Agenda item

In accordance with the Constitution, Paragraph 4.8.3. a(iv), an extraordinary Council meeting has been called by the following Councillors: David Levett, Morgan Derbyshire, Claire Strong, Simon Harwood, Jim Mcnally and Tony Hunter.

 

To consider the following Motion to be proposed by Councillor David Levett and seconded by Councillor Morgan Derbyshire

 

“This Council notes the forthcoming publication of the Devolution and Recovery White Paper from Government and supports the move to a single Unitary Authority for Hertfordshire.

 

Council instructs officers and the Leader of the Council to work with other authorities and Hertfordshire County Council to achieve this in the shortest possible time frame.”

Upon the vote the amendment was carried with the votes being recorded as follows:

 

For:

Councillors: Ian Albert, Daniel Allen, Kate Aspinwall, Clare Billing, Judi Billing, Ruth Brown, Val Bryant, Paul Clark, Sam Collins, Elizabeth Dennis-Harburg,  Gary Grindal, Keith Hoskins, Mike Hughson, Steve Jarvis, Ian Mantle, Lisa Nash, Sue Ngwala, Sam North, Helen Oliver, Sean Prendergast, Adem Ruggiero-Cakir, Carol Stanier, Martin Stears-Handscomb, Terry Tyler and Tom Tyson.

Total: 25

 

Against:

Councillor: David Barnard, John Bishop, George Davies, Steve Deakin-Davies, Morgan Derbyshire, Faye Frost, Jean Green, Simon Harwood, Terry Hone, Tony Hunter, David Levett, Jim McNally, Ian Moody, Gerald Morris, Michael Muir, Mike Rice, Valentine Shanley, Claire Strong, Richard Thake  and Michael Weeks.

Total: 20

 

Abstain:

There were no abstentions.

 

This now being the substantive motion.

 

Upon a recorded vote it was:

 

RESOLVED:

 

This Council notes the forthcoming publication of the Devolution and Recovery White Paper from Government. It supports the consideration of Unitary options and other alternative arrangements. However, it does not support any particular option as to do so would be premature. It awaits the publication of the White Paper before coming to any conclusions.

 

The Council additionally notes the public statements of the Leader and Deputy Leader as well as a number of administration group members which state opposition to a single unitary authority for Hertfordshire.

 

It believes that any change to the current local government structure must be carried through in the interests of the residents of North Hertfordshire.

 

Furthermore, to ensure adequate representation of the electorate this council believes that with any changes to the current arrangements a more representative voting system should be introduced and that, in the case of any Unitary options, properly resourced democratic bodies are planned for the unparished areas.

 

Council instructs officers and the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Council to work with other authorities to investigate all the options that meet these criteria and to seek the views of residents so that we are prepared to respond to the White Paper when it is published.

 

It notes the progress of collaborative working between all the Hertfordshire Districts and Boroughs, the County Council, the Local Enterprise Partnership and MHCLG to achieve the best possible recovery and future investment for the County and reaffirms its support for this work.

 

The recorded votes were as follows:

 

For:

Councillors: Ian Albert, Daniel Allen, Kate Aspinwall, David Barnard, Clare Billing, Judi Billing, John Bishop, Ruth Brown, Val Bryant, Paul Clark, Sam Collins, George Davies, Steve Deakin-Davies, Elizabeth Dennis-Harburg, Faye Frost,  Jean Green, Gary Grindal,  Simon Harwood, Terry Hone, Keith Hoskins, Mike Hughson, Tony Hunter, Steve Jarvis, David Levett, Ian Mantle, Jim McNally, Ian Moody, Gerald Morris, Michael Muir, Lisa Nash, Sue Ngwala, Sam North, Helen Oliver, Sean Prendergast, Mike Rice, Adem Ruggiero-Cakir, Valentine Shanley, Carol Stanier, Martin Stears-Handscomb, Terry Tyler, Tom Tyson and Michael Weeks.

Total: 42

  

Against:

There were no votes against the motion.

 

Abstain:

Councillors Morgan Derbyshire, Claire Strong and Richard Thake.

Total: 3

Audio recording – 25 minutes 32 seconds

 

Prior to the Item being considered Councillor Judi Billing sought legal opinion regarding whether those who were also County Councillors should declare an interest.

 

The Legal Regulatory Team Manager advised that all Members would be affected by the decisions made and therefore no declarations were required.

 

Councillor David Levett presented the motion.

 

Councillor David Levett proposed and Councillor Morgan Derbyshire seconded that:

 

“This Council notes the forthcoming publication of the Devolution and Recovery White Paper from Government and supports the move to a single Unitary Authority for Hertfordshire.

 

Council instructs officers and the Leader of the Council to work with other authorities and Hertfordshire County Council to achieve this in the shortest possible time frame.”

 

Councillor David Levett called for a recorded vote on the motion.

 

Councillor Martin Stears-Handscomb proposed  amendments to the motion so that it read:

 

“This Council notes the forthcoming publication of the Devolution and Recovery White Paper from Government. It supports the consideration of Unitary options and other alternative arrangements. However, it does not support any particular option as to do so would be premature. It awaits the publication of the White Paper before coming to any conclusions.

 

The Council additionally notes the public statements of the Leader and Deputy Leader as well as a number of administration group members which state opposition to a single unitary authority for Hertfordshire.

 

It believes that any change to the current local government structure must be carried through in the interests of the residents of North Hertfordshire.

 

Furthermore, to ensure adequate representation of the electorate this council believes that with any changes to the current arrangements a more representative voting system should be introduced and that, in the case of any Unitary options, properly resourced democratic bodies are planned for the unparished areas.

 

Council instructs officers and the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Council to work with other authorities to investigate all the options that meet these criteria and to seek the views of residents so that we are prepared to respond to the White Paper when it is published.

 

It notes the progress of collaborative working between all the Hertfordshire Districts and Boroughs, the County Council, the Local Enterprise Partnership and MHCLG to achieve the best possible recovery and future investment for the County and reaffirms its support for this work.”

 

Councillor David Levett raised a point of order in that, in his belief, the amendment was not legal as it negated the motion and therefore could not be accepted.

 

The Legal Commercial Team Manager advised that it was clear that an amendment should not negate a motion. This amendment added to the motion by adding additional options to the original motion.

 

The Chair advised that he would accept legal opinion and therefore the amendment to the motion was valid.

 

Councillor David Levett then sought to withdraw the motion.

 

Councillor Paul Clark seconded the amendment.

 

The Legal Commercial Team Manager advised that, as the original motion had been proposed and seconded, under Paragraph 4.8.14 (i) of the Constitution:

 

“A Member may withdraw a motion which they have moved with the consent of both the meeting and the seconder. The meeting’s consent will be signified without discussion. No Member may speak on the motion after the mover has asked permission to withdraw it unless permission is refused.”

 

Councillor Morgan Derbyshire, seconder of the motion, gave his consent for the motion to be withdrawn.

 

The Chair called for a vote to determine whether the meeting was in agreement with the motion being withdrawn.

 

Upon the vote the meeting did not give consent for the motion to be withdrawn.

 

The following Members took part in the debate regarding the amendment:

 

·                Councillor Daniel Allen;

·                Councillor Sam Collins;

·                Councillor Terry Hone;

·                Councillor George Davies;

·                Councillor Ian Mantle;

·                Councillor Tony Hunter;

·                Councillor Ian Albert;

·                Councillor Helen Oliver;

·                Councillor Keith Hoskins:

·                Councillor David Levett;

·                Councillor Judi Billing;

·                Councillor Sam North;

·                Councillor Steve Jarvis;

·                Councillor Claire Strong;

·                Councillor Simon Harwood;

·                Councillor Richard Thake.

 

The Chair called a comfort break at 9.20pm.

 

The meeting reconvened at 9.28pm.

 

The Committee, Member and Scrutiny Manager undertook a roll call to ensure that all could hear and be heard.

 

The debate regarding the amendment to the motion continued with the following Member speaking:

 

·                Councillor Jean Green.

 

Councillor David Levett called for a recorded vote on the amendment.

 

Upon the vote the amendment was carried with the votes being recorded as follows:

 

For:

Councillors: Ian Albert, Daniel Allen, Kate Aspinwall, Clare Billing, Judi Billing, Ruth Brown, Val Bryant, Paul Clark, Sam Collins, Elizabeth Dennis-Harburg,  Gary Grindal, Keith Hoskins, Mike Hughson, Steve Jarvis, Ian Mantle, Lisa Nash, Sue Ngwala, Sam North, Helen Oliver, Sean Prendergast, Adem Ruggiero-Cakir, Carol Stanier, Martin Stears-Handscomb, Terry Tyler and Tom Tyson.

Total: 25

 

Against:

Councillor: David Barnard, John Bishop, George Davies, Steve Deakin-Davies, Morgan Derbyshire, Faye Frost, Jean Green, Simon Harwood, Terry Hone, Tony Hunter, David Levett, Jim McNally, Ian Moody, Gerald Morris, Michael Muir, Mike Rice, Valentine Shanley, Claire Strong, Richard Thake  and Michael Weeks.

Total: 20

 

Abstain:

There were no abstentions.

 

This now being the substantive motion the following Members took part in the debate:

 

·                Councillor David Levett.

 

Upon a recorded vote it was:

 

RESOLVED:

 

This Council notes the forthcoming publication of the Devolution and Recovery White Paper from Government. It supports the consideration of Unitary options and other alternative arrangements. However, it does not support any particular option as to do so would be premature. It awaits the publication of the White Paper before coming to any conclusions.

 

The Council additionally notes the public statements of the Leader and Deputy Leader as well as a number of administration group members which state opposition to a single unitary authority for Hertfordshire.

 

It believes that any change to the current local government structure must be carried through in the interests of the residents of North Hertfordshire.

 

Furthermore, to ensure adequate representation of the electorate this council believes that with any changes to the current arrangements a more representative voting system should be introduced and that, in the case of any Unitary options, properly resourced democratic bodies are planned for the unparished areas.

 

Council instructs officers and the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Council to work with other authorities to investigate all the options that meet these criteria and to seek the views of residents so that we are prepared to respond to the White Paper when it is published.

 

It notes the progress of collaborative working between all the Hertfordshire Districts and Boroughs, the County Council, the Local Enterprise Partnership and MHCLG to achieve the best possible recovery and future investment for the County and reaffirms its support for this work.

 

The recorded votes were as follows:

 

For:

Councillors: Ian Albert, Daniel Allen, Kate Aspinwall, David Barnard, Clare Billing, Judi Billing, John Bishop, Ruth Brown, Val Bryant, Paul Clark, Sam Collins, George Davies, Steve Deakin-Davies, Elizabeth Dennis-Harburg, Faye Frost,  Jean Green, Gary Grindal,  Simon Harwood, Terry Hone, Keith Hoskins, Mike Hughson, Tony Hunter, Steve Jarvis, David Levett, Ian Mantle, Jim McNally, Ian Moody, Gerald Morris, Michael Muir, Lisa Nash, Sue Ngwala, Sam North, Helen Oliver, Sean Prendergast, Mike Rice, Adem Ruggiero-Cakir, Valentine Shanley, Carol Stanier, Martin Stears-Handscomb, Terry Tyler, Tom Tyson and Michael Weeks.

Total: 42

  

Against:

There were no votes against the motion.

 

Abstain:

Councillors Morgan Derbyshire, Claire Strong and Richard Thake.

Total: 3