Agenda item

To consider the following motions under Standing Order 11:

 

(i)         From Cllr Potter:

“Council requests that the Director of Neighbourhood Services urgently ensures that terraced areas of the City receive a recycling service that is equitable with the rest of the City and that larger refuse bins are provided for families with younger children.”

 

(ii)        From Cllr Evans:

“Council notes with concern Active York’s research which shows that, following the closure of the Barbican Centre, York is now short of approximately twelve 25m lanes of pool space, has an under-supply of indoor sports hall space equal to approximately 24 badminton courts and by 2015 will be short of 64 mini soccer pitches, 17 junior soccer pitches and 19 junior rugby pitches.  Council asks Officers to take immediate steps to identify ways to tackle this shortfall.”

 

(iii)       From Cllr Steve Galloway:

“Council believes that the Local Government White Paper ‘Strong and Prosperous Communities’ is a missed opportunity. In particular Council regrets that the White Paper:

·        Does not introduce a fair voting system for local government;

·        Does not propose the abolition of the Council Tax and the introduction of a fair tax based on the ability to pay; 

·        Remains silent on returning Business Rates to local control, essential if local democracy is to have the freedom of action to deliver for the community; 

·        Makes no proposals to return to local authorities those powers and budgets previously transferred to central government and quangos;

·        Refers to expanded roles for local authorities to scrutinise, but indicates no resources for this;

·         Removes the obligation for a referendum on any introduction of a directly-elected mayor, and instead seeks to ignore public opinion by allowing them to be introduced by resolution of council.

Council welcomes the intention to revise the Code of Conduct produced by the Standards Board for England and to restore the right of a ward councillor to defend their local community on planning and licensing applications, but regrets the lack of a timetable for when these proposals will be introduced. 

Council notes that local councils will be able to select the electoral cycle for their community.

Council instructs the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State expressing its disappointment at the lack of devolution of powers, funding and responsibilities to local government.”

 

(iv)       From Cllr Kirk:

            “Council notes:

·        That over the last two decades, post offices have been closing at a rate of over 300 per year;

·        That 283 post offices have closed in Yorkshire & Humberside since 2001.  Recent Post Offices closures in the City of York area include Rufforth, Nether Poppleton, Elvington, Eastholme Drive, Holgate, Gale Lane, Boroughbridge Road, Fishergate, Clarence Street, Bishopthorpe Road and Albemarle Road;

·        That following the completion of the Urban Renewal Scheme, there is no longer a commitment to prevent avoidable closures of post offices in urban deprived areas where there is no alternative within half a mile;

·        That Postcomm’s 2005 Annual Report states that nine out of ten rural post offices cannot be maintained on purely a commercial basis;

·        That the Post Office withdrew the Pension and Benefit payment books and replaced them with the “Post Office Card Account and direct payment into banks”;

·        That the Post Office Card Account, used by 4.5 million pensioners and benefit recipients nationally,  will not be used for pension and benefit payments from 2010;

·        That the £150 million subsidy for rural post offices is due to end in 2008 with no commitment yet to extend it.

Council believes:

·        That sub-post offices are the lifeblood of communities in rural, suburban and urban areas;

·        That the most vulnerable residents in the City of York are amongst those most affected by the Post Office’s withdrawal the Post Office Card Account – the over-65s, disabled people, carers, unemployed people, and those without a car who find it difficult to use public transport.

Council calls for:

·        The Government to take action to protect the post office network;

·        The Government to reverse its decision to discontinue using the Post Office card account from 2010;

·        The Government to announce immediately that it will continue the subsidy for rural post offices;

·         The Chief Executive of City of York Council to send a copy of this motion to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.”

 

(v)        From Cllr Waller:

“Council regrets the government's poor record in tackling CO2 emissions and its failure to take positive action on climate change. 

Council calls upon the government to;

1.      Make sufficient investment in energy conservation, public transport, and renewable energy to meet the Kyoto Targets;

2.      Sign up to annual targets for CO2 emissions as a matter of urgency;

3.      Make sufficient investment in national assets to defend against the consequences of climate change.”

In accordance with Standing Order 11, five notices of motion had been received:

 

(i)            Recycling Services

 

It was moved by Cllr Potter and seconded by Cllr Looker that:

 

“Council requests that the Director of Neighbourhood Services urgently ensures that terraced areas of the City receive a recycling service that is equitable with the rest of the City and that larger refuse bins are provided for families with younger children.”

 

On the advice of the Chief Executive, the Lord Mayor exercised her constitutional authority under Standing Order 11(ii) and referred the above motion directly to the Executive, without debate, for an Officer report on the full financial and other implications of the proposal.

 

(ii)            Sports Facilities in York

 

It was moved by Cllr Looker and seconded by Cllr Scott that:

 

“Council note with concern Active York’s research which shows that, following the closure of the Barbican Centre, York is now short of approximately twelve 25m lanes of pool space, has an under-supply of indoor sports hall space equal to approximately 24 badminton courts and by 2015 will be short of 64 mini soccer pitches, 17 junior soccer pitches and 19 junior rugby pitches.  Council asks Officers to take immediate steps to identify ways to tackle this shortfall.”

 

Cllr Orrell then moved, and Cllr Steve Galloway seconded, an amendment to the above motion, as follows:

 

“Delete the words ‘with concern’. 

Delete the words ‘the closure of the Barbican Centre’ and insert ‘the neglect of leisure facilities over many years,’.

Delete the words ‘Council asks Officers to take immediate steps to identify ways to tackle this shortfall.’

Add the following words at the end:

‘Council welcomes the comprehensive work Active York, supported by Council officers, have done, and continue to do, to encourage participation in sport and active leisure across the city. Council notes that Active York has identified these needs ahead of most other Councils in the Region and consequently Active York is recognised by Sport England as an exemplar for Community Sports Networks. Council also notes that MORI research places York  in the top 20 of all Councils in England & Wales in terms of participation in Sport. Council therefore wishes to record its thanks for the work done by this voluntary group and urges them to continue making their valuable contribution to sport and active leisure in the City. Council also recognises that the sports facilities inherited by the current administration in 2003 had all been neglected for many years, few of them being "fit for purpose" and welcomes the plans to work with partners such as the University to modernise existing, and provide new, facilities.’

 

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

 

The motion, as amended, now read as follows:

 

"Council notes Active York's research which shows that, following the neglect of leisure facilities over many years, York is now short of approximately twelve 25m lanes of pool space, has an under-supply of indoor sports hall space equal to approximately 24 badminton courts and by 2015 will be short of 64 mini soccer pitches, 17 junior soccer pitches and 19 junior rugby pitches.

 

Council welcomes the comprehensive work Active York, supported by Council officers, have done, and continue to do, to encourage participation in sport and active leisure across the city. Council notes that Active York has identified these needs ahead of most other Councils in the Region and consequently Active York is recognised by Sport England as an exemplar for Community Sports Networks. Council also notes that MORI research places York in the top 20 of all Councils in England & Wales in terms of participation in Sport. Council therefore wishes to record its thanks for the work done by this voluntary group and urges them to continue making their valuable contribution to sport and active leisure in the City. Council also recognises that the sports facilities inherited by the current administration in 2003 had all been neglected for many years, few of them being "fit for purpose" and welcomes the plans to work with partners such as the University to modernise existing, and provide new, facilities.”

 

The amended motion was put to the vote and was declared CARRIED and it was

 

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

 

(iii)       Local Government White Paper ‘Strong and Prosperous Communities”

 

It was moved by Cllr Steve Galloway and seconded by Cllr Macdonald that:

 

“Council believes that the Local Government White Paper ‘Strong and Prosperous Communities’ is a missed opportunity.  In particular, Council regrets that the White Paper:

• Does not introduce a fair voting system for local government;
• Does not propose the abolition of Council Tax and the introduction of a fair tax based on the ability to pay;
• Remains silent on returning Business Rates to local control, essential if local democracy is to have the freedom of action to deliver for the community;
• Makes no proposals to return to local authorities those powers and budgets previously transferred to central government and quangos;
• Refers to expanded roles for local authorities to scrutinise, but indicates no resources for this;
• Removes the obligation for a referendum on any introduction of a directly-elected mayor, and instead seeks to ignore public opinion by allowing them to be introduced by resolution of Council.

Council instructs the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State expressing its disappointment at the lack of devolution of powers, funding and responsibilities to local government.”

 

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

 

RESOLVED: That the above notice of motion be approved.

 

(iv)      Post Office Closures

 

It was moved by Cllr Kirk and seconded by Cllr Moore that:

 

“Council notes:

• That over the last two decades, post offices have been closing at a rate of over 300 per year;
• That 283 post offices have closed in Yorkshire and Humberside since 2001.  Recent post office closures in the City of York area include Rufforth, Nether Poppleton, Elvington, Eastholme Drive, Holgate, Gale Lane, Boroughbridge Road, Fishergate, Clarence Street, Bishopthorpe Road and Albemarle Road;
• That, following the completion of the Urban Renewal Scheme, there is no longer a commitment to prevent avoidable closures of post offices in urban deprived areas where there is no alternative within half a mile;
• That Postcomm’s 2005 Annual Report states that nine out of ten rural post offices cannot be maintained on purely a commercial basis;
• That the Post Office withdrew the Pension and Benefit payment books and replaced them with the ‘Post Office Card Account and direct payment into banks’;
• That the Post Office Card Account, used by 4.5 million pensioners and benefit recipients nationally, will not be used for pension and benefit payments from 2010;
• That the £150 million subsidy for rural post offices is due to end in 2008 with no commitment yet to extend it.

Council calls for:

• The Government to take action to protect the post office network;
• The Government to reverse its decision to discontinue using the Post Office card account from 2010;
• The Government to announce immediately that it will continue the subsidy for rural post offices;
• The Chief Executive of City of York Council to send a copy of this motion to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.”

 

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

 

RESOLVED: That the above notice of motion be approved.

 

(v)            Targets for CO2 Emissions

 

It was moved by Cllr Waller and seconded by Cllr Aspden that:

 

“Council regrets the government’s poor record in tackling CO2 emissions and its failure to take positive action on climate change.

Council calls upon the government to:

1. Make sufficient investment in energy conservation, public transport and renewable energy to meet the Kyoto targets;
2. Sign up to annual targets for CO2 emissions as a matter of urgency;
3. Make sufficient investment in national assets to defend against the consequences of climate change.”

 

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

 

“Remove the words ‘regrets the government’s poor record in tackling CO2 emissions and its failure to take positive action on climate change’ and replace them with:

‘notes the significant achievements of the Government on Climate Change in terms of negotiating the original Kyoto Treaty and work to progress the issue on the world stage, including the recent publication of the Stern report outlining the importance of tackling the issue and how the necessary changes could be economically delivered. It further notes the wide variety of internal measures such as the Climate Change levy, Renewables Obligation and Energy Efficiency Commitment delivered through its 2000 Climate Change programmes, the delivery of the first phase of the EU Emissions Trading scheme, the Government progressing congestion charging and workplace parking powers for Local Authorities, with the extremely successful implementation in London, all of which have contributed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Council welcomes the Government's intentions to extend its actions through the 2006 Climate Change programme and new Climate Change Bill, through again taking the lead in arguing for meaningful tightening of the EU Emissions limits in phase 2, and for establishing the Transport Innovation Fund to encourage Local Authority tackling congestion.

However in the light of the increasing concerns about the need for faster action to tackle the issue’.

 

On point 1, replace the word ‘make’ with ‘establish a strategy to deliver’, add the words ‘walking, cycling and’ before ‘public transport’, add the word ‘current’ before ‘Kyoto targets’, and add the words ‘and preferably more in the light of the worsening scientific picture, including funding support to Councils to deliver local measures’” at the end.

 

On point 2, replace the word ‘annual’ with ‘clear short, medium & long term’, and replace ‘CO2’ with ‘reducing Greenhouse gas’.

 

On point 3, replace the words ‘Make sufficient investment in national assets to defend against the’ with ‘Produce plans for making the necessary adjustments to deal with those’, and add the words ‘that are already unavoidable’ at the end.

 

Add the following paragraph at the end:

‘Council also asks officers to prepare a Climate Change strategy for the Council identifying those measures that the Council should undertake itself and/or with its partners, including the Energy Advice Centre, local businesses and residents to reduce York's contribution to climate change.’

 

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.