Agenda item

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
One Planet Living	Councillor Dan Sames	TBC
Fracking	Councillor Matt Hodgson	Councillor Amanda Watkins
Investment Zone	Councillor Ian Middleton	TBC
Water Sewage Transparency	Councillor Nick Cotter	TBC
Climate and Ecology	Councillor Dorothy Walker	Councillor Ian Middleton

 

Please note that the deadline to submit motions has passed. The deadline for Members to submit amendments to motions is noon on Thursday 13 October 2022. No amendments will be permitted after this deadline.

 

Any amendments submitted will be published as a supplement to the agenda on the afternoon of Friday 14 October 2022. Amendments for motions will be dealt with in the order submitted. 

 

 

Resolved

 

(1)          That the following motion be adopted:

 

“Fracking involves injecting water, sand and other substances into subterranean rocks to extract the gas that is trapped between them. It has caused water pollution in the US, earthquakes there and in the UK, massively pollutes the environment and water table and contributes to greenhouse gases when burnt.

 

We've already seen earthquakes in Lancashire, and Quadrilla were forced to pause fracking there in 2018 after the British Geological Survey showed that there had been 17 earthquakes in 9 days.

 

Fracking was banned in 2019 by the Conservative government amid these concerns. These concerns have not gone away.

 

We now have a Prime Minister who believes fracking is fine again and has reversed that decision. Inexplicably so when investment in renewals is both more cost effective and much better for the environment. It is inexplicable that the government should be considering such environmental and climatic destruction when we are facing a climate catastrophe.

 

Liz Truss has said developers will be given permission "where there is local support". Various sites across the country have been identified as possibilities, some are in Cherwell. As this Council declared a climate emergency in 2019, and published the Climate Action Framework in 2020, which includes statements on moving towards net-zero carbon by 2030, we, as a council, need unite behind that and be seen to be standing by it. We, the Labour Group, I know, are united on this and we call upon this Council to declare the District of Cherwell a NO FRACKING ZONE.”

 

(2)          That the following motion be adopted:

 

“Earlier this year Thames Water welcomed Oxfordshire’s first regional river designated as bathing water in Port Meadow’s Wolvercote Mill Stream. It’s important that this success is built on by Cherwell District council to protect our waterways from natural and man-made pollution.

 

Only 14% of the UK’s waterways are in a good ecological condition, with water companies across the UK having discharged raw sewage into waterways 400,000 times in 2020 – more than 3 million hours of discharge.

 

In compliance with our climate change emergency motion, this Council has a duty to protect our natural environment. The government has so far failed to hold the water companies to account, so this council should work with Thames Water to increase transparency and minimise discharges into Cherwell’s waterways.

 

This Council therefore will :

 

1.    Seek to establish a local strategy that puts sewage treatment at the heart of its local plan

2.    Ensure that an evidence base is compiled that assesses the cumulative impact of sewage discharges so that this is factored into decisions made within the local plan.

3.    Seek to better understand the cumulative impact of wastewater discharge including untreated sewage into our local rivers on wildlife and residents

4.     From 2023, request that Thames Water clarifies which treatment works will be managing sewage from new developments and the likely impact on the number of sewage discharges into watercourses

5.    Requests that planning officers include a specific section on the impact on watercourses in all relevant reports relating to major developments”

 

(For information: The motion “One Planet Living” was deferred to the 19 December 2022 Council meeting. On being put to the vote, the motions “Investment Zones” and “Climate and Ecology”  were lost and consequently fell)

The Chair advised that four motions had been submitted. No amendments to any of the motions had been submitted. In line with the Constitution, no amendments were now permitted.

 

One Planet Living

 

As Councillor Sames was attending Council virtually, it was proposed by Councillor Wood and seconded by Councillor Broad that consideration of the motion be deferred to the 19 December 2022 Council meeting. Members agreed to the deferment.

 

Fracking

 

It was proposed by Councillor Hodgson and seconded by Councillor Watkins that the following motion be adopted:

 

“Fracking involves injecting water, sand and other substances into subterranean rocks to extract the gas that is trapped between them. It has caused water pollution in the US, earthquakes there and in the UK, massively pollutes the environment and water table and contributes to greenhouse gases when burnt.

 

We've already seen earthquakes in Lancashire, and Quadrilla were forced to pause fracking there in 2018 after the British Geological Survey showed that there had been 17 earthquakes in 9 days.

 

Fracking was banned in 2019 by the Conservative government amid these concerns. These concerns have not gone away.

 

We now have a Prime Minister who believes fracking is fine again and has reversed that decision. Inexplicably so when investment in renewals is both more cost effective and much better for the environment. It is inexplicable that the government should be considering such environmental and climatic destruction when we are facing a climate catastrophe.

 

Liz Truss has said developers will be given permission "where there is local support". Various sites across the country have been identified as possibilities, some are in Cherwell. As this Council declared a climate emergency in 2019, and published the Climate Action Framework in 2020, which includes statements on moving towards net-zero carbon by 2030, we, as a council, need unite behind that and be seen to be standing by it. We, the Labour Group, I know, are united on this and we call upon this Council to declare the District of Cherwell a NO FRACKING ZONE.”

 

No amendments to the motion having been proposed, the motion was debated as submitted. In the course of the debate, it was proposed by Councillor Woodcock that a recorded vote be taken, which was duly seconded by Councillor Moon. Having been proposed and seconded, a recorded vote was duly taken and Members voted as follows:

 

Councillor Andrew Beere	For
Councillor Rebecca Biegel	For
Councillor Nathan Bignell	For
Councillor John Broad	For
Councillor Hugo Brown	For
Councillor Phil Chapman	For
Councillor Mark Cherry	For
Councillor Colin Clarke	For
Councillor Patrick Clarke	For
Councillor Ian Corkin	For
Councillor Gemma Coton	For
Councillor Nick Cotter	For
Councillor Andrew Crichton	For
Councillor Sandy Dallimore	For
Councillor John Donaldson	For
Councillor Donna Ford	For
Councillor Ian Harwood	For
Councillor David Hingley	For
Councillor Matt Hodgson	For
Councillor Simon Holland	For
Councillor Fiona Mawson	For
Councillor Ian Middleton	For
Councillor Perran Moon	For
Councillor Adam Nell	For
Councillor Dr Chukwudi Okeke	For
Councillor Angus Patrick	For
Councillor Lynn Pratt	For
Councillor Chris Pruden	For
Councillor George Reynolds	For
Councillor Les Sibley	For
Councillor Jason Slaymaker	For
Councillor Katherine Tyson	For
Councillor Dorothy Walker	For
Councillor Amanda Watkins	For
Councillor Douglas Webb	For
Councillor Fraser Webster	For
Councillor Bryn Williams	For
Councillor Barry Wood	For
Councillor Sean Woodcock	For

 

The motion was unanimously agreed.

 

Investment Zones

 

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

“The government’s recent ‘mini-budget’ included plans for ‘investment zones’ within which the Chancellor said the Government would “get out of the way to get Britain building”.

 

The planning process for developers will be shortened and liberalised in these zones providing a more streamlined path towards planning consent. There are also plans to limit the ability for planning decisions to be overturned by the courts.

 

The government has also published plans for a ‘sunset clause’ on environmental protections introduced when the UK was in the EU. Environmental regulations such as Habitat Regulation Assessments will be scrapped in these zones, with no clarity as to how they will be replaced. This has been described as “an attack on nature” by the RSPB.

 

In addition, reports have suggested that the planned Environmental Land Management Scheme is to be scrapped. This would have paid farmers to improve nature on their land. There is now uncertainty that payment-by acre will be linked to any environmental measures.

 

Whilst Cherwell is not included in the initial list of ‘Investment Zones’ there will be an opportunity for all councils to express an interest in becoming one in the future.

 

This council therefore pledges that :

 

1.    We do not support the ‘Investment Zone’ proposals and have no interest in becoming part of this scheme.

2.    Environmental protection in Cherwell will be maintained at current or better levels regardless of any loosening of regulations

3.    Local democracy will be upheld and respected in the planning process”

 

No amendments to the motion having been proposed, the motion was debated as submitted. In summing up, Councillor Middleton requested that a recorded vote be taken, which was duly seconded by Councillor Broad. Having been proposed and seconded, a recorded vote was duly taken and Members voted as follows:

 

Councillor Andrew Beere	Abstain
Councillor Rebecca Biegel	Abstain
Councillor Nathan Bignell	Against
Councillor John Broad	For
Councillor Hugo Brown	Against
Councillor Phil Chapman	Against
Councillor Mark Cherry	Abstain
Councillor Colin Clarke	Against
Councillor Patrick Clarke	Against
Councillor Ian Corkin	Against
Councillor Gemma Coton	For
Councillor Nick Cotter	For
Councillor Andrew Crichton	Abstain
Councillor Sandy Dallimore	Against
Councillor John Donaldson	Against
Councillor Donna Ford	Against
Councillor Ian Harwood	Against
Councillor David Hingley	For
Councillor Matt Hodgson	Abstain
Councillor Simon Holland	Against
Councillor Kieron Mallon	Against
Councillor Nick Mawer	Against
Councillor Fiona Mawson	For
Councillor Ian Middleton	For
Councillor Perran Moon	Abstain
Councillor Adam Nell	Against
Councillor Dr Chukwudi Okeke	Abstain
Councillor Angus Patrick	For
Councillor Lynn Pratt	For
Councillor Chris Pruden	For
Councillor George Reynolds	Against
Councillor Les Sibley	Against
Councillor Jason Slaymaker	Against
Councillor Katherine Tyson	For
Councillor Dorothy Walker	For
Councillor Amanda Watkins	Abstain
Councillor Douglas Webb	Against
Councillor Fraser Webster	Against
Councillor Bryn Williams	Against
Councillor Barry Wood	Against
Councillor Sean Woodcock	Abstain

 

The vote was lost and the motion therefore fell.

 

Water Sewage Transparency

 

It was proposed by Councillor Cotter and seconded by Councillor Mawson that the following motion be adopted.

 

“Earlier this year Thames Water welcomed Oxfordshire’s first regional river designated as bathing water in Port Meadow’s Wolvercote Mill Stream. It’s important that this success is built on by Cherwell District council to protect our waterways from natural and man-made pollution.

 

Only 14% of the UK’s waterways are in a good ecological condition, with water companies across the UK having discharged raw sewage into waterways 400,000 times in 2020 – more than 3 million hours of discharge.

 

In compliance with our climate change emergency motion, this Council has a duty to protect our natural environment. The government has so far failed to hold the water companies to account, so this council should work with Thames Water to increase transparency and minimise discharges into Cherwell’s waterways.

 

This Council therefore will :

 

1.    Seek to establish a local strategy that puts sewage treatment at the heart of its local plan

2.    Ensure that an evidence base is compiled that assesses the cumulative impact of sewage discharges so that this is factored into decisions made within the local plan.

3.    Seek to better understand the cumulative impact of wastewater discharge including untreated sewage into our local rivers on wildlife and residents

4.     From 2023, request that Thames Water clarifies which treatment works will be managing sewage from new developments and the likely impact on the number of sewage discharges into watercourses

5.    Requests that planning officers include a specific section on the impact on watercourses in all relevant reports relating to major developments”

 

No amendments to the motion having been proposed, the motion was debated as submitted. On being put to the vote the motion was unanimously agreed.

 

Climate and Ecology

 

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

 

“In 2019 this council recognised the importance of tackling impending ecological collapse by passing a climate emergency motion. We have also recently adopted the policy of One Planet Living.

 

The CLIMATE AND ECOLOGY BILL is a plan for a new UK law that addresses the full extent of the climate and nature crisis in line with the most up-to-date science. 

 

The Bill is the only proposed legislation before Parliament that ensures a comprehensive and joined-up approach to the climate emergency. It was written by scientists, experts and campaigners and seeks to ensure that the UK plays its fair and proper role in limiting global temperatures to 1.5°C and has the cross-party backing of 150 parliamentarians.

 

It calls for urgent action from the Government to take into account our entire global carbon footprint by:

 

·         Tackling the climate and nature crises together

·         Doing our fair share to cut UK emissions to stay below 1.5°C of global warming

·         Halting and reversing UK biodiversity loss by 2030

·         Taking responsibility for the entirety of our global carbon and ecological footprints

 

To reinforce our commitment to tackling climate change, this council will show support for the CLIMATE AND ECOLOGY BILL by:

 

1.     Taking into account the goals of The Bill when setting its own strategies, policies and targets.

2.     Encouraging councillors to join the Zero Hour Campaign at www.zerohour.uk

3.     Calling on all Oxfordshire MPs to support the CLIMATE AND ECOLOGY BILL when it is debated in Parliament”

 

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

 

Resolved

 

(1)          That consideration of the motion ”One Planet Living” be deferred to the 19 December 2022 Council meeting.

 

(2)          That the following motion be adopted:

 

“Fracking involves injecting water, sand and other substances into subterranean rocks to extract the gas that is trapped between them. It has caused water pollution in the US, earthquakes there and in the UK, massively pollutes the environment and water table and contributes to greenhouse gases when burnt.

 

We've already seen earthquakes in Lancashire, and Quadrilla were forced to pause fracking there in 2018 after the British Geological Survey showed that there had been 17 earthquakes in 9 days.

 

Fracking was banned in 2019 by the Conservative government amid these concerns. These concerns have not gone away.

 

We now have a Prime Minister who believes fracking is fine again and has reversed that decision. Inexplicably so when investment in renewals is both more cost effective and much better for the environment. It is inexplicable that the government should be considering such environmental and climatic destruction when we are facing a climate catastrophe.

 

Liz Truss has said developers will be given permission "where there is local support". Various sites across the country have been identified as possibilities, some are in Cherwell. As this Council declared a climate emergency in 2019, and published the Climate Action Framework in 2020, which includes statements on moving towards net-zero carbon by 2030, we, as a council, need unite behind that and be seen to be standing by it. We, the Labour Group, I know, are united on this and we call upon this Council to declare the District of Cherwell a NO FRACKING ZONE.”

 

(3)          That the following motion be adopted:

 

“Earlier this year Thames Water welcomed Oxfordshire’s first regional river designated as bathing water in Port Meadow’s Wolvercote Mill Stream. It’s important that this success is built on by Cherwell District council to protect our waterways from natural and man-made pollution.

 

Only 14% of the UK’s waterways are in a good ecological condition, with water companies across the UK having discharged raw sewage into waterways 400,000 times in 2020 – more than 3 million hours of discharge.

 

In compliance with our climate change emergency motion, this Council has a duty to protect our natural environment. The government has so far failed to hold the water companies to account, so this council should work with Thames Water to increase transparency and minimise discharges into Cherwell’s waterways.

 

This Council therefore will :

 

1.    Seek to establish a local strategy that puts sewage treatment at the heart of its local plan

2.    Ensure that an evidence base is compiled that assesses the cumulative impact of sewage discharges so that this is factored into decisions made within the local plan.

3.    Seek to better understand the cumulative impact of wastewater discharge including untreated sewage into our local rivers on wildlife and residents

4.     From 2023, request that Thames Water clarifies which treatment works will be managing sewage from new developments and the likely impact on the number of sewage discharges into watercourses

5.    Requests that planning officers include a specific section on the impact on watercourses in all relevant reports relating to major developments”