Agenda item

Notices of Motion

To consider the following Notices of Motion under Standing Order 11:

(i) From Councillor Kirk:

“This Council regrets the Government’s planned closure of 2,500 post offices across the UK. Council notes with concern the threat to post offices in York and surrounding areas. Council further notes that any closures in York will be announced by Post Office Counters Limited in November 2007.

This Council believes that post offices; fulfil both a social and economic role, offer a lifeline to many vulnerable and elderly customers, and contribute to viable, sustainable communities, especially in rural and suburban areas.

This Council believes that the closure programme is unnecessary and calls on the Government to:

a) end the branch closure programme and open new branches where needed;

b) remove the Royal Mail restrictions on the Post Office to open up further business opportunities for the network;

c) stop removing government business from post offices;

d) carry out a review of which additional government functions could be carried out through the post offices;

e) invest in the Post Office Network.

This Council calls upon the Chief Executive and Leader of City of York Council to write to the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform to oppose the proposed branch closures in the City of York Council area.”

[Note:

In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, and subject to the consent of Council, notice has been received that Cllr Kirk will seek to amend the above motion to read as follows:

This Council believes that the closure programme is unnecessary and calls on the Government to:

a) end the branch closure programme and open new branches where needed;

b) remove the Royal Mail restrictions on the Post Office to open up further business opportunities for the network;

c) stop removing government business from post offices;

d) carry out a review of which additional government functions could be carried out through the post offices;

e) invest in the Post Office Network.

This Council requests that;

(1) the Chief Executive and Leader of City of York Council write to the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform to oppose the proposed branch closures in the City of York Council area.

(2) Officers prepare a report, to be received by members within three months of this motion being carried, on negotiations with the Post Office, and the financial implications to the council, and residents, of expanding use of ‘over the counter’ transactions at sub-post offices for council services, bills and charges ”]

(ii) From Councillor Horton:

“Council notes:

a) The shortage of good affordable housing in York to rent or buy;

b) That York has two thriving Universities with increasing number of students living in the community, some in poor quality rented properties;

c) That first-time buyers face increasing difficulties in gaining their first foot on the property ladder in the city. This has been exacerbated by the increase in the buy-to-let market and the building of a large number of high price flats in the City in recent years, at the expense of family housing;

d) That owners of buy to let properties enjoy "tax breaks" which are not available to first-time buyers.

Council calls for the following action to be taken:

a) That Council use its statutory powers to regulate the difficulties being experienced in areas of the City with large student populations and poor quality maintenance by landlords;

b) That the Government be called upon to investigate and put in place legislation to enable first time buyers to mitigate the unfair tax advantage that is enjoyed by those buying solely to let and to strengthen Council's planning powers in terms of maintaining sensible housing mix.

c) That Council establish a task force of representatives from the universities, students’ unions, landlords and ward members to consider the effectiveness of voluntary, market and regulatory strategies to improve living conditions for long-term residents and students;

d) That the task force make recommendations for practicable solutions within six months of this meeting;

e) That Council also join other university cities in their lobby, via the Local Government Association to central government, for specific powers to enable local authorities to address the impact of the proportion of students residing in specific geographical areas.”

(iii) From Councillor Brooks:

“This Council instructs the appropriate officer or officers to negotiate with the Post Office a scheme for payment of all Council service charges and fees at local Post Offices and that a report be brought back to the Council on the outcome of such negotiations within three months”.

[Note: On 23 November, 2007, the above Notice of Motion was withdrawn and replaced by the following:

(iii) From Councillor D’Agorne:

“This Council notes:

a) The adoption at the Nov 22nd Planning Committee of an Interim Planning Statement for York for Sustainable Design and Construction with references to a minimum 10% on site generation of renewable energy for new developments, in line with policy adopted by Merton and other local authorities.

b) The proposed removal of the specific on site target for renewable energy in the Secretary of State’s recommended changes to the draft Yorkshire and Humber Regional Spatial Strategy.

c) That the target was established in consultation with all key regional agencies and local authorities. It had successfully passed through the Examination in Public stage and was endorsed in the recommendations put forward by the Independent Panel.

d) That only 5 months earlier a similar policy in the North East Regional Spatial Strategy passed through virtually unchanged in the Secretary of State’s list of proposed changes to that document.

e) That once the Planning Policy Statement on Climate Change is published (in its current proposed form) it may become more difficult for Councils to implement as policy the modest 10% minimum on site renewable energy targets for new developments.

f) That as a percentage renewable energy target, the policy encourages greater energy efficiency in new developments and is a driver to reduce carbon emissions.

g) That the policy has been proven to be effective by those councils already implementing this policy such as the London Borough of Croydon, which has now applied it to over 130 planning applications.

This Council calls on the Chief Executive to write to the Minister for Housing and Planning, (with copy to Chair of Yorkshire and Humber Assembly) calling on the Minister to:

a) Give an unequivocal statement that the forthcoming Planning Policy Statement on Climate Change will allow Councils to set at least a minimum 10% on site renewable energy targets in new developments;

b) Reconsider her recommendation to delete the specific on site renewable energy target in new development from the Yorkshire and Humber RSS.”]

(iv) From Councillor Simpson-Laing:

“Council agrees that Bus Cross Ticketing, within the City of York Council boundary, is adopted as a primary objective of Council’s desire to further develop public transport usage in the City. Council calls for Council Officers to negotiate with local bus operators to achieve this, with a target implementation date being set as being no later than January 2009.”

(v) From Councillor Aspden:

“City of York Council notes;

The huge amount of voluntary work that is done in the City.
The success of the York Press organised Community Pride Awards in giving public recognition to many of the City’s unsung heroes.
The positive role model for children and young people that volunteering provides and assists with the development of active citizenship.
That the devolution of budgets and decision making to the neighbourhood level assists with voluntary work in the City.

City of York Council welcomes;

The ongoing work of the Council for Voluntary Services, health and environmental voluntary groups, Youth Clubs and sports club, Neighbourhood Watch, school governors, and other volunteering groups around the City.
York Cares, which is actively supported by; Benenden Healthcare Society, City of York Council, Corus, CPP, Garbutt & Elliott, HSBC, Langleys, Mott MacDonald, Norwich Union, Shepherd Building Group, The Partners Group, The University of York, York and County Press and others.

City of York Council calls upon;

The City, residents and employers to celebrate International Volunteer Day on 5^th December as part of a continuing process to improve the opportunities for volunteering in York.
Employers in the City to recognise the value in volunteering.
The media to encourage participation with links like the BBC Action Network.”

Minutes:

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

(i) Post Office Closures

The first notice of motion had been proposed by Cllr Kirk, as follows:

This Council believes that the closure programme is unnecessary and calls on the Government to:

a) End the branch closure programme and open new branches where needed;

b) Remove the Royal Mail restrictions on the Post Office to open up further business opportunities for the network;

c) Stop removing government business from post offices;

d) Carry out a review of which additional government functions could be carried out through the post offices;

e) Invest in the Post Office Network.

Cllr Kirk now sought Council’s consent to alter the above motion to read as follows:

“This Council regrets that the Government is allowing the planned closure of 2,500 post offices across the UK and the UK Post Officer Ltd.’s announcement this week of the potential closure of sub post offices in York at Clifton Green, Fulford, Haxby Road and Micklegate, plus many others in the North Yorkshire area.

This Council believes that the closure programme is unnecessary and calls on the Government to intervene and for Post Office Ltd. to:

a) Review with a view to ending the branch closure programme and open new branches where needed;

b) Remove the Royal Mail restrictions on the Post Office to open up further business opportunities for the network;

c) Stop removing government business from post offices;

d) Carry out a review of which additional government functions could be carried out through the post offices;

e) Invest in the Post Office Network.

This Council requests that:

(1) The Chief Executive and Leader of City of York Council write to the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform to oppose the proposed branch closures in the City of York Council area;¹

(2) Officers prepare a report, to be received by Members within three months of this motion being carried, on negotiations with the Post Office and the financial implications to the Council, and residents, of expanding use of ‘over the counter’ transactions at sub post offices for council services, bills and charges;²

(3) The Chief Executive write to The Press confirming the Council’s support for their ‘Cut the Closures’ campaign.”³

Council having consented to the alteration, the altered motion was then moved by Cllr Kirk and seconded by Cllr Brooks.

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

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

*(ii) Affordable Housing

It was moved by Cllr Horton and seconded by Cllr Pierce that:

“Council notes:

a) The shortage of good affordable housing in York to rent or buy;

b) That York has two thriving Universities, with increasing numbers of students living in the community, some in poor quality rented properties;

c) That first-time buyers face increasing difficulties in gaining their first foot on the property ladder in the City. This has been exacerbated by the increase in the buy-to-let market and the building of a large number of high price flats in the City in recent years, at the expense of family housing;

d) That owners of buy-to-let properties enjoy ‘tax breaks’ which are not available to first-time buyers.

Council calls on the following action to be taken:

a) That Council use its statutory powers to regulate the difficulties being experienced in areas of the City with large student populations and poor quality maintenance by landlords;⁴

b) That the Government be called upon to investigate and put in place legislation to enable first-time buyers to mitigate the unfair tax advantage that is enjoyed by those buying solely to let and to strengthen the Council’s planning powers in terms of maintaining a sensible housing mix;⁵

c) That Council establish a task force of representatives from the universities, students’ unions, landlords and ward members, to consider the effectiveness of voluntary, market and regulatory strategies to improve living conditions for long-term residents and students;⁶

d) That the task force make recommendations for practicable solutions within six months of this meeting;

e) That Council also join other university cities in their lobby, via the Local Government Association, to central government, for specific powers to enable local authorities to address the impact of the proportion of students residing in specific geographical areas.”⁷

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

RESOLVED: That the above notice of motion be approved.

Note: Cllrs Hudson and R Watson left the Chamber during consideration of the above motion and took no part on the debate or decision thereon.

(iii) Renewable Energy Targets

The Lord Mayor announced that the third notice of motion listed on the Council agenda, relating to post offices, had been formally withdrawn by Cllr Brooks and replaced by a notice of motion from Cllr D’Agorne, relating to renewable energy targets.

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

“This Council notes:

a) The adoption at the November 22^nd Planning Committee of an Interim Planning Statement for York for Sustainable Design and Construction, with references to a minimum 10% on-site generation of renewable energy for new developments, in line with policy adopted by Merton and other local authorities.

b) The proposed removal of the specific on-site target for renewable energy in the Secretary of State’s recommended changes to the draft Yorkshire and Humber Regional Spatial Strategy.

d) That only 5 months earlier a similar policy in the North East Regional Spatial Strategy passed through virtually unchanged in the Secretary of State’s list of proposed changes to that document.

e) That once the Planning Policy Statement on Climate Change is published (in its current proposed form) it may become more difficult for councils to implement as policy the modest 10% minimum on-site renewable energy targets for new developments.

f) That, as a percentage renewable energy target, the policy encourages greater energy efficiency in new developments and is a driver to reduce carbon emissions.

g) That the policy has been proven to be effective by those councils already implementing this policy, such as the London Borough of Croyden, which has now applied it to over 130 planning applications.

This Council calls on the Chief Executive to write to the Minister for Housing and Planning (with a copy to the Chair of the Yorkshire and Humber Assembly) calling on the Minister to:

a) Give an unequivocal statement that the forthcoming Planning Policy Statement on Climate Change will allow councils to set at least a minimum 10% on-site renewable energy targets in new developments;

b) Reconsider her recommendation to delete the specific on-site renewable energy target in new development from the Yorkshire and Humber RSS.”⁸

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

RESOLVED: That the above notice of motion be approved.

(iv) Bus Cross Ticketing

It was moved by Cllr Simpson-Laing and seconded by Cllr Alexander that:

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

RESOLVED: That the above notice of motion be approved.

(v) Voluntary Work in the City of York

It was moved by Cllr Aspden and seconded by Cllr Sue Galloway that:

“City of York Council notes:

The huge amount of voluntary work that is done in the City;
The success of the York Press organised Community Pride Awards in giving public recognition to many of the City’s unsung heroes;
The positive role model for children and young people that volunteering provides and [that it] assists with the development of active citizenship;
That the devolution of budgets and decision making to the neighbourhood level assists with voluntary work in the City.

City of York Council welcomes:

The ongoing work of the Council for Voluntary Services, health and environmental voluntary groups, Youth Clubs and sports clubs, Neighbourhood Watch, school governors and other volunteering groups around the City;
York Cares, which is actively supported by Benenden Healthcare Society, City of York Council, Corus, CPP, Garbutt & Elliott, HSBC, Langleys, Mott MacDonald, Norwich Union, Shepherd Building Group, The Partners Group, the University of York, York and County Press, and others.

City of York Council calls upon:

The City, residents and employers to celebrate International Volunteer Day on 5^th December, as part of a continuing process to improve the opportunities for volunteering in York;
Employers in the City to recognise the value of volunteering;
The media to encourage participation with links like the BBC Action Network.”

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

RESOLVED: That the above notice of motion be approved.