Agenda item
NOTICE OF MOTIONS
- Meeting of Council, Wednesday, 18th July, 2018 7.30 pm (Item 31.)
- View the declarations of interest for item 31.
To consider any motions, due notice of which have been given in accordance with Standing Order 4.8.12.
Decision:
(A) Plastic Free Letchworth
RESOLVED:
That this Council supports the principle of an initiative entitled “Plastic Free Letchworth”, which is committed to plastic free alternatives, to be extended to include any other Towns or areas in North Herts without the matter needing to be the subject of a separate resolution, should any other areas wish to subscribe to such an initiative.
In agreeing such a motion, it is noted that such an initiative would have no specific cost implications for the Council.
Further, it approves the nomination of a Member to the Letchworth Strategic Group, once this has been established (subject to the normal governance checks with the body prior to this being confirmed).
(B) Single Use Plastics
RESOLVED:
That the Chief Executive be instructed to produce an action plan to:
a) Minimise the Council's use of plastics and to eliminate the use of single use plastics and replace with sustainable alternatives by 2022.
b) Request all of the council's suppliers and contractors to remove single use plastics from their products and packaging as soon as possible.
c) Work with local businesses and retailers to
1. eliminate the use of single use plastic within the local authority area
2. reduce the use of plastic in packaging and work towards the removal of plastic from packaging
3. encourage them to require their suppliers to remove plastic from their products and from packaging.
The Council will also work with other public bodies and large employers to inform people of the environmental damage caused by plastics and promoting the reasons for using the alternatives.
(C) Rail Users
Prior to the item being discussed Councillor Helen Oliver declared that she would be chairing the Rail Users Group meeting on 19 July 2018. Having sought advice, this was not such as to prevent her from taking part in the debate and vote as she was not a member of that group.
RESOLVED:
That this Council recognises the continued problems residents are facing travelling on the rail network through the District. It is unacceptable that passengers have suffered two months of disruption. It welcomes the work of the local Rail Users Groups to highlight the issues and will continue to work with them to achieve a satisfactory resolution.
This Council agrees to continue to lobby all local MPs, the Department for Transport, Network Rail and Govia Thameslink Railway to ensure rapid progress towards an acceptable level of service.
(D) Garden Waste
RESOLVED:
That Council notes that those residents who have paid for the garden waste collection service did not initially receive the service for which they paid.
That Council commits to consideration of appropriate redress to reflect this.
(E) Education Funding
Prior to the item being discussed Councillor Kate Aspinwall declared an interest in that she worked for Herts for Learning who were directly affected by this issue.
Prior to the item being discussed Councillor Val Bryant declared an interest in that she was a teacher at Knights Templar School, Baldock, who were directly affected by this issue.
The Service Manager – Legal and Community advised that on the information provided at the meeting as this was a potential disclosable pecuniary interest, Councillor Kate Aspinwall and Councillor Val Bryant should leave the room for the duration of the debate and vote.
Councillors Aspinwall and Bryant left the room.
RESOLVED:
That this Council note the serious concerns raised by the Hitchin parents’ group and recent correspondence from North Herts Head Teachers as to the profound effects of school funding cuts on staffing levels as well as basic resources.
It welcomes and supports the initiative of these parents and agrees to raise these concerns with the Department of Education.
Minutes:
(A) Plastic Free Letchworth
Due notice having been given in accordance with Standing Order 4.8.12, it was moved by Councillor Michael Weeks and seconded by Councillor Lynda Needham:
“That this Council pass a motion which supports the principle of an initiative entitled “Plastic Free Letchworth”, which is committed to plastic free alternatives, to be extended to include any other Towns or areas in North Herts without the matter needing to be the subject of a separate resolution, should any other areas wish to subscribe to such an initiative.
In agreeing such a motion, it is noted that such an initiative would have no specific cost implications for the Council.
Further, the motion seeks the approval to nominate a Member to the Letchworth Strategic Group, once this has been established (subject to the normal governance checks with the body prior to this being confirmed).”
Following debate and upon being put to the vote, it was:
RESOLVED:
That this Council supports the principle of an initiative entitled “Plastic Free Letchworth”, which is committed to plastic free alternatives, to be extended to include any other Towns or areas in North Herts without the matter needing to be the subject of a separate resolution, should any other areas wish to subscribe to such an initiative.
In agreeing such a motion, it is noted that such an initiative would have no specific cost implications for the Council.
Further, it approves the nomination of a Member to the Letchworth Strategic Group, once this has been established (subject to the normal governance checks with the body prior to this being confirmed).
(B) Single Use Plastics
Due notice having been given in accordance with Standing Order 4.8.12, it was moved by Councillor Sam Collins and seconded by Councillor Paul Clark that:
“Council Instructs the Chief Executive to produce an action plan to:
b) Require all of the council's suppliers and contractors to remove single use plastics from their products and packaging as soon as possible, but within 5 years.
c) Work with local businesses and retailers to
1. eliminate the use of single use plastic within the local authority area
2. reduce the use of plastic in packaging and work towards the removal of plastic from packaging
3. encourage them to require their suppliers to remove plastic from their products and from packaging.
We also call on the Council to work with other public bodies and large employers to inform people of the environmental damage caused by plastics and promoting the reasons for using the alternatives.”
Following debate and upon being put to the vote, the amendment to Part A of the motion was carried.
Following debate and upon being put to the vote, the amendment to Part A of the motion was carried.
It was moved by Councillor Michael Weeks and seconded by Councillor Lynda Needham that Part B of the motion be amended to read:
The Service Director – Legal and Community advised that the Council would not be able to pre-qualify contractors regarding their use of single use plastics, unless it was relevant to the performance of that contract. This also applied to the evaluation stage as this could only be used if it related to the performance of the contract.
Following debate and upon being put to the vote, the amendment to Part B of the motion was carried.
The whole motion as amended was put to the vote and it was:
RESOLVED:
That the Chief Executive be instructed to produce an action plan to:
a) Minimise the Council's use of plastics and to eliminate the use of single use plastics and replace with sustainable alternatives by 2022.
b) Request all of the council's suppliers and contractors to remove single use plastics from their products and packaging as soon as possible.
c) Work with local businesses and retailers to
1. eliminate the use of single use plastic within the local authority area
2. reduce the use of plastic in packaging and work towards the removal of plastic from packaging
3. encourage them to require their suppliers to remove plastic from their products and from packaging.
The Council will also work with other public bodies and large employers to inform people of the environmental damage caused by plastics and promoting the reasons for using the alternatives.”
(C) Rail Users
Prior to the item being discussed Councillor Helen Oliver declared that she would be chairing the Rail Users Group meeting on 19 July 2018. Having sought advice, this was not such as to prevent her from taking part in the debate and vote as she was not a member of that group.
Due notice having been given in accordance with Standing Order 4.8.12, it was moved by Councillor Elizabeth Dennis-Harburg and seconded by Councillor Daniel Allen that:
“This Council recognises the continued problems residents are facing travelling on the rail network through the District. It is unacceptable that passengers have suffered two months of disruption. It welcomes the work of the local Rail Users Groups to highlight the issues and will continue to work with them to achieve a satisfactory resolution.
This Council agrees to lobby all local MPs, the Department for Transport, Network Rail and Govia Thameslink Railway to ensure rapid progress towards an acceptable level of service.
We will further press for the parties to conduct a thorough “lessons learnt” exercise to avoid even more disruption at the next timetable change point in December 2018”.
Councillor David Levett asked that the proposer agree to add the words “continue to” after the words “This Council agrees to” at the second paragraph so that it read:
“This Council agrees to continue to lobby all local MPs, the Department for Transport, Network Rail and Govia Thameslink Railway to ensure rapid progress towards an acceptable level of service.”
Councillor Elizabeth Dennis-Harburg accepted the proposed amendment.
Following debate and upon being put to the vote, it was:
RESOLVED:
That this Council recognises the continued problems residents are facing travelling on the rail network through the District. It is unacceptable that passengers have suffered two months of disruption. It welcomes the work of the local Rail Users Groups to highlight the issues and will continue to work with them to achieve a satisfactory resolution.
This Council agrees to continue to lobby all local MPs, the Department for Transport, Network Rail and Govia Thameslink Railway to ensure rapid progress towards an acceptable level of service.
(D) Garden Waste
Due notice having been given in accordance with Standing Order 4.8.12, it was moved by Councillor Lisa Nash and seconded by Councillor Ruth Brown that:
It was moved and seconded that the motion be amended to read:
Following comprehensive debate and upon being put to the vote, the amendment was carried.
Upon being put to the vote it was:
RESOLVED:
That Council notes that those residents who have paid for the garden waste collection service did not initially receive the service for which they paid.
That Council commits to consideration of appropriate redress to reflect this.
(E) Education Funding
Prior to the item being discussed Councillor Kate Aspinwall declared an interest in that she worked for Herts for Learning who were directly affected by this issue.
Prior to the item being discussed Councillor Val Bryant declared an interest in that she was a teacher at Knights Templar School, Baldock, who were directly affected by this issue.
The Service Manager – Legal and Community advised that on the information provided at the meeting as this was a potential disclosable pecuniary interest, Councillor Kate Aspinwall and Councillor Val Bryant should leave the room for the duration of the debate and vote.
Councillors Aspinwall and Bryant left the room.
Due notice having been given in accordance with Standing Order 4.8.12, it was moved by Councillor Helen Oliver and seconded by Councillor Sue Ngwala: that:
“This Council notes the concern expressed recently by head teachers in North Herts and the recent communication to all Councillors from a group of parents regarding the effects of funding reductions on the education of children in our schools, leading to basic provisions being unavailable.
It welcomes and supports the initiative of these parents and agrees to raise these concerns with the County Council and Department of Education.”
An amended motion was tabled at the meeting. It was moved by Councillor Helen Oliver and seconded by Councillor Martin Stears-Handscomb:
That the first paragraph of the above motion be replaced with:
“This Council note the serious concerns raised by the Hitchin parents’ group and recent correspondence from North Herts Head Teachers as to the profound effects of school funding cuts on staffing levels as well as basic resources.”
Following debate and upon being put to the vote, the amended motion was carried unanimously.
Upon being put to the vote it was:
RESOLVED:
That this Council note the serious concerns raised by the Hitchin parents’ group and recent correspondence from North Herts Head Teachers as to the profound effects of school funding cuts on staffing levels as well as basic resources.
It welcomes and supports the initiative of these parents and agrees to raise these concerns with the Department of Education.
Supporting documents:
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