Agenda item - Motions

To debate the following motions which have been submitted with advance notice, in accordance with the Constitution (to be debated in the order submitted).

Topic	Proposer	Seconder
Councillor Hannah Banfield	Councillor Dan Sames	Peat-free Compost
Councillor Sean Woodcock	TBC	Brighter Futures Banbury
Councillor Barry Wood	TBC	Black Lives Matter
Councillor Ian Middleton	Councillor John Broad	Government Covid-19 Recovery Plan
Councillor Conrad Copeland	Councillor Katherine Tyson	Motion to Guarantee Democratic Accountability in 2021

Please note that the deadline to submit motions has passed. The deadline for Members to submit amendments to motions is noon on Thursday 16 July 2020. Any amendments submitted will be published as a supplement to the agenda on the afternoon of Friday 17 July 2020. Amendments for motions will be dealt with in the order submitted.

Resolved

(1) That the following motion be adopted:

“Peatlands located within the UK and The Republic Of Ireland, play a vital role in absorbing and storing large amounts of carbon dioxide and thus help to mitigate climate change. This council agrees that any supplier of our bedding plants at this time and in the future will from this juncture use no more than 50% peat compost within the cultivation of our plants and that the suppliers of our bedding plants now and in the future must make the commitment to be peat-free as soon as practicable and most definitely by 2030. In making this commitment we will conserve this diminishing natural resource and help to safeguard our peatlands.

This Council agrees that officers will investigate sustainable alternatives in relation to the design and planting of our bedding schemes which will include perennial plants that are cost-effective, insect-friendly, and attractive to pollinators.”

(for information: On being put to the vote the proposed amendment to the motion was lost and subsequently fell)

(2) That the following motion, as amended, be adopted:

"This council notes with concern that in the last three years this district recorded the biggest increase in child poverty in the whole of Oxfordshire.

This council agrees that 1 in 8 children living below the poverty line in Cherwell is completely unacceptable. Reducing child poverty is and has been a long term objective for this council. The council notes the great work of ‘Brighter Futures in Banbury’ in addressing child poverty since it was set up in over 10 years ago. The economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic anticipated to be extremely negative, and likely to exacerbate the situation.

This council commits to the following in order to continue to tackle child povertywithin the district:

· Continuing the 'Brighter Futures' programme which has continued to run throughout the pandemic.

· Receive annual reports to this council’s committees from the Chairman of Brighter Futures, beginning Autumn 2020.

· Build on the work from the Brighter Futures workstream ‘Addressing Childhood Poverty’.

· Use the Cherwell Industrial Strategy to attract high skilled, well paid jobs to the district as part of a green revolution.

· Work with stakeholders to take actions that improve educational attainment, reduce exploitation and provide positive activities for young people

· Support families to reduce inactivity and health inequalities”

(3) That the following motion be adopted:

“This Council notes recent national awareness around the Black Lives Matter Movement.

This Council believes that of course all lives matter but knows that the evidence points to BAME communities being particularly vulnerable to deprivation, poorer life chances and racism. This is reflected in, among other indicators, disproportionate deaths from Covid 19.

The Council has a good record with things like help for the Sunshine Centre, the Bretch Hill Centre, the FAST programme and Banbury Brighter Futures, but a good Council always refreshes and updates its work.

To that end the Council resolves to request Officers to consider an engagement exercise with BAME communities and individuals to effectively listen to their experience of life in our District and to bring back recommendations to Scrutiny and the Executive for consideration by Members.”

(4) That the following motion, as amended, be adopted:

“Boris Johnson recently announced his plan for recovery from the COVID-19 crisis is to “Build, build, build, build back greener, build back better, and build back faster.”

This aspiration is to tackle this country’s great unresolved challenges of the last three decades: to build the homes, to fix the NHS, to solve social care, to tackle the skills crisis, to mend the indefensible gap in opportunity and productivity and connectivity between the regions of the UK, to unite and level up. A socially just and green recovery will create a better future for our planet and everyone on it. Let’s build back better and build back bolder!

This council expects government to:

· Work towards ensuring everyone has access to wholesome food, free healthcare, income and job security, affordable zero carbon housing, renewable energy, superfast broadband, public transport, clean air and green spaces.

· Promote building homes on brownfield sites.

· Build residential provision above stations and retail spaces.

· Create new woodlands and invest in conservation.

· Acknowledge the value of our carers and educators by protecting and investing in our NHS, social care, schools, colleges and early years care

· Protect genuine local democracy on planning matters.

· Restructure public and private finance to give power to local communities and provide funding to councils to provide high quality local services for everyone.

· Decarbonise the economy and create thousands of new, well-paid, secure jobs in green industries.

· Ensure that the longer-term recovery will promote human rights, , protect the environment and tackle injustice.”

(For information: On being put to the vote the motion on “Motion to Guarantee Democratic Accountability in 2021” was lost and subsequently fell)

The Chairman advised that five motions had been submitted and would be debated in the order submitted. Amendments to four of the motions had been received and published as a supplement to the agenda.

a) Peat Free Compost

The Chairman advised Council that Councillor Banfield had withdrawn the motion she had submitted on peat free compost to the 24 February 2020 Council meeting, which had been adjourned to allow for consideration of the budgetary implications of the motion, and submitted a revised motion.

The Chairman invited Linda Newbery, a local resident, who had registered to speak on the motion, to address Council.

It was proposed by Councillor Banfield and seconded by Councillor Sames that the following motion be adopted:

“Peatlands located within the UK and The Republic Of Ireland, play a vital role in absorbing and storing large amounts of carbon dioxide and thus help to mitigate climate change. This council agrees that any supplier of our bedding plants at this time and in the future will from this juncture use no more than 50% peat compost within the cultivation of our plants and that the suppliers of our bedding plants now and in the future must make the commitment to be peat-free as soon as practicable and most definitely by 2030. In making this commitment we will conserve this diminishing natural resource and help to safeguard our peatlands.

This Council agrees that officers will investigate sustainable alternatives in relation to the design and planting of our bedding schemes which will include perennial plants that are cost-effective, insect-friendly, and attractive to pollinators.”

Councillor Middleton proposed the following amendments to the motion which were duly seconded by Councillor Cotter:

“Peatlands located within the UK and The Republic Of Ireland, play a vital role in absorbing and storing large amounts of carbon dioxide and thus help to mitigate climate change.

This council agrees that the current ~~any~~ supplier of our bedding plants ~~at this time and in the future~~will from this juncture use no more than 50% peat compost within the cultivation of our plants and that ~~the suppliers of our bedding plants now and in the future must make the~~ ~~commitment to be peat-free as soon as practicable and most definitely by 2030~~ by the end of their contract in 2022 they should commit to supply us with peat free plants without significant cost increases. If they are unable or unwilling to do so, officers should investigate alternative procurement options to achieve that goal. The use of peat based products will be banned from all future landscaping and supply contracts.

In making this commitment we will conserve this diminishing natural resource and help to safeguard our peatlands.

This Council agrees that officers will investigate and adopt sustainable peat free alternatives in relation to the design and planting of our bedding schemes which will include perennial plants that are drought resistant, cost-effective, insect-friendly, and attractive to pollinators.

Alternative landscaping practices such as rewilding should also be applied where possible.”

The amendment was debated and on being put to the vote was lost and therefore fell.

Council debated the motion as submitted, which on being put to the vote was carried and therefore approved.

b) Brighter Futures

It was proposed by Councillor Woodcock and seconded by Councillor Dhesi that the following motion be adopted:

"This council notes with alarm that in the last three years this district recorded the biggest increase in child poverty in the whole of Oxfordshire.

This council agrees that 1 in 8 children living below the poverty line in Cherwell is completely unacceptable.

Further, with the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic anticipated to be extremely negative, this council understands that unless urgent remedial action is taken the Cherwell child poverty crisis is only likely to get worse.

Thus, this council commits to the following in order to help tackle our child poverty crisis:-

- Restarting the 'Brighter Futures' programme at the earliest possible opportunity with the appointment of a dedicated Lead Member and regular reporting to this council's committees and Executive.

- Carrying out an urgent study across the district on the causes and impact of child poverty locally. This study will be completed within 6 months.

- Drawing up an action plan to tackle child poverty, working with other authorities and agencies to understand best practices and how to implement them, within 6 months of the completion of this study."

Councillor McHugh proposed the following amendments to the motion which were duly seconded by Councillor Wood:

"This council notes with ~~alarm~~ concern that in the last three years this district recorded the biggest increase in child poverty in the whole of Oxfordshire.

This council agrees that 1 in 8 children living below the poverty line in Cherwell is completely unacceptable. Reducing child poverty is and has been a long term objective for this council. The council notes the great work of ‘Brighter Futures in Banbury’ in addressing child poverty since it was set up in over 10 years ago. ~~Further, with t~~ The economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic anticipated to be extremely negative, ~~this council understands that unless urgent remedial action is taken the Cherwell child poverty crisis is only likely to get worse.~~ and likely to exacerbate the situation.

~~Thus, tThis~~ council commits to the following in order to continue to ~~help~~ tackle ~~our~~ child poverty ~~crisis:-~~ within the district

-

~~Restarting~~Continuing the 'Brighter Futures' programme which has continued to run throughout the pandemic.~~at the earliest possible opportunity with the appointment of a dedicated Lead Member and regular reporting to this council's committees and Executive~~.

~~Carrying out an urgent study across the district on the causes and impact of child poverty locally. This study will be completed within 6 months~~. Receive annual reports to this council’s committees from the chairman of Brighter Futures, beginning Autumn 2020.

Drawing up an action plan to tackle child poverty, working with other authorities and agencies to understand best practices and how to implement them, within 6 months of the completion of this study." Build on the work from the Brighter Futures workstream ‘Addressing Childhood Poverty’.

• Use the Cherwell Industrial Strategy to attract high skilled, well paid jobs to the district as part of a green revolution.

• Work with stakeholders to take actions that improve educational attainment, reduce exploitation and provide positive activities for young people

• Support families to reduce inactivity and health inequalities

The amendment was debated and on being put to the vote was carried and therefore became the substantive motion for debate.

Council debated the substantive motion (the motion as amended), which on being put to the vote was carried and therefore approved.

c) Black Lives Matter

It was proposed by Councillor Wood and seconded by Councillor Hussain that the following motion be adopted:

“This Council notes recent national awareness around the Black Lives Matter Movement.

This Council believes that of course all lives matter but knows that the evidence points to BAME communities being particularly vulnerable to deprivation, poorer life chances and racism. This is reflected in, among other indicators, disproportionate deaths from Covid 19.

The Council has a good record with things like help for the Sunshine Centre, the Bretch Hill Centre, the FAST programme and Banbury Brighter Futures, but a good Council always refreshes and updates its work.

To that end the Council resolves to request Officers to consider an engagement exercise with BAME communities and individuals to effectively listen to their experience of life in our District and to bring back recommendations to Scrutiny and the Executive for consideration by Members.”

No amendments to the motion having been proposed, the motion was debated as submitted and on being put to the vote was carried.

d) Government Covid-19 Recovery Plan

It was proposed by Councillor Middleton and seconded by Councillor Broad that the following motion be adopted:

“Boris Johnson recently announced his plan for recovery from the COVID-19 crisis is to Build! Build! Build!

This blunt aspiration carries the potential to override local democracy on planning, damage the environment, destroy wildlife habitats and harm both our rural and urban communities with more roads and cars, and yet more unnecessary development on green field sites. Our eco-systems and our health are going to be sacrificed on the altar of growth in the pursuit of inward investment at all costs.

This is surely not in the best interests of the people we represent. We have an opportunity now to learn the lessons of the past. A socially just and green recovery will create a better future for our planet and everyone on it. Let’s build back better!

This council calls on government to :

· Work towards ensuring everyone has access to wholesome food, free healthcare, income and job security, affordable zero carbon housing, renewable energy, superfast broadband, public transport, clean air and green spaces.

· Acknowledge the value of our carers and educators by protecting and investing in our NHS, social care, schools, colleges and early years care

· Protect genuine local democracy on planning matters.

· Restructure public and private finance to give power to local communities and guarantee sufficient funding to councils to provide high quality local services for everyone.

· Decarbonise the economy and create thousands of new, well-paid, secure jobs in green industries.

· Ensure that the longer-term recovery will guarantee human rights and prevent environmental damage, injustice and conflict.”

Councillor Sames proposed the following amendments to the motion which were duly seconded by Councillor Wood:

“Boris Johnson recently announced his plan for recovery from the COVID-19 crisis is to “Build!, Bbuild!, Bbuild!, build back greener, build back better, and build back faster.”

This ~~blunt~~ aspiration carries the potential to override local democracy on planning, damage the environment, destroy wildlife habitats and harm both our rural and urban communities with more roads and cars, and yet more unnecessary development on green field sites. Our eco-systems and our health are going to be sacrificed on the altar of growth in the pursuit of inward investment at all costs. This is surely not in the best interests of the people we represent. We have an opportunity now to learn the lessons of the past. is to tackle this country’s great unresolved challenges of the last three decades: to build the homes, to fix the NHS, to solve social care, to tackle the skills crisis, to mend the indefensible gap in opportunity and productivity and connectivity between the regions of the UK, to unite and level up. A socially just and green recovery will create a better future for our planet and everyone on it. Let’s build back better and build back bolder!

This council ~~calls on~~ expects government to:

· Work towards ensuring everyone has access to wholesome food, free healthcare, income and job security, affordable zero carbon housing, renewable energy, superfast broadband, public transport, clean air and green spaces.

· Promote building homes on brownfield sites.

· Build residential provision above stations and retail spaces.

· Create new woodlands and invest in conservation.

· Acknowledge the value of our carers and educators by protecting and investing in our NHS, social care, schools, colleges and early years care

· Protect genuine local democracy on planning matters.

· Restructure public and private finance to give power to local communities and ~~guarantee~~ provide ~~sufficient~~ funding to councils to provide high quality local services for everyone.

· Decarbonise the economy and create thousands of new, well-paid, secure jobs in green industries.

· Ensure that the longer-term recovery will promote human rights, ~~prevent environmental damage,~~ protect the environment and tackle injustice. ~~and conflict~~.”

The amendment was debated and on being put to the vote was carried and therefore became the substantive motion for debate.

Council debated the substantive motion (the motion as amended), which on being put to the vote was carried and therefore approved.

e) Motion to Guarantee Democratic Accountability in 2021

The Chairman advised that Councillor Copeland had submitted an amended version to the motion he had originally submitted, which was supported by his seconder.

It was proposed by Councillor Copeland and seconded by Councillor Tyson that the following motion be adopted:

“Government has undertaken to present a White Paper on Devolution this year. Regardless of any proposed changes or reorganisation of local authorities, democratic accountability remains fundamental to local representation and government. Electoral input is important in the consultation process on any proposals contained in the White Paper.

In order to preserve the democratic integrity of the council, elections should be held to fill vacant and expiring seats. It is democratically deficient to go years without filling empty seats. Cherwell must endeavour to make sure that our residents are democratically empowered by holding elections.

Coronavirus Act 2020, section 61 gives the Secretary of State power to delay elections taking place before 5 May 2021; subsection (5) states that the date for postponed elections cannot fall after 6 May 2021.

The schedule for local elections conforms to these rules within the legislation. Further, current District Council elections are scheduled for 6 May 2021, outside of the window for further delay.

Therefore, Cherwell District Council opposes any further delay to local elections.

Council asks the Leader of the Council to write to the Secretary of State to request that local elections at all levels of local government proceed as planned in May 2021 or as soon thereafter as it is safe to do so.

Council guarantees that seats scheduled for election will take place on 6 May 2021, or as soon thereafter as it is safe to do so, through byelection or other means, notwithstanding any delay of formal elections.”

No amendments to the motion having been proposed, the motion was debated as submitted and on being put to the vote was lost and therefore fell.