Agenda item

Notices of Motion

(1)  Proposed by Councillor Hilton

 

"This council agrees that the level of street cleaning could be much better than it is and that the level of cleanliness in Gloucester is not up to the standard we would expect for an historic city.

 

This council calls on the Cabinet Member to provide each city councillor with full details of the cleaning regime in their wards, with details of how often each street, open space and public footpath is cleaned.

 

This council calls on the cabinet member to provide a report on how he intends to improve street cleaning in Gloucester, looking at three zones; the city centre, edge of the city centre and the suburbs."

 

(2)  Proposed by Councillor James

 

“Notes that the date of this Council meeting is exactly 10 years since the devastating floods of 2007 hit Gloucester, affecting over 1000 homes and leading to a loss of water supply;

 

Further notes the huge amount of work carried out by the City and County Councils, the Environment Agency and Severn Trent Water, including dozens of flood alleviation schemes large and small, to guard against a recurrence;

 

Recalls the heroic work of the emergency services, military and volunteers in helping those in need at that time;

 

Believes that the positive legacy from this awful event was the great community spirit that helped the city through and that, especially in light of recent national events, the continuation of that spirit must be encouraged.” 

 

(3)  Proposed by Councillor Pullen

 

“This Council believes that a fully staffed, public front facing reception is a vital aspect of council services in meeting the needs of the residents of Gloucester.  Integral to this service is a ‘Drop In Service’ that offers help advice and information to people when they need it.

 

This council recognises that people dealing with complex issues, facing an emergency or crisis situation need to speak to an advisor face to face in order to resolve issues. Such situations cannot be planned for or predicted and therefore need to be dealt with immediately and without the need to make an appointment.

 

This council will therefore always provide a drop in service for people in crisis, when they need it and in a way that meets their needs.”  

 

(4)  Proposed by Councillor Coole

 

“Council recognises the important contribution that Public Sector workers contribute to our society.

 

Council particularly acknowledges the vital work of our emergency services, both in Gloucester and across the Country, especially in light of recent tragedies where the emergency services have gone above and beyond.

 

Council believes that asking public sector workers to continue to accept declining living standards and differentials and to continue to fall behind the private sector is not fair or justifiable. Public sector workers deserve fair pay.

 

Council resolves to write to the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, to lobby for the lifting of the Public Sector pay cap.”

Minutes:

(1)  Notice of Motion from the Liberal Democrat Group

 

22.1    Councillor Fearn retired to the public gallery for the debate and vote on this Motion.

 

22.2    Proposed by Councillor Hilton and seconded by Councillor Brazil:

 

"This council agrees that the level of street cleaning could be much better than it is and that the level of cleanliness in Gloucester is not up to the standard we would expect for an historic city.

 

This council calls on the Cabinet Member to provide each city councillor with full details of the cleaning regime in their wards, with details of how often each street, open space and public footpath is cleaned.

 

This council calls on the cabinet member to provide a report on how he intends to improve street cleaning in Gloucester, looking at three zones; the city centre, edge of the city centre and the suburbs."

 

22.3    The motion was put to the vote and was lost.

 

(2)  Notice of Motion from the Conservative Group

 

22.4    Moved by Councillor Watkins and seconded by Councillor Norman:

 

“Notes that the date of this Council meeting is exactly 10 years since the devastating floods of 2007 hit Gloucester, affecting over 1000 homes and leading to a loss of water supply;

 

Further notes the huge amount of work carried out by the City and County Councils, the Environment Agency and Severn Trent Water, including dozens of flood alleviation schemes large and small, to guard against a recurrence;

 

Recalls the heroic work of the emergency services, military and volunteers in helping those in need at that time;

 

Believes that the positive legacy from this awful event was the great community spirit that helped the city through and that, especially in light of recent national events, the continuation of that spirit must be encouraged.” 

 

22.5    Councillor Hilton moved the following amendment which was seconded by Councillor Hyman:

 

“Notes that the date of this Council meeting is exactly 10 years since the devastating floods of 2007 hit Gloucester, affecting over 1000 homes and leading to a loss of water supply;

 

Further notes the huge amount of work carried out by the City and County Councils, the Environment Agency and Severn Trent Water, including dozens of flood alleviation schemes large and small, to guard against a recurrence;

 

Recalls the heroic work of the emergency services, local council staff, military and volunteers in helping those in need at that time;

 

Believes that the positive legacy from this awful event was the great community spirit that helped the city through and that, especially in light of recent national events, the continuation of that spirit must be encouraged.

 

Agrees that the council’s business continuity and emergency plans be reviewed to reflect on the new staff profile being introduced, to ensure that the plans remain resilient. 

 

22.6    Councillor Watkins accepted the amendment.

 

                        22.7    The following motion, as amended, was put to the vote and was carried:

 

“Notes that the date of this Council meeting is exactly 10 years since the devastating floods of 2007 hit Gloucester, affecting over 1000 homes and leading to a loss of water supply;

 

Further notes the huge amount of work carried out by the City and County Councils, the Environment Agency and Severn Trent Water, including dozens of flood alleviation schemes large and small, to guard against a recurrence;

 

Recalls the heroic work of the emergency services, local council staff, military and volunteers in helping those in need at that time;

 

Believes that the positive legacy from this awful event was the great community spirit that helped the city through and that, especially in light of recent national events, the continuation of that spirit must be encouraged.

 

Agrees that the council’s business continuity and emergency plans be reviewed to reflect on the new staff profile being introduced, to ensure that the plans remain resilient. 

 

(3)  Notice of Motion from the Labour Group

 

22.8    Moved by Councillor Pullen and seconded by Councillor Fearn;

 

“This Council believes that a fully staffed, public front facing reception is a vital aspect of council services in meeting the needs of the residents of Gloucester.  Integral to this service is a ‘Drop In Service’ that offers help advice and information to people when they need it.

 

This council recognises that people dealing with complex issues, facing an emergency or crisis situation need to speak to an advisor face to face in order to resolve issues. Such situations cannot be planned for or predicted and therefore need to be dealt with immediately and without the need to make an appointment.

 

This council will therefore always provide a drop in service for people in crisis, when they need it and in a way that meets their needs.”  

 

22.9    Councillor D. Norman moved the following amendment and was seconded by Councillor Watkins:

 

“This Council believes that a fully staffed, public front facing reception is a vital an important aspect of council services in meeting the needs of the some residents of Gloucester. Integral to this service is a ‘Drop In Service’ that offers help advice and information to people when they need it.

 

 

This Council recognises that people dealing with complex issues, facing an emergency or crisis situation often need to speak to an adivisor someoneface to face in order to resolve issues.  Such situations cannot be planned for or predicted and therefore need to be dealt with immediately and without the need to make an appointment.

 

This Council will therefore always provide a drop in service for people those residents in crisis, when they need it and in a way that meets their needs and work closely with our advice agency partners to ensure there is access to support when it is needed.

 

However, the recent Together Gloucester transformation project identified that many face to face contacts could be avoided if we were able to encourage our residents and customers to self-serve more online, allowing more capacity for complex cases and to focus on outcomes rather than handling contacts.”

 

22.10  Councillor Pullen did not accept the amendment.

 

22.11  The amendment was put to the vote and was carried.

 

22.12  The following motion, as amended, was put to the vote and was carried:

 

“This Council believes that a fully staffed, public front facing reception is a vital an important aspect of council services in meeting the needs of the some residents of Gloucester. Integral to this service is a ‘Drop In Service’ that offers help advice and information to people when they need it.

 

This Council recognises that people dealing with complex issues, facing an emergency or crisis situation often need to speak to an advisor someone face to face in order to resolve issues. Such situations cannot be planned for or predicted and therefore need to be dealt with immediately and without the need to make an appointment.

 

This Council will therefore always provide a drop in service for people those residents in crisis, when they need it and in a way that meets their needs and work closely with our advice agency partners to ensure there is access to support when it is needed.

 

However, the recent Together Gloucester transformation project identified that many face to face contacts could be avoided if we were able to encourage our residents and customers to self-serve more online, allowing more capacity for complex cases and to focus on outcomes rather than handling contacts.”

 

(4)  Notice of Motion from the Labour Group

 

22.13  Councillors Watkins, Fearn, Ryall, Taylor, Patel, Pearsall and Walford retired from the meeting during discussion and the vote on this item.

 

22.14  Moved by Councillor Coole and seconded by Councillor Hampson;

 

“Council recognises the important contribution that Public Sector workers contribute to our society.

 

Council particularly acknowledges the vital work of our emergency services, both in Gloucester and across the Country, especially in light of recent tragedies where the emergency services have gone above and beyond.

 

Council believes that asking public sector workers to continue to accept declining living standards and differentials and to continue to fall behind the private sector is not fair or justifiable. Public sector workers deserve fair pay.

 

Council resolves to write to the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, to lobby for the lifting of the Public Sector pay cap.”

 

22.15  Councillor D. Norman moved the following amendment which was seconded by Councillor Melvin:

           

“Council recognises the important contribution that Public Sector workers contribute give to our society, particularly the staff of Gloucester City Council.

 

Council particularly acknowledges the vital work of our emergency services, both in Gloucester and across the Country, especially in light of recent tragedies where the emergency services have gone above and beyond.

 

Council believes that asking public sector workers to continue to accept declining living standards and differentials and to continue to fall behind the private sector is not fair or justifiable. Public sector workers deserve fair pay.

 

Council resolves to write to the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, to lobby for the lifting of the Public Sector pay cap.

 

We believe the Government’s position in seeking fairness between public servants and those who pay for them is prudent at this time of continuing financial pressure.

 

The Council does, however, recognise and respect the role of pay review bodies and is ready to implement any salary uplift as advised.

 

22.16  Councillor Coole did not accept the amendment.

 

22.17  The amendment was put to the vote and was carried.

 

22.18  The following motion, as amended, was put to the vote and was carried:

 

“Council recognises the important contribution that Public Sector workers contribute give to our society, particularly the staff of Gloucester City Council.

 

Council particularly acknowledges the vital work of our emergency services, both in Gloucester and across the Country, especially in light of recent tragedies where the emergency services have gone above and beyond.

 

Council believes that asking public sector workers to continue to accept declining living standards and differentials and to continue to fall behind the private sector is not fair or justifiable. Public sector workers deserve fair pay.

 

Council resolves to write to the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, to lobby for the lifting of the Public Sector pay cap.

 

We believe the Government’s position in seeking fairness between public servants and those who pay for them is prudent at this time of continuing financial pressure.

 

The Council does, however, recognise and respect the role of pay review bodies and is ready to implement any salary uplift as advised.”