Agenda item

To consider the following Motions on Notice under Standing Order 22:

 

Motions submitted for consideration directly by Council, in accordance with Standing Order 22.1

 

(i)      From Cllr Douglas

Audio Visual Displays on Buses

“Council notes and is aware that:

i)        bus operators nationally are moving towards fitting all buses in their fleets with audio-visual next stop displays in order to assist passengers with hearing and sight disabilities, tourists and other users; and

ii)       Park & Ride buses in York are scheduled to have such devices fitted to all of their vehicles by February 2018 at the latest;

Council therefore calls on all bus operators providing services in York to work towards a similar timetable to provide comparable real-time audio-visual information on all of their routes.”

(ii)      From Cllr  Aspden

York and the impact of Brexit

 

“Council notes:

·         The result of the EU referendum

·         That 58% of those who voted in York voted for the UK to remain a member of the EU

·         That York is a tolerant and inclusive city where the contribution of all citizens (including nationals of other EU countries living here) is recognised and appreciated

·         York residents have benefited from the training, education and employment opportunities offered by EU membership

• Yorkshire is one of the biggest beneficiaries of EU regional funding, which will include before 2020:

- £345m to support small businesses and create jobs (European Regional Development Fund) 

- £286m to get unemployed people back into work (European Social Fund)

- £19.7m to support farmers and rural communities (European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development)

 

Council believes:

·         Many questions vital to the local interest now need answering, including the likely impact on York’s economy, the future of EU funding programmes that benefit York, and the future of the EU citizens who have made York their home

• With the Brexit proposition of 'taking control' so ill-defined, it is vital that elected members at all levels and other interested parties make clear their demands for a Brexit negotiating position that promotes and protects the interests of the people they represent.

Council resolves to write to the Government saying that:

·         The Government should ensure that York and Yorkshire receives investment at least equal to that planned to be provided by EU programmes

·         In future negotiations, the UK’s vital trading relationship with the EU should be protected as far as possible alongside environmental standards and legislation supporting workers’ rights

·         The Government should work with regional LEPs and other partners to put in place a support package to help businesses deal with the short-term economic shock and the transition to the UK’s new relationship with the EU

·         The Government should re-affirm its commitment to funding key projects in the region including York Central, HS2 and Transpennine electrification

• The rights of EU citizens currently working and living in the city should be protected.”

 

 

(iii)     From Cllr Boyce

Hate Crime

 

“This Council supports the recent statement from Group Leaders condemning racism and xenophobia in York, noting increases of each following the recent EU referendum result.

 

Council believes everyone has a right to live free of hate crime and that such behaviour is a blight on York, threatening its reputation as a welcoming and tolerant city.

 

Furthermore, Council notes:

 

·         That an upsurge in such incidents is likely to be damaging to a city that depends on its tourist economy;

 

·         That recorded reports only represent part of the problem, as only victims themselves can report incidents to the Police;

 

·         That available evidence indicates many people will not report racist and xenophobic abuse to the Police.

 

Council believes there is more the City of York Council can do in partnership with the Police to address this problem. As well as sharpening its focus to work more collaboratively with the Police on this specific issue, Council resolves:

 

·         To agree a central point of contact within the council to record all instances of racial and xenophobic abuse where people wish to record an incident, anonymously or otherwise, but who do not wish to pursue a formal investigation;

 

·         That individual councillors widely publicise their ability to record reports of such abuse which can be passed on to that central contact;

 

·         To ensure anonymised reports recorded by the council are shared with North Yorkshire Police to ensure a full understanding of the problem and appropriate joint responses where hotspots are identified.” 

 

 

(iv)    From Cllr Warters

Local Plan

 

“Council notes the result of the 23rd June European Referendum.

 

Council welcomes the future benefit of the UK being able to restrict the free movement of people into the UK from the EU countries thereby reducing pressure on many UK services and in particular on housing provision.

 

Council notes the emerging York Local Plan housing provision has been drawn up to take account of 65% of demand for housing and job growth being generated by 'International Inward Migration' and Council therefore considers in the light of the referendum that the Local Plan housing and job growth predictions for York should be subject to review by Government.

 

Council resolves to instruct the Chief Executive to write to the Minister of State for Housing and Planning requesting:

 

(i)           that the Minister looks at York, in planning terms, as a special case  and in particular considers the role of Green Belt in York, namely for the purpose of 'preserving the historic setting of the City of York' and

 

(ii)          allows a greater degree of flexibility with the progression of the Local Plan in York, to allow Local Plan housing allocations and therefore Green Belt land take in the emerging Local Plan to fully take into account the implications of the EU referendum on revised population growth statistics that Council expects Government to revise with due haste.”

 

 

Motions submitted for consideration directly by Council, in accordance with Standing Order 23.1

 

Councillor Douglas and Council agreed to accept Cllr N Barnes amendment to the first motion related to Audio Visual Displays on Buses.

 

(i)           Audio Visual Displays on Buses

(proposed by Councillor Douglas, seconded by Councillor N Barnes)

 

“Council notes and is aware that:

 

i)             Bus operators nationally are moving towards fitting all buses in their fleets with audio-visual next stop displays in order to ensure services are accessible to all users, including deaf and blind passengers or those who are visually or hearing impaired and

 

ii)            Park & Ride buses in York are scheduled to have such devices fitted to all of their vehicles by February 2018 at the latest;

 

Council therefore calls for:

 

i)             All bus operators providing services in York to work towards a similar timetable to provide comparable real-time audio-visual information on all of their routes. ^1.

 

ii)            The Chief Executive to write to all York-based train companies expressing council’s desire to see the same progress made on their managed rail services. ^2.

 

On being put to the vote the motion was CARRIED.

 

Resolved:  That the motion be approved.

 

(ii)          York and the impact of Brexit

(proposed by Councillor Aspden, seconded by Councillor Runciman)

 

“Council notes:

·         The result of the EU referendum

·         That 58% of those who voted in York voted for the UK to remain a member of the EU

·         That York is a tolerant and inclusive city where the contribution of all citizens (including nationals of other EU countries living here) is recognised and appreciated

·         York residents have benefited from the training, education and employment opportunities offered by EU membership

• Yorkshire is one of the biggest beneficiaries of EU regional funding, which will include before 2020:

- £345m to support small businesses and create jobs (European Regional Development Fund) 

- £286m to get unemployed people back into work (European Social Fund)

- £19.7m to support farmers and rural communities (European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development)

 

Council believes:

·         Many questions vital to the local interest now need answering, including the likely impact on York’s economy, the future of EU funding programmes that benefit York, and the future of the EU citizens who have made York their home

• With the Brexit proposition of 'taking control' so ill-defined, it is vital that elected members at all levels and other interested parties make clear their demands for a Brexit negotiating position that promotes and protects the interests of the people they represent.

Council resolves to write to the Government saying that:

·         The Government should ensure that York and Yorkshire receives investment at least equal to that planned to be provided by EU programmes

·         In future negotiations, the UK’s vital trading relationship with the EU should be protected as far as possible alongside environmental standards and legislation supporting workers’ rights

·         The Government should work with regional LEPs and other partners to put in place a support package to help businesses deal with the short-term economic shock and the transition to the UK’s new relationship with the EU

·         The Government should re-affirm its commitment to funding key projects in the region including York Central, HS2 and Transpennine electrification

• The rights of EU citizens currently working and living in the city should be protected.”

On being put to the vote the motion was CARRIED.

Resolved:  That the motion be approved. ^3.

(iii)        Hate Crime

(proposed by Councillor Boyce, seconded by Councillor Gunnell)

“This Council supports the recent statement from Group Leaders condemning racism and xenophobia in York, noting increases of each following the recent EU referendum result.

 

Council believes everyone has a right to live free of hate crime and that such behaviour is a blight on York, threatening its reputation as a welcoming and tolerant city.

 

Furthermore, Council notes:

 

·         That an upsurge in such incidents is likely to be damaging to a city that depends on its tourist economy;

 

·         That recorded reports only represent part of the problem, as only victims themselves can report incidents to the Police;

 

·         That available evidence indicates many people will not report racist and xenophobic abuse to the Police.

 

Council believes there is more the City of York Council can do in partnership with the Police to address this problem. As well as sharpening its focus to work more collaboratively with the Police on this specific issue, Council resolves:

 

·         To agree a central point of contact within the council to record all instances of racial and xenophobic abuse where people wish to record an incident, anonymously or otherwise, but who do not wish to pursue a formal investigation;

 

·         That individual councillors widely publicise their ability to record reports of such abuse which can be passed on to that central contact;

 

·         To ensure anonymised reports recorded by the council are shared with North Yorkshire Police to ensure a full understanding of the problem and appropriate joint responses where hotspots are identified.” 

 

On being put to the vote the motion was CARRIED.

 

Resolved:  That the motion be approved. ^4.

 

(iv)        Local Plan

(proposed by Councillor Warters, seconded by Councillor Kramm)

“Council notes the result of the 23rd June European Referendum.

 

Council welcomes the future benefit of the UK being able to restrict the free movement of people into the UK from the EU countries thereby reducing pressure on many UK services and in particular on housing provision.

 

Council notes the emerging York Local Plan housing provision has been drawn up to take account of 65% of demand for housing and job growth being generated by 'International Inward Migration' and Council therefore considers in the light of the referendum that the Local Plan housing and job growth predictions for York should be subject to review by Government.

 

Council resolves to instruct the Chief Executive to write to the Minister of State for Housing and Planning requesting:

 

(i)           that the Minister looks at York, in planning terms, as a special case  and in particular considers the role of Green Belt in York, namely for the purpose of 'preserving the historic setting of the City of York' and

 

(ii)          allows a greater degree of flexibility with the progression of the Local Plan in York, to allow Local Plan housing allocations and therefore Green Belt land take in the emerging Local Plan to fully take into account the implications of the EU referendum on revised population growth statistics that Council expects Government to revise with due haste.”

 

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

 

Resolved:  That the above motion be not approved.