Agenda item - NOTICE OF MOTIONS

Agenda item

NOTICE OF MOTIONS

In accordance with Standing Orders, the following motions have been received for consideration:

 

1.          Bus Services in Stevenage

 

To be moved by the Labour Group

 

Bus services in Stevenage are vital to so many of our residents providing them with a vital link to work places, shops, medical services, social & leisure activity, access to education and so much more.

 

That is why it is so disappointing to see a deterioration in our bus services in town with residents reporting many bus services cut at short (or no) notice meaning they have long waits for their bus.  For some time now we have experienced some areas left with no bus service from early evening or no service at all.

 

This Council is working towards our net zero carbon by 2030 target and with the County Council on our Sustainable Travel Town status.  A key part of this will be to encourage more use of public transport rather than private cars. Our new bus interchange is part of building an integrated public transport system. However this depends on regular, reliable, sustainable and affordable bus services.

 

Therefore this Council resolves:

 

1.     To convene a bus summit with the bus operators to explore the opportunities and address the challenges of delivering better bus services

2.     To lobby the County Council, as transport authority, to work with us and bus operators to ensure every area of Stevenage has a bus service

3.     To seek reassurance from the County Council that there will be no further cuts to bus subsidies for Stevenage bus routes

4.     To explore with the County Council better ways of providing up to date travel information to passengers

5.     To ensure we do all we can through the planning process to ensure bus routes are planned with new neighbourhoods and maximum use is made of CIL & Section 106 to incentivise bus use.

6.     To encourage the County Council as the Local Transport Authority and Arriva to continue to work with SBC concerning the ZEBRA (Zero Emission Bus Regional Area) bid for Stevenage.

 

2.          Council Meetings

 

To be moved by the Conservative Group.

 

Council notes that in the interests of democracy, it is important to continue to encourage and allow all political parties represented in Council to table motions but, to ensure all Council meetings are conducted in a timely fashion, thus facilitating the continued attention and interest of both our members and the public, there is a need to limit the time spent in debate. This can be achieved by limiting the number of motions and the time allowed for both debate and individual speakers. 

 

Also, Council notes that the main debate has not taken place for some while, so could be regarded as no longer necessary. However, it is appreciated that members may benefit from presentations on matters of interest to the community, as appropriate and, therefore, we should provide for this in Standing Orders.

 

The Council therefore moves that Standing Orders, 19. Rules of Debate, is amended, as follows:

 

A new point c. (i) is added, 'Each political party is allowed 1 motion per Council meeting'.

 

Point c (i) becomes point c (ii).

 

Point c (ii) becomes point c (iii)

 

Point c (iii) now becomes point c (iv), and is amended thus;

 

'Time limits for speakers during debates, unless otherwise stated elsewhere in the Standing Orders are as follows:

·        Mover of a motion - four minutes

·        Seconder of a motion - four minutes

·        Leader of the Council - four minutes

·        Leader of the Opposition - four minutes

·        All other speakers - two minutes

·        Right of reply - two minutes’

Point c (iv) becomes point c (v).

A new point c (vi) is added, 'If debate on all motions exceeds 1 hour 30 minutes in total, the Chair shall guillotine such debate, and instruct Council to move straight to the vote on the motion then being debated'.

 

The Council also moves that Standing Orders, 9. Main Debate is re-written, as follows:

 

'At any ordinary meeting of the Council there may be a presentation on a matter of interest to the community.

 

a.        Such presentation can be from a Councillor, officer and / or other invited person(s). If the presentation is from a Councillor or officer, it should last no longer than 10 minutes. If another person or persons are making the presentation, it should last no longer than 20 minutes. Collectively, no presentations should last longer than 30 minutes.

b.        At the Mayor's discretion, Councillors and members of the public may ask questions, but the total period for such questions should be no longer than 20 minutes.??

 

3.          Housing and Direct Services Departments

 

To be moved by the Liberal Democrat Group.

 

This Council calls for a thorough review of the housing and direct services departments to focus particularly on:

(a)      Improving the response to tenants requesting attention to repairs and other property problems.

(b)      Ensuring that all incoming calls are dealt with promptly, are recorded and tenants do not have to wait longer than 30 minutes maximum during normal working hours to speak to someone. Where this is impossible, a proper call-back system to tenants is initiated.

(c)      Maintaining a detailed register of outstanding housing maintenance works and reporting same to councillors on a weekly basis.

(d)      Ensuring that tenants are properly informed by phone, text or email when access to their properties is needed for work and visiting times are agreed.

(e)      Compensating tenants when Council trade persons fail to turn up for previously agreed appointments.

(f)       Ensuring that councillors are kept informed of the initiation and progress of refurbishment and upgrade programmes, especially in the wards they represent.?

 

4.        Communications and Stevenage Chronicle

 

To be moved by the Liberal Democrat Group.

 

Calls upon Council to properly manage its Communications & Media unit and those responsible for the publication of Stevenage Chronicle and other publications from time to time issued by the Council; particularly to ensure:

(a)       That the Code of Recommended Practice on Local Authority Publicity published by the Department for Communities Local Government is properly observed.

(b)       Editorial oversight is under the control of an Assistant Director.

(c)       There is close attention to detail and checking of dates and other facts.

(d)       That any featured events are to take place at least 14 days ahead of general publication and circulation.

(e)       An editorial schedule of contents is published for circulation to councillors.

(f)         A schedule of dates for potential contributors including copy dates, proofing and to press is published.

(g)       That there is a balance of editorial material between wards and Council groups without party political favour.

(h)       That photos are relevant and correctly captioned.

 

5.          Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Policy

 

To be moved by the Liberal Democrat Group.

 

This Council commits to considering and in due course implementing a ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) policy to apply to the Council’s financial investment counterparties.

Decision:

Urgent Motion – Crisis in the Ukraine

 

Councillor Sharon Taylor moved and Councillor Loraine Rossati seconded the following urgent motion:

 

That this Council expresses its strong solidarity and support for the people of Ukraine and agrees that this be expressed on behalf of the Council and the people of Stevenage.     

 

We express our solidarity and support to the Ukraine community in Stevenage and pledge assistance within our powers with their humanitarian aid efforts.  

 

Council agrees to undertaking the following action urgently and in writing:

 

·     To the Russian Ambassador in the UK, demanding that he requests his Government to withdraw troops from Ukraine immediately;

·     To the Ukrainian Ambassador in the UK, expressing the Council’s support and solidarity, and respect for his nation’s sovereignty, freedom and courage; and

·     To the Prime Minister of the UK, asking that all efforts are made to welcome refugees coming from Ukraine to the UK, and advise of our willingness to help settle individuals and families whose lives have so sadly and suddenly been affected by the military action in Ukraine.”

 

Following debate, and upon being put to the vote, the motion was carried unanimously.

 

Bus Services in Stevenage

 

Councillor Lloyd Briscoe moved and Councillor Michael Downing seconded the following motion:

 

“Bus services in Stevenage are vital to so many of our residents providing them with a vital link to work places, shops, medical services, social & leisure activity, access to education and so much more.

 

That is why it is so disappointing to see a deterioration in our bus services in town with residents reporting many bus services cut at short (or no) notice meaning they have long waits for their bus.  For some time now we have experienced some areas left with no bus service from early evening or no service at all.

 

This council is working towards our net zero carbon by 2030 target and with the county council on our Sustainable Travel Town status.  A key part of this will be to encourage more use of public transport rather than private cars. Our new bus interchange is part of building an integrated public transport system. However this depends on regular, reliable, sustainable and affordable bus services.

 

Therefore this Council resolves:

 

1.   To convene a bus summit with the bus operators to explore the opportunities and address the challenges of delivering better bus services

2.   To lobby the county council, as transport authority, to work with us and bus operators to ensure every area of Stevenage has a bus service

3.   To seek reassurance from the county council that there will be no further cuts to bus subsidies for Stevenage bus routes

4.   To explore with the county council better ways of providing up to date travel information to passengers

5.   To ensure we do all we can through the planning process to ensure bus routes are planned with new neighbourhoods and maximum use is made of CIL & Section 106 to incentivise bus use.

6.   To encourage the County Council as the Local Transport Authority and Arriva to continue to work with SBC concerning the ZEBRA (Zero Emission Bus Regional Area) bid for Stevenage.”

 

The following amendment was moved by Councillor Phil Bibby and seconded by Councillor Adam Mitchell:

 

·        2. Delete the words ‘To lobby the County Council, as transport authority’ and amend the remainder thus ‘To work with the County Council, as Transport Authority, and bus operators to ensure every area of Stevenage has a bus service.’

·        3. Delete entirely.

·        4. Re-number 3.

·        5. re-number 4. and add ‘In addition to this, we must acknowledge that car use is unlikely to reduce in the foreseeable future, so this Council should do all it can to ensure adequate residential parking in existing neighbourhoods, new neighbourhoods and new developments.’

·        6. Re-number 5. delete and replace with ‘To fully support the County Council’s and Arriva’s ZEBRA (Zero Emission Bus Regional Area) bid for Stevenage.”

 

Following debate, and upon being put to the vote, this amendment was lost.

 

During the debate upon the substantive motion, the mover and seconder accepted a minor revision suggested by a Member to remove the word “Arriva” from point 6 and replace it with “bus operators”.

 

Upon the substantive motion being put to the vote, it was therefore RESOLVED:

 

1.   To convene a bus summit with the bus operators to explore the opportunities and address the challenges of delivering better bus services

2.   To lobby the county council, as transport authority, to work with us and bus operators to ensure every area of Stevenage has a bus service

3.   To seek reassurance from the county council that there will be no further cuts to bus subsidies for Stevenage bus routes

4.   To explore with the county council better ways of providing up to date travel information to passengers

5.   To ensure we do all we can through the planning process to ensure bus routes are planned with new neighbourhoods and maximum use is made of CIL & Section 106 to incentivise bus use.

6.   To encourage the County Council as the Local Transport Authority and bus operators to continue to work with SBC concerning the ZEBRA (Zero Emission Bus Regional Area) bid for Stevenage.

 

Council Meetings

 

The motion detailed in the agenda for the meeting was moved by Councillor Phil Bibby and seconded by Councillor Adam Mitchell.

 

An amendment which had been circulated to Members on the supplementary agenda for the meeting was moved by Councillor Sharon Taylor and seconded by Councillor Mrs Joan Lloyd.  The mover and seconder of the original motion expressed support for this amendment.

 

Following debate, and upon being put to the vote, the amendment was carried.

 

Following further debate, and upon the substantive motion being put to the vote, it was RESOLVED:

 

That Council notes that in the interests of democracy, it is important to continue to encourage and allow all political parties represented in Council to table motions but, to ensure all Council meetings are conducted in a timely fashion, thus facilitating the continued attention and interest of both our members and the public, there is a need to limit the time spent in debate. This can be achieved by limiting the number of motions and the time allowed for both debate and individual speakers. 

 

Also, Council notes that the main debate has not taken place for some while, so could be regarded as no longer necessary. However, it is appreciated that members may benefit from presentations on matters of interest to the community, as appropriate and, therefore, we should provide for this in Standing Orders.

 

Council moves that the following amendments be made and to stand until a complete review of the Constitution has been undertaken and completed in 2022/23 and that in any case the following amendment be reviewed prior to the annual meeting in May 2023 to ensure the revised arrangements are satisfactory.

 

The Council therefore moves that Standing Orders be amended as follows:

 

15.  Motions subject to notice is amended to provide that each political group is permitted to submit one written motion for debate, within a seven working day period ending on the 3rd working day prior to publication of the agenda, at any ordinary meeting of the Council.

 

The revised standing order 15 to read:

 

15.      Motions subject to notice

 

a.     

Motions under Standing Order 7 can be moved without notice.

 

b.     

Each Political Group is permitted to submit one written motion for debate at any ordinary meeting of the Council.

 

c. 

Written notice of any other motion must be signed by the Member or Members giving the notice.

 

Notice must be delivered to the Constitutional Services Manager not earlier than 10 clear working days prior to the dispatch of the agenda for the Council meeting and not later than midday on the third clear working day prior to the despatch of the agenda for the Council meeting. 

 

Every motion must be about something for which the Council has a responsibility or which affects the Borough. 

 

d.     

If it appears to the Constitutional Services Manager that a motion of which he/she has received notice is not in order, or is framed in improper or unbecoming language, he/she shall take the direction of the Mayor as to whether and in what form it shall be placed on the agenda, and the decision of the Mayor, after consultation with the giver of the notice, shall be final.

 

e.     

A Member may only place one Notice of Motion on the agenda.

 

f.   

All motions for which notice has been given will be printed on the Council agenda in the order received unless a Member giving notice stated, in writing, that he/she proposed to move it at a later meeting or has since written to withdraw it.

 

g.     

Where a Motion relates to Council business i.e. is not Executive business or has been delegated by Council to another Committee, the matter will be considered at the meeting to which it has been submitted unless it has subsequently been withdrawn.

 

h.     

Where the Motion relates to Executive business or has been delegated to a Committee of the Council, any Member may, without notice, move a procedural motion to the effect that the motion detailed in the agenda is to be debated at the Council meeting.  Where such a procedural motion has been moved and seconded, that motion will be put to the Council without debate and with the support of a simple majority of those present determine that a motion, detailed in the agenda, be dealt with at the meeting at which it is proposed.

 

i.   

With no such procedural motion being carried, once the motion detailed in the agenda is moved and seconded, there shall be no debate and the Motion shall stand referred to the Leader, Executive or such Committee as appropriate for consideration and decision.

 

j.   

In the event of a motion detailed in the agenda being debated at the Council meeting (i.e. the relevant procedural motion has been carried) the normal rules of debate apply subject to the Leader, Chair of the appropriate Committee or relevant Executive Member (or her/his nominee) having the right of reply at the close of any debate, immediately before the mover of the motion.

 

k. 

Any motion submitted under this Standing Order to change the agreed Budget and Policy Framework of the Council may be approved in principle only and will stand referred to the Leader / Executive (and subsequently considered by the Scrutiny Overview Committee) who, after considering an officer report thereon, will submit a recommendation to the next Council meeting.

 

l.   

Any motion submitted under this Standing Order that relates to Executive business or may be approved in principle only and will stand referred to the Leader / Executive (and subsequently considered by the Scrutiny Overview Committee) who, after considering an officer report thereon.  The outcome of any such matter will be reported to next ordinary meeting of the Council.

 

m.   

Where a motion is referred to the Executive or a Committee, the Member moving it shall, if he/she is not a Member of that body, be entitled to attend the meeting to explain her/his motion.

 

n.     

The provisions of this Standing Order, where appropriate, apply to a Motion to remove the Leader from office.

 

And Standing Order 19 Rules of Debate is amended, as follows:

 

'Time limits for speakers during debates, unless otherwise stated elsewhere in the Standing Orders are as follows:

·                         ??Mover of a motion - six minutes

·                         ??Seconder of a motion - four minutes

·                         ??Leader of the Council - four minutes

·                         ??Leader of the Opposition - four minutes

·                         ??All other speakers - three minutes

·                         ??Right of reply - three minutes'

??A new point c (v) is added:

 

‘The time allowed to debate motions is a maximum of 1 and ½ hours (90 minutes). At the expiry of the 90 minutes allowed for debating written motions the Mayor shall end any debate in progress at that time (whether or not all motions have been debated) and move that the question now be put to the vote.

 

Any motion not debated within the 90 minute time limit will fall.’

 

The revised standing order to read:

 

c. 

Procedure

 

 

(i)     

Members must refer to one another in meetings by their correct title of ‘Councillor’.

 

 

(ii)   

A Member can only speak about the matter under discussion or on a point of order, or in personal explanation.

 

 

(iii)          

Time Limits for speakers during debates, unless otherwise stated elsewhere in these Standing Orders are as follows:

 

·         Mover of a motion – six minutes

·         Seconder of a motion – four minutes

·         Leader of the Council – four minutes

·         Leader of the Opposition – four minutes

·         All other speakers – three minutes

·         Right of reply – three minutes

 

 

(iv) 

A Member can only speak once on a motion except in the case of:

·       Speaking once on an amendment to the motion moved by another Member;

·       Moving a further amendment if the motion on which he/she last spoke has been amended;

·       If her/his first speech was on an amendment moved by another Member, he/she can then speak on the original issue, whether or not the amendment on which he/she first spoke was carried;

·       In exercise of a right of reply;

·       On a point of order; or

·       In personal explanation.

 

 

(v)   

The time allowed to debate motions is a maximum of 1 and ½ hours (90 minutes). At the expiry of the 90 minutes allowed for debating written motions the Mayor shall end any debate in progress at that time (whether or not all motions have been debated) and move that the question now be put to the vote.

 

Any motion not debated within the 90 minute time limit will fall.

 

The Council also moves that Standing Orders, 6 Council Meetings, is amended and 9. Main Debate is re-written, as follows:

 

Standing Order 6.b(viii) is amended to read:

 

To deal with any Community Presentation, as appropriate (Standing Order 9);

 

Standing Order 9 is replaced as follows:

 

9.    Community Presentation

At any ordinary meeting of the Council there may be a presentation on a matter of interest to the community (Community Presentation).

a.     

 

The subject of any Community Presentation must be agreed with the Chief Executive, and notice must be delivered to the Constitutional Services Manager, not later than midday on the tenth clear working day prior to the despatch of the agenda for the Council meeting.

 

b.     

 

The Council may receive a presentation, relevant to the subject matter of the debate may be, from a Councillor, officer and or other invited person(s). 

 

(i)

If the presentation is from a Councillor or officer, it should last no longer than 10 minutes. 

 

(ii)

If another person or persons are making the presentation it should last no longer than 20 minutes. 

 

(iii)

Collectively no Community Presentation should last longer than 30 minutes.

 

c.     

 

At the Mayor’s discretion Councillors and members of the public may ask questions of those providing the, or comment on the content of the, presentation subject to a maximum time allowance for questions of 20 minutes.

 

d.     

 

No Councillor or member of the public is permitted to speak for more than three minutes.

 

e.     

 

No debate or vote will take place on the content of the presentation (not being a motion before Council).

 

f.      

 

The presentation is not subject to any other rules of debate as provided for within this Constitution.”

 

Housing and Direct Services Departments

 

Councillor Stephen Booth moved and Councillor Robin Parker seconded the following motion:

 

That this Council calls for a thorough review of the housing and direct services departments to focus particularly on:

(a)       Improving the response to tenants requesting attention to repairs and other property problems.

(b)       Ensuring that all incoming calls are dealt with promptly, are recorded and tenants do not have to wait longer than 30 minutes maximum during normal working hours to speak to someone. Where this is impossible, a proper call-back system to tenants is initiated.

(c)        Maintaining a detailed register of outstanding housing maintenance works and reporting same to councillors on a weekly basis.

(d)       Ensuring that tenants are properly informed by phone, text or email when access to their properties is needed for work and visiting times are agreed.

(e)       Compensating tenants when council trade persons fail to turn up for previously agreed appointments.

(f)         Ensuring that councillors are kept informed of the initiation and progress of refurbishment and upgrade programmes, especially in the wards they represent.?”

 

The following amendment was moved by Councillor Phil Bibby and seconded by Councillor Wendy Kerby:

 

(e) add after ‘tenants’, delete ‘when Council’ and replace with ‘by the contractor, if employed, or Council, if own staff used, when’”

 

Following debate, and upon being put to the vote, this amendment was lost.

 

Following further debate, and upon it being put to the vote, the substantive motion was lost.

 

Communications

 

Councillor Stephen Booth moved and Councillor Robin Parker seconded the following motion:

 

Calls upon Council to properly manage its Communications & Media unit and those responsible for the publication of Stevenage Chronicle and other publications from time to time issued by the Council; particularly to ensure:

(a)    That the Code of Recommended Practice on Local Authority Publicity published by the Department for Communities Local Government is properly observed.

(b)    Editorial oversight is under the control of an Assistant Director.

(c)    There is close attention to detail and checking of dates and other facts.

(d)    That any featured events are to take place at least 14 days ahead of general publication and circulation.

(e)    An editorial schedule of contents is published for circulation to councillors.

(f)     A schedule of dates for potential contributors including copy dates, proofing and to press is published.

(g)    That there is a balance of editorial material between wards and council groups without party political favour.

(h)    That photos are relevant and correctly captioned.”

 

Following debate, and upon being out to the vote, this motion was lost.

 

Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Policy

 

Councillor Robin Parker moved and Councillor Stephen Booth seconded the following motion:

 

“That this Council commits to considering and in due course implementing a ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) policy to apply to the Council’s financial investment counterparties.”

 

Following debate, and upon being out to the vote, this motion was lost.

Supporting documents: