Agenda item

1.    PROPOSED BY COUNCILLOR CHAMBERS-DUBUS

 

“The rise in energy costs for the coming winter will put many people in Gloucester in a position where they will be unable to effectively heat their homes. It is predicted that many families will experience fuel poverty.  There is serious concern for the impact this will have not just on vulnerable people and those already experiencing disadvantage but also on working families who are struggling to make ends meet due to the cost of living crisis.

 

Councils across the country are seriously concerned about the impact the increased energy costs will have and despite the price rises being beyond their control, councils are considering what they can do to help people in their areas. 

 

A number of councils are taking a lead and setting up a ‘Warm Places Scheme’ where people can attend public buildings during the daytime to stay warm. The scheme would welcome those who cannot afford to heat their homes and venues could include council owned premises and community buildings as well as churches and places of religious worship. By visiting such places people would not only be able to stay warm but also access services who could help and support them with other energy related matters.

 

In order to establish a Warm Places scheme this council resolves to:

 

·       Take the lead and act urgently and establish a Warm Places initiative across the city.

 

·       Utilise its own premises and liaise with the County Council to make public venues available. This could include places such as libraries, museums and other appropriate council owned buildings.

 

·       Enlist the support of community and voluntary sector organisations to include   community centres and neighbourhood buildings.

 

·       Contact churches and other religious organisations to include them in the scheme.

 

·       Establish a Warm Places grant scheme to offer financial support costs to organisations prepared to get involved.”

 

2.    PROPOSED BY COUNCILLOR PULLEN

 

“Relocating the office accommodation of this council to The Eastgate Centre is to be welcomed as a positive and progressive move. It places the Council in the heart of the city centre where its presence and services can be easily identified and accessed.

 

To complement the office relocation the council should also move The Gateway Customer Services Reception to The Eastgate Centre.

 

Prior to Covid, The Gateway was providing face to face services to the public from its   Westgate Street base, near to the council offices in Shire Hall. However, once the council moves to Eastgate The Gateway will become remote from the rest of the Council, being located in a different part of the city. This has the potential to cause confusion among the public in identifying exactly where council services are located and accessed.    

 

The office space formerly occupied by the UK DRIC on the first floor is currently unused and this location or somewhere close by would make an ideal location for The Gateway. 

 

As the impact of Covid improves and services begin to return to normal steps should be taken to restore opening times and return The Gateway to a full face to face service.   

 

Having all city council services at The Eastgate Centre, in a central location will be a positive move and make them more easily identifiable and accessible to all council customers.      

 

This council therefore resolves to:

 

·       Relocate The Gateway into The Eastgate Centre

·       Utilise the former offices of the UK DRIC or somewhere nearby for this purpose

·       Widely publicise and promote this new location to the public

·       Return The Gateway to its pre Covid operating model with full face to face public access.”

 

3.    PROPOSED BY COUNCILLOR WILSON

 

“Council recognises the importance of providing access to toilets across the city. This helps address issues such as healthy living and social inclusion. Older people, parents, those in advanced stages of pregnancy and those with health problems benefit from being able to access facilities easily. 

 

For many years this council helped facilitate this via the Community Toilet Scheme. This scheme was popular with residents and helped the participating businesses who benefited from a rise in footfall. 

 

Council notes that this scheme has now been discontinued. 

 

Council calls on the cabinet to urgently consider restarting this scheme or produce proposals for a viable alternative which achieves the benefits listed above.”

27.1    Councillor Chambers-Dubus moved and Councillor Pullen seconded the following motion:

 

          “The rise in energy costs for the coming winter will put many people in Gloucester in a position where they will be unable to effectively heat their homes. It is predicted that many families will experience fuel poverty. There is serious concern for the impact this will have not just on vulnerable people and those already experiencing disadvantage but also on working families who are struggling to make ends meet due to the cost of living crisis.

 

Councils across the country are seriously concerned about the impact the increased energy costs will have and despite the price rises being beyond their control, councils are considering what they can do to help people in their areas.

 

A number of councils are taking a lead and setting up a ‘Warm Places Scheme’ where people can attend public buildings during the daytime to stay warm. The scheme would welcome those who cannot afford to heat their homes and venues could include council owned premises and community buildings as well as churches and places of religious worship. By visiting such places people would not only be able to stay warm but also access services who could help and support them with other energy related matters.

 

In order to establish a Warm Places scheme this council resolves to:

 

·       Take the lead and act urgently and establish a Warm Places initiative across the city.

·       Utilise its own premises and liaise with the County Council to make public venues available. This could include places such as libraries, museums and other appropriate council owned buildings.

·       Enlist the support of community and voluntary sector organisations to include community centres and neighbourhood buildings.

·       Contact churches and other religious organisations to include them in the scheme.

·       Establish a Warm Places grant scheme to offer financial support costs to organisations prepared to get involved.”

 

27.2   Councillor Cook proposed and Councillor Norman seconded the following amendment:

 

“The rise in energy costs for the coming winter will put many people in Gloucester in a position where they will be unable to effectively heat their homes. It is predicted that many families will experience fuel poverty.  There is serious concern for the impact this will have not just on vulnerable people and those already experiencing disadvantage but also on working families who are struggling to make ends meet due to the cost of living crisis. 

 

Councils across the country are seriously concerned about the impact the increased

energy costs will have and despite the price rises being beyond their control,

councils are considering what they can do to help people in their areas.   

 

A number of councils are taking a lead and setting up a ‘Warm Places Scheme’ where people can attend public buildings during the daytime to stay warm. We believe that this council can develop its own Gloucester “Warm Places Scheme” to aid information sharing of buildings within the city and its wards which are available to support residents during the winter months. The scheme would welcome those who cannot afford to heat their homes and venues could include council owned premises and community buildings as well as churches and places of religious worship.

 

By visiting such places people would not only be able to stay warm but also they may also be able to access services who could help and support them with other energy related matters at certain key locations. 

 

In order to establish a “Gloucester Warm Places scheme” this council resolves to: 

 

·       Take the lead and act to urgently and establish a “Gloucester Warm Places” initiative across the city, ensuring that dedicated website information is generated sharing locations involved in the scheme and signposting residents to the support available from government and other bodies. 

·       Undertake a social and mainstream media campaign to promote the support available to Gloucester residents. 

·       Utilise its own premises and liaise with theWork with partner agencies including the County Council to make public venues available determine which public buildings can be made available for use in the scheme. This could include places such as libraries, museums and other appropriate council publicly owned buildings, after due consideration of staffing and HSE requirements. 

·       Enlist the support of the business community who can provide support to the residents of Gloucester, with nominal or no financial outlay needed for residents. 

·       Enlist the support of community and voluntary sector organisations to include   community centres and neighbourhood buildings.  

·       Contact churches and other religious organisations to include them in the scheme. 

·       Establish a Warm Places grant scheme to offer financial support costs to organisations prepared to get involvedEncourage Members to contribute part of their grant allowance to assist VCS organisations with their costs.” 

 

27.3    The motion as amended was put to the vote and was carried.

 

27.4    RESOLVED that: -

 

“The rise in energy costs for the coming winter will put many people in Gloucester in a position where they will be unable to effectively heat their homes. It is predicted that many families will experience fuel poverty.  There is serious concern for the impact this will have not just on vulnerable people and those already experiencing disadvantage but also on working families who are struggling to make ends meet due to the cost of living crisis. 

 

Councils across the country are seriously concerned about the impact the increased energy costs will have and despite the price rises being beyond their control, councils are considering what they can do to help people in their areas.   

 

A number of councils are taking a lead and setting up a ‘Warm Places Scheme’ where people can attend public buildings during the daytime to stay warm. We believe that this council can develop its own Gloucester “Warm Places Scheme” to aid information sharing of buildings within the city and its wards which are available to support residents during the winter months. By visiting such places people would not only be able to stay warm but they may also be able to access services who could help and support them with other energy related matters at certain key locations. 

 

In order to establish a “Gloucester Warm Places scheme” this council resolves to: 

 

·       Take the lead to urgently establish a “Gloucester Warm Places” initiative across the city, ensuring that dedicated website information is generated sharing locations involved in the scheme and signposting residents to the support available from government and other bodies. 

·       Undertake a social and mainstream media campaign to promote the support available to Gloucester residents. 

·       Work with partner agencies including the County Council to determine which public buildings can be made available for use in the scheme. This could include places such as libraries, museums and other publicly owned buildings, after due consideration of staffing and HSE requirements. 

·       Enlist the support of the business community who can provide support to the residents of Gloucester, with nominal or no financial outlay needed for residents. 

·       Enlist the support of community and voluntary sector organisations to include community centres and neighbourhood buildings.  

·       Contact churches and other religious organisations to include them in the scheme. 

·       Encourage Members to contribute part of their grant allowance to assist VCS organisations with their costs.”

 

27.5   Councillor Pullen moved and Councillor Chambers-Dubus seconded the following motion:

 

“Relocating the office accommodation of this council to The Eastgate Centre is to be welcomed as a positive and progressive move. It places the Council in the heart of the city centre where its presence and services can be easily identified and accessed.

 

To complement the office relocation the council should also move The Gateway Customer Services Reception to The Eastgate Centre.

 

Prior to Covid, The Gateway was providing face to face services to the public from its Westgate Street base, near to the council offices in Shire Hall. However, once the council moves to Eastgate The Gateway will become remote from the rest of the Council, being located in a different part of the city. This has the potential to cause confusion among the public in identifying exactly where council services are located and accessed.

 

The office space formerly occupied by the UK DRIC on the first floor is currently unused and this location or somewhere close by would make an ideal location for The Gateway.

 

As the impact of Covid improves and services begin to return to normal steps should be taken to restore opening times and return The Gateway to a full face to face service.

 

Having all city council services at The Eastgate Centre, in a central location will be a positive move and make them more easily identifiable and accessible to all council customers.

 

This council therefore resolves to:

 

·       Relocate The Gateway into The Eastgate Centre

·       Utilise the former offices of the UK DRIC or somewhere nearby for this

·       Widely publicise and promote this new location to the public

·       Return The Gateway to its pre Covid operating model with full face to face public access.”

 

27.6    Councillor H. Norman proposed and Councillor S. Chambers seconded the following amendment:

 

“Relocating the office accommodation of this council to The Eastgate Centre is to be welcomed as a positive and progressive move. It places the Council in the heart of the city centre where its presence and services can be easily identified and accessed.?? 

 

To complement the office relocation the council should also move undertake a review of the provision of Customer Service and Housing Support, currently managed from The Gateway Customer Services Reception to The Eastgate Centre to determine the best options for Gloucester residents in the short, medium and long term.?? 

? 

Prior to Covid, The Gateway was providing face to face services to the public from its? Westgate Street base, near to the council offices in Shire Hall. However, once the council moves to Eastgate TheGateway will become remote from the rest of the Council, being located in a different part of the city. This has the potential to cause confusion among the public in identifying exactly where council services are located and accessed.?????? 

 

The office space formerly occupied by the UK DRIC on the first floor is currently unused and this location or somewhere close by would make an ideal location for The Gateway.??? 

 

As the impact of Covid improves and the council’s cyber incident reduces, and services begin to return to normal steps should be taken to restore opening times and return The Gateway to a full face to face should resume its appointment service for residents to aid the review for next steps for the service.???? 

 

Having all city council services at The Eastgate Centre, in a central location will could be a positive move and make them more easily identifiable and accessible to all council customers, however all council owned locations should be considered if relocation were to take place.???????? 

 

This council therefore resolves to:? 

 

o   Relocate The Gateway into The Eastgate Centre.

o   Utilise the former offices of the UK DRIC or somewhere nearby for this purpose.

o   Widely publicise and promote this new location to the public.

o   Return The Gateway to its pre Covid operating model with full face to face public access. 

o   Complete a review of the face to face Customer Service & Housing Support provided to Gloucester residents from The Gateway to determine the best options for the future of the service.

o   Should relocation be determined as the appropriate action, all council owned buildings should be considered.

o   Publicise and promote any future changes to the provision widely.” 

 

27.7    The motion as amended was put to the vote and was carried.

 

27.8    Councillor Hilton proposed a minor amendment relating to the statement in the motion that ‘relocating the office accommodation of this council to the Eastgate Centre is to be welcomed as a positive and progressive move.’ Councillor Pullen pointed out that Group Leaders had not had sight of Councillor Hilton’s amendment. The Mayor adjourned the Council meeting for 5 minutes while advice was sought from the Monitoring Officer.

 

27.9   The Monitoring Officer advised that under Council Procedure Rule 15.06, if notice had not been given in accordance with the provisions set out in this rule, there was a requirement for Members to put any amendments in writing and hand it to the Mayor before discussion. He explained that Council would have to vote to approve waiving the notice requirements in order to discuss the amendment.

 

29.10  The option to waive the notice requirement was put to a vote and was lost.

 

29.11  RESOLVED that: -

 

“Relocating the office accommodation of this council to The Eastgate Centre is to be welcomed as a positive and progressive move. It places the Council in the heart of the city centre where its presence and services can be easily identified and accessed.?? 

? 

To complement the office relocation the council should undertake a review of the provision of Customer Service and Housing Support, currently managed from The Gateway to determine the best options for Gloucester residents in the short, mediumand long term.?? 

? 

Prior to Covid, The Gateway was providing face to face services to the public from its??Westgate Street base, near to the council offices in Shire Hall. However, once the council moves to Eastgate TheGateway will become remote from the rest of the Council, being located in a different part of the city. This has the potential to cause confusion among the public in identifying exactly where council services are located and accessed.?????? 

 

As the impact of Covid and the council’s cyber incident reduces, the Gateway should resume its appointment service for residents to aid the review for next steps for the service.???? 

 

Having all city council services at The Eastgate Centre, in a central location could be a positive move and make them more easily identifiable and accessible to all council customers, however all council owned locations should be considered if relocation were to take place.???????? 

 

This council therefore resolves to:? 

 

·       Complete a review of the face-to-face Customer Service & Housing Support provided to Gloucester residents from The Gateway to determine the best options for the future of the service.

·       Should relocation be determined as the appropriate action, all council owned buildings should be considered.

·       Publicise and promote any future changes to the provision widely.” 

 

29.12  Councillor Wilson proposed and Councillor Radley seconded the following motion:

 

“Council recognises the importance of providing access to toilets across the city. This helps address issues such as healthy living and social inclusion. Older people, parents, those in advanced stages of pregnancy and those with health problems benefit from being able to access facilities easily.

 

For many years this council helped facilitate this via the Community Toilet Scheme. This scheme was popular with residents and helped the participating businesses who benefited from a rise in footfall. Council notes that this scheme has now been discontinued.

 

Council calls on the cabinet to urgently consider restarting this scheme or produce proposals for a viable alternative which achieves the benefits listed above.”

 

29.13  The motion was put to a vote and was lost.