Agenda item
Notices of Motion
To consider the following Notices of Motion under Standing Order 12 submitted directly to Council:
(i) From Cllr Riches
“Council notes:
· That health funding rose dramatically during 13 years of Labour Government resulting in improved care, treatment and investment in new hospitals;
· The Conservative-Liberal Democrat Government’s promise not to pursue expensive top-down reorganisations of the NHS, and its subsequent planned £2bn top-down reorganisation of the NHS, through the Health and Social Care Bill;
· York District Hospital needing to implement £12-£14m of cuts over the three years 2011-14, and for it to deliver existing services with 5-6% less funding, despite the Government’s commitment to real terms NHS funding increases.
Council expresses dissatisfaction at:
· The removal of the requirement in the above Bill for the Secretary of State for Health to provide a National Health Service;
· The Bill not providing the City’s new Health and Wellbeing Board with the power to ‘sign off’ changes to local health service provision, resulting in an absence of local democratic accountability that the Government claimed to support.
Council requests that the Chief Executive writes to Andrew Lansley, Secretary of State for Health, urging him to scrap the Health and Social Care Bill and to undertake meaningful consultation on the future of Health and Social Care, and also to write to the City’s MPs requesting their support for this course of action.”
(ii) From Cllr Wiseman
“In order to further CYC’s encouragement of energy conservation and the benefits of renewable energy, the Council requests that officers formulate a policy relating to the installation of photovoltaic panels on roof tops, to assist in particular with the consideration of applications on listed buildings and in conservation areas.”
(iii) From Cllr Aspden
Council welcomes the desire of the Government to make planning policy more acceptable by simplifying the National Planning Policy Framework. However, Council is concerned that the proposals undermine the ability of local communities, including Parish Councils, to protect their local areas from inappropriate development.
Council is especially concerned that changes will combine with the recent decision by the Labour Administration to allocate land in the green belt for development as part of the LDF to create a situation whereby developers will feel encouraged to push for additional green belt land to be released.
“Council therefore resolves to write to the City’s MPs asking them to work towards changes to the framework to ensure protection of the green belt to strengthen the ability of Local Authorities to ensure that development is appropriate and in keeping with the surrounding area.”
(iv) From Cllr Williams
“Council notes recent riots in different cities in England and the Conservative / Liberal Democrat Government's proposed cuts to the police service which will lead to 200 fewer police officers on the streets of York and North Yorkshire.
At a time of Government cuts to the police service, Council believes it is wrong to introduce police commissioners at a cost of £100 million and more as a result of a Government decision to waste money on 42 elected politicians being paid over £120,000 a year. Also, the decision to move the police commissioner election from May to November for purely party political purposes will lead to an additional £25m cost to the taxpayer.
Council requests the Chief Executive to write to the Home Secretary, Theresa May, to urge her to reconsider the introduction of police commissioners at a time of impending cuts to the police service. Citizens in York would prefer to keep police officers on the streets rather than pay for elected politicians to be police commissioners.”
(v) From Cllr D’Agorne
“This Council calls on the Cabinet to reinstate the positions of member champion for older people, young people, and heritage. In addition, the cycle champion role should be replaced with a ‘green travel’ champion who will promote sustainable and active travel to include walking, cycling and public transport.
This Council also resolves to amend the Council’s constitution so as to ensure that council publicity can feature champions acting in furtherance of their roles.”
Minutes:
(i) Health and Social Care Bill
It was moved by Cllr Riches and seconded by Cllr Semlyen that:
“Council notes:
· That health funding rose dramatically during 13 years of Labour Government resulting in improved care, treatment and investment in new hospitals;
· The Conservative-Liberal Democrat Government’s promise not to pursue expensive top-down reorganisations of the NHS, and its subsequent planned £2bn top-down reorganisation of the NHS, through the Health and Social Care Bill;
· York District Hospital needing to implement £12-£14m of cuts over the three years 2011-14, and for it to deliver existing services with 5-6% less funding, despite the Government’s commitment to real terms NHS funding increases.
Council expresses dissatisfaction at:
· The removal of the requirement in the above Bill for the Secretary of State for Health to provide a National Health Service;
· The Bill not providing the City’s new Health and Wellbeing Board with the power to ‘sign off’ changes to local health service provision, resulting in an absence of local democratic accountability that the Government claimed to support.
Council requests that the Chief Executive writes to Andrew Lansley, Secretary of State for Health, urging him to scrap the Health and Social Care Bill and to undertake meaningful consultation on the future of Health and Social Care, and also to write to the City’s MPs requesting their support for this course of action.” 1
Cllr Cuthbertson then moved, and Cllr Aspden seconded, an amendment to the above motion, as follows:
“In the first paragraph:
- At the end of the first bullet point, add ‘but also notes that money was not always spent efficiently and that the Labour Chaired Public Accounts Committee recently noted that productivity in the NHS actually declined in the last decade.’
- In the third bullet point insert at the beginning, ‘Labour’s failure to control public spending and the build up of massive debts has left’
- At the end of the third bullet point, delete ‘despite the Government’s commitment to real terms NHS funding increases.’ and insert: ‘even though the Coalition Government have provided real terms NHS funding increases.’
In the second paragraph:
- Delete ‘Council expresses dissatisfaction at’ and insert ‘Council further notes’
- Delete the first bullet point and replace with: ‘That Ministers have given assurances regarding the legal duties of the Secretary of State to provide a National Health Service, but that further clarification is required to reduce concerns.’
- In the second bullet point, delete ‘The Bill not providing’ and insert ‘Concerns that the Bill does not provide’
In the final paragraph:
- delete all from ‘to scrap’ to ‘Health and social care’ and replace with – ‘accept amendments to the Health and Social Care Bill aimed at further clarifying the duties of the Secretary of State and other concerns raised and also writes to the City’s MPs requesting their support for this course of action’.
On being put to the vote, the above 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. 1
(ii) Renewable Energy
It was moved by Cllr Wiseman and seconded by Cllr Merrett that:
“In order to further CYC’s encouragement of energy conservation and the benefits of renewable energy, the Council requests that officers formulate a policy relating to the installation of photovoltaic panels on roof tops, to assist in particular with the consideration of applications on listed buildings and in conservation areas.” 2
On being put to the vote, the motion was declared CARRIED unanimously and it was
RESOLVED: That the above notice of motion be approved. 2
(iii) National Planning Policy Framework
It was moved by Cllr Aspden and seconded by Cllr Reid that:
“Council welcomes the desire of the Government to make planning policy more acceptable by simplifying the National Planning Policy Framework. However, Council is concerned that the proposals undermine the ability of local communities, including Parish Councils, to protect their local areas from inappropriate development.
Council is especially concerned that changes will combine with the recent decision by the Labour Administration to allocate land in the green belt for development as part of the LDF to create a situation whereby developers will feel encouraged to push for additional green belt land to be released.
Council therefore resolves to write to the City’s MPs asking them to work towards changes to the framework to ensure protection of the green belt to strengthen the ability of Local Authorities to ensure that development is appropriate and in keeping with the surrounding area.”
Cllr Levene then moved, and Cllr Merrett seconded, an amendment to the above motion, as follows:
“In the first line of the first paragraph, after ‘Council’, insert the word ‘cautiously’.
Insert a new second paragraph, as follows:
‘Council expresses concerns over the conduct of the Planning Minister Greg Clark in appointing three developers to the advisory panel of four experts who drafted the Planning Policy Framework.’
In the second (now the third) paragraph, delete all after ‘concerned that’ and substitute:
‘time is given by the Minister to allow Local Authorities to put in place their Local Development Frameworks so as to ensure protection of Green Belt sites and local green spaces in built up areas’
Insert a new fourth paragraph, as follows:
‘Council requests the Minister to reverse his instructions to Planning Inspectors to take the Framework’s ‘presumption in favour of sustainable development’ into consideration on current appeals as final approval of the policy has not taken place and is not due to until April 2012.’
In the third (now the fifth) paragraph:
- After ‘asking them to’, delete ‘work towards changes to the framework’ and substitute:
‘support the Council’s request to the Planning Minister to give time for Local Authorities to adopt their Local Development Frameworks, to withdraw instructions to Planning Inspectors to take the Framework’s ‘presumption in favour of sustainable development’ into consideration on current appeals, and to halt the current process whilst an independent review of the proposed Frameworks is undertaken’.
- After ‘protection of the green belt’, insert and local green spaces, to give priority to Brownfield development and’
At the end of the motion, add:
‘Council requests that the Chief Executive writes similarly to the Planning Minister detailing its concerns.’”
On being put to the vote, the amendment was declared CARRIED.
The motion, as amended, now read as follows:
“Council cautiously welcomes the desire of the Government to make planning policy more acceptable by simplifying the National Planning Policy Framework. However, Council is concerned that the proposals undermine the ability of local communities, including Parish Councils, to protect their local areas from inappropriate development.
Council expresses concerns over the conduct of the Planning Minister Greg Clark in appointing three developers to the advisory panel of four experts who drafted the Planning Policy Framework
Council is especially concerned that time is given by the Minister to allow Local Authorities to put in place their Local Development Frameworks so as to ensure protection of Green Belt sites and local green spaces in built up areas.
Council requests the Minister to reverse his instructions to Planning Inspectors to take the Framework’s ‘presumption in favour of sustainable development’ into consideration on current appeals as final approval of the policy has not taken place and is not due to until April 2012
Council therefore resolves to write to the City’s MPs asking them to support the Council’s request to the Planning Minister to give time for Local Authorities to adopt their Local Development Frameworks, to withdraw instructions to Planning Inspectors to take the Framework’s ‘presumption in favour of sustainable development’ into consideration on current appeals, and to halt the current process whilst an independent review of the proposed Frameworks is undertakento ensure protection of the green belt and local green spaces, to give priority to Brownfield development and to strengthen the ability of Local Authorities to ensure that development is appropriate and in keeping with the surrounding area. 3
Council requests that the Chief Executive writes similarly to the Planning Minister detailing its concerns.” 3
The motion, as amended, was then put to the vote and declared CARRIED and it was
RESOLVED: That the above notice of motion, as amended, be approved. 3
(iv) Cuts to the Police Service
It was moved by Cllr Williams, and seconded by Cllr Burton, that:
“Council notes recent riots in different cities in England and the Conservative / Liberal Democrat Government's proposed cuts to the police service which will lead to 200 fewer police officers on the streets of York and North Yorkshire.
At a time of Government cuts to the police service, Council believes it is wrong to introduce police commissioners at a cost of £100 million and more as a result of a Government decision to waste money on 42 elected politicians being paid over £120,000 a year. Also, the decision to move the police commissioner election from May to November for purely party political purposes will lead to an additional £25m cost to the taxpayer.
Council requests the Chief Executive to write to the Home Secretary, Theresa May, to urge her to reconsider the introduction of police commissioners at a time of impending cuts to the police service. Citizens in York would prefer to keep police officers on the streets rather than pay for elected politicians to be police commissioners.”
At this point in the meeting, the guillotine fell and the remaining motions and amendments were deemed moved and seconded and were voted on without debate.
Amendment to the above motion from Cllr Orrell
“In paragraph 1, delete ‘200’.
In paragraph 3, after ‘police service’, insert: ‘and to call on her to reimburse North Yorkshire Police for the cost incurred in responding for her call for forces to support other areas in dealing with the riots’.
At the end of the motion, add:
‘Council further requests that the Chief Executive write to the York Superintendent congratulating Officers for responding to the Home Secretary’s call to support other Forces during the recent riots and put more Officers on the streets’.”
On being put to the vote, the amendment was declared CARRIED.
The motion, as amended, now read as follows:
“Council notes recent riots in different cities in England and the Conservative / Liberal Democrat Government's proposed cuts to the police service which will lead to fewer police officers on the streets of York and North Yorkshire.
At a time of Government cuts to the police service, Council believes it is wrong to introduce police commissioners at a cost of £100 million and more as a result of a Government decision to waste money on 42 elected politicians being paid over £120,000 a year. Also, the decision to move the police commissioner election from May to November for purely party political purposes will lead to an additional £25m cost to the taxpayer.
Council requests the Chief Executive to write to the Home Secretary, Theresa May, to urge her to reconsider the introduction of police commissioners at a time of impending cuts to the police service and to call on her to reimburse North Yorkshire Police for the cost incurred in responding to her call for forces to support other areas in dealing with the riots. Citizens in York would prefer to keep police officers on the streets rather than pay for elected politicians to be police commissioners.
Council further requests that the Chief Executive write to the York Superintendent congratulating Officers for responding to the Home Secretary’s call to support other Forces during the recent riots and put more Officers on the streets.”
The motion, as amended, was then put to the vote and declared CARRIED and it was
RESOLVED: That the above notice of motion, as amended, be approved.4
(v) Member Champions
Motion from Cllr D’Agorne
“This Council calls on the Cabinet to reinstate the positions of member champion for older people, young people, and heritage. In addition, the cycle champion role should be replaced with a ‘green travel’ champion who will promote sustainable and active travel to include walking, cycling and public transport.
This Council also resolves to amend the Council’s constitution so as to ensure that council publicity can feature champions acting in furtherance of their roles.”
Cllr Fraser then moved, and Cllr Potter seconded, that the above motion be referred to Cabinet under Standing Order 12.1(b).
On being put to the vote, the motion to refer was declared CARRIED and it was
RESOLVED: That the above notice of motion be referred to Cabinet for the purposes of considering an Officer report on the matter. 5