Issue - meetings
NOTICE OF MOTIONS
Meeting: 26/02/2026 - Council (Item 94)
94 NOTICE OF MOTIONS 
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To consider any motions, due notice of which have been given in accordance with Standing Order 4.8.12.
Decision:
There was one motion submitted in accordance with Standing Order 4.8.12.
(A) Support for Trans Rights
RESOLVED: That Council:
(1) Affirm their support for trans, non-binary, and gender diverse residents and their commitment to defending their rights and dignity.
(2) Request the Leader of the Council to write to the Minister for Women and Equalities to:
(a) Express the position of this Council is to support trans rights.
(b) Request guidance on how existing legislation will continue to protect the rights of trans people.
(c) Request clarity on whether the Government will bring forward new legislation in this area.
(3) Commit to supporting Officers to take meaningful steps to promote safety and inclusion so that North Herts continues to be a welcoming and inclusive place for the LGBTQ+ community.
(4) Build upon Council policies and practice to ensure that they explicitly affirm support for trans, non binary, and gender diverse people and that language used is inclusive.
(5) Ensure that LGBTQ+ inclusion and trans awareness form part of ongoing staff and Councillor training, using existing or freely available resources.
(6) Publicly mark and promote significant dates for the LGBTQ+ community (such as Pride, Trans Day of Visibility, etc.) through Council communications channels, as appropriate.
(7) Continue to engage with local LGBTQ+ residents, staff, and organisations to inform Council services, community safety approaches, and staff policies (for example the recent funding with Impactful Lives).
(8) Promote ways to report hate crimes and discrimination, ensuring that local and national support services are clearly signposted on Council platforms.
(9) Continue to include commitments to equality, inclusion, and non-discrimination in Council supplier and partner expectations, encouraging inclusive practice in all Council linked work.
(10) Actively encourage applications from LGBTQ+ people for Council jobs by:
(a) Requesting officers to consider whether any changes to recruitment practices are necessary or appropriate to support inclusion, and to bring forward any recommendations through the appropriate governance route.
(b) Reviewing recruitment processes to ensure they are inclusive and free from unnecessary barriers.
(c) Promoting the Council as an inclusive employer via LGBTQ+ networks, events, and community groups.
(d) Investigating whether the Council can offer the option to display pronouns during the application and onboarding process at no additional cost.
Minutes:
Audio recording – 2 hours 5 minutes 33 seconds
There was one motion submitted in accordance with Standing Order 4.8.12.
(A) Support for Trans Rights
Councillor Sadie Billing proposed the motion as follows:
‘Council notes that:
The Supreme Court, in the case of Women Scotland v the Scottish Ministers, ruled that the terms “man”, “woman” and “sex” in the Equality Act 2010 refer to “biological sex”. This judgement does not remove legal protection from trans people, as gender reassignment remains a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010 and the Human Rights Act 1998. The law requiring respect for trans rights has not changed.
However, the judgement, and the subsequent interim (now withdrawn) guidance from the Equality and Human Rights Commission, has caused significant anxiety, uncertainty, and fear for the trans community. A recent Gallup survey found that two thirds of LGBTQ+ respondents had experienced anti LGBTQ+ violence or abuse, with abuse particularly severe for trans people. The LGBTQ+ community is more likely to experience disproportionately poor health outcomes, workplace conflict, homelessness, and barriers to accessing public services.
Council believes that:
1. Everyone should be safe and free to be themselves, without fear of hostility, violence, or discrimination.
2. Nobody’s life chances should be limited or determined because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
3. Everyone deserves clarity and reassurance on how their rights will be protected.
4. The erosion of trans rights threatens everyone’s rights.
Therefore, Council resolves to:
1. Affirm their support for trans, non-binary, and gender diverse residents and our commitment to defending their rights and dignity.
2. Request the Leader of the Council to write to the Minister for Women and Equalities to:
(a) Express that the position of this Council is to support trans rights.
(b) Request guidance on how existing legislation will continue to protect the rights of trans people.
(c) Request clarity on whether the Government will bring forward new legislation in this area.
3. Commit to supporting Officers to take meaningful steps to promote safety and inclusion so that North Herts continues to be a welcoming and inclusive place for the LGBTQ+ community.
4. Build upon Council policies and practice to ensure that they explicitly affirm support for trans, non binary, and gender diverse people and that language used is inclusive.
5. Ensure that LGBTQ+ inclusion and trans awareness form part of ongoing staff and Councillor training, using existing or freely available resources.
6. Publicly mark and promote significant dates for the LGBTQ+ community (such as Pride, Trans Day of Visibility, etc.) through Council communications channels, as appropriate.
7. Continue to engage with local LGBTQ+ residents, staff, and organisations to inform Council services, community safety approaches, and staff policies (for example the recent funding with Impactful Lives).
8. Promote ways to report hate crimes and discrimination, ensuring that local and national support services are clearly signposted on Council platforms.
9. Continue to include commitments to equality, inclusion, and non-discrimination in Council supplier and partner expectations, encouraging inclusive practice in all ... view the full minutes text for item 94