Agenda item

To consider any motions, due notice of which have been given in accordance with Standing Order 4.8.12.

(A)      Sky Lanterns

RESOLVED:

That this Council notes the suffering caused to farm animals and the fire risk and litter problems resulting from the release of sky lanterns and balloons. In response to the concerns of many local residents on this matter, it resolves:

(1)       to ban the sale of and release of sky lanterns and helium balloons on all Council owned land and property. This will be implemented by appropriate wording within the Terms and Conditions issued with approval for a Land Licence to hold an event on land owned by North Hertfordshire District Council;

(2)       to publicise the ban and its reasons to encourage residents to cease the practice;

(3)       to write to the Government in support of the National Farmers Union campaign for a ban on the sale of sky lanterns.

(B)      Renewable Energy

It was proposed by Councillor Steve Jarvis, seconded by Councillor Kay Tart and:

RESOLVED:

That this Council:

(i)         recognises the importance of our work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote renewable energy;

(ii)        recognises the central role that councils can play in sustainable communities, particularly through the provision of locally generated renewable electricity;

(iii)       further recognises:

·               that very large financial set up and running costs in selling locally generated renewable electricity to local customers result in it being impossible for local renewable electricity generators to do so;

·               that making these financial costs proportionate to the scale of a renewable electricity supplier’s operation would create significant opportunities for councils to be providers of locally generated renewable electricity directly to local people, businesses and organisations; and

·               that revenues received by councils that become local renewable electricity providers could be used to help fund local greenhouse gas emissions reduction measures and to help improve local services and facilities;

(iv)      accordingly resolves to support the Local Electricity Bill, supported by the last Parliament by a cross-party group of 115 MPs, and which, if made law, would make the set up and running costs of selling local electricity to local customers proportionate by establishing a Right to Supply; and

(v)       further resolves to:

·               inform the local media of this decision;

·               write to local MPs asking them to support the bill; and write to the organisers of the campaign for the Bill, Power for the People, (at 8 Delancey Passage, Camden, London NW1 7NN or info@powerforpeople,org,uk) expressing its support.

Audio recording – Session 3 - 16 minutes 51 seconds

The following motions had been submitted, due notice of which has been given in accordance with Standing Order 4.8.12.

A.        Sky Lanterns

It was proposed by Councillor Elizabeth Dennis-Harburg and seconded by Councillor Daniel Allen that:

“This Council notes the suffering caused to farm animals and the fire risk and littler problems resulting from the release of sky lanterns and balloons.

In response to the concerns of many local residents on this matter, it resolves:

1)         to ban the release of sky lanterns and helium balloons on all Council owned land and property. This will be implemented by appropriate wording within the Terms and Conditions issued with approval for a Land Licence to hold an event on land owned by North Hertfordshire District Council;

2)         to publicise the ban and its reasons to encourage residents to cease the practice;

3)         to write to the Government in support of the National Farmers Union campaign for a ban on the sale of sky lanterns.”

The following Members took part in the debate:

·                Councillor David Levett

·                Councillor Terry Hone;

·                Councillor Gerald Morris;

·                Councillor Claire Strong;

·                Councillor Michael Muir.

Councillor Claire Strong proposed an amendment to the motion, so that Item 1 read: “to ban the sale of and release of…”

Councillors Elizabeth Denis-Harburg and Daniel Allen, as proposer and seconder of the original motion accepted this amendment.

RESOLVED:

That this Council notes the suffering caused to farm animals and the fire risk and litter problems resulting from the release of sky lanterns and balloons. In response to the concerns of many local residents on this matter, it resolves:

(1)       to ban the sale of and release of sky lanterns and helium balloons on all Council owned land and property. This will be implemented by appropriate wording within the Terms and Conditions issued with approval for a Land Licence to hold an event on land owned by North Hertfordshire District Council;

(2)       to publicise the ban and its reasons to encourage residents to cease the practice;

(3)       to write to the Government in support of the National Farmers Union campaign for a ban on the sale of sky lanterns.

Audio recording- Session 3 – 27 minutes 55 seconds

B.        Renewable Energy

It was moved by Councillor Steve Jarvis and seconded by Councillor Kay Tart that:

“This Council:

(i)         recognises the importance of our work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote renewable energy;

(ii)        recognises the central role that councils can play in sustainable communities, particularly through the provision of locally generated renewable electricity;

(iii)       further recognises:

·               that very large financial set up and running costs in selling locally generated renewable electricity to local customers result in it being impossible for local renewable electricity generators to do so;

·               that making these financial costs proportionate to the scale of a renewable electricity supplier’s operation would create significant opportunities for councils to be providers of locally generated renewable electricity directly to local people, businesses and organisations; and

·               that revenues received by councils that become local renewable electricity providers could be used to help fund local greenhouse gas emissions reduction measures and to help improve local services and facilities;

(iv)      accordingly resolves to support the Local Electricity Bill, supported by the last Parliament by a cross-party group of 115 MPs, and which, if made law, would make the set up and running costs of selling local electricity to local customers proportionate by establishing a Right to Supply; and (v) further resolves to:

·               inform the local media of this decision;

·               write to local MPs asking them to support the bill; and

·               write to the organisers of the campaign for the Bill, Power for the People, (at 8 Delancey Passage, Camden, London NW1 7NN or info@powerforpeople,org,uk) expressing its support.

The following Members took part in the debate:

·                Councillor David Levett;

·                Councillor Steve Jarvis.

RESOLVED:

That this Council:

(i)         recognises the importance of our work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote renewable energy;

(ii)        recognises the central role that councils can play in sustainable communities, particularly through the provision of locally generated renewable electricity;

(iii)       further recognises:

·               that very large financial set up and running costs in selling locally generated renewable electricity to local customers result in it being impossible for local renewable electricity generators to do so;

·               that making these financial costs proportionate to the scale of a renewable electricity supplier’s operation would create significant opportunities for councils to be providers of locally generated renewable electricity directly to local people, businesses and organisations; and

·               that revenues received by councils that become local renewable electricity providers could be used to help fund local greenhouse gas emissions reduction measures and to help improve local services and facilities;

(iv)      accordingly resolves to support the Local Electricity Bill, supported by the last Parliament by a cross-party group of 115 MPs, and which, if made law, would make the set up and running costs of selling local electricity to local customers proportionate by establishing a Right to Supply; and

(v)       further resolves to:

·               inform the local media of this decision;

·               write to local MPs asking them to support the bill; and write to the organisers of the campaign for the Bill, Power for the People, (at 8 Delancey Passage, Camden, London NW1 7NN or info@powerforpeople,org,uk) expressing its support.