In accordance with Standing Orders, the following motions have been received for consideration:
(i) Government Use of Hotels as Hostels
To be moved by the Labour Group.
“We are proud of our town, how we support one another in our community, and support those who are vulnerable and in need. We have played our part in welcoming and supporting refugees from Syria, Afghanistan and Ukraine in recent years, but the current actions of the Home Office, placing large numbers of asylum seekers in a Stevenage hotel against the advice of all local partners is unacceptable. It puts extraordinary pressures on local resources and is a completely unsuitable location for vulnerable individuals leading to real humanitarian issues.
We recognise that there is a national challenge
for the Home Office, which all parts of our country need to tackle
alongside international partners. But having
failed to deal with this issue for 12 years, it is absolutely vital
that Government recognise they must work together with local
partners and communities rather than against local advice and often
with little or no notice to the areas concerned.
We have made clear to the Home Office that using the Novotel as accommodation to temporarily house asylum seekers is not appropriate and that we could not support this location being used. It is isolated and with poor transport links, impacts on our local economy by losing space for business visitors, impacts on the events and activities in Knebworth House and Gardens, has disrupted local peoples wedding & event plans in addition to creating great pressure on public services.
Local services, from the hospital to healthcare, to Council and police services are already under great strain. Having a large-scale facility brought into use in Stevenage in short order makes these challenges even more difficult for our community.
Along with all Councils in Hertfordshire, we have written to the Minister given our deep concerns over the lack of consultation on the Home Office use of hotels across the county, choice of highly unsuitable sites, and pressures on vital services and our communities. We have asked for an urgent meeting with the Home Secretary to make the strength of local views absolutely clear. Locally we have requested that the Home Secretary or her representative visit the Novotel with us to see how unsuitable it is to be used for this purpose.
That this Council calls upon the government to:
1. Carry out an urgent review of the policy of using hotels to accommodate asylum seekers and refugees
2. Introduce a formal process of consultation with local partners on the suitability or unsuitability of accommodation which is being considered locally by the Home Office contractors
3. Ensure that consultation is carried out in good time for responses to be carefully considered and for local concerns to be taken into account
4. Work with local government to develop more sustainable options for housing asylum seekers and refugees including the use of MOD land, modular buildings and develop these along with support packages for the needs of asylum seekers and refugees
5. Ensure that local infrastructure is available to support the needs of asylum seekers and refugees before accommodation is designated
6. Carry out an urgent review of the asylum seeker application process so that applicants are not kept waiting for decisions.
7. That government respond to the concerns of local authorities recognising that the use of hotels as hostels is incurring expenses for local tax payers where Councils are seeking to challenge the change of use under planning law.”
(ii) Police and Community Safety in Hertfordshire
To be moved by Councillor Phil Bibby CC and seconded by Councillor Bret Facey.
“Stevenage Borough Council notes the recent reforms and improvements to the police across England and Wales since 2019. This Council is grateful for the 184 more police officers in Hertfordshire, as a part of the over 15,300 more police officers in England and Wales recruited since 2019 and calls on the government to continue its drive to have recruited an extra 20,000 police officers by 2023.
That this Council notes:
· The change to national policy that will see every report of home burglary having a police visit, ensuring that every victim of such an invasive crime will be given the attention they deserve
· Resident’s concern about the impact that illegal and disruptive protests have had on our country in recent years
· That the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act has strengthened the power that police have tackling such action
· The further positive impacts of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act on dealing with sexual offences, including extending the scope of the offences in the Sexual Offences Act 2003, providing greater powers for the management of sex offenders and toughening around child sex offences
· The substantial increase of police funding to £16.9 billion, part of which will be used to give every police officer a £1,900 uplift in their salary this year
That this Council resolves to:
· Co-operate with the government on future funding for our local police service
· Support officers new to Stevenage through providing forums for them to meet with residents
· Provide resources for residents to assist with keeping in contact with new police officers in our neighbourhoods”
(iii) BBC Local Radio Services
To be moved by the Liberal Democrat Group.
“That this Council notes with great concern the proposed funding cuts and consequent re-organisation of BBC local radio services.
We believe that the changes will impact very badly upon:
- local democracy;
- the accountability of councils and others;
- local information and support for residents.
The detrimental effects on Stevenage and more widely will not be compensated by any tiny savings made.
That this Council therefore resolves to:
(a) Hereby publicly assert our opposition to the cuts.
(b) Send a copy of this motion to:
Tim Davie CBE, BBC Director General
Jason Horton, Acting Director for BBC Local
The Stevenage MP
The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
The Prime Minister and the leaders of the other parliamentary parties
and ask for their support in stopping this destruction of our BBC local radio services.”
Decision:
(i) Government Use of Hotels as Hostels
Councillor Sharon Taylor moved and Councillor Sandra Barr seconded the following motion:
We are proud of our town, how we support one another in our community, and support those who are vulnerable and in need. We have played our part in welcoming and supporting refugees from Syria, Afghanistan and Ukraine in recent years, but the current actions of the Home Office, placing large numbers of asylum seekers in a Stevenage hotel against the advice of all local partners is unacceptable. It puts extraordinary pressures on local resources and is a completely unsuitable location for vulnerable individuals leading to real humanitarian issues.
We recognise that there is a national challenge
for the Home Office, which all parts of our country need to tackle
alongside international partners. But having
failed to deal with this issue for 12 years, it is absolutely vital that Government recognise they must
work together with local partners and communities rather than
against local advice and often with little or no notice to the
areas concerned.
We have made clear to the Home Office that using the Novotel as accommodation to temporarily house asylum seekers is not appropriate and that we could not support this location being used. It is isolated and with poor transport links, impacts on our local economy by losing space for business visitors, impacts on the events and activities in Knebworth House and Gardens, has disrupted local peoples wedding & event plans in addition to creating great pressure on public services.
Local services, from the hospital to healthcare, to Council and police services are already under great strain. Having a large-scale facility brought into use in Stevenage in short order makes these challenges even more difficult for our community.
Along with all Councils in Hertfordshire, we have written to the Minister given our deep concerns over the lack of consultation on the Home Office use of hotels across the county, choice of highly unsuitable sites, and pressures on vital services and our communities. We have asked for an urgent meeting with the Home Secretary to make the strength of local views absolutely clear. Locally we have requested that the Home Secretary or her representative visit the Novotel with us to see how unsuitable it is to be used for this purpose.
That this Council calls upon the government to:
1. Carry out an urgent review of the policy of using hotels to accommodate asylum seekers and refugees
2. Introduce a formal process of consultation with local partners on the suitability or unsuitability of accommodation which is being considered locally by the Home Office contractors
3. Ensure that consultation is carried out in good time for responses to be carefully considered and for local concerns to be taken into account
4. Work with local government to develop more sustainable options for housing asylum seekers and refugees including the use of MOD land, modular buildings and develop these along with support packages for the needs of asylum seekers and refugees
5. Ensure that local infrastructure is available to support the needs of asylum seekers and refugees before accommodation is designated
6. Carry out an urgent review of the asylum seeker application process so that applicants are not kept waiting for decisions.
7. That government respond to the concerns of local authorities recognising that the use of hotels as hostels is incurring expenses for local tax payers where Councils are seeking to challenge the change of use under planning law.
Following debate and upon being put to the vote, the motion was unanimously carried.
(ii) Police and Community Safety in Hertfordshire
Councillor Phil Bibby CC moved and Councillor Bret Facey seconded the following motion:
Stevenage Borough Council notes the recent reforms and improvements to the police across England and Wales since 2019. This Council is grateful for the 184 more police officers in Hertfordshire, as a part of the over 15,300 more police officers in England and Wales recruited since 2019 and calls on the government to continue its drive to have recruited an extra 20,000 police officers by 2023.
This Council notes:
· The change to national policy that will see every report of home burglary having a police visit, ensuring that every victim of such an invasive crime will be given the attention they deserve
· Resident’s concern about the impact that illegal and disruptive protests have had on our country in recent years
· That the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act has strengthened the power that police have tackling such action
· The further positive impacts of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act on dealing with sexual offences, including extending the scope of the offences in the Sexual Offences Act 2003, providing greater powers for the management of sex offenders and toughening around child sex offences
· The substantial increase of police funding to £16.9 billion, part of which will be used to give every police officer a £1,900 uplift in their salary this year
This Council resolves to:
· Co-operate with the government on future funding for our local police service
· Support officers new to Stevenage through providing forums for them to meet with residents
· Provide resources for residents to assist with keeping in contact with new police officers in our neighbourhoods
Following debate and upon being put to the vote, the motion was lost.
(iii) BBC Local Radio Services
Councillor Robin Parker CC moved and Councillor Stephen Booth seconded the following motion:
That this Council notes with great concern the proposed funding cuts and consequent re-organisation of BBC local radio services.
We believe that the changes will impact very badly upon:
- local democracy;
- the accountability of councils and others;
- local information and support for residents.
The detrimental effects on Stevenage and more widely will not be compensated by any tiny savings made.
That this Council therefore resolves to:
(a) Hereby publicly assert our opposition to the cuts.
(b) Send a copy of this motion to:
Tim Davie CBE, BBC Director General
Jason Horton, Acting Director for BBC Local
The Stevenage MP
The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
The Prime Minister and the leaders of the other parliamentary parties
and ask for their support in stopping this destruction of our BBC local radio services.
Following debate, and upon being put to the vote, the motion was unanimously carried.