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 Looker

 

York’s Gender Pay Gap and an Inclusive Growth Plan

 

“Council notes:

 

·                   That the gap in average weekly wages between men and women in York has widened from £33 in 2010 to £117 in 2017.

 

·                   In 2017, men in York earned 21% more than women, while men earned 16.8% more than women nationally.

 

Council also notes data showing York is the most unequal city in the north of England and the ninth most unequal city in the UK[1]

 

Despite the growing gender pay gap, the city has no strategy for ‘Inclusive Growth’.

 

Whilst many cities in the region have developed focussed plans and strategies to address income inequalities, including the gender pay gap, York has not.

 

Council resolves to request the Executive to receive and consider a full report, including options and a recommendation,  at a future meeting, on its approach to addressing the gender pay gap and other income inequalities.   To properly inform that report and Executive decision making, Officers should be asked to:

 

1.           bring forward a review of the gender pay gap and broader income inequalities in York, including an overview of the data and any understanding or interpretation of the underlying causes or contributory factors;

 

2.           undertake a review of inclusive growth plans/ strategies being deployed by other local authorities in the region and elsewhere in the country to consider their type, differences of approach and efficacy;

 

3.           consider the costs and benefits of developing and effectively resourcing an overarching, coordinated plan or strategy for inclusive growth in York’s economy;

 

[1]http://www.centreforcities.org/city/york/

 

(ii)          From Cllr Gates

 

Fly Tipping

 

“Council notes:

 

·                    Residents' concerns about fly tipping, which many believe have worsened since Labour closed Beckfield Lane tip;

 

·                    Efforts to call attention to fly tipping by the newly launched #crime not to care campaign which council fully supports;

 

·                    Acknowledgement that the vast majority of residents and businesses fully comply with the spirit and letter of the law but that it is being abused by a minority;

 

·                    The frontline, listening focus of the coalition and a desire amongst residents that they should be able to dispose of rubbish more easily.

 

Therefore council requests that officers bring a paper to the Executive looking at how extra efforts to minimise fly tipping can be introduced, including increased use of public and covert CCTV cameras at frequently used fly tipping spots, increased fines and increased co-operation with neighbouring councils. Council also requests the paper include an analysis of how bulky collection and other waste costs can be lowered for residents.”

 

(iii)        From Cllr Cullwick

 

Raising Awareness of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

in York

 

“Council notes:

 

·               That Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (M.E.) is a chronic, neurological condition that causes symptoms affecting many body systems to an estimated 250,000 people in the UK and around 17 million people worldwide.

 

·               That many sufferers report the process of diagnosis can take many months, or even years, and that patients often highlight a lack of awareness among clinicians about the condition and possible treatments.

 

·               That M.E remains a ‘hidden’ disease and largely remains out of the public conscience and much more is needed, both in York and across the UK, to raise awareness of the disease and our understanding of it.

 

·               The excellent work of the Yorkshire Fatigue Clinic in providing both assessments and vital assistance to those experiencing symptoms of M.E.

 

·               The considerable efforts of the York M.E Community in offering a support network for those suffering from M.E in York and for also continuously working to raise awareness on the disease.

 

 

Council resolves:

 

·               To use the Council’s ‘city lights’ to light up landmarks such as the City Walls and West Offices on International M.E Awareness Day, due 12th May 2018.

 

·               To initiate a communications campaign, utilising the Council’s distribution and communication networks to generate awareness of M.E in York, allowing York to lead a national debate on the subject.

 

·               That the York ME Community be invited to run an awareness raising session for all Councillors, so that they are better informed about the effects of this hidden disease.”

 

(iv)        From Cllr D Myers

 

Community Wealth Building

“Council recognises community wealth building as a place-based approach to economic regeneration that empowers local government and enables communities to create and retain more wealth locally.

Council notes research by the Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES), published by the Federation of Small Businesses, showing that for every pound spent with a small or medium-sized firm, 63p is re-spent locally. This figure drops to 40p for large or multinational companies.

Council resolves to request the Executive:

 

·                   commission council officers to identify York’s key anchor institutions and begin discussions with them on the possibility of a city-wide approach to using procurement to spend locally wherever possible;

 

·                   commission research for York, similar to that undertaken by Joseph Rowntree Foundation and Leeds City Region,  which identifies the amount of money that is removed from the local area through public sector spending on goods and services, in order to inform a wider strategic approach to community wealth building in York.”

 

 

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

 

(i)           York’s Gender Pay Gap and an Inclusive Growth Plan

(Proposed by Councillor Looker and seconded by Councillor S Barnes)

 

“Council notes:

 

·                   That the gap in average weekly wages between men and women in York has widened from £33 in 2010 to £117 in 2017.

 

·                   In 2017, men in York earned 21% more than women, while men earned 16.8% more than women nationally.

 

Council also notes data showing York is the most unequal city in the north of England and the ninth most unequal city in the UK[1].

 

Despite the growing gender pay gap, the city has no strategy for ‘Inclusive Growth’.

 

Whilst many cities in the region have developed focussed plans and strategies to address income inequalities, including the gender pay gap, York has not.

 

Council resolves to request the Executive to receive and consider a full report, including options and a recommendation, at a future meeting,on its approach to addressing the gender pay gap and other income inequalities.   To properly inform that report and Executive decision making, Officers should be asked to:

 

1.           bring forward a review of the gender pay gap and broader income inequalities in York, including an overview of the data and any understanding or interpretation of the underlying causes or contributory factors;

 

2.           undertake a review of inclusive growth plans/ strategies being deployed by other local authorities in the region and elsewhere in the country to consider their type, differences of approach and efficacy;

 

3.           consider the costs and benefits of developing and effectively resourcing an overarching, coordinated plan or strategy for inclusive growth in York’s economy.”

 

[1] http://www.centreforcities.org/city/york/

 

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

 

Resolved:                     That the motion, as set out above, be approved.

 

 

(ii)         Fly Tipping

 

(Proposed by Councillor Gates, seconded by Councillor Richardson)

 

“Council notes:

 

·          Residents' concerns about fly tipping, which many believe have worsened since Labour closed Beckfield Lane tip;

 

·          Efforts to call attention to fly tipping by the newly launched #crime not to care campaign which council fully supports;

 

·          Acknowledgement that the vast majority of residents and businesses fully comply with the spirit and letter of the law but that it is being abused by a minority;

 

·          The frontline, listening focus of the coalition and a desire amongst residents that they should be able to dispose of rubbish more easily.

 

Therefore council requests that officers bring a paper to the Executive looking at how extra efforts to minimise fly tipping can be introduced, including increased use of public and covert CCTV cameras at frequently used fly tipping spots, increased fines and increased co-operation with neighbouring councils.

 

Council also requests the paper include an analysis of how bulky collection and other waste costs can be lowered for residents.”

 

 

Councillor Gates agreed to accept the amendment put forward by Councillor Warters, which was as follows:

 

-      To the end of the first bullet point, add ‘and many also believe is encouraged by charging  York council tax payers at Hazel Court and Towthorpe tips to dispose of small amounts of building waste from domestic projects’.

-      In the final sentence of the motion: after ‘bulky collection’, delete ‘and other waste costs’ and insert ‘charges’; and after ‘can be lowered for residents’, insert ‘and the charges for disposal of domestic building waste and domestic bonded asbestos scrapped altogether, to encourage responsible disposal of such materials and reduce the financial burden to the council tax payer of dealing with the fly tipping of such material’.”

 

Councillor Gates agreed to accept an amendment put forward by Councillor Fenton, which was as follows:

 

-      In the fourth bullet point, after ‘able to’ and before ‘dispose’ insert ‘responsibly’ .

-      At the end of the paragraph ending ‘neighbouring councils’ add the following sentence, ‘This paper should also consider what more could be done to raise awareness of the need to reduce waste being created in the first place, and opportunities to re-use unwanted items’.

 

-      At the end of the last paragraph, after ‘lowered for residents’, add the following sentence, ‘It should also include an assessment of the affordability of providing replacement recycling boxes to residents free of charge.’

 

 

At that point in the meeting, Councillor D’Agorne withdrew his amendment, which was as follows:

 

-      In the first bullet point delete ‘which many believe have worsened since Labour closed Beckfield Lane tip;’ and insert ‘and the increasing cost to the council of removing fly tipping.’

 

Councillor N Barnes then moved and Councillor Williams seconded a further amendment, which was as follows:

 

-      To the end of the first bullet point, add: ‘, however, two years later, fly tipping reports were over 300 down on the year it closed;’

-      After the second bullet point, insert a new third bullet point, as follows:

·        ‘That Liberal Democrat and Conservative Coalition councillors voted down Labour’s efforts through the budget two years running, to reduce fly tipping by halving the cost of bulky waste collections;’

-      In the final bullet point: delete ‘frontline, listening focus of the’ and insert ‘belated wish of the Conservative-Liberal Democrat’; and after ‘coalition’, insert ‘to act on fly tipping’.

 

-      In the final sentence of the motion:  after ‘how’, insert ‘Labour’s half price proposal for’; after ‘bulky’, insert ‘waste’; after ‘collection, insert ‘would operate’; after ‘and’ insert ‘how’.”

 

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

 

A vote was then taken on the original motion, as altered by both Councillor Warters’ and Councillor Fenton’s amendments, which was CARRIED. It was

 

Resolved:                     That the original motion, as altered by Councillor Warters’ and Councillor Fenton’s amendments, be approved as set out below:

 

“Council notes:

 

·          Residents' concerns about fly tipping, which many believe have worsened since Labour closed Beckfield Lane tip and many also believe is encouraged by charging York council tax payers at Hazel Court and Towthorpe tips to dispose of small amounts of building waste from domestic projects;

 

·          Efforts to call attention to fly tipping by the newly launched #crime not to care campaign which council fully supports;

 

·          Acknowledgement that the vast majority of residents and businesses fully comply with the spirit and letter of the law but that it is being abused by a minority;

 

·          The frontline, listening focus of the coalition and a desire amongst residents that they should be able to responsibly dispose of rubbish more easily.

 

Therefore council requests that officers bring a paper to the Executive looking at how extra efforts to minimise fly tipping can be introduced, including increased use of public and covert CCTV cameras at frequently used fly tipping spots, increased fines and increased co-operation with neighbouring councils. This paper should also consider what more could be done to raise awareness of the need to reduce waste being created in the first place, and opportunities to re-use unwanted items.

 

Council also requests the paper include an analysis of how bulky collection charges can be lowered for residents and the charges for disposal of domestic building waste and domestic bonded asbestos scrapped altogether, to encourage responsible disposal of such materials and reduce the financial burden to the council tax payer of dealing with the fly tipping of such material. It should also include an assessment of the affordability of providing replacement recycling boxes to residents free of charge.”

 

 

(iii)       Raising Awareness of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis in York

 

(Moved by Councillor Runciman on behalf of Councillor Cullwick, seconded by Councillor Aspden)

 

Note: Councillor Runciman sought the Council’s consent to alter the motion slightly, by inserting the words ‘to ask the Chief Executive’ after ‘Council resolves’in the second paragraph.

 

 “Council notes:

 

·               That Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (M.E.) is a chronic, neurological condition that causes symptoms affecting many body systems to an estimated 250,000 people in the UK and around 17 million people worldwide.

 

·               That many sufferers report the process of diagnosis can take many months, or even years, and that patients often highlight a lack of awareness among clinicians about the condition and possible treatments.

 

·               That M.E remains a ‘hidden’ disease and largely remains out of the public conscience and much more is needed, both in York and across the UK, to raise awareness of the disease and our understanding of it.

 

·               The excellent work of the Yorkshire Fatigue Clinic in providing both assessments and vital assistance to those experiencing symptoms of M.E.

 

·               The considerable efforts of the York M.E Community in offering a support network for those suffering from M.E in York and for also continuously working to raise awareness on the disease.

 

Council resolves to ask the Chief Executive:

 

·               To use the Council’s ‘city lights’ to light up landmarks such as the City Walls and West Offices on International M.E Awareness Day, due 12th May 2018.

 

·               To initiate a communications campaign, utilising the Council’s distribution and communication networks to generate awareness of M.E in York, allowing York to lead a national debate on the subject.

 

·               That the York ME Community be invited to run an awareness raising session for all Councillors, so that they are better informed about the effects of this hidden disease.”

 

Councillor Runciman agreed to accept an amendment put forward by Councillor D’Agorne, which was as follows:

 

-      Under ‘Council resolves’ in the second bullet point, after ‘generate awareness of ME’ insert ‘within the council and’

-      Under ‘Council resolves’ add the following fourth bullet point:

·        ‘That training and awareness sessions are provided for staff and partners of CYC at supervisory level and above to ensure that they are able to provide appropriate support for employees suffering from ME.’

A vote was then taken on the original motion, as altered by Councillor D’Agorne’s amendment, which was CARRIED. It was

 

Resolved:                     That the original motion, as altered by Councillor D’Agorne’s amendment, be approved as set out below:

 

“Council notes:

 

·               That Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (M.E.) is a chronic, neurological condition that causes symptoms affecting many body systems to an estimated 250,000 people in the UK and around 17 million people worldwide.

 

·               That many sufferers report the process of diagnosis can take many months, or even years, and that patients often highlight a lack of awareness among clinicians about the condition and possible treatments.

 

·               That M.E remains a ‘hidden’ disease and largely remains out of the public conscience and much more is needed, both in York and across the UK, to raise awareness of the disease and our understanding of it.

 

·               The excellent work of the Yorkshire Fatigue Clinic in providing both assessments and vital assistance to those experiencing symptoms of M.E.

 

·               The considerable efforts of the York M.E Community in offering a support network for those suffering from M.E in York and for also continuously working to raise awareness on the disease.

 

Council resolves to ask the Chief Executive:

 

·               To use the Council’s ‘city lights’ to light up landmarks such as the City Walls and West Offices on International M.E Awareness Day, due 12th May 2018.

 

·               To initiate a communications campaign, utilising the Council’s distribution and communication networks to generate awareness of M.E within the council and in York, allowing York to lead a national debate on the subject.

 

·               That the York ME Community be invited to run an awareness raising session for all Councillors, so that they are better informed about the effects of this hidden disease.

 

·               That training and awareness sessions are provided for staff and partners of CYC at supervisory level and above to ensure that they are able to provide appropriate support for employees suffering from ME.’

 

 

(iv)       Community Wealth Building

 

(Proposed by Councillor D Myers, seconded by Councillor Derbyshire)

 

“Council recognises community wealth building as a place-based approach to economic regeneration that empowers local government and enables communities to create and retain more wealth locally.

Council notes research by the Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES), published by the Federation of Small Businesses, showing that for every pound spent with a small or medium-sized firm, 63p is re-spent locally. This figure drops to 40p for large or multinational companies.

Council resolves to request the Executive:

 

·                   commission council officers to identify York’s key anchor institutions and begin discussions with them on the possibility of a city-wide approach to using procurement to spend locally wherever possible;

 

·                   commission research for York, similar to that undertaken by Joseph Rowntree Foundation and Leeds City Region,  which identifies the amount of money that is removed from the local area through public sector spending on goods and services, in order to inform a wider strategic approach to community wealth building in York.

 

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

 

Resolved:                     That the motion, as set out above, be approved.