about the impact of fireworks on vulnerable people and animal welfare – including the precautions that can be taken to mitigate risks;
· to encourage all public firework displays within the local authority boundaries to be advertised in advance of the event, allowing residents to take precautions for their vulnerable people and animals;
· similarly, to encourage residents to advise their neighbours in advance of private displays;
· to promote awareness of alternatives for both public and private displays including laser/light shows and quieter fireworks; and
· to actively consider such alternatives when planning Rushcliffe's own displays and celebrations.”
Councillor Thomas, in moving the motion highlighted the impact of fireworks on those residents in the Borough with high levels of anxiety, associated mental health issues, debilitating PTSD, as well as many pet owners. This motion had been submitted to Council following a request from residents in East Leake who supported the national RSPCA campaign.
In seconding the motion, Councillor Jones stated that it was now far easier to purchase firework throughout the year and that had led to more frequent and unpredictable occurrences. This motion sought to encourage responsible citizenship as well as the promotion of responsible alternatives.
Councillor J Wheeler proposed the following amendment:
“This Council resolves:
• to launch a public awareness campaign detailing the impact of fireworks on vulnerable people and animals, and to encourage and advise people to advertise their events as far in advance as possible.
• as part of the campaign, residents and businesses should be informed about alternatives such as quiet fireworks and other forms of displays.
• to ask Scrutiny to review the use of fireworks and light shows at Council run events and put forwards recommendations to the Cabinet.”
Councillor J Wheeler, in moving the amendment to the motion, stated that he hoped the revised wording recognised the issue as one of great importance to the Council, and proposed a suitable and actionable method of investigation via scrutiny leading to recommendations to the Cabinet.
Councillor R Mallender stated that the amendment strengthened the original motion and should be supported.
Councillor Bansal agreed that it was an important motion, as the Council should have greater sensitivity towards the religious beliefs and events of other cultures.
Councillor Way thanked Councillor J Wheeler for his proposed amendment, which demonstrated that the issue was being taken seriously and strengthened.
Councillor Purdue-Horan stated that the intention of the amendment was supportive and informed the Council that at the last meeting of the Corporate Overview Group, the options for engaging members of the public in scrutiny had been explored, and this would be an excellent topic of investigation to lead the way.
Councillor Thomas responded that she did not object to the amendment to the motion but hoped that the issue could be debated at scrutiny far enough in advance of the next scheduled celebrations to allow changes to be implemented.
There was no further debate. After being put to the vote, the amendment to the motion was carried. This then became the substantive motion on which a further vote was taken and carried.