To debate any motions which have been submitted with advance notice, in accordance with the Council’s Procedure Rules.
Motion 1
Proposed by Cllr. Rufia Ashraf
Seconded by Cllr. Bob Purser
This Council notes:
· That analysis of the 2019 Local Election results by the Fawcett Society found that only 35% of councillors in England are women, up 1% since 2018. Of the seats that were up for election in 2018, 38% went to women, up just 3 percentage points on 2014 when these seats were last contested;
· As of October 2020, 27 councils have passed the LGA Labour Group’s Parental Leave policy, and an additional 9 councils have their own parental leave policy in place;
· That the role of a councillor should be open to all, regardless of their background, and that introducing a parental leave policy is a step towards encouraging a wider range of people to become councillors, and is also a step to encourage existing councillors who may want to start a family to remain as councillors;
· That parental leave must apply to parents regardless of their gender, and that it should also cover adoption leave to support those parents who choose to adopt.
This Council resolves:
· To adopt the parental leave policy drafted by the LGA Labour Group’s Women’s Taskforce to give all councillors an entitlement to parental leave after giving birth or adopting;
· To ensure that councillors with children and other caring commitments are supported as appropriate;
· To notify the LGA that this council has passed a motion at full council to adopt the parental leave policy.
Motion 2
Proposed by: Cllr Julie Davenport
Seconded by: Cllr Dennis Meredith
This council understands the huge negative impact that the coronavirus pandemic has had on local businesses and in particular the Town Centre retail and hospitality sectors.
West Northamptonshire Council aims to support its local businesses. Our residents and council ask the executive to investigate the options, including free car parking, for car parking in all council owned car parks and to continue looking at other initiatives to improve and stimulate our town centres.”
Motion 3
Proposer: Cllr. Stone
Seconder: Cllr. Alwahabi
The Authority recognises the many challenges faced by care leavers. We have shown our commitment to them by taking away the burden of council tax for all care leavers until they reach the age of 25 years. We now commit to the provision of one year’s free broadband for all young people leaving care, for the first 12 months.
Motion 4
Proposer: Cllr. Alwahabi
Seconder: Cllr. Haque
WNC is a new authority and committed to change and transformation where it will benefit our most vulnerable residents. The Pandemic has highlighted the need for more IT resources for children living in disadvantaged circumstances. WNC commits to recycling all unwanted IT devices and handing them over to a local charity for refurbishment and redistribution for West Northants children, young people, and care leavers.
Motion 5
Proposed by: Cllr Gareth Eales
Seconded by: Cllr Janice Duffy
West Northants Council believes planning works best when developers and the local community work together to shape local areas and deliver necessary new homes; and therefore calls on the Government to protect the right of communities to object to individual planning application.
Motion 6
Proposed by: Cllr Bob Purser
Seconded by: Cllr Cathrine Russell
In the light of continuing concern by local residents on the growth of HiMOs, and their impact on local communities, West Northants Council will set up a review of the criteria for approval and report back by April 2022.
Motion 7
Proposed by: Cllr Jonathan Harris
Seconded by: Cllr Sally Beardsworth
The White Ribbon campaign is at the forefront of campaigning to both end domestic violence and change attitudes to ensure that not only the act but any and all attitudes that condone domestic violence are eradicated.
This Council Meeting notes that
· ONS figures show that almost one in three women aged 16-59 will experience domestic abuse in their lifetime; that two women a week in England and Wales are killed by a current or former partner; that over half a million women are raped or sexually assaulted each year and that a YouGov poll shows that a third of girls have experienced sexual harassment in schools.
· the global pandemic has led to more women and girls being vulnerable to domestic abuse and, according to a BBC news report last July, the initial three months of the first national lockdown saw an 80% increase in calls to the National Domestic Abuse Hotline.
· that, according to crime-survey and other government data, victims disproportionately come from those groups which already experience inequality and additional challenges in our society, including those who are mixed-race, have disabilities, or are transgender.
· and, as we reflect on the end of the delayed EUFA Euro 2020 tournament, previous research by Lancaster University showed that reported domestic abuse incidents increase whenever any of the home nations play in a major tournament, and the effect is particularly large on the days when those teams lose.
This Council Meeting further notes that
· White Ribbon UK is the leading charity with a mission to end male violence against women and part of the global White Ribbon movement which arose from a campaign started by men in Canada in 2004
· White Ribbon Day is marked annually on 25th November, the International Day for the Eradication of Violence Against Women, by encouraging men and boys to pledge never to take part in, condone or stay silent about violence against women and to make this public by wearing a white ribbon on the day and a week or two afterwards
· White Ribbon UK operate a system of female Champions, male Ambassadors and Youth Advocates, as well as having specific materials to support primary and secondary schools, all with the aim of encouraging men to take the pledge and help to eradicate male violence against women.
This Council Meeting believes male violence against women can never be condoned and West Northamptonshire Council should do everything in its power to ensure women are safe. As part of this, the council should facilitate and encourage participation by councillors, staff and schools in the White Ribbon Campaign.
This West Northamptonshire Council therefore resolves to
· encourage all male Councillors to take the White Ribbon pledge, never to take part in, condone or stay silent about violence against women.
· undertake as soon as practicable the steps necessary to achieve White Ribbon accreditation, joining the large number of public sector bodies which have already done so and as part of this, appoint a male Councillor as an Ambassador;
· mark White Ribbon Day on 25th November each year with a fundraising event; and encourage participation among council staff and local primary and secondary schools.
· liaise with the Police and Crime Commissioners office to understand better the issues that exist in West Northamptonshire and if necessary, establish a cross-party working group to develop a strategy to build awareness of the International Day for the Eradication of Violence Against Women.
Motion 8
Proposed by: Cllr Dennis Meredith
Seconded by: Cllr Sally Beardsworth
Fraser Park is an area that is cherished by local residents who say it is one of the few safe outdoor spaces they have. This area has also recently been identified as one of the five ‘left behind’ areas in Northamptonshire. According to these findings, these communities are likely to experience a range of adverse outcomes, according to evidence presented to the APPG. This includes lower levels of educational attainment, reduced employment opportunities and a higher rate of ill health.
‘Left behind’ neighbourhoods are also noted as having lower levels of community spaces, cultural, educational, leisure and green assets than other deprived areas. It would seem entirely illogical to even consider allowing development on such an open space given these factors.
The proposal to build 125 affordable homes on the site put forward by Northamptonshire Partnership Homes (NPH) comes at a time when the importance of such open spaces for residents, especially those in urban areas, has grown in its relevance and significance as a result of our experience during the COVID pandemic. Whilst this proposal was included as part of the Northampton Borough Council local plan, which was supported Pre-COVID, circumstances have changed and the significance of maintaining these types of spaces for both leisure and environmental reasons has grown significantly.
The Conservative manifesto for the West Northants election clearly states “Parks and other green spaces are much valued by residents as a vitally important amenity. We will continue to maintain them to a high standard…..” and the West Northants Corporate plan states that the council will “Maintain our parks and green spaces to a high standard and make them an amenity for all”. Building on this green space breaks these promises.
This council notes that, whilst there is no doubt a need for additional social housing, it is equally important to protect and preserve green spaces for residents especially in urban settings.
West Northamptonshire council therefore resolves to:
· Review the decision to build on Fraser Park.
· Actively explore alternative brown field locations for the 125 proposed homes.
· Form a task and finish group to include all elected West Northamptonshire council members representing the area, local community groups, members of Northampton Town Council, actively supported by council officers to develop a local business plan with the community to identify and implement an action plan.
· Develop a four-year investment plan for the area.
Motion 9
Proposed by: Cllr Emma Roberts
Seconded by: Cllr Wendy Randall
This Council is committed to an anti-poverty strategy by understanding impacts and taking real action to lift people out of poverty. It also believes that the Government should stop the planned cut in Universal Credit and Working Tax Credit. Over 19,000 people receive Universal Credit in Northampton alone - in nearly 24% of all families in the area. This is the eighth highest number in the whole of the East Midlands.
This Council notes figures from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, which show that 6.2 million families across the UK will feel a £1,040 hit to their yearly incomes almost overnight and 500,000 people – among whom 200,000 are children – are at real risk of falling into poverty and deprivation.
This Council therefore RESOLVES to join charities, local support groups and residents in writing to the Government expressing its deep concern and calling for Government to make the £20 uplift to Universal Credit permanent and extend it to legacy benefits, in light of the overwhelming evidence of the negative impact this will otherwise have on many within the authority’s area
Minutes:
Motion 1
Councillor Ashraf proposed and Councillor Purser seconded:
“This Council notes:
· That analysis of the 2019 Local Election results by the Fawcett Society found that only 35% of councillors in England are women, up 1% since 2018. Of the seats that were up for election in 2018, 38% went to women, up just 3 percentage points on 2014 when these seats were last contested;
· As of October 2020, 27 councils have passed the LGA Labour Group’s Parental Leave policy, and an additional 9 councils have their own parental leave policy in place;
· That the role of a councillor should be open to all, regardless of their background, and that introducing a parental leave policy is a step towards encouraging a wider range of people to become councillors, and is also a step to encourage existing councillors who may want to start a family to remain as councillors;
· That parental leave must apply to parents regardless of their gender, and that it should also cover adoption leave to support those parents who choose to adopt.
This Council resolves:
· To adopt the parental leave policy drafted by the LGA Labour Group’s Women’s Taskforce to give all councillors an entitlement to parental leave after giving birth or adopting;
· To ensure that councillors with children and other caring commitments are supported as appropriate;
· To notify the LGA that this council has passed a motion at full council to adopt the parental leave policy.
Councillor Hallam proposed and Councillor Chauhan seconded an amendment.
Amended motion to read:
“This Council notes:
· That analysis of the 2019 Local Election results by the Fawcett Society found that only 35% of councillors in England are women, up 1% since 2018. Of the seats that were up for election in 2018, 38% went to women, up just 3 percentage points on 2014 when these seats were last contested;
· As of October 2020, 27 councils have passed the LGA Labour Group’s Parental Leave policy, and an additional 9 councils have their own parental leave policy in place;
· That the role of a councillor should be open to all, regardless of their background, and that introducing a parental leave policy is a step towards encouraging a wider range of people to become councillors, and is also a step to encourage existing councillors who may want to start a family to remain as councillors;
· That parental leave must apply to parents regardless of their gender, and that it should also cover adoption leave to support those parents who choose to adopt.
This Council resolves:
· To adopt a parental leave policy to give all councillors an entitlement to parental leave after giving birth or adopting;
· To ensure that councillors with children and other caring commitments are supported as appropriate;
· To notify the LGA that this council has passed a motion at full council to develop a parental leave policy.
Council debated the amendment.
Upon a vote, the amendment was agreed and became the substantive motion.
Council debated the substantive motion.
Upon a vote, the motion was Carried.
Motion 2
This motion was withdrawn from the agenda prior to the meeting.
Motion 3
Councillor Stone proposed and Councillor Alwahabi seconded:
“The Authority recognises the many challenges faced by care leavers. We have shown our commitment to them by taking away the burden of council tax for all care leavers until they reach the age of 25 years. We now commit to the provision of one year’s free broadband for all young people leaving care, for the first 12 months.”
Council debated the motion.
Councillor Baker proposed that the motion be referred to the People Overview & Scrutiny Committee for review.
Councillor Brown seconded the proposition.
Upon a vote, the proposition to refer the motion to the People Overview & Scrutiny Committee was Carried.
Motion 4
Councillor Alwahabi proposed and Councillor Haque seconded:
“WNC is a new authority and committed to change and transformation where it will benefit our most vulnerable residents. The Pandemic has highlighted the need for more IT resources for children living in disadvantaged circumstances. WNC commits to recycling all unwanted IT devices and handing them over to a local charity for refurbishment and redistribution for West Northants children, young people, and care leavers.”
Councillor Hallam proposed and councillor Sturges-Alex seconded an amendment.
Amended motion to read:
“WNC is a new authority and committed to change and transformation where it will benefit our most vulnerable residents. The COVID-19 Pandemic has highlighted the need for more IT resources for children living in disadvantaged circumstances. WNC commits to recycling all unwanted IT devices where due consideration has been given to the Council’s Lifecycle Management plan and where these can properly have personal data and software licenses wiped, making use of appropriate local charities for refurbishment and redistribution for West Northants children, young people, and care leavers.”
Council debated the amendment.
Upon a vote, the amendment was agreed and became the substantive motion.
Council debated the substantive motion.
Upon a vote, the motion was Carried.
Motion 9
Councillor E Roberts proposed and Councillor Randall seconded:
This Council is committed to an anti-poverty strategy by understanding impacts and taking real action to lift people out of poverty. It also believes that the Government should stop the planned cut in Universal Credit and Working Tax Credit. Over 19,000 people receive Universal Credit in Northampton alone - in nearly 24% of all families in the area. This is the eighth highest number in the whole of the East Midlands.
This Council notes figures from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, which show that 6.2 million families across the UK will feel a £1,040 hit to their yearly incomes almost overnight and 500,000 people – among whom 200,000 are children – are at real risk of falling into poverty and deprivation.
This Council therefore RESOLVES to join charities, local support groups and
residents in writing to the Government expressing its deep concern and calling for Government to make the £20 uplift to Universal Credit permanent and extend it to legacy benefits, in light of the overwhelming evidence of the negative impact this will otherwise have on many within the authority’s area
Council debated the motion.
Upon a vote, the motion was Carried.
Motion 6
Councillor Purser proposed and Councillor Russell seconded:
“In the light of continuing concern by local residents on the growth of HiMOs, and their impact on local communities, West Northants Council will set up a review of the criteria for approval and report back by April 2022.”
Council debated the motion.
Upon a vote, the motion was Carried.
Motion 7
Councillor Harris proposed and Councillor Beardsworth seconded:
“The White Ribbon campaign is at the forefront of campaigning to both end domestic violence and change attitudes to ensure that not only the act but any and all attitudes that condone domestic violence are eradicated.
This Council Meeting notes that
· ONS figures show that almost one in three women aged 16-59 will experience domestic abuse in their lifetime; that two women a week in England and Wales are killed by a current or former partner; that over half a million women are raped or sexually assaulted each year and that a YouGov poll shows that a third of girls have experienced sexual harassment in schools.
· the global pandemic has led to more women and girls being vulnerable to domestic abuse and, according to a BBC news report last July, the initial three months of the first national lockdown saw an 80% increase in calls to the National Domestic Abuse Hotline.
· that, according to crime-survey and other government data, victims disproportionately come from those groups which already experience inequality and additional challenges in our society, including those who are mixed-race, have disabilities, or are transgender.
· and, as we reflect on the end of the delayed EUFA Euro 2020 tournament, previous research by Lancaster University showed that reported domestic abuse incidents increase whenever any of the home nations play in a major tournament, and the effect is particularly large on the days when those teams lose.This Council Meeting further notes that
· White Ribbon UK is the leading charity with a mission to end male violence against women and part of the global White Ribbon movement which arose from a campaign started by men in Canada in 2004
· White Ribbon Day is marked annually on 25th November, the International Day for the Eradication of Violence Against Women, by encouraging men and boys to pledge never to take part in, condone or stay silent about violence against women and to make this public by wearing a white ribbon on the day and a week or two afterwards
· White Ribbon UK operate a system of female Champions, male Ambassadors and Youth Advocates, as well as having specific materials to support primary and secondary schools, all with the aim of encouraging men to take the pledge and help to eradicate male violence against women.
This Council Meeting believes male violence against women can never be condoned and West Northamptonshire Council should do everything in its power to ensure women are safe. As part of this, the council should facilitate and encourage participation by councillors, staff and schools in the White Ribbon Campaign.
This West Northamptonshire Council therefore resolves to
· encourage all male Councillors to take the White Ribbon pledge, never to take part in, condone or stay silent about violence against women.
· undertake as soon as practicable the steps necessary to achieve White Ribbon accreditation, joining the large number of public sector bodies which have already done so and as part of this, appoint a male Councillor as an Ambassador;
· mark White Ribbon Day on 25th November each year with a fundraising event; and encourage participation among council staff and local primary and secondary schools.
· liaise with the Police and Crime Commissioners office to understand better the issues that exist in West Northamptonshire and if necessary, establish a cross-party working group to develop a strategy to build awareness of the International Day for the Eradication of Violence Against Women.
Council debated the motion.
Upon a vote, the motion Fell.
Motion 8
Councillor Beardsworth proposed and Councillor Humphreys seconded:
“Fraser Park is an area that is cherished by local residents who say it is one of the few safe outdoor spaces they have. This area has also recently been identified as one of the five ‘left behind’ areas in Northamptonshire. According to these findings, these communities are likely to experience a range of adverse outcomes, according to evidence presented to the APPG. This includes lower levels of educational attainment, reduced employment opportunities and a higher rate of ill health.
‘Left behind’ neighbourhoods are also noted as having lower levels of community spaces, cultural, educational, leisure and green assets than other deprived areas. It would seem entirely illogical to even consider allowing development on such an openspace given these factors.
The proposal to build 125 affordable homes on the site put forward by
Northamptonshire Partnership Homes (NPH) comes at a time when the importance of such open spaces for residents, especially those in urban areas, has grown in itsrelevance and significance as a result of our experience during the COVID pandemic.
Whilst this proposal was included as part of the Northampton Borough Council local plan, which was supported Pre-COVID, circumstances have changed and the significance of maintaining these types of spaces for both leisure and environmental reasons has grown significantly.
The Conservative manifesto for the West Northants election clearly states “Parks and other green spaces are much valued by residents as a vitally important amenity. We will continue to maintain them to a high standard…..” and the West Northants Corporate plan states that the council will “Maintain our parks and green spaces to a high standard and make them an amenity for all”. Building on this green space breaks these promises.
This council notes that, whilst there is no doubt a need for additional social housing, it is equally important to protect and preserve green spaces for residents especially in urban settings.
West Northamptonshire council therefore resolves to:
· Review the decision to build on Fraser Park.
· Actively explore alternative brown field locations for the 125 proposed homes.
· Form a task and finish group to include all elected West Northamptonshire council members representing the area, local community groups, members of Northampton Town Council, actively supported by council officers to develop a local business plan with the community to identify and implement an action plan.
· Develop a four-year investment plan for the area.
Council debated the motion.
Upon a vote, the motion Fell.
Motion 5
Councillor G Eales proposed and Councillor Duffy seconded:
“West Northants Council believes planning works best when developers and the local community work together to shape local areas and deliver necessary new homes; and therefore calls on the Government to protect the right of communities to object to individual planning application.”
Councillor Harris proposed and Councillor Humphreys seconded an amendment.
Amended motion to read:
“West Northants Council believes planning works best when developers and the local community work together to shape local areas and deliver necessary new homes; this council therefore will communicate with Government by writing to relevant Government ministers to ensure that the rights of communities and individuals are protected regarding objections to planning applications.”
Council debated the amendment.
Upon a vote, the amendment was agreed and became the substantive motion.
Council debated the substantive motion.
Upon a vote, the motion was Carried.