Agenda item

Notices of Motion

To consider the following Notices of Motion under Standing Order 12:

A – Motions referred from the Cabinet in accordance with Standing Order 12.1(a)

None

B – Motions submitted for consideration directly by Council, in accordance with Standing Order 12.1(b)

(i) From Cllr Barnes

“Council recognises that all York residents should be treated equally and should not be barred from any aspect of civil society either because of their beliefs, race, disability or sexual orientation. Council notes the recent Government consultation on extending the legal form of marriage to same-sex couples, and the commitment of City of York Council to equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered persons.

Council acknowledges and welcomes the positive efforts of the last Government to support lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights, including:

Equal legal age of consent;
Adoption rights for same-sex couples;
Fertility treatment rights;
Introduction of civil partnerships for same-sex couples

Council supports the current Prime Minister’s efforts to build on this progress, and legislate for equal Civil Marriage and also calls for equal Civil Partnerships

Council requests:

· that the Chief Executive write to Hugh Bayley MP and Julian Sturdy MP requesting they vote in favour of any Parliamentary vote supporting the equal marriage rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered couples to bring any proposed legislation to a reality and that they lobby for equal Civil Partnerships

· ensures York Pride 2012 and Parade for Equal Marriage on Saturday 21^st July is publicised via all CYC communications and that the ‘rainbow’ flag be displayed at the top of the Mansion House on the day.”

(ii) From Cllr Doughty

“Council recognises that urgent action is needed to address the desperate shortage of house building in the city.

Council notes that this stagnation is having a particularly detrimental effect on first time buyers and those seeking genuinely affordable accommodation whether that be rental, shared ownership or otherwise. Developers have long claimed that the targets for the number of affordable homes required in larger developments make such schemes unviable and statistics back this claim.

Council therefore seeks to stimulate local growth and employment in York. It agrees to implement the following policy with immediate effect:-

A reduction to 10% of the affordable housing component on all brownfield site planning applications for developments of ten or more properties throughout the city. This policy shall be reviewed 24 months from inception.”

(iii) From Cllr Reid

“Council notes that over recent weeks 349 litter and dog bins have been removed from the city’s streets without any prior consultation with ward councillors, local residents or Parish Councils. This move has sparked widespread anger and all opposition groups have expressed concern over the cuts.

Council believes these are unnecessary cuts to frontline services that will increase litter and fly-tipping, lead to a general deterioration in the look and feel of our streets, and fatally undermine the legacy of York Pride.

Council resolves to instruct officers to work in collaboration with ward councillors, residents and where applicable Parish Councils to reverse these cuts and restore the lost bins in all areas where there is demand to do so. The £40,000 cost would be funded by reducing the budget for Cabinet Members from £128,625 to £88,625.”

(iv) From Cllr Williams

“This Council calls upon the Chief Executive to facilitate the inclusion in Your Voice an article which includes the names, addresses and websites for each candidate for the position of York and North Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner. It further calls upon her to ensure that the relevant issue of Your Voice is distributed to all households in the City of York Council area in good time before the 15^th November election for the PCC post along with supporting information to explain the role of the Police and Crime Commissioner.”

Minutes:

(i) North Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner

It was moved by Cllr Williams and seconded by Cllr D’Agorne that:

Councillor Healey then moved and Cllr Galvin seconded, an amendment to the above motion as follows:

In the second sentence –

Delete the words “in good time” and replace with “after the publication of persons nominated on 23 October 2012 and”

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

The motion, as amended, now reads as follows:

“This Council calls upon the Chief Executive to facilitate the inclusion in Your Voice an article which includes the names, addresses and websites for each candidate for the position of York and North Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner. It further calls upon her to ensure that the relevant issue of Your Voice is distributed to all households in the City of York Council area after the publication of persons nominated on 23 October 2012 and before the 15^th November election for the PCC post along with supporting information to explain the role of the Police and Crime Commissioner.”

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. ^1.

(ii) Affordable Housing

Cllr Doughty had submitted the following motion:

“Council recognises that urgent action is needed to address the desperate shortage of house building in the city.

Council therefore seeks to stimulate local growth and employment in York. It agrees to implement the following policy with immediate effect:-

Cllr Merrett, as Cabinet Member for Planning Transport and Sustainability, moved, and Cllr Potter seconded referral of this motion, to Cabinet via the Local Development Working Group as part of an officer report, to include information on the appropriateness of the policy.

On being put to the vote the motion was declared CARRIED.

RESOLVED: That the above motion be referred to Cabinet via the Local Development Framework Working Group together with an officer report addressing the full implications. ^2.

(iii) Litter and Dog Bins

It was moved by Cllr Reid and seconded by Cllr Runciman that:

On being put to the vote, the motion was declared LOST and it was:

RESOLVED: That the above motion be not approved.

(iv) Equal Marriage Rights

It was moved by Barnes and seconded by Cllr Fitzpatrick that:

Council acknowledges and welcomes the positive efforts of the last Government to support lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights, including:

Equal legal age of consent;
Adoption rights for same-sex couples;
Fertility treatment rights;
Introduction of civil partnerships for same-sex couples

Council supports the current Prime Minister’s efforts to build on this progress, and legislate for equal Civil Marriage and also calls for equal Civil Partnerships

Council requests:

Councillor Steward then moved and Cllr Doughty seconded, an amendment to the above motion as follows:

In the second paragraph, first line –

After the word ‘of’ add ‘this and’

In the third paragraph –

Delete the first bullet point “that the Chief Executive write to Hugh Bayley MP and Julian Sturdy MP requesting they vote in favour of any Parliamentary vote supporting the equal marriage rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered couples to bring any proposed legislation to a reality and that they lobby for equal Civil Partnerships” and replace with “That members continue to engage positively with residents, bodies and other officials whether elected or not to support lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered couples and their interests’.

In the second bullet point delete the words “via all CYC communications and that the ‘rainbow’ flag be displayed at the top of the Mansion House on the day” and replace with “via CYC communications where appropriate”.

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 motion be approved.