(time limit 30 minutes)
Motion 1
Councillor McCann to Move and Councillor Sykes to SECOND:
Council notes that planning officers do not notify Ward Members when the conditions attached to planning approvals are satisfactorily discharged by the applicant.
In order to establish greater transparency in the planning process and to keep Ward Members better informed and engaged, Council resolves that best practice be created by requiring planning officers to give such notification and that opportunities be provided for Ward Members to engage with members of the public on planning matters in the spirit of co-operation.
Council resolves to ask the Chief Executive as Head of Paid Service to liaise with the Head of Planning and Infrastructure to ensure that planning officers are made aware of these requirements and ensure that they happen.
Motion 2
Councillor Turner to MOVE Councillor Gloster to SECOND:
This Council notes that:
This Council:
Council resolves to ask the Chief Executive to write to:
Motion 3
Councillor Williamson to MOVE and Councillor McCann to SECOND:
This Council notes:
· There are an estimated 7.5 million street lights in the UK
· In 2014, the Green Investment Bank reported that only 10% of these are LED
· It is estimated that switching all street lights to LED would:
· Further cost reductions can be provided through the use of LED lighting within Council buildings
· Affordable financing is available to Councils to make the change to LED street lights through the Public Works Loan Board, the Salix Energy Efficiency Loans Scheme and the Green Investment Group amongst others
· That the change is possible even in a situation where the street lighting service is provided via a Private Finance Initiative model
· That the 10:10 climate change climate group is asking Council to sign up to the Lighten Up pledge and make a commitment to going fully LED within 5 years
As a local authority committed to reducing its carbon footprint and providing residents with value-for-money services, Council recognises that a change to LED has merit, is worth investigating, and that a proposal to so was approved by the Performance and Value for Money sub-committee when it was presented as part of the alternate budget proposed by the Liberal Democrat Group in 2017.
Council therefore resolves to ask the Performance and Value for Money sub-committee to examine:
· The practicality and affordability of replacing street lights and lighting in Council buildings with LEDs in whole or in part
· The possibility of the Council making a commitment to replace all street lights with LEDs within five years and to making the Pledge as a signatory to the Lighten Up campaign.
Minutes:
Motion 1
Councillor McCann MOVED and Councillor Sykes SECONDED the following motion:
“Council notes that planning officers do not notify Ward Members when the conditions attached to planning approvals are satisfactorily discharged by the applicant.
In order to establish greater transparency in the planning process and to keep Ward Members better informed and engaged, Council resolves that best practice be created by requiring planning officers to give such notification and that opportunities be provided for Ward Members to engage with members of the public on planning matters in the spirit of co-operation.
Councillor McCann did not exercise his right of reply.
On being put to the vote, the MOTION was CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
RESOLVED that the Chief Executive as Head of Paid Service be asked to liaise with the Head of Planning and Infrastructure to ensure that planning officers were made aware of these requirements and ensured that they happened.
Motion 2
Councillor Turner MOVED and Councillor Gloster SECONDED the following MOTION:
“This Council notes that:
· An amendment (New Clause 30) to the EU Withdrawal Bill, proposed by Caroline Lucas MP, was recently defeated by the Government in Parliament. This amendment sought to transfer the EU Protocol on animal sentience set out in Article 13 of Title II of the Lisbon Treaty into UK Law, so that animals continue to be recognised as sentient being under domestic law.
· Widespread concern has been expressed by animal welfare groups, members of parliament and the public that the defeat of this clause will lead to a weakening of the laws protecting animals.
· Gudrun Ravetz, Senior Vice-President of British Veterinary Association the professional body for practicing veterinarians in the UK, stated: ‘Enshrining animal sentience in UK law would have acknowledged that we consider animals as being capable of feelings such as pain and contentment and, so, deserving of consideration and respect. It is a founding principle of animal welfare science, and for the way that we should treat all animals. There is now an urgent need for clarity from Government on how the provisions in Article 13 will be enshrined in UK law to ensure we do not fall short of the high standards we expect as a national of animal lovers.’
· In recognition of this concern, the Environment Secretary Michael Gove said in a ministerial statement that: ‘This Government is committed to the very highest standards of animal welfare. As the Prime Minister set out, we will make the United Kingdom a world leader in the care and protection of animals.’ In his statement, the Minister promises to increase the jail sentence for humans who abuse animals to five years, improve CCTV monitoring in slaughterhouses, and strengthen the ban on the ivory trade and ban microbeads in products.
This Council:
· Recognises that animals are sentient beings and deserving of the highest standards of legal protection.
· Shares the widespread public concern that the defeat of New Clause 30 may represent a threat to the legal protection of animals.
· Wishes to see this Government live up to its promise to ‘make the United Kingdom a world leader in the care and protection of animals’ by enacting the measures promised by the Environment Secretary as soon as possible.”
Councillor Jabbar moved the MOTION to the VOTE.
Councillor Turner did not exercise her right of reply.
On being put to the vote, the MOTION was CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
RESOLVED that:
1. The Chief Executive be asked to write to the Environment Secretary to express our concern at the defeat of New Clause 30 and to seek reassurance and clarification from the Minister as to when and how the Government intends to honour its promise to be a “world leader” in this field by enacting the alternative and enhancing animal welfare legislation outlined in his Ministerial Statement.
2. The Chief Executive be asked to write to our three Members of Parliament to seek their support for the Council’s position.
Motion 3
The Mayor had been given notification that Councillor McCann had to leave the meeting and unable to second the motion and notice had been given that Councillor Sykes would second the motion in his absence which was AGREED.
Councillor Williamson MOVED and Councillor Sykes SECONDED the following MOTION:
“This Council notes:
· There are an estimated 7.5 million street lights in the UK
· In 2014, the Green Investment Bank reported that only 10% of these are LED
· It is estimated that switching all street lights to LED would:
· Save Councils over £200 million per year, paying for half a million children to have free school meals each year or for an extra 12 million hours of social care
· Prevent over 600,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide from being emitted into the atmosphere every year, the equivalent of taking 400,000 cars off the road
· Take 0.5 GW off peak electricity demand, the equivalent of a coal fired power station
· Reduce light pollution as they are more directional and can employ sensors which determine when they are most needed and when they are not
· Further cost reductions can be provided through the use of LED lighting within Council buildings
· Affordable financing is available to Councils to make the change to LED street lights through the Public Works Loan Board, the Salix Energy Efficiency Loans Scheme and the Green Investment Group amongst others.
· That the change is possible even in a situation where the street lighting service is provided via a Private Finance Initiative model
· That the 10:10 climate change climate group is asking Council to sign up to the Lighten Up pledge and make a commitment to going fully LED within 5 years
As a local authority committed to reducing its carbon footprint and providing residents with value-for-money services, Council recognises that a change to LED has merit, is worth investigating, and that a proposal to so was approved by Performance and Value For Money sub-committee when it was presented as part of the alternate budget proposed by the Liberal Democrat Group in 2017.”
Councillor Williamson did not exercise her right of reply.
On being put to the vote, the MOTION was CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
RESOLVED that the Performance and Value For Money Sub-Committee examine:
· The practicality and affordability of replacing street lights and lighting in Council buildings with LEDs in whole or in part; and
· The possibility of the Council making a commitment to replace all street lights with LEDS within five years and to making the Pledge as a signatory to the Lighten Up campaign.
NOTE: Councillors McCann, Wrigglesworth, A. Alexander, G. Alexander, Harkness, Hewitt and Ur-Rehman left the meeting during this item.