Agenda item

To consider the following Motions on Notice under Standing Order B13:

 

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

 

(i)           From Cllr Kent

 

Improving York’s Air Quality

 

 "Council notes:

 

·        recent scientific research backing the World Health Organization (WHO’s) updated 2021 Global Air Quality Guidelines on air quality;

 

·        the research on particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), ozone, nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulphur dioxide and carbon monoxide making clear the overwhelming body of evidence accumulated over the past two decades demonstrates the damaging health effects of air pollution at every level of exposure, affecting nearly all organ systems of the human body; and the importance of implementing measures to reduce average exposures of all people to maximise health benefits.

 

·        the UK government’s recently published new air quality strategy for England  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-air-quality-strategy-for-england,  laying out a strategic framework for local authorities and other partners, and setting out their powers, responsibilities, and the further actions the government expects them to take;

 

·        air quality is considered by the UK Government to be “the largest environmental risk to public health in the UK” “with children, the elderly and the already vulnerable most affected”; Public Health England (2019) estimated there are 28-36,000 premature deaths a year in the UK attributable to human made air pollution (pro-rata for York circa 85 -130 deaths a year):

 

·        poor air quality also has consequences for crop yields and, particularly in the case of ammonia and oxides of nitrogen (NOx), significant impacts for the natural environment and biodiversity;

 

·        the UK Government’s new air quality targets for England as much less stringent than the WHO’s health-based targets;

 

·        Research published in 2022 that demonstrates the WHO interim target for air quality could be achieved across most of the UK by 2030 (https://www.imperial.ac.uk/school-public-health/environmental-research-group/research/modelling/pathway-to-who/).

 

·        local authorities’ duties around air quality and work in recent years including the very welcome ‘Air Map’ in York showing street exposure to 5 different pollutants with effects across the city (see https://yorkairmap.org/);

 

York’s last 5 year Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP3) expired in December 2020 and Council believes it now needs to fulfil its statutory duty to adopt a new AQAP given on-going health-damaging exceedances of the UK annual NO2 limits in parts of the city centre, largely relating to high traffic levels on main roads and the effects of building enclosure, notably in Gillygate.

 

This Council resolves to request Executive:

 

·        urgently completes and consults on a draft Air Quality Action Plan 4 in parallel with the emerging draft Local Transport Plan 4, taking into account the Council’s Climate Change and Health and Well-being strategies given the significant inter-relationships for some key pollutants;

 

·        includes within this work the WHO principle of progressively reducing average exposures to air pollution in York and to set its own interim WHO-based targets for pollutants within the authority’s influence, such as PM10 and NO2.

 

·        ensures York prioritises actions that will end exceedances of the current English statutory air quality targets as soon as possible within the AQAP 4 period;

 

·        Works together with York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority and other counterparts to address regional sources of air pollution.

 

and Council resolves in writing, with copies to York’s MPs, to call for the Government to:

 

·        adopt site-specific targets with the aim of improving air quality in vulnerable locations such as schools, hospitals, care homes, sites of special scientific interest and similar other ecologically vulnerable sites;

 

·        address the shortcomings of the National Planning Policy Framework and Building regulations with respect to air pollution from buildings including construction projects, gas boilers, solid fuel fires and stoves, from poor ventilation of buildings and from the impact on air quality of transport emissions associated with new developments and from agricultural practices; 

 

·        address the shortcomings in other legislation with regard to household furnishing, cleaning and other products used in residential and workplace settings which can adversely affect indoor air quality.”

 

(ii)         From Widdowson

 

Green waste collection

“Council notes that:

·        The Executive intends to explore the potential for generating income through charging for all green waste collection, with the suggestion of a charge of £43.50 per household per year

·        Such a charge would in effect represent a 2.5% increase in council tax for Band C household

·        It is estimated by officers that between 45% and 75% of households will give up their green bin rather than pay a charge for collection

·        In the York Labour 2023 local election manifesto there was no mention of exploring the introduction of charging for all green waste collection

·        When Labour were last in power in York (2011 to 2015) there were plans to introduce charging for all green waste collection, but following Labour’s defeat in the 2015 council elections, these plans were reversed through the July 2015 emergency budget implemented by the Conservative / Liberal Democrat administration

 

Council believes that:

·        At a time when many households are struggling with the cost of living crisis, the imposition of a regressive tax on green waste collection would be inappropriate

·        The imposition of charging would be at odds with the council’s plans to tackle climate change – for example there would be a likely increase in green waste being burnt, or being flytipped, or being transported across the city in private vehicles to household waste disposal sites, all of which would have adverse environmental consequences

·        No thought appears to have been given to the impacts of a significant reduction in the amount of separated green waste being collected and more of it being disposed of through the general waste stream

 

Council resolves that:

The Executive is to instruct officers to immediately cease any work on exploring the potential for generating income through charging for all green waste collection.”

(iii)        From Cllr Myers

Get Me Home Safely

 

“Council notes: 

 

• shift work is widespread in many industries, particularly hospitality, as well as health and care workers, retail, cleaning, security and porter staff and can often entail late-night working; 

 

• many workers, especially women, are increasingly worried about their safety travelling to and from work at night.

 

Council believes that:

 

• while employers may feel their duty of care to staff ends when an employee finishes a shift, they also need to take into consideration journeys home, especially during unsocial hours; 

 

• the weakness of enforcement of the law against sexual assault, including up-skirting, on public transport is appalling with only 2% of victims going on to report sexual harassment; 

 

• Unite the union’s ‘Get Me Home Safely’ campaign, which calls on employers to take all reasonable steps to ensure workers are able to get home safely from work at night, is greatly needed and should be supported; 

 

·        Greater numbers of trained staff and stronger enforcement of the law against sexual assault and harassment on public transport are urgently needed. 

 

Council resolves to: 

 

·        Fully support Unite's "Get me Home Safely" campaign;

 

·        Request that through the Purple Flag Working Group, officers work with partners to help implement the aims of this campaign;

 

·        Ask the Licensing Committee to undertake policy consultation work on encouraging licence holders to offer free transport to workers for getting home safely after 11pm, with a view to this recommendation being added under ‘Night-time safety’ provisions when the Statement of Licensing Policy is next reviewed;

 

·        Support the introduction of legal requirements for training transport workers on preventing gender-based violence, sexual assault and harassment on public transport and private hire vehicles;

·        Publicly call for improvement to late night and off-peak transport service provision to provide extra night services, as well as work with employers to discuss funding for supplementary taxi travel; 

 

·        Publicly call for the lowering of bus fares and opposition to any cuts to public transport funding and write to our two Members of Parliament to outline the Council’s support for the Get Me Home Safely campaign and ask them to use their positions to achieve these aims and resolutions; 

 

• Publicly call for the municipal ownership of buses in order to lower prices and improve service provision, especially for night-time and off-peak services; 

 

• Make representation to appropriate sub-regional and national government to bring forward national minimum standards for taxis and private hire, as per the recommendations of the 2018 national Task and Finish Group, and in support of this motion and its demands on behalf of our local community.” 

 

(iv)        From Cllr Fenton

Supporting people living with epilepsy

“Council notes that:

·        Research carried out by the Office for National Statistics shows that just over a third (34%) of people who identified epilepsy as their “main” health condition are in employment and that the only people that have a lower employment rate are those people who have “mental illness or other nervous disorders” (29%) and “severe or specific learning difficulties” (18%)

·        By comparison, the overall rate of employment in the UK is around 76%. This means that just over three quarters of working age people have a job and people with epilepsy are more than twice as likely to be out of work than the national average

·        Research carried out by the Trades Union Congress shows that people with epilepsy in work are paid on average 11.8% less than non-disabled workers

·        Epilepsy Action is campaigning to change attitudes of employers and improve the employment support available to people with epilepsy

 

Council believes that:

·        The low rate of employment for people with epilepsy is very concerning, given that there are very few jobs someone with epilepsy cannot do

·        No one living with epilepsy should be discriminated against in hiring processes and in employment

·        Increased knowledge about epilepsy can make a huge difference to people with the condition, and their ability to find and stay in work

·        By taking simple steps to help support people with epilepsy, employers can help to create a more inclusive workplace

Council resolves to:

·        Request that the Executive Members in whose portfolios Economy and Inclusion sit to use all available opportunities to engage with groups such as the Federation of Small Businesses, Chambers of Commerce, York BID, Hospitality Association York and the York High Street Forum to raise awareness with employers about what more they can do to support people living with epilepsy in work

·        Request that the Executive Member for Finance, Performance, Major Projects, Human Rights, Equality and Inclusion ensures that City of York Council is doing all that it can to be an employer that supports current and potential future staff who live with epilepsy.”

 

 

 

(i)           Improving York’s Air Quality

 

Moved by Cllr Kent, seconded by Cllr Ravilious

 

"Council notes:

 

·        recent scientific research backing the World Health Organization (WHO’s) updated 2021 Global Air Quality Guidelines on air quality;

 

·        the research on particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), ozone, nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulphur dioxide and carbon monoxide making clear the overwhelming body of evidence accumulated over the past two decades demonstrates the damaging health effects of air pollution at every level of exposure, affecting nearly all organ systems of the human body; and the importance of implementing measures to reduce average exposures of all people to maximise health benefits.

 

·        the UK government’s recently published new air quality strategy for England  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-air-quality-strategy-for-england,  laying out a strategic framework for local authorities and other partners, and setting out their powers, responsibilities, and the further actions the government expects them to take;

 

·        air quality is considered by the UK Government to be “the largest environmental risk to public health in the UK” “with children, the elderly and the already vulnerable most affected”; Public Health England (2019) estimated there are 28-36,000 premature deaths a year in the UK attributable to human made air pollution (pro-rata for York circa 85 -130 deaths a year):

 

·        poor air quality also has consequences for crop yields and, particularly in the case of ammonia and oxides of nitrogen (NOx), significant impacts for the natural environment and biodiversity;

 

·        the UK Government’s new air quality targets for England as much less stringent than the WHO’s health-based targets;

 

·        Research published in 2022 that demonstrates the WHO interim target for air quality could be achieved across most of the UK by 2030 (https://www.imperial.ac.uk/school-public-health/environmental-research-group/research/modelling/pathway-to-who/).

 

·        local authorities’ duties around air quality and work in recent years including the very welcome ‘Air Map’ in York showing street exposure to 5 different pollutants with effects across the city (see https://yorkairmap.org/);

 

York’s last 5 year Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP3) expired in December 2020 and Council believes it now needs to fulfil its statutory duty to adopt a new AQAP given on-going health-damaging exceedances of the UK annual NO2 limits in parts of the city centre, largely relating to high traffic levels on main roads and the effects of building enclosure, notably in Gillygate.

 

This Council resolves to request Executive:

 

·        urgently completes and consults on a draft Air Quality Action Plan 4 in parallel with the emerging draft Local Transport Plan 4, taking into account the Council’s Climate Change and Health and Well-being strategies given the significant inter-relationships for some key pollutants;

 

·        includes within this work the WHO principle of progressively reducing average exposures to air pollution in York and to set its own interim WHO-based targets for pollutants within the authority’s influence, such as PM10 and NO2.

 

·        ensures York prioritises actions that will end exceedances of the current English statutory air quality targets as soon as possible within the AQAP 4 period;

 

·        Works together with York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority and other counterparts to address regional sources of air pollution.

 

and Council resolves in writing, with copies to York’s MPs, to call for the Government to:

 

·        adopt site-specific targets with the aim of improving air quality in vulnerable locations such as schools, hospitals, care homes, sites of special scientific interest and similar other ecologically vulnerable sites;

 

·        address the shortcomings of the National Planning Policy Framework and Building regulations with respect to air pollution from buildings including construction projects, gas boilers, solid fuel fires and stoves, from poor ventilation of buildings and from the impact on air quality of transport emissions associated with new developments and from agricultural practices; 

 

·        address the shortcomings in other legislation with regard to household furnishing, cleaning and other products used in residential and workplace settings which can adversely affect indoor air quality.”

 

The motion was then put to the vote and was declared CARRIED, and it was

 

Resolved:  That the above motion be approved.¹

 

(ii)         Green Waste Collection

Moved by Cllr Widdowson, seconded by Cllr Waller.

“Council notes that:

·        The Executive intends to explore the potential for generating income through charging for all green waste collection, with the suggestion of a charge of £43.50 per household per year

·        Such a charge would in effect represent a 2.5% increase in council tax for Band C household

·        It is estimated by officers that between 45% and 75% of households will give up their green bin rather than pay a charge for collection

·        In the York Labour 2023 local election manifesto there was no mention of exploring the introduction of charging for all green waste collection

·        When Labour were last in power in York (2011 to 2015) there were plans to introduce charging for all green waste collection, but following Labour’s defeat in the 2015 council elections, these plans were reversed through the July 2015 emergency budget implemented by the Conservative / Liberal Democrat administration

 

Council believes that:

·        At a time when many households are struggling with the cost of living crisis, the imposition of a regressive tax on green waste collection would be inappropriate

·        The imposition of charging would be at odds with the council’s plans to tackle climate change – for example there would be a likely increase in green waste being burnt, or being flytipped, or being transported across the city in private vehicles to household waste disposal sites, all of which would have adverse environmental consequences

·        No thought appears to have been given to the impacts of a significant reduction in the amount of separated green waste being collected and more of it being disposed of through the general waste stream

 

 Council resolves that:

·        The Executive is to instruct officers to immediately cease any work on exploring the potential for generating income through charging for all green waste collection.”

 

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

 

Resolved:  That the above motion be not approved.²

 

 

 

 

 

 

(iii)        Get Me Home Safely

 

Moved by Cllr Myers, seconded by Cllr Baxter.

 

Before moving his motion, Councillor Myers sought Council’s consent to alter his motion to incorporate the amendment from Councillor Fenton, as follows:

 

In the third paragraph, under ‘Council resolves’, insert the following in the 7^th bullet point, after ‘buses’ and before ‘in’ ‘to be actively considered and lessons learned from the experience of other cities and regions, including the bus franchising systems being pursued by Labour Metro Mayors in West Yorkshire, Liverpool City Region and Greater Manchester’.

 

Council having granted its consent, the motion was put as altered: 

 

“Council notes: 

 

·        shift work is widespread in many industries, particularly hospitality, as well as health and care workers, retail, cleaning, security and porter staff and can often entail late-night working; 

·        many workers, especially women, are increasingly worried about their safety travelling to and from work at night.

 

Council believes that:

 

·        while employers may feel their duty of care to staff ends when an employee finishes a shift, they also need to take into consideration journeys home, especially during unsocial hours; 

·        the weakness of enforcement of the law against sexual assault, including up-skirting, on public transport is appalling with only 2% of victims going on to report sexual harassment; 

·        Unite the union’s ‘Get Me Home Safely’ campaign, which calls on employers to take all reasonable steps to ensure workers are able to get home safely from work at night, is greatly needed and should be supported; 

·        Greater numbers of trained staff and stronger enforcement of the law against sexual assault and harassment on public transport are urgently needed. 

 

Council resolves to: 

 

·        Fully support Unite's "Get me Home Safely" campaign;

·        Request that through the Purple Flag Working Group, officers work with partners to help implement the aims of this campaign;

·        Ask the Licensing Committee to undertake policy consultation work on encouraging licence holders to offer free transport to workers for getting home safely after 11pm, with a view to this recommendation being added under ‘Night-time safety’ provisions when the Statement of Licensing Policy is next reviewed;

·        Support the introduction of legal requirements for training transport workers on preventing gender-based violence, sexual assault and harassment on public transport and private hire vehicles;

·        Publicly call for improvement to late night and off-peak transport service provision to provide extra night services, as well as work with employers to discuss funding for supplementary taxi travel; 

·        Publicly call for the lowering of bus fares and opposition to any cuts to public transport funding and write to our two Members of Parliament to outline the Council’s support for the Get Me Home Safely campaign and ask them to use their positions to achieve these aims and resolutions; 

·        Publicly call for the municipal ownership of buses to be actively considered and lessons learned from the experience of other cities and regions, including the bus franchising systems being pursued by Labour Metro Mayors in West Yorkshire, Liverpool City Region and Greater Manchester, in order to lower prices and improve service provision, especially for night-time and off-peak services; 

·        Make representation to appropriate sub-regional and national government to bring forward national minimum standards for taxis and private hire, as per the recommendations of the 2018 national Task and Finish Group, and in support of this motion and its demands on behalf of our local community.”

 

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

 

Resolved:  That the above motion, as altered, be approved.³

 

(iv)        Supporting people living with epilepsy

Moved by Cllr Fenton, seconded by Cllr Runciman

“Council notes that:

·        Research carried out by the Office for National Statistics shows that just over a third (34%) of people who identified epilepsy as their “main” health condition are in employment and that the only people that have a lower employment rate are those people who have “mental illness or other nervous disorders” (29%) and “severe or specific learning difficulties” (18%)

·        By comparison, the overall rate of employment in the UK is around 76%. This means that just over three quarters of working age people have a job and people with epilepsy are more than twice as likely to be out of work than the national average

·        Research carried out by the Trades Union Congress shows that people with epilepsy in work are paid on average 11.8% less than non-disabled workers

·        Epilepsy Action is campaigning to change attitudes of employers and improve the employment support available to people with epilepsy

 

Council believes that:

·        The low rate of employment for people with epilepsy is very concerning, given that there are very few jobs someone with epilepsy cannot do

·        No one living with epilepsy should be discriminated against in hiring processes and in employment

·        Increased knowledge about epilepsy can make a huge difference to people with the condition, and their ability to find and stay in work

·        By taking simple steps to help support people with epilepsy, employers can help to create a more inclusive workplace

Council resolves to:

·        Request that the Executive Members in whose portfolios Economy and Inclusion sit to use all available opportunities to engage with groups such as the Federation of Small Businesses, Chambers of Commerce, York BID, Hospitality Association York and the York High Street Forum to raise awareness with employers about what more they can do to support people living with epilepsy in work

·        Request that the Executive Member for Finance, Performance, Major Projects, Human Rights, Equality and Inclusion ensures that City of York Council is doing all that it can to be an employer that supports current and potential future staff who live with epilepsy.”

 

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

 

Resolved:  That the above motion be approved.⁴