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 Councillor Crawshaw

 

Children & Young People’s Emotional Health and Wellbeing

 

Council notes that:

 

1 in 8 Children & Young People aged 5-19 in England have a recognisable mental health disorder, rising to 1 in 6 amongst 17-19 year olds with a fifth of girls in this age group having self-harmed or tried to kill themselves;

 

The top priority for York’s 5351 Young People who took part in the 2018 UK Youth Parliament’s “Make Your Mark” survey was mental health;

 

A range of factors can negatively impact upon the emotional health and well-being of Children & Young People but as a Council we recognise that:

 

•              Children from low-income households are four times more likely to experience poor mental health than their peers;

•              Children with an EHCP (formerly a statement of SEND) are nine times more likely to experience poor mental health than their peers;

•              Increasingly narrow school curriculums and a growing emphasis on high stakes testing have a negative impact on the emotional health and well-being of Children and Young People.

 

Council acknowledges that:

 

•              Support for young people experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties is not always available fast enough or at an early enough stage to prevent escalation;

•              Accessing CAMHS services in York takes too long and thresholds are too high;

•              York’s A&E admissions for self harm in children and young people are the highest in the Yorkshire and Humber region;

•              York’s suicide rate is far too high, placing us in the bottom three in the region;

•              Substance misuse amongst Under 18s in York is rising.

 

The Youth Parliament argues that mental health services should be improved with young people’s help and should be available in schools. Public Health England considers developing resilience during childhood a powerful way of preventing or minimising mental health problems in adulthood.

 

Council believes that:

 

Signs of poor mental health and distress can be viewed as an understandable and reasonable response to difficult life circumstances meaning that interventions to tackle the root causes of poor mental health as well as those addressing its effects are required;

 

The School Well-Being Service and Substance Misuse support services should both be given greater priority when it comes to the setting of the council’s annual budget;

 

Mental Health outcomes for the city’s young people should be given parity with educational outcomes when council officers are evaluating city-wide school performance and improvement;

 

Schools and Colleges cannot reasonably be expected to manage this crisis alone and without appropriate resource.

 

Council resolves:

 

•              To request the Executive to formally consult York Youth Council, York’s Members of the Youth Parliament, I Still Matter, Show Me That I Matter, York’s schools’ and colleges’ pastoral leads, the Youth Offending Team and other such relevant bodies on the sufficiency of existing Child and Adolescent mental health support services in the city;

 

•              That Leaders of all political groups jointly write to the Vale of York CCG calling for more funding to be made available for CAMHS services in the city;

 

•              To ask the Executive Leader to write to the Secretary of State for Education expressing Council’s deep concern at the negative impacts of insufficient school funding, high-stakes testing and low household incomes on the emotional health and well-being of York’s Children & Young People.

 

 

(ii)          From Councillor K Myers

 

Parks and Open Spaces

 

Council notes that continuing development within York, although welcome and necessary, will, without proper planning, reduce open amenity space both in the city centre and in outlying villages.

 

There are growing mental health problems relating to stress throughout the UK, to which York is not immune, which the development of small, informal parks (‘pocket parks’) could help address by creating areas of peace and tranquillity.

 

Such spaces need not be extensive or expensive to run, for example the Bar Walls have at least six areas already identified which could be used to install a few bench seats and a waste bin.

 

It might also be possible to encourage some of these ‘pocket’ parks to become ‘pocket’ allotments should there be community interest in doing so.

 

Whilst much work has been done by councillors of all parties, neighbourhood groups and other organisations to create and care for ‘pocket’ parks and small areas of informal green space, there is a lack of systematic identification and support which prevents the development of as many of these green spaces as possible.

 

Council therefore requests a report to an early meeting of the  Executive in 2019 which will involve officers liaising with ward councillors, community groups and others to identify land (whether council owned or acquirable) throughout all parts of the city that could lend itself to the installation of small, informal open spaces and parks.

 

 

(iii)        From Councillor Fenton

 

Provision for electric charging points for vehicles in new homes and businesses

 

This Council notes that the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, has announced a Government plan to ban the sale of all petrol and diesel cars by 2040. With this being the case, over the next 23 years, the UK and the City of York will have to increase the provision of charging points to provide the infrastructure to fuel electric vehicles.

 

This Council further notes:

 

·        New electric vehicles can only be supported if there are charging points available;

·        The importance of good air quality to public health and wellbeing in York, as research suggests poor air quality contributes to 40,000 premature deaths in the UK every year;

·        Installing charging infrastructure is essential for local authorities to support the move to lower emissions and help residents make the switch to electric;

·        If the UK exits the EU, that further opportunities to participate in programmes under the umbrella of the European Environment Agency, will be lost.

The council has the opportunity to make a significant contribution to reducing carbon emissions and helping to meet the objectives as set out in the Paris Agreement.

 

Therefore, this Council resolves:

 

·        That the Executive be requested to commission a report on how the Council’s planning policies can be updated to require all new housing and commercial planning applications to City of York Council to be future proofed to ensure the provision  of adequate electric vehicle charging points.

·        That the Council commits to engaging with neighbouring authorities and other relevant stakeholders (for example, business owners and retail groups) to promote the adoption of electric and low emission vehicles, including through the identification of future electric vehicle charging schemes.

·        That council officers’ work on proposals to identify future opportunities to install Electric Vehicle Charging points within council owned car parks, secondary shopping areas and out of city centre retail areas.

 

 

(iv)        From Councillor Williams

 

Crime and Anti-social Behaviour (ASB)

 

Council notes:

 

That figures for 2017-18 show crime is rising in York and North Yorkshire, including notably:

 

·        Domestic burglary (inc. attempts) up 65%, and at the highest rate for six years,

·        Number of incidents of violent crime within the city centre highest for at least a decade;

·        Violence against the person highest for at least a decade;

·        Most indicators for domestic violence highest for at least a decade.

 

This has come at a time when, due to austerity, and despite the Police and Fire Commissioner’s commitment to increase numbers, police officers have been cut by 136 since austerity started in 2010.

 

Furthermore, probation services are in crisis following the botched 2014 privatisation, which the Government was forced to alter in July of this year.

 

In addition to the impact of Universal Credit, Council also notes the link between significant service cuts by this council in areas including early intervention and prevention services and youth services, and the rising incidence of crime and anti-social behaviour in the city.  Pending cuts to substance misuse services will further add to this problem.

 

In the past 12 months alcohol misuse was a factor in 4,500 cases of crime and ASB in York, and almost a quarter of all arrestees declared a drug or alcohol dependency.

 

Council recognises that in communities across our city, York residents feel that anti-social behaviour is increasing and at a low level is ignored by local agencies, whilst the visible presence of Police on our streets is declining.  Many residents avoid the city centre in the evenings and weekends due to drunken behaviour in the heart of our city.

 

This Council therefore resolves:

 

-         To request Executive commissions a report examining the reasons for rising crime and ASB in the city in order to inform responses to it;

 

-         To lobby the Police and Fire Commissioner through the council leader and chief executive to increase the numbers of frontline police officers for York;

 

-         To work with partners to improve joined-up working in areas such as probation and community payback, anti-social behaviour, substance misuse and health issues.

 

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

 

Councillor Aspden moved, and Councillor Kramm seconded, a motion without notice to suspend Standing Order 23.1, in order to submit an additional motion on Brexit, in view of the ongoing pressing debate around Brexit issues, nationally, regionally and locally.

 

On being put to the vote this motion fell.

 

The Lord Mayor then proceeded with the remaining business on motions.

 

 

(i)           Children & Young People’s Emotional Health and Wellbeing

 

(Proposed by Councillor Crawshaw and seconded by Councillor Warters)

 

Council notes that:

 

1 in 8 Children & Young People aged 5-19 in England have a recognisable mental health disorder, rising to 1 in 6 amongst 17-19 year olds with a fifth of girls in this age group having self-harmed or tried to kill themselves;

 

The top priority for York’s 5351 Young People who took part in the 2018 UK Youth Parliament’s “Make Your Mark” survey was mental health;

 

A range of factors can negatively impact upon the emotional health and well-being of Children & Young People but as a Council we recognise that:

 

•              Children from low-income households are four times more likely to experience poor mental health than their peers;

•              Children with an EHCP (formerly a statement of SEND) are nine times more likely to experience poor mental health than their peers;

•              Increasingly narrow school curriculums and a growing emphasis on high stakes testing have a negative impact on the emotional health and well-being of Children and Young People.

 

Council acknowledges that:

 

•              Support for young people experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties is not always available fast enough or at an early enough stage to prevent escalation;

•              Accessing CAMHS services in York takes too long and thresholds are too high;

•              York’s A&E admissions for self harm in children and young people are the highest in the Yorkshire and Humber region;

•              York’s suicide rate is far too high, placing us in the bottom three in the region;

•              Substance misuse amongst Under 18s in York is rising.

 

The Youth Parliament argues that mental health services should be improved with young people’s help and should be available in schools. Public Health England considers developing resilience during childhood a powerful way of preventing or minimising mental health problems in adulthood.

 

Council believes that:

 

Signs of poor mental health and distress can be viewed as an understandable and reasonable response to difficult life circumstances meaning that interventions to tackle the root causes of poor mental health as well as those addressing its effects are required;

 

The School Well-Being Service and Substance Misuse support services should both be given greater priority when it comes to the setting of the council’s annual budget;

 

Mental Health outcomes for the city’s young people should be given parity with educational outcomes when council officers are evaluating city-wide school performance and improvement;

 

Schools and Colleges cannot reasonably be expected to manage this crisis alone and without appropriate resource.

 

Council resolves:

 

•              To request the Executive to formally consult York Youth Council, York’s Members of the Youth Parliament, I Still Matter, Show Me That I Matter, York’s schools’ and colleges’ pastoral leads, the Youth Offending Team and other such relevant bodies on the sufficiency of existing Child and Adolescent mental health support services in the city;

 

•              That Leaders of all political groups jointly write to the Vale of York CCG calling for more funding to be made available for CAMHS services in the city;

 

•              To ask the Executive Leader to write to the Secretary of State for Education expressing Council’s deep concern at the negative impacts of insufficient school funding, high-stakes testing and low household incomes on the emotional health and well-being of York’s Children & Young People.

 

Councillor Doughty proposed, and Councillor Rawlings seconded, an amendment to the above motion as follows:

 

Amend the second bullet point after ‘Council resolves’ by deleting all after ‘Vale of York CCG’ and adding the following:

 

‘and ask that the CCG work with CYC and partners to give thisarea increased focus and funding where possible. Council isfully supportive of parity of esteem between mental and physicalhealth, however it is also aware of the financial pressures onthe Vale of York CCG and remains concerned that if the CCGare to allocate more funding from a fixed pot for CAMHSservices, it may cause even more pressures on other importantareas of service. Council therefore suggests CYC work with theCCG and ask the CCG to ensure that the increased fundingthey are likely to receive from the soon to be announced NHSLong Term Plan is transparently allocated to supporting themental health of children and young people in York rather thanjust the single NHS delivered CAMHS service.’

 

A vote was then taken on the amendment which was LOST.

A vote was then taken on the original motion, which was CARRIED, and it was:

 

Resolved: That the motion, as set out above, be approved.[1]

 

(ii)          Parks and Open Spaces

 

(Proposed by Councillor K Myers and seconded by Councillor Brooks)

 

Council notes that continuing development within York, although welcome and necessary, will, without proper planning, reduce open amenity space both in the city centre and in outlying villages.

 

There are growing mental health problems relating to stress throughout the UK, to which York is not immune, which the development of small, informal parks (‘pocket parks’) could help address by creating areas of peace and tranquillity.

 

Such spaces need not be extensive or expensive to run, for example the Bar Walls have at least six areas already identified which could be used to install a few bench seats and a waste bin.

 

It might also be possible to encourage some of these ‘pocket’ parks to become ‘pocket’ allotments should there be community interest in doing so.

 

Whilst much work has been done by councillors of all parties, neighbourhood groups and other organisations to create and care for ‘pocket’ parks and small areas of informal green space, there is a lack of systematic identification and support which prevents the development of as many of these green spaces as possible.

 

Council therefore requests a report to an early meeting of the  Executive in 2019 which will involve officers liaising with ward councillors, community groups and others to identify land (whether council owned or acquirable) throughout all parts of the city that could lend itself to the installation of small, informal open spaces and parks.

 

Councillor Kramm moved, and Councillor Craghill seconded, an amendment to the above motion, as follows:

 

Add a final paragraph

 

‘Council also requests Executive, in conjunction with the preparation of the report, to identify sufficient budget to begin implementation of these proposals in the coming financial year. The report should fully consider how any new pocket parks and informal green spaces will be maintained in the long term’

 

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

 

A vote was then taken on the original motion, as altered by Councillor Kramm’s amendment, which was CARRIED, and it was:

 

Resolved:   That the original motion, as altered by Councillor Kramm’s amendment, be approved as set out below2:

 

‘Council notes that continuing development within York, although welcome and necessary, will, without proper planning, reduceopen amenity space both in the city centre and in outlying villages.

 

There are growing mental health problems relating to stress throughout the UK, to which York is not immune, which the development of small, informal parks (‘pocket parks’) could help address by creating areas of peace and tranquillity.

 

Such spaces need not be extensive or expensive to run, for example the Bar Walls have at least six areas already identified which could be used to install a few bench seats and a waste bin.

 

It might also be possible to encourage some of these ‘pocket’ parks to become ‘pocket’ allotments should there be community interest in doing so.

 

Whilst much work has been done by councillors of all parties, neighbourhood groups and other organisations to create and care for ‘pocket’ parks and small areas of informal green space, there is a lack of systematic identification and support which prevents the development of as many of these green spaces as possible.

 

Council therefore requests a report to an early meeting of the Executive in 2019 which will involve officers liaising with ward councillors, community groups and others to identify land (whether Council owned or acquirable) throughout all parts of the city that could lend itself to the installation of small, informal open spaces and parks.

 

Council also requests Executive, in conjunction with the preparation of the report, to identify sufficient budget to begin implementation of these proposals in the coming financial year. The report should fully consider how any new pocket parks and informal green spaces will be maintained in the long term.’

 

 

 

 

 

 

(iii)        Provision for electric charging points for vehicles in new homes and businesses

 

(Proposed by Councillor Fenton and seconded by Councillor Reid)

 

This Council notes that the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, has announced a Government plan to ban the sale of all petrol and diesel cars by 2040. With this being the case, over the next 23 years, the UK and the City of York will have to increase the provision of charging points to provide the infrastructure to fuel electric vehicles.

 

This Council further notes:

 

·        New electric vehicles can only be supported if there are charging points available;

·        The importance of good air quality to public health and wellbeing in York, as research suggests poor air quality contributes to 40,000 premature deaths in the UK every year;

·        Installing charging infrastructure is essential for local authorities to support the move to lower emissions and help residents make the switch to electric;

·        If the UK exits the EU, that further opportunities to participate in programmes under the umbrella of the European Environment Agency, will be lost.

The council has the opportunity to make a significant contribution to reducing carbon emissions and helping to meet the objectives as set out in the Paris Agreement.

 

Therefore, this Council resolves:

 

·        That the Executive be requested to commission a report on how the Council’s planning policies can be updated to require all new housing and commercial planning applications to City of York Council to be future proofed to ensure the provision  of adequate electric vehicle charging points.

·        That the Council commits to engaging with neighbouring authorities and other relevant stakeholders (for example, business owners and retail groups) to promote the adoption of electric and low emission vehicles, including through the identification of future electric vehicle charging schemes.

·        That council officers’ work on proposals to identify future opportunities to install Electric Vehicle Charging points within council owned car parks, secondary shopping areas and out of city centre retail areas.

 

In moving his motion, Cllr Fenton indicated that he was minded to accept the amendments to be proposed by Councillors Rawlings and Councillr D’Agorne, which were as follows:

 

Amendment from Councillor Rawlings

 

- Amend the title by adding at the end ‘and car parks’

- Amend the first bullet after ‘Therefore, Council resolves’ to read:

 

‘That the Executive be requested to commission a report on how the Council’s planning policies can be updated to require all new housing and commercial planning applications to City of York Council to be future proofed to ensure the provision of adequate electric vehicle charging points. A further report to be produced to review how long electric cars should be allowed to remain in charging bays, in order to free up more charging points and thus encourage the use of electric vehicles, at Council car parks.’

 

Amendment from Councillor D’Agorne

 

In the first paragraph, at end of first sentence, add:

 

‘The Friends of the Earth plan to achieve ‘net zero carbon emissions’ by 2045 says this date needs to be brought forward to 2030. Switching rapidly to electric vehicles will deliver the lion’s share of emission reductions needed within the transport sector, now the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the UK.’

 

Delete the second sentence and replace with:

 

‘If we are to stand a chance of achieving this urgent action, the UK and City of York will have to install the necessary charging infrastructure and ensure that parking facilities for all new properties have full provision for electric charging.’

 

After ‘Therefore, Council resolves’ add a final bullet point:

 

‘That, in conjunction with the above, the Executive should set a clear date for the introduction of a city centre clean air zone and bring forward proposals to progressively reduce the number of diesel and petrol engined vehicles idling or travelling within designated Air Quality Management Areas of the city.’

 

Upon being formally asked, Council then agreed to accept the motion as altered above for debate so that it now read:

 

Provision for electric charging points for vehicles in new homes and businesses and car parks

 

‘Council notes that the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, has announced a Government plan to ban thesale of all petrol and diesel cars by 2040. The Friends of the Earth plan to achieve ‘net zero carbon emissions’ by 2045 says this date needs to be brought forward to 2030. Switching rapidly to electric vehicles will deliver the lion’s share of emission reductions needed within the transport sector, now the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the UK. If we are to stand a chance of achieving this urgent action, the UK and City of York will have to install the necessary charging infrastructure and ensure that parking facilities for all new properties have full provision for electric charging.

 

Council further notes:

 

·        New electric vehicles can only be supported if there are charging points available;

·        The importance of good air quality to public health and wellbeing in York, as research suggests poor air quality contributes to 40,000 premature deaths in the UK every year;

·        Installing charging infrastructure is essential for local authorities to support the move to lower emissions and help residents make the switch to electric;

·        If the UK exits the EU, that further opportunities to participate in programmes under the umbrella of the European Environment Agency, will be lost.

 

The Council has the opportunity to make a significant contribution to reducing carbon emissions and helping to meet the objectives as set out in the Paris Agreement.

 

Therefore, Council resolves:

 

·        That the Executive be requested to commission a report on how the Council’s planning policies can be updated to require all new housing and commercial planning applications to City of York Council to be future proofed to ensure the provision of adequate electric vehicle charging points. A further report to be produced to review how long electric cars should be allowed to remain in charging bays, in order to free up more charging points and thus encourage the use of electric vehicles, at Council car parks.

·        That the Council commits to engaging with neighbouring authorities and other relevant stakeholders (for example, business owners and retail groups) to promote the adoption of electric and low emission vehicles, including through the identification of future electric vehicle charging schemes.

·        That Council officers’ work on proposals to identify future opportunities to install Electric Vehicle Charging points within Council owned car parks, secondary shopping areas and out of city centre retail areas.’

·        That, in conjunction with the above, the Executive should set a clear date for the introduction of a city centre clean air zone and bring forward proposals to progressively reduce the number of diesel and petrol engined vehicles idling or travelling within designated Air Quality Management Areas of the city.’

 

A vote was then taken on the original motion, as altered by Councillor Rawlings and Councillor D’Agorne’s amendments, which was CARRIED and it was:

 

Resolved:   That the original motion, as altered by Councillor Rawlings and Councillor D’Agorne’s amendments, as set out above, be approved.3

 

(iv)        Crime and Anti-social Behaviour (ASB)

 

(Proposed by Councillor Williams and seconded by Councillor Flinders)

 

In moving his motion, Councillor Williams indicated that he was minded to accept the amendment to be proposed by Councillor Craghill, which was as follows:

 

After ‘Council therefore resolves’ add a final bullet point:

 

‘To request Executive to instigate special meetings (or city centre summits) to bring together all relevant city centre partners such as the BID, Make it York, The Retail Forum, Indie York, the city centre police team, Safer York Partnership, relevant Council teams such as Street Cleaning, Neighbourhood Enforcement and Homelessness Support, city centre residents and voluntary and community sector organisations to work together and take a constructive, problem-solving approach to tackling crime and antisocial

behaviour in the city centre.’

 

Upon being formally asked, Council then agreed to accept the motion as altered above for debate so that it now read.

 

‘Council notes:

 

·        That figures for 2017-18 show crime is rising in York and North Yorkshire, including notably:

·        Domestic burglary (inc. attempts) up 65%, and at the highest rate for six years,

·        Number of incidents of violent crime within the city centre highest for at least a decade;

·        Violence against the person highest for at least a decade;

·        Most indicators for domestic violence highest for at least a decade.

 

This has come at a time when, due to austerity, and despite the Police and Fire Commissioner’s commitment to increase numbers, police officers have been cut by 136 since austerity started in 2010.

 

Furthermore, probation services are in crisis following the botched 2014 privatisation, which the Government was forced to alter in July of this year.

 

In addition to the impact of Universal Credit, Council also notes the link between significant service cuts by this Council in areas including early intervention and prevention services and youth services, and the rising incidence of crime and anti-social behaviour in the city. Pending cuts to substance misuse services will further add to this problem.

 

In the past 12 months alcohol misuse was a factor in 4,500 cases of crime and ASB in York, and almost a quarter of all arrestees declared a drug or alcohol dependency.

 

Council recognises that in communities across our city, York residents feel that anti-social behaviour is increasing and at a low level is ignored by local agencies, whilst the visible presence of Police on our streets is declining. Many residents avoid the city centre in the evenings and weekends due to drunken behaviour in the heart of our City.

 

Council therefore resolves:

-      To request Executive commissions a report examining the reasons for rising crime and ASB in the city in order to inform responses to it;

-      To lobby the Police and Fire Commissioner through the Council Leader and Chief Executive to increase the numbers of frontline police officers for York;

-      To work with partners to improve joined-up working in areas such as probation and community payback, antisocial behaviour, substance misuse and health issues;

-      To request Executive to instigate special meetings (or city centre summits) to bring together all relevant city centre partners such as the BID, Make it York, The Retail Forum, Indie York, the city centre police team, Safer York Partnership, relevant Council teams such as Street Cleaning, Neighbourhood Enforcement and Homelessness Support, city centre residents and voluntary and community sector organisations to work together and take a constructive, problem solving approach to tackling crime and anti-social behaviour in the city centre.’

 

A vote was then taken on the original motion, as altered by Councillor Craghill’s amendment, which was CARRIED, and it was:

Resolved:  That the original motion as altered by Councillor Craghill’s amendment, as set out above, be approved. 4