Agenda item

Notices of Motion

1.     PROPOSED BY COUNCILLOR JAMES

 

“This Council:

 

Notes the proposal by Post Office Limited to relocate up to 40 Post Offices into WH Smith stores in 2019;

 

Further notes that this could include the main Post Office in Gloucester located in Kings Square;

 

Recognises the importance of the Post Office building to the setting of Kings Square;

 

Welcomes the fact that a consultation period will take place before any final decision is made and urges customers, residents and businesses to make their views known;

 

Expresses its concern that the city’s main Post Office must be accessible and able to provide the wide range of services and facilities currently available;

 

Resolves to make its own submission to the consultation to be agreed by the three group leaders.”

 

2.     PROPOSED BY COUNCILLOR PULLEN

 

“Council recognises and values that green public spaces in the City centre are at a premium and that they greatly enhance the environment and quality of life for both residents and visitors.

 

Council further agrees that Greyfriars bowling green is a valuable green space close to local residencies and should be enhanced and protected from future development.

 

Council therefore resolves:

 

1.     To include Greyfriars bowling green as a designated area of public open space as part of the Council’s review of its Public Open Space Strategy.

 

2.     That the bowling green be protected from being built upon in any future redevelopment of the area.

 

3.     That a comprehensive plan be drawn up as part of the Local Plan process that provides for a small development of residential/ retail properties including Aviation Gardens that retains the bowling green as its central feature.”

 

3.     PROPOSED BY COUNCILLOR HAIGH

 

“This Council notes:

 

§  That analysis of the 2018 Local Election results by the Fawcett Society found that only 34% of councillors in England are women, up 1% since 2017. Of the seats that were up for election in 2018, 38% went to women, up just 3 percentage points on 2014 when these seats were last contested;

 

§  That across England, Labour has improved its representation since seats were last up for grabs, with 45% women compared with 40% in 2014, Liberal Democrat representation up from 34% to 36% whilst the Conservative Party saw a fall from 31% to 29% in the share of its councillors who are female;

 

§  By summer 2017, only 4% of councils in England and Wales have parental leave policies, according to research by the Fawcett Society;

§  That the role of a councillor should be open to all, regardless of their background, and that introducing a parental leave policy is a step towards encouraging a wider range of people to become councillors, and is also a step to encourage existing councillors who may want to start a family to remain as councillors;

 

§  That parental leave must apply to parents regardless of their gender, and that it should also cover adoption leave to support those parents who choose to adopt.

 

This Council resolves:

 

§  that the General Purposes committee be asked to draw up a parental leave policy with due regard to best practice in other Councils and that this policy to give all councillors an entitlement to parental leave after giving birth or adopting;

 

§  To ensure that councillors with children and other caring commitments are supported as appropriate.”

 

4.     PROPOSED BY COUNCILLOR PULLEN

 

“This Council notes that many council budgets are now at Breaking Point. Austerity has caused huge damage to communities up and down the UK, with devastating effects on key public services that protect the most defenceless in society – children at risk, disabled adults and vulnerable older people – and the services we all rely on, like clean streets, libraries, and children’s centres;

 

        Government cuts mean councils have lost 60p out of every £1 that the last Labour Government was spending on local government in 2010;

        Councils had to spend an extra £800m last year to meet the demand on vital services to protect children

        With an aging population and growing demand adult social care faces a gap of £3.5 billion – with only 14% of council workers now confident that vulnerable residents are safe and cared for

        Government cuts have seen over 500 children’s centres and 475 libraries close, potholes are left unfilled, and 80% of council workers now say have no confidence in the future of local services

        Northamptonshire has already gone bust, and more councils are predicted to collapse without immediate emergency funding

        Councils now face a further funding gap of £7.8 billion by 2025 just to keep services ‘standing still’ and meeting additional demand. Even Lord Gary Porter, the Conservative Chair of the Local Government Association, has said ‘Councils can no longer be expected to run our vital local services on a shoestring’

This Council condemns Chief Secretary to the Treasury Liz Truss for stating on BBC Newsnight on 1st October 2018 that the government is “not making cuts to local authorities”, when all independent assessments of government spending show that this is entirely false; and that this Council further notes that Prime Minister Theresa May has also claimed that “austerity is over” despite planning a further £1.3bn of cuts to council budgets over the next year;

 

This Council agreeswith the aims of the ‘Breaking Point’ petition signed by labour councillors across the country, in calling forthe Prime Minister and Chancellor to truly end austerity in local government by:

 

        Reversing next years planned £1.3bn cut to council budgets;

        Immediately investing £2bn in children’s services and £2bn in adult social care to stop these vital emergency services from collapsing;

        Pledging to use the Spending Review to restore council funding to 2010 levels over the next four years

This Council resolves to:

·       Support the ‘Breaking Point’ campaign, recognising the devastating impact that austerity has had on our local community

Ask the Leader of the Council to write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Prime Minister, and the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government setting out the funding pressures faced by our local council, and calling on the Government to truly end austerity in local government.”

 

5.     PROPOSED BY COUNCILLOR HILTON

 

“This council expresses its disappointment and opposition to the closure of Hempsted Household Recycling Centre one day a week and to the reduced opening hours on the days the centre grants access to the public.

 

This council believes that this decision by Gloucestershire County Council cabinet will discourage recycling and encourage flytipping

 

This council agrees to write to the cabinet member responsible for the decision, requesting that he opens Hempsted Recycling Centre seven days a week and reconsiders the daily opening hours, especially during British Summer Time.”

 

6.     PROPOSED BY COUNCILLOR WILSON

 

“Council welcomes the recent completion and opening of the new Gloucester Transport Hub and congratulates all those involved in making this project such a success.

 

Council recognizes the importance of good transport links both in facilitating easy access to the city centre and hospital but in also creating a good first impression of our city as a good place to live and do business of which the Transport Hub is the first step in achieving this.

 

Council resolves, as the scheme promoter for the Railway Station Improvement project, to focus its efforts now in working with Great Western Railways and all stakeholders to ensure this project is also delivered to the same high standards as the Transport Hub.”

 

7.     PROPOSED BY COUNCILLOR MELVIN

 

“This Council:

 

        Recognises the difficulty that many residents in inner city wards of Gloucester have parking outside or near their homes;

        Welcomes the County Council’s proposed review of parking across the County, resolves to work with them to ensure its success in Gloucester including making City Council channels available to assist with the consultation, and asks the County Council to review inner city wards of Gloucester early in the process;

        Notes that the conversion of former family homes to houses in multiple occupation, including for students, can exacerbate already difficult parking issues and asks the Planning Policy Working Group to consider how City Plan policies can be used to assist with this problem.”

Minutes:

Notice of Motion from the Conservative Group

 

43.1    Councillor James, seconded by Councillor Toleman, proposed the following motion:

 

     “This Council:

 

Notes the proposal by Post Office Limited to relocate up to 40 Post Offices into WH Smith stores in 2019;

 

Further notes that this could include the main Post Office in Gloucester located in Kings Square;

 

Recognises the importance of the Post Office building to the setting of Kings Square;

 

Welcomes the fact that a consultation period will take place before any final decision is made and urges customers, residents and businesses to make their views known;

 

Expresses its concern that the city’s main Post Office must be accessible and able to provide the wide range of services and facilities currently available;

 

Resolves to make its own submission to the consultation to be agreed by the three group leaders.”

 

43.2    The motion was put to the vote and was carried.

 

43.3    RESOLVED – That

 

     This Council:

 

Notes the proposal by Post Office Limited to relocate up to 40 Post Offices into WH Smith stores in 2019;

 

Further notes that this could include the main Post Office in Gloucester located in Kings Square;

 

Recognises the importance of the Post Office building to the setting of Kings Square;

 

Welcomes the fact that a consultation period will take place before any final decision is made and urges customers, residents and businesses to make their views known;

 

Expresses its concern that the city’s main Post Office must be accessible and able to provide the wide range of services and facilities currently available;

 

Resolves to make its own submission to the consultation to be agreed by the three group leaders.

 

Notice of Motion from the Labour Group

 

43.4    Councillor Pullen, seconded by Councillor Stephens, proposed the following motion:

 

“Council recognises and values that green public spaces in the City centre are at a premium and that they greatly enhance the environment and quality of life for both residents and visitors.

 

Council further agrees that Greyfriars bowling green is a valuable green space close to local residencies and should be enhanced and protected from future development.

 

Council therefore resolves:

 

1.     To include Greyfriars bowling green as a designated area of public open space as part of the Council’s review of its Public Open Space Strategy.

 

2.     That the bowling green be protected from being built upon in any future redevelopment of the area.

 

3.     That a comprehensive plan be drawn up as part of the Local Plan process that provides for a small development of residential/ retail properties including Aviation Gardens that retains the bowling green as its central feature.”

 

43.5    Councillor James, seconded by Councillor Melvin, proposed the following amendment:

 

“Council recognises and values that green public spaces in the City city centre are at a premium important and that they greatly enhance the environment and quality of life for both residents and visitors.

 

Council further agrees that Greyfriars bowling green is a valuable green space close to local residencies and should be enhanced and protected from future development should be considered as part of a wider plan for the area that enhances its relationship with its neighbouring buildings including the new Greyfriars development and the Eastgate Indoor Market.

 

Council therefore resolves:

 

1.       • In the context of the City Plan, Ttoinclude Greyfriars bowling green as a designated area of public open space as part of the Council’s review of its Public Open Space Strategy ask officers to create a planning/development brief for the Greyfriars area, including the bowling green, the Aviation Gardens and the area between the Greyfriars monument and the Eastgate Shopping Centre, which maintains a significant area of green space which will be accessible to the public.

 

2.   That the bowling green be protected from being built upon in any future redevelopment of the area.

 

3.   That a comprehensive plan be drawn up as part of the Local Plan process that provides for a small development of residential/ retail properties including Aviation Gardens that retains the bowling green as its central feature.”

 

43.6    The amendment was not accepted.

 

43.7    The amendment was put to the vote and was carried. It therefore became the substantive motion.

 

43.8    The substantive motion was put to the vote and was carried.

 

43.9    RESOLVED – That

 

Council recognises and values that green public spaces in the city centre are important and that they greatly enhance the environment and quality of life for both residents and visitors.

 

Council further agrees that Greyfriars bowling green should be considered as part of a wider plan for the area that enhances its relationship with its neighbouring buildings including the new Greyfriars development and the Eastgate Indoor Market.

 

Council therefore resolves:

 

        In the context of the City Plan, to ask officers to create a planning/development brief for the Greyfriars area, including the bowling green, the Aviation Gardens and the area between the Greyfriars monument and the Eastgate Shopping Centre, which maintains a significant area of green space which will be accessible to the public.

 

Notice of Motion from the Labour Group

 

43.10  Councillor Haigh, seconded by Councillor Coole, proposed the following motion:

 

     “This Council notes:

 

§  That analysis of the 2018 Local Election results by the Fawcett Society found that only 34% of councillors in England are women, up 1% since 2017. Of the seats that were up for election in 2018, 38% went to women, up just 3 percentage points on 2014 when these seats were last contested;

 

§  That across England, Labour has improved its representation since seats were last up for grabs, with 45% women compared with 40% in 2014, Liberal Democrat representation up from 34% to 36% whilst the Conservative Party saw a fall from 31% to 29% in the share of its councillors who are female;

 

§  By summer 2017, only 4% of councils in England and Wales have parental leave policies, according to research by the Fawcett Society;

§  That the role of a councillor should be open to all, regardless of their background, and that introducing a parental leave policy is a step towards encouraging a wider range of people to become councillors, and is also a step to encourage existing councillors who may want to start a family to remain as councillors;

 

§  That parental leave must apply to parents regardless of their gender, and that it should also cover adoption leave to support those parents who choose to adopt.

 

This Council resolves:

 

§  that the General Purposes committee be asked to draw up a parental leave policy with due regard to best practice in other Councils and that this policy to give all councillors an entitlement to parental leave after giving birth or adopting;

 

To ensure that councillors with children and other caring commitments are supported as appropriate.”

 

43.11  Councillor H. Norman, seconded by Councillor Watkins, proposed the following amendment:

 

     “This Council notes:

 

§  That analysis of the 2018 Local Election results by the Fawcett Society found that only 34% of councillors in England are women, up 1% since 2017. Of the seats that were up for election in 2018, 38% went to women, up just 3 percentage points on 2014 when these seats were last contested;

 

§  That Gloucester City Council has 15 female councillors from a total of 39, which is 38.5% and in line with the national average. Additionally the council has 50% female representation on Cabinet, however we believe we can do more to attract females into local politics across England, Labour has improved its representation since seats were last up for grabs, with 45% women compared with 40% in 2014, Liberal Democrat representation up from 34% to 36% whilst the Conservative Party saw a fall from 31% to 29% in the share of its councillors who are female;

 

§  By summer 2017, only 4% of councils in England and Wales have parental leave policies, according to research by the Fawcett Society;

 

§  That the role of a councillor should be open to all, regardless of their background, and that introducing a parental leave policy is a step towards encouraging a wider range of people to become councillors, and is also a step to encourage existing councillors who may want to start a family to remain as councillors;

 

§  That parental leave must apply to parents regardless of their gender, and that it should also cover adoption leave to support those parents who choose to adopt.

 

This Council resolves:

 

§  that the General Purposes committee be asked to draw up a parental leave policy with due regard to best practice in other Councils and considering the report of the Independent Remuneration Panel when received and the work being undertaken by the Local Government Association on this issue and that this policy to give all councillors an entitlement to parental leave after giving birth or adopting;

 

§  To ensure that councillors with children and other caring commitments are supported as appropriate.”

 

43.12  Councillor Haigh accepted the amendment. It therefore became the substantive motion.

 

43.13  The substantive motion was put to the vote and was carried.

 

43.14  RESOLVED – That

 

     This Council notes:

 

§  That analysis of the 2018 Local Election results by the Fawcett Society found that only 34% of councillors in England are women, up 1% since 2017. Of the seats that were up for election in 2018, 38% went to women, up just 3 percentage points on 2014 when these seats were last contested;

 

§  That Gloucester City Council has 15 female councillors from a total of 39, which is 38.5% and in line with the national average. Additionally the council has 50% female representation on Cabinet, however we believe we can do more to attract females into local politics;

 

§  By summer 2017, only 4% of councils in England and Wales have parental leave policies, according to research by the Fawcett Society;

 

§  That the role of a councillor should be open to all, regardless of their background, and that introducing a parental leave policy is a step towards encouraging a wider range of people to become councillors, and is also a step to encourage existing councillors who may want to start a family to remain as councillors;

 

§  That parental leave must apply to parents regardless of their gender, and that it should also cover adoption leave to support those parents who choose to adopt.

 

This Council resolves:

 

§  that the General Purposes committee be asked to draw up a parental leave policy with due regard to best practice in other Councils and considering the report of the Independent Remuneration Panel when received and the work being undertaken by the Local Government Association on this issue and that this policy to give all councillors an entitlement to parental leave after giving birth or adopting;

 

§  To ensure that councillors with children and other caring commitments are supported as appropriate.

 

Notice of Motion from the Labour Group

 

43.15  Councillor Pullen, seconded by Councillor Stephens, proposed the following motion:

 

“This Council notes that many council budgets are now at Breaking Point. Austerity has caused huge damage to communities up and down the UK, with devastating effects on key public services that protect the most defenceless in society – children at risk, disabled adults and vulnerable older people – and the services we all rely on, like clean streets, libraries, and children’s centres;

 

        Government cuts mean councils have lost 60p out of every £1 that the last Labour Government was spending on local government in 2010;

        Councils had to spend an extra £800m last year to meet the demand on vital services to protect children

        With an aging population and growing demand adult social care faces a gap of £3.5 billion – with only 14% of council workers now confident that vulnerable residents are safe and cared for

        Government cuts have seen over 500 children’s centres and 475 libraries close, potholes are left unfilled, and 80% of council workers now say have no confidence in the future of local services

        Northamptonshire has already gone bust, and more councils are predicted to collapse without immediate emergency funding

        Councils now face a further funding gap of £7.8 billion by 2025 just to keep services ‘standing still’ and meeting additional demand. Even Lord Gary Porter, the Conservative Chair of the Local Government Association, has said ‘Councils can no longer be expected to run our vital local services on a shoestring’

 

This Council condemns Chief Secretary to the Treasury Liz Truss for stating on BBC Newsnight on 1st October 2018 that the government is “not making cuts to local authorities”, when all independent assessments of government spending show that this is entirely false; and that this Council further notes that Prime Minister Theresa May has also claimed that “austerity is over” despite planning a further £1.3bn of cuts to council budgets over the next year;

 

This Council agreeswith the aims of the ‘Breaking Point’ petition signed by labour councillors across the country, in calling forthe Prime Minister and Chancellor to truly end austerity in local government by:

 

        Reversing next years planned £1.3bn cut to council budgets;

        Immediately investing £2bn in children’s services and £2bn in adult social care to stop these vital emergency services from collapsing;

        Pledging to use the Spending Review to restore council funding to 2010 levels over the next four years

 

This Council resolves to:

 

·       Support the ‘Breaking Point’ campaign, recognising the devastating impact that austerity has had on our local community

 

·       Ask the Leader of the Council to write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Prime Minister, and the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government setting out the funding pressures faced by our local council, and calling on the Government to truly end austerity in local government.”

 

43.16  Councillor Wilson, seconded by Councillor Hilton, proposed the following amendment:

 

“This Council notes that many council budgets are now at Breaking Point breaking point. Austerity This has caused huge damage to communities up and down the UK in Gloucester, with devastating effects on key public services that protect the most defenceless in society – children at risk, disabled adults and vulnerable older people – and the services we all rely on, like clean streets, libraries, and children’s centres;

 

        Government cuts mean councils will have lost 60p out of every £1 that the last Labour Government was spending on local government in 2010 between 2010 and 2020;

        Councils had to spend an extra £800m last year to meet the demand on vital services to protect children

        With an aging population and growing demand adult social care faces a gap of £3.5 billion – with only 14% of council workers now confident that vulnerable residents are safe and cared for

        Government cuts have seen over 500 children’s centres and 475 libraries close, potholes are left unfilled, and 80% of council workers now say have no confidence in the future of local services

        Northamptonshire has already gone bust, and more councils are predicted to collapse without immediate emergency funding

        Councils now face a further funding gap of £7.8 billion by 2025 just to keep services ‘standing still’ and meeting additional demand. Even Lord Gary Porter, the Conservative Chair of the Local Government Association, has said ‘Councils can no longer be expected to run our vital local services on a shoestring’

 

This Council condemns Chief Secretary to the Treasury Liz Truss for stating on BBC Newsnight on 1st October 2018 that the government is “not making cuts to local authorities”, when all independent assessments of government spending show that this is entirely false; and that this Council further notes that Prime Minister Theresa May has also claimed that “austerity is over” despite planning a further £1.3bn of cuts to council budgets over the next year;

 

This Council agreeswith the aims of the ‘Breaking Point’ petition signed by labour councillors across the country, in calling forthe Prime Minister and Chancellor to truly end austerity in local government by:

 

·       Reversing next years planned £1.3bn cut to council budgets;

·       Immediately investing £2bn in children’s services and £2bn in adult social care to stop these vital emergency services from collapsing;

·       Pledging to use the Spending Review to restore council funding to 2010 levels over the next four years

 

This Council resolves to:

 

·       Support the ‘Breaking Point’ campaign, recognising the devastating impact that austerity has had on our local community

·       Ask the Leader of the Council to write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Prime Minister, and the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government setting out the funding pressures faced by our local council, and calling on the Government to truly end austerity in local government.

 

This council endorses the cross-party work carried out by the Local Government Association and recognises the analysis within the LGA Autumn Budget Submission, showing that in 2019/20 services will face a funding gap of £3.9bn, rising to £7.8bn by 2024/25.

 

This council therefore resolves to write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, expressing its dismay that the Government failed to address the growing funding gaps with local councils in the Autumn Budget, and requesting that he urgently rectify this mistake in judgement.

 

43.17  The amendment was not accepted.

 

43.18  The amendment was put to the vote and was lost.

 

43.19  The original motion was put to the vote and was lost.

 

Notice of Motion from the Liberal Democrat Group

 

43.20  Councillor Hilton, seconded by Councillor Brazil, proposed the following motion:

 

“This council expresses its disappointment and opposition to the closure of Hempsted Household Recycling Centre one day a week and to the reduced opening hours on the days the centre grants access to the public.

 

This council believes that this decision by Gloucestershire County Council cabinet will discourage recycling and encourage flytipping

 

This council agrees to write to the cabinet member responsible for the decision, requesting that he opens Hempsted Recycling Centre seven days a week and reconsiders the daily opening hours, especially during British Summer Time.”

 

43.21  Councillor Cook, seconded by Councillor Morgan, proposed the following amendment:

 

“This council expresses its disappointment and opposition to notes the closure of Hempsted Household Recycling Centre one day a week and to the reduced opening hours on the days the centre grants access to the public.

 

This council believes that notes concerns raised that this decision by Gloucestershire County Council cabinet will discourage recycling and encourage flytipping and that the county council has taken those concerns onboard

 

This council agrees to write to the cabinet member responsible for the decision, requesting that he opens Hempsted Recycling Centre seven days a week and reconsiders the daily opening hours, especially during British Summer Time carefully monitors the situation, advises this council how any unforeseen consequences that do arise will be redressed, and continue the publicity campaign about these changes.”

 

43.22  The amendment was not accepted.

 

43.23  The amendment was put to the vote and was carried. It therefore became the substantive motion.

 

43.24  The substantive motion was put to the vote and was carried.

 

43.25  RESOLVED – That

 

“This council notes the closure of Hempsted Household Recycling Centre one day a week and to the reduced opening hours on the days the centre grants access to the public.

 

This council notes concerns raised that this decision by Gloucestershire County Council cabinet will discourage recycling and encourage flytipping and that the county council has taken those concerns onboard

 

This council agrees to write to the cabinet member responsible for the decision, requesting that he carefully monitors the situation, advises this council how any unforeseen consequences that do arise will be redressed, and continue the publicity campaign about these changes.”

 

Notice of Motion from the Liberal Democrat Group

 

43.26  Councillor Wilson, seconded by Councillor Hilton, proposed the following motion:

 

“Council welcomes the recent completion and opening of the new Gloucester Transport Hub and congratulates all those involved in making this project such a success.

 

Council recognizes the importance of good transport links both in facilitating easy access to the city centre and hospital but in also creating a good first impression of our city as a good place to live and do business of which the Transport Hub is the first step in achieving this.

 

Council resolves, as the scheme promoter for the Railway Station Improvement project, to focus its efforts now in working with Great Western Railways and all stakeholders to ensure this project is also delivered to the same high standards as the Transport Hub.”

 

43.27  The motion was put to the vote and was carried.

 

43.28  RESOLVED – That

 

Council welcomes the recent completion and opening of the new Gloucester Transport Hub and congratulates all those involved in making this project such a success.

 

Council recognizes the importance of good transport links both in facilitating easy access to the city centre and hospital but in also creating a good first impression of our city as a good place to live and do business of which the Transport Hub is the first step in achieving this.

 

Council resolves, as the scheme promoter for the Railway Station Improvement project, to focus its efforts now in working with Great Western Railways and all stakeholders to ensure this project is also delivered to the same high standards as the Transport Hub.

 

Notice of Motion from the Conservative Group

 

43.29  Councillor Melvin, seconded by Councillor Patel, proposed the following motion:

 

     “This Council:

 

        Recognises the difficulty that many residents in inner city wards of Gloucester have parking outside or near their homes;

        Welcomes the County Council’s proposed review of parking across the County, resolves to work with them to ensure its success in Gloucester including making City Council channels available to assist with the consultation, and asks the County Council to review inner city wards of Gloucester early in the process;

        Notes that the conversion of former family homes to houses in multiple occupation, including for students, can exacerbate already difficult parking issues and asks the Planning Policy Working Group to consider how City Plan policies can be used to assist with this problem.”

 

43.30  The motion was put to the vote and was carried.

 

43.31  RESOLVED – That

 

     This Council:

 

        Recognises the difficulty that many residents in inner city wards of Gloucester have parking outside or near their homes;

        Welcomes the County Council’s proposed review of parking across the County, resolves to work with them to ensure its success in Gloucester including making City Council channels available to assist with the consultation, and asks the County Council to review inner city wards of Gloucester early in the process;

        Notes that the conversion of former family homes to houses in multiple occupation, including for students, can exacerbate already difficult parking issues and asks the Planning Policy Working Group to consider how City Plan policies can be used to assist with this problem.