Agenda item

Notices of Motion

To consider the following Notices of Motion under Standing Order 11:

A – Motions referred from the Executive in accordance with Standing Order 11(a)(i)

None

B – Motions submitted for consideration directly by Council, in accordance with Standing Orders 11(a)(ii)

(i) From Cllr Kirk

“Council views with concern the recent government advice to the Yorkshire and Humber Region that there should be a further increase in land allocations for house building over the next 20 years. Council reasserts its view that even the current Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) assumption (providing for 850 additional homes per year) will be difficult to achieve without having an adverse impact on the City's setting, its built and natural environment, and that these numbers will place even further pressures on the City's transport, education, health and leisure infrastructure.

Council therefore advises the Executive to endorse the recommendations of the Local Development Framework Working Group to defend land previously identified as draft green belt from the option of building thousands of new homes in the period up to 2030.”

(ii) From Cllr Alexander

“This Council notes:

· that the cost of First York bus fares has increased 8 times over the past 6 years;

· that the cost of tickets has increased over this period between 25% and 100%;

· that increased prices are a major factor in the decrease in the number of paying passengers;

· that there is an inconsistency of bus services in rural areas;

· with great regret the recent announced bus service cuts.

Council requests the City of York Council’s Executive to make anapplication to take up the available powers to impose a Quality Contract scheme as set out in Section 124 of the Transport Act 2000, as amended by the Local Transport Act 2008, with a view to exercising control over the maximum fares, frequency and timing of local bus services with a view to addressing the above problems and achieving a more satisfactory and effective local public transport service.”

(iii) From Cllr Wiseman

“Council believes that the traffic layout, signposting and related infrastructure at York Railway Station concerning the entrance/exit to the short-stay car park, the gyratory known as ‘Tearoom Square’, and the entrance/exit onto Station Road are confused, congested and therefore cause difficulties for all road-users attempting to negotiate this area. The Council moves to request the Executive to investigate in detail the issues related to his area, with a view to improving the access and traffic flow in and out of this part of the station.”

(iv) From Cllr Simpson-Laing

“This Council believes that the both the sub-division and amalgamation of homes should be regulated to reduce the harm they can cause to the City's housing stock and neighbouring residents.

This Council believes that the sub-division of homes should be stopped due to its detrimental effect on the City's housing stock. Council calls upon the Director of City Strategy to bring forward a Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) on the ‘Sub - Division of Terraced and Semi Detached’ properties in the City of York Council area.

The SPD should address:

· the impact sub-division has on starter and family homes in the City, including their supply and affordability

· the housing needs of the City as set out in the 2007 City of York Council Strategic Housing Market Assessment

and

· should clearly state minimum floor space, as practiced in a number of other Local Authorities..

The drafting of the SPD should take place as a matter of urgency so that it can be adopted during September 2009.

Council also requests that the Chief Executive write to the Secretary for State to request that Government brings under planning control the conversion of two dwelling houses into one as the longstanding exemption contributes to the loss of 'more affordable' terraced houses particularly in conservation areas and York's rural fringe.”

(v) From Cllr Holvey

"Council notes with regret the recent threat to several evening bus services in the City, and endorses the successful action initiated by the Executive Member for City Strategy in finding alternatives to the proposed cuts.

Council looks forward to the time when government will return to Local Authorities powers which will allow them to have real influence on bus fares, routings, and frequencies for the benefit of residents.

In the meantime, Council invites the Executive to consider the powers, including any contained in the Transport Act 2008, which might allow the Authority to successfully resist any further reduction in the public transport system in the City.”

Minutes:

(i) Regional Spatial Strategy

A notice of motion had been submitted by Cllr Kirk in the following terms:

Cllr Kirk now sought leave to alter the above motion, to read as follows:

Council therefore advises the Executive to take account of the recommendations of the Local Development Framework Working Group to defend land previously identified as draft green belt from the option of building thousands of new homes in the period up to 2030.”¹

Council having agreed to that alteration, Cllr Kirk moved, and Cllr Orrell seconded, the motion as altered.

Cllr Potter then moved, and Cllr Merrett seconded, an amendment to the above motion, as follows:

“In the first paragraph:

· delete the words ‘views with concern’ in the first sentence and substitute ‘notes’

· delete the whole of the second sentence and substitute ‘This is welcomed in the City of York Council area due to the Fordhams Strategic Housing Market Assessment formal calculation of housing need which shows an overall need for 1,218 new affordable dwellings per annum.’

In the second paragraph:

· delete the words ‘to endorse’ in the first line and substitute ‘that’

· delete all after ‘Local Development Framework Working Group to’ and insert ‘deem possible sites in the draft green belt as unsuitable for housing is premature as it prevents a fully informed debate by York Residents on all of the options available to the Council that could meet the future housing needs of York people.’”

In accordance with Standing Order 15.2.1, a named vote of those Members present was requested and put on the above amendment, with the following result:

For	Against	Abstained
Cllr Alexander	Cllr Aspden
Cllr Blanchard	Cllr Ayre
Cllr Bowgett	Cllr Brooks
Cllr Cregan	Cllr D’Agorne
Cllr Crisp	Cllr Firth
Cllr Douglas	Cllr Sue Galloway
Cllr Fraser	Cllr Steve Galloway
Cllr Funnell	Cllr Galvin
Cllr Gunnell	Cllr Gillies
Cllr Horton	Cllr Healey
Cllr King	Cllr Hogg
Cllr Looker	Cllr Holvey
Cllr Merrett	Cllr Hudson
Cllr Pierce	Cllr Hyman
Cllr Potter	Cllr Jamieson-Ball
Cllr Scott	Cllr Kirk
Cllr Simpson-Laing	Cllr Moore
Cllr B Watson (Lord Mayor)	Cllr Morley
	Cllr Orrell
	Cllr Reid
	Cllr Runciman
	Cllr Sunderland
	Cllr Taylor
	Cllr Vassie
	Cllr Waller
	Cllr R Watson
	Cllr Watt
	Cllr Waudby
	Cllr Wiseman
18	29	0

In accordance with this vote, the amendment was declared LOST.

A named vote was then requested and put on the original (altered) motion, with the following result:

For	Against	Abstained
Cllr Aspden	Cllr Alexander	Cllr D’Agorne
Cllr Ayre	Cllr Blanchard
Cllr Brooks	Cllr Bowgett
Cllr Firth	Cllr Cregan
Cllr Sue Galloway	Cllr Crisp
Cllr Steve Galloway	Cllr Douglas
Cllr Galvin	Cllr Fraser
Cllr Gillies	Cllr Funnell
Cllr Healey	Cllr Gunnell
Cllr Hogg	Cllr Horton
Cllr Holvey	Cllr King
Cllr Hudson	Cllr Looker
Cllr Hyman	Cllr Merrett
Cllr Jamieson-Ball	Cllr Pierce
Cllr Kirk	Cllr Potter
Cllr Moore	Cllr Scott
Cllr Morley	Cllr Simpson-Laing
Cllr Orrell	Cllr Taylor
Cllr Reid	Cllr B Watson (Lord Mayor)
Cllr Runciman
Cllr Sunderland
Cllr Vassie
Cllr Waller
Cllr R Watson
Cllr Watt
Cllr Waudby
Cllr Wiseman

27	19	1

In accordance with this vote, the motion was declared CARRIED and it was

RESOLVED: That the above notice of motion, as altered, be approved.¹

(ii) Local Bus Fares and Services

A notice of motion had been submitted by Cllr Alexander in the following terms:

“This Council notes:

· that the cost of First York bus fares has increased 8 times over the past 6 years;

· that the cost of tickets has increased over this period between 25% and 100%;

· that increased prices are a major factor in the decrease in the number of paying passengers;

· that there is an inconsistency of bus services in rural areas;

· with great regret the recent announced bus service cuts.

Cllr Alexander now sought leave to alter the above motion to read as follows:

“This Council notes:

· that the cost of First York bus fares has increased 8 times over the past 6 years;

· that the cost of tickets has increased over this period between 25% and 100%;

· that increased prices are a major factor in the decrease in the number of paying passengers;

· that there is an inconsistency of bus services in rural areas;

· with great regret the recent announced bus service cuts.

The City of York Council also requests that the Chief Executive makes a submission to the Office of Fair Trading market study regarding the experience in York of the extent of competition that currently exists between bus operators, the impact this has on fares, falling standards and subsidies by the Council to bus operators.” ³

Council having consented to that alteration, Cllr Alexander then moved, and Cllr Potter seconded, the motion as altered.

Cllr Holvey then moved, and Cllr Vassie seconded, an amendment to the above motion, as follows:

“Delete all from “Council requests” in the second paragraph to the end of the motion and insert:

‘Council notes with regret the recent threat to several evening bus services in the City, and endorses the successful action initiated by the Executive Member for City Strategy in finding alternatives to the proposed cuts.

On being put to the vote, the amendment was declared LOST.

The original (altered) motion was then put to the vote and declared CARRIED and it was

RESOLVED: That the above notice of motion, as altered, be approved.^2-3

The guillotine fell at 10:00 pm. All the remaining business requiring a vote was moved, seconded and voted upon without debate.

(iii) Traffic Arrangements at York Railway Station

It was moved by Cllr Wiseman and seconded by Cllr Brooks that:

Cllr D’Agorne then moved, and Cllr Taylor seconded, an amendment to the above motion, as follows:

“After the first sentence, insert: ‘Council further notes that proposals to close off pedestrian access from the short stay car park to the railway platform (as part of the station barrier scheme will increase pedestrian flows through Tea Room Square and could increase ‘dropping off’ vehicle manoeuvres in Tea Room Square, adding to congestion.’”

On being put to the vote, the amendment was declared LOST.

The original motion was then put to the vote and declared CARRIED and it was

RESOLVED: That the above notice of motion be approved. ⁴

(iv) Sub-Division and Amalgamation of Homes

It was moved by Cllr Simpson-Laing and seconded by Cllr Pierce that:

“This Council believes that the both the sub-division and amalgamation of homes should be regulated to reduce the harm they can cause to the City's housing stock and neighbouring residents.

The SPD should address:

· the impact sub-division has on starter and family homes in the City, including their supply and affordability

· the housing needs of the City as set out in the 2007 City of York Council Strategic Housing Market Assessment

and

· should clearly state minimum floor space, as practiced in a number of other Local Authorities..

The drafting of the SPD should take place as a matter of urgency so that it can be adopted during September 2009.

Cllr Reid then moved, and Cllr Mooreseconded, the following amendment to the above motion:

“In the second paragraph:

· delete ‘stopped due to its detrimental effect on’ and substitute ‘reviewed to determine the effect on’

· delete ‘Sub-division of Terraced and Semi Detached’ and substitute ‘all types of residential’.”

In the third paragraph:

· delete the third bullet point and substitute ‘should clearly state the need for minimum floor space standards, as practiced in a number of other Local Authorities’

· delete ‘September 2009’and substitute ‘autumn 2009 following the appropriate consultation.’”

On being put to the vote, the amendment was declared LOST.

The original motion was then put to the vote and declared CARRIED and it was

RESOLVED: That the above notice of motion be approved. ^5-6

(v) Local Bus Services

Leave was sought and granted to withdraw the notice of motion submitted by Cllr Holvey in relation to local bus services.