For debate and decision on the
day, unless the Chairman decides
otherwise.
The closing date for the receipt of motions was 10am on Tuesday, 17
March 2015.
Motion 739 – 800th Anniversary of the Magna Carta
Proposed by Cllr Richard Leppington
Seconded by Cllr Alan Preest
June 2015 marks the 800th anniversary of the sealing of Magna Carta . This is an event of international and national importance.
Councils throughout the land are using this as an opportunity to reflect on civic life, and engage young people about how Magna Carta gave rise to the freedoms which they enjoy today.
We urge Gloucestershire County Council to organise a suitable commemoration of the event.
Motion 740 - Climate Change
Proposed by Cllr Sarah Lunnon
Seconded by Cllr Mike Sztymiak
This motion recognises the adaptation and mitigation work undertaken by Gloucestershire County Council in response to climate change risks. The findings of the Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) indicate that there are opportunities to substantially and significantly increase the transformation of our carbon intensive economy. Local investment now will bring substantial future savings and opportunities that benefit local economies.
In light of the above, this Council resolves to form and enact policy to develop the ‘low carbon economy’ that reduces greenhouse gas emissions according to AR5 recommended targets. Actions will include:
i) Effective adaptation to climate change in the local transport plan, in waste management, in flood management and in energy use.
ii) Support and investment in employment by promoting innovation and investments in environmentally sound technologies and infrastructure that enable sustainable livelihoods and low-carbon behavioural and lifestyle choices.
iii) A further promotion of long-term sustainability and conservation to enhance biodiversity and special habitats, whilst also enabling responses in the viability of new and innovative types of agriculture and local energy and food production.
The Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) concludes:
· Human influence on the climate system is clear, warming is unequivocal and recent anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases are the highest in history.
· Continued emission of greenhouse gases will cause further warming and long-lasting changes in all components of the climate system, increasing the likelihood of severe, pervasive and irreversible impacts for people and ecosystems. Limiting climate change would require substantial and sustained reductions in greenhouse gas emissions which, together with adaptation, can limit climate change risks.
· Adaptation and mitigation are complementary strategies for reducing and managing the risks of climate change. Substantial emissions reductions over the next few decades can reduce climate risks in the 21st century and beyond, increase prospects for effective adaptation, reduce the costs and challenges of mitigation in the longer term, and contribute to climate-resilient pathways for sustainable development.
· Many adaptation and mitigation options can help address climate change, but no single option is sufficient by itself. Effective implementation depends on policies and cooperation at all scales, and can be enhanced through integrated responses that link adaptation and mitigation with other societal objectives.
Motion 741 – Highways
Proposed by Cllr Paul Hodgkinson
Seconded by Cllr Bernard Fisher
This Council notes that the current highways contract with Amey has been in place to deliver services from 1 April 2014.
This Council is disappointed that Amey’s performance over the course of the year has fallen short of its target and has more often than not been worse than tolerance.
This Council is aware that with all new contacts there is a settling-in period, but after nearly twelve months of operating, this Council will no longer accept system changes and resource issues as a reason for performance falling below the given target.
This Council therefore requires this highways contract with Amey to be closely monitored through the already established cross-party Highways Advisory Group and to see financial penalties imposed if performance targets are not consistently achieved in 2015/2016.
Motion 742 - Children’s Safeguarding Board
Proposed by Cllr Joe Harris
Seconded by Cllr Jeremy Hilton
This Council commends the work of the Gloucestershire Children’s Safeguarding Board, but recognises that the membership of the Board is determined by Government statue as set out in ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children’ (2013) and thus fails to allocate a place or places for locally elected councillors as full members of the Board.
This omission means that councillors and in particular the Cabinet Member for Children & Young People and Strategic Commissioning are not able to take full responsibility for keeping children safe in Gloucestershire.
This Council believes that councillors are held by the public to be ultimately responsible if there are significant failures in the safeguarding process and that it is wrong for councillors to be asked to undertake this role whilst not being provided with full membership on the key body responsible, namely: Gloucestershire Children’s Safeguarding Board. Giving full membership rights would: -
· reassure the public that all decisions made by the Board have been subject to the full challenge of locally elected representatives;
· allow local councillors the opportunity to fully influence decisions being made via democratic means;
· improve the Board’s deliberations and decisions;
· deliver greater transparency and accountability for the public.
This Council therefore resolves that the Leader of this Council and the Chief Executive write to the Secretary of State for Education and the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Children and Families to amend the statutory guidance to enable full participation by elected councillors in the work of the Children’s Safeguarding Boards.
Motion 743 – Living Wage for people working on behalf of the Council and the use of zero hours contracts
Proposed by Lesley Williams
Seconded by Steve Lydon
This Council notes that 65% of its services are delivered by private and voluntary sector organisations.
This Council notes that many private and voluntary sector employees working on behalf of the County Council are paid less than the Living Wage.
This Council is concerned that employees who provide essential services to Gloucestershire residents, such as care workers, are receiving poor pay and poor terms and conditions for the important service they provide. As a Council we believe that it is our responsibility to ensure that in work poverty is not experienced by anyone employed to work on behalf of GCC.
Therefore this Council requests that the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee undertakes a review of the pay, terms and conditions that employees working on behalf of the County Council receive and assess the merits and costs of paying all low paid employees working on behalf of GCC the Living Wage. The review will also investigate the use of zero contract hours by Council contractors and it will establish whether or not the practice of black listing members of Trade Unions occurs in Gloucestershire.
Motion 744– A417 Missing Link
Proposed by Cllr Mark Hawthorne
Seconded by TBA
This Council notes that the A417 Missing Link remains one of the worst bottlenecks on Gloucestershire’s roads, and a continuing cause of serious accidents.
This Council further notes the repeated cross party support from this Council, and from councils across Gloucestershire to addressing this issue.
This Council welcomes the recent commitment from the Department for Transport, but also recognises that there will be much work to do to see the upgrade delivered – and the county’s representatives in Westminster will have a crucial role to play in that.
As such, this Council resolves to write to all candidates standing in Gloucestershire at the forthcoming General Election, giving them an opportunity to state their support for this crucial scheme, and to publish responses received.
Minutes:
At the Council briefing, indicative times for each motion had been agreed taking account of the overall time limit of 2 hours for motions allowed in the constitution.
Motion 739 – 800th Anniversary of the Magna Carta
Cllr Richard Leppington proposed and Cllr Alan Preest seconded the following motion:
June 2015 marks the 800th anniversary of the sealing of Magna Carta . This is an event of international and national importance.
Councils throughout the land are using this as an opportunity to reflect on civic life, and engage young people about how Magna Carta gave rise to the freedoms which they enjoy today.
We urge Gloucestershire County Council to organise a suitable commemoration of the event.
In moving the motion, Cllr Richard Leppington said that 15 June 2015 would mark the 800th anniversary of the signing of the Magna Carta by King John at Runnymeade. He stated that the democratic legitimacy of the County Council, Parliament and other local authorities had their roots in the Magna Carta. He noted that the fundamental principles of the British legal system could be traced back to the Magna Carta. These included the presumption of innocence until proven guilty, the right to trial by jury and no imprisonment without charge. Today the legal system in Britain was widely recognised as the fairest and best in the World. He believed that the Magna Carta was worth celebrating and it was important that young people were aware of its relevance to today’s legal system and democracy.
In seconding the motion, Cllr Alan Preest noted that the anniversary would fall on the same day as Beer Day Britain and would provide an opportunity for a double celebration. He echoed the words of Cllr Leppington and noted the importance of celebrating the liberties enjoyed by people in Britain today.
Other members spoke in support of the motion and recognised the role of the Magna Carta in social justice, freedom of speech and creating a civilised democracy. The principles of the Magna Carta provided the foundation for treaties throughout the world including the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the European Convention on Human Rights and the US Constitution.
Members noted that the Library Service already had a scheme in place to promote the Magna Carta which was aimed primarily at young people. They hoped that further opportunities would be taken to celebrate the anniversary and promote tourism in the county.
The following resolution received unanimous support:
RESOLVED
To note that June 2015 marks the 800th anniversary of the sealing of Magna Carta . This is an event of international and national importance.
To note that councils throughout the land are using this as an opportunity to reflect on civic life, and engage young people about how Magna Carta gave rise to the freedoms which they enjoy today.
To urge the County Council to organise a suitable commemoration of the event.
Motion 740 - Climate Change
Cllr Sarah Lunnon proposed and Cllr Mike Sztymiak seconded the following motion:
This motion recognises the adaptation and mitigation work undertaken by Gloucestershire County Council in response to climate change risks. The findings of the Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) indicate that there are opportunities to substantially and significantly increase the transformation of our carbon intensive economy. Local investment now will bring substantial future savings and opportunities that benefit local economies.
In light of the above, this Council resolves to form and enact policy to develop the ‘low carbon economy’ that reduces greenhouse gas emissions according to AR5 recommended targets. Actions will include:
i) Effective adaptation to climate change in the local transport plan, in waste management, in flood management and in energy use.
ii) Support and investment in employment by promoting innovation and investments in environmentally sound technologies and infrastructure that enable sustainable livelihoods and low-carbon behavioural and lifestyle choices.
iii)A further promotion of long-term sustainability and conservation to enhance biodiversity and special habitats, whilst also enabling responses in the viability of new and innovative types of agriculture and local energy and food production.
The Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) concludes:
· Human influence on the climate system is clear, warming is unequivocal and recent anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases are the highest in history.
· Continued emission of greenhouse gases will cause further warming and long-lasting changes in all components of the climate system, increasing the likelihood of severe, pervasive and irreversible impacts for people and ecosystems. Limiting climate change would require substantial and sustained reductions in greenhouse gas emissions which, together with adaptation, can limit climate change risks.
· Adaptation and mitigation are complementary strategies for reducing and managing the risks of climate change. Substantial emissions reductions over the next few decades can reduce climate risks in the 21st century and beyond, increase prospects for effective adaptation, reduce the costs and challenges of mitigation in the longer term, and contribute to climate-resilient pathways for sustainable development.
· Many adaptation and mitigation options can help address climate change, but no single option is sufficient by itself. Effective implementation depends on policies and cooperation at all scales, and can be enhanced through integrated responses that link adaptation and mitigation with other societal objectives.
In moving the motion, Cllr Sarah Lunnon highlighted the worldwide impact of climate change with severe weather events and threats to international security, and also very local impacts such as the need to redraw the boundaries of flood plains in the Stroud district area. She noted that the Ministry of Defence viewed climate change as a major threat to national security. She said that climate change was the issue of our time and it was vitally important that people understood the threat and started working to find solutions. She believed that steps should be taken to develop the low carbon economy in Gloucestershire to provide people with more sustainable jobs and reduce emissions. She noted that although the Government talked about addressing climate change, the Infrastructure Bill went counter to that and would result in even greater use of hydrocarbons.
In seconding the motion, Cllr Mike Sztymiak stated that steps needed to be taken now to mitigate against the effects of climate change. He was pleased to see the Council was introducing LED street lighting but he believed that more needed to be done. He said that it need not be a big financial burden on the Council, but policies could be promoted to develop the low carbon economy through private sector investment.
Cllr Jeremy Hilton proposed and Cllr Lesley Williams seconded an amendment to add the following words at the end of the motion:
In light of the above, this Council requests that a
cross-party task group be set up in June and for a report to be
brought back to Council by the end of the year. The remit being to
look at the conclusions of the Fifth Assessment Report and ways in
which action can be taken locally to address climate change and
develop the 'low carbon economy'.
Members supported the amended motion, noting that a scrutiny task group would allow members to look at what the Council had achieved so far and then consider what further steps could be taken. The focus of the task group’s work would be on the practicalities of what could be achieved by the Council. It was recognised that little could be achieved by getting involved in the national debate on climate change.
RESOLVED to recognise the adaptation and mitigation work
undertaken by Gloucestershire County Council in response to climate
change risks. The
findings of the Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) of the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) indicate that
there are opportunities to substantially and significantly increase
the transformation of our carbon intensive economy. Local
investment now will bring substantial future savings and
opportunities that benefit local economies.
In light of the above, this Council resolves to form and enact policy to develop the ‘low carbon economy’ that reduces greenhouse gas emissions according to AR5 recommended targets. Actions will include:
i) Effective adaptation to climate change in the local transport plan, in waste management, in flood management and in energy use.
ii) Support and investment in employment by promoting innovation and investments in environmentally sound technologies and infrastructure that enable sustainable livelihoods and low-carbon behavioural and lifestyle choices.
iii) A further promotion of long-term sustainability and conservation to enhance biodiversity and special habitats, whilst also enabling responses in the viability of new and innovative types of agriculture and local energy and food production.
The Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) concludes:
· Human influence on the climate system is clear, warming is unequivocal and recent anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases are the highest in history.
· Continued emission of greenhouse gases will cause further warming and long-lasting changes in all components of the climate system, increasing the likelihood of severe, pervasive and irreversible impacts for people and ecosystems. Limiting climate change would require substantial and sustained reductions in greenhouse gas emissions which, together with adaptation, can limit climate change risks.
· Adaptation and mitigation are complementary strategies for reducing and managing the risks of climate change. Substantial emissions reductions over the next few decades can reduce climate risks in the 21st century and beyond, increase prospects for effective adaptation, reduce the costs and challenges of mitigation in the longer term, and contribute to climate-resilient pathways for sustainable development.
Many adaptation and mitigation options can help address climate change, but no single option is sufficient by itself. Effective implementation depends on policies and cooperation at all scales, and can be enhanced through integrated responses that link adaptation and mitigation with other societal objectives.
In light of the above, this Council requests that a cross-party task group be set up in June and for a report to be brought back to Council by the end of the year. The remit being to look at the conclusions of the Fifth Assessment Report and ways in which action can be taken locally to address climate change and develop the 'low carbon economy'.
Motion 741 – Highways
Cllr Paul Hodgkinson proposed and Cllr Bernard Fisher seconded the following motion:
This Council notes that the current highways contract with Amey has been in place to deliver services from 1 April 2014.
This Council is disappointed that Amey’s performance over the course of the year has fallen short of its target and has more often than not been worse than tolerance.
This Council is aware that with all new contacts there is a settling-in period, but after nearly twelve months of operating, this Council will no longer accept system changes and resource issues as a reason for performance falling below the given target.
This Council therefore requires this highways contract with Amey to be closely monitored through the already established cross-party Highways Advisory Group and to see financial penalties imposed if performance targets are not consistently achieved in 2015/2016.
In moving the motion, Cllr Paul Hodgkinson stated that the condition of the roads was the issue that was raised most often on the doorstep. He said that there were examples from across the county of poor performance and workmanship. There had been delays in completing work and communication was often poor. He believed that targets needed to be rigorously monitored quarter by quarter and if performance did not improve then the Council should start withholding funds.
In seconding the motion, Cllr Bernard Fisher referred to the appalling condition of the pavements as well as the roads around Cheltenham. He said that he had tried to get issues sorted out in his division but in many instances no action had been taken. He said that repairs were often ‘cheap, rushed and poor’.
Cllr Vernon Smith, the Cabinet Member for Highways and Flood, supported the motion. The new contract was very different to previous contracts and he said that in overall terms the condition of the county’s roads was improving. He accepted that there had been some problems with communication and the Contract Governance Board had made Amey aware of those concerns. He said that Amey were now hitting performance targets with a number of indicators ahead of target. He recognised, however, that there were still issues to be addressed and he assured members that action would be taken. He noted that Amey had put in place a dedicated email for county councillors and he encouraged members to use it to report issues. If members could not resolve problems then he suggested that they approach him directly.
Some members stated that they were seeing an improvement in the condition of roads in their area and they were pleased at the quality of the work undertaken by Amey. They commended the Cabinet Member for the action he was taking to address the concerns that had been raised regarding the contract.
Other members stated that the condition of roads was not improving and they expressed serious concern regarding the Council’s contract with Amey. A member believed that the contract had not been set up properly and the Council should learn lessons for other contracts it was entering into with third parties. Another member called for a thorough review of Amey’s working practices and not just the imposition of financial penalties.
The following specific concerns were identified by members:
· Lack of consistency of repairs with poor quality workmanship in filling potholes.
· Poor quality of resurfacing on the A38 south of Gloucester
· A bush growing out of a road in Wotton-under-Edge
· Poor communication with elected members, parish councils and the public with no feedback provided on progress on when action would be taken and when work had been completed.
· Pavements falling apart in Cheltenham
· Lack of inspection after pothole repairs had been undertaken
· Obscured road signs
· No action taken for weeks after reporting noisy inspection covers on a main road in Gloucester.
· Tree cut down in Cheltenham even though it was subject to a tree preservation order.
· Lack of action when members requested specific work to be undertaken as part of the Highways Local Scheme.
RESOLVED that this Council notes that the current highways contract with Amey has been in place to deliver services from 1 April 2014.
This Council is disappointed that Amey’s performance over the course of the year has fallen short of its target and has more often than not been worse than tolerance.
This Council is aware that with all new contacts there is a settling-in period, but after nearly twelve months of operating, this Council will no longer accept system changes and resource issues as a reason for performance falling below the given target.
This Council therefore requires this highways contract with Amey to be closely monitored through the already established cross-party Highways Advisory Group and to see financial penalties imposed if performance targets are not consistently achieved in 2015/2016.
Motion 742 - Children’s Safeguarding Board
The following motion proposed by Cllr Joe Harris and seconded by Cllr Jeremy Hilton was withdrawn:
This Council commends the work of the Gloucestershire Children’s Safeguarding Board, but recognises that the membership of the Board is determined by Government statue as set out in ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children’ (2013) and thus fails to allocate a place or places for locally elected councillors as full members of the Board.
This omission means that councillors and in particular the Cabinet Member for Children & Young People and Strategic Commissioning are not able to take full responsibility for keeping children safe in Gloucestershire.
This Council believes that councillors are held by the public to be ultimately responsible if there are significant failures in the safeguarding process and that it is wrong for councillors to be asked to undertake this role whilst not being provided with full membership on the key body responsible, namely: Gloucestershire Children’s Safeguarding Board. Giving full membership rights would: -
· reassure the public that all decisions made by the Board have been subject to the full challenge of locally elected representatives;
· allow local councillors the opportunity to fully influence decisions being made via democratic means;
· improve the Board’s deliberations and decisions;
· deliver greater transparency and accountability for the public.
This Council therefore resolves that the Leader of this Council and the Chief Executive write to the Secretary of State for Education and the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Children and Families to amend the statutory guidance to enable full participation by elected councillors in the work of the Children’s Safeguarding Boards.
Motion 743 – Living Wage for people working on behalf of the Council and the use of zero hours contracts
Cllr Lesley Williams proposed and Cllr Steve Lydon seconded the following motion:
This Council notes that 65% of its services are delivered by private and voluntary sector organisations.
This Council notes that many private and voluntary sector employees working on behalf of the County Council are paid less than the Living Wage.
This Council is concerned that employees who provide essential services to Gloucestershire residents, such as care workers, are receiving poor pay and poor terms and conditions for the important service they provide. As a Council we believe that it is our responsibility to ensure that in work poverty is not experienced by anyone employed to work on behalf of GCC.
Therefore this Council requests that the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee undertakes a review of the pay, terms and conditions that employees working on behalf of the County Council receive and assess the merits and costs of paying all low paid employees working on behalf of GCC the Living Wage. The review will also investigate the use of zero contract hours by Council contractors and it will establish whether or not the practice of black listing members of Trade Unions occurs in Gloucestershire.
In moving the motion, Cllr Lesley Williams said that she was proud that lower paid staff employed by the Council received a living wage supplement. She was concerned, however, that a large number of people employed by Council contractors did not receive a living wage. Some of these people were employed on zero hours contracts. She explained that a scrutiny review would cover all types of contracts and not just those relating to the care sector. It would allow members to understand the motivation of contractors in paying such poor rates to their staff.
In seconding the motion, Cllr Steve Lydon believed that it was important to make jobs in the care sector more sustainable to allow a clear career path to be established. Once the scrutiny review had been completed, a series of recommendations could be made to the Cabinet on the best way forward.
Members spoke in support of the motion and felt that it was only right that people received a ‘fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work’. They believed that paying the living wage helped to ensure that services were provided to the standard expected by the Council. They questioned how any argument could be made against paying the living wage.
Other members recognised that some people chose to work on zero hours contracts as it suited their lifestyles. They also noted that the Council needed to be mindful of the financial implications of a blanket introduction of a living wage supplement for contractors.
RESOLVEDthat this Council notes that 65% of its services are delivered by private and voluntary sector organisations.
This Council notes that many private and voluntary sector employees working on behalf of the County Council are paid less than the Living Wage.
This Council is concerned that employees who provide essential services to Gloucestershire residents, such as care workers, are receiving poor pay and poor terms and conditions for the important service they provide. As a Council we believe that it is our responsibility to ensure that in work poverty is not experienced by anyone employed to work on behalf of GCC.
Therefore this Council requests that the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee undertakes a review of the pay, terms and conditions that employees working on behalf of the County Council receive and assess the merits and costs of paying all low paid employees working on behalf of GCC the Living Wage. The review will also investigate the use of zero contract hours by Council contractors and it will establish whether or not the practice of black listing members of Trade Unions occurs in Gloucestershire.
Motion 744– A417 Missing Link
Cllr Mark Hawthorne proposed and Cllr Lesley Williams seconded the following motion:
This Council notes that the A417 Missing Link remains one of the worst bottlenecks on Gloucestershire’s roads, and a continuing cause of serious accidents.
This Council further notes the repeated cross party support from this Council, and from councils across Gloucestershire to addressing this issue.
This Council welcomes the recent commitment from the Department for Transport, but also recognises that there will be much work to do to see the upgrade delivered – and the county’s representatives in Westminster will have a crucial role to play in that.
As such, this Council resolves to write to all candidates standing in Gloucestershire at the forthcoming General Election, giving them an opportunity to state their support for this crucial scheme, and to publish responses received.
In moving the motion, Cllr Mark Hawthorne stated that he was anxious to keep the momentum up for the A417 Missing Link. Politicians from across the county had already indicated their support for the scheme and it was important that parliamentary candidates were aware of the strength of feeling. He said that everyone needed to work together to address the ecological issues in order to make progress with the scheme at the earliest opportunity following the General Election.
In seconding the motion, Cllr Lesley Williams recognised the importance of everyone continuing to work together to address the A417 Missing Link. The road was a serious traffic bottleneck and there had been a number of serious road accidents.
A member noted the success of the cross party campaign. He said that the Highways Agency had confirmed that all the options were still on the table and would need to be consulted upon. Another member supported writing to the parliamentary candidates but questioned how reasonable it was for the Council to publish the responses received.
Some members believed that it would take some time to get the scheme underway as there were still a number of issues to address.
Other members were anxious that steps were taken to overcome the difficulties and move the scheme forward at the earliest opportunity.
RESOLVED that this Council notes that the A417 Missing Link remains one of the worst bottlenecks on Gloucestershire’s roads, and a continuing cause of serious accidents.
This Council further notes the repeated cross party support from this Council, and from councils across Gloucestershire to addressing this issue.
This Council welcomes the recent commitment from the Department for Transport, but also recognises that there will be much work to do to see the upgrade delivered – and the county’s representatives in Westminster will have a crucial role to play in that.
As such, this Council resolves to write to all candidates standing in Gloucestershire at the forthcoming General Election, giving them an opportunity to state their support for this crucial scheme, and to publish responses received.