To debate any motions which have been submitted with advance notice, in accordance with the Council’s Procedure Rules.
Motion 1 (Labour)
Proposed by Cllr. Emma Roberts
Seconded by Cllr. Winston Strachan
“This Council welcomes the work of the Fair Trade Foundation to encourage the use of fair trade goods, and notes that the Council, as an important consumer and opinion leader, should research, develop and support a strategy to facilitate fair trade where appropriate as part of its commitment to work in pursuit of a sustainable West Northamptonshire.
It, therefore, resolves:-
1. to promote awareness of fair trade issues and the opportunities for supporting fair trade in the area;
2. to make publicity and educational information available to local people concerning the worldwide impact of unfair trade and the opportunities that fair trade provides for sustainable development;
3. to make the Council’s employees, the public and local businesses aware of the Council’s resolution on fair trade;
4. to encourage the use of fair trade goods, for example, products carrying Fair Trade mark and products in vending machines/shops within council buildings;
5. to request the Council’s venues to stock fair trade products in addition to other brands;
6. to integrate fair trade considerations into the Council’s Environment Plan in support of the Council’s corporate objective to improve the environment;
7. For West Northamptonshire Communities to seek to become Fair Trade Communities by applying for Fair Trade Status;
8. to nominate an officer to work on implementing the resolution; and
9. to report annually on progress made with implementing this resolution.”
Motion 2 (Labour)
Proposed by Cllr. Zoe Smith
Seconded by Cllr. Wendy Randall
“Our young people have been badly impacted by a historic lack of youth service provision, the increasing erosion of community, the activity of county lines, the disruption to schooling caused by the pandemic, and the increase in family poverty.
WNC is committed to working with our youth and listening to the youth voice.
We need to engage with young people across all three WNC districts and work with them to develop a strategy for youth.”
Motion 3 (Liberal Democrat)
Proposed: Cllr Rosie Humphreys
Seconded: Cllr Jonathan Harris
Humans have already caused irreversible climate change, the impacts of which are being felt in the UK and around the world. The global temperature has already increased by 1.2°C above pre-industrial levels and the natural world has reached crisis point, with 28% of plants and animals currently threatened with extinction.
Unless we drastically change course, the world is set to exceed the Paris Agreement’s safe 1.5°C limit. Pledges such as the Paris Agreement and updated emissions targets are not legally-binding. The gap between pledges and policy leaves the world on course for catastrophic warming of near 3%.
As the 2018 report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) makes clear, every half a degree makes a world of difference: severe climate impacts with 1.5°C of warming—such as extreme weather patterns causing flooding and heat waves—get significantly worse at 2°C. According to the IPCC, limiting heating to 1.5°C may still be possible with ambitious action from national and sub-national authorities, civil society, the private sector and local communities.
In the latest IPCC report spells out in the strongest terms to date that the climate crisis is inseparable from the biodiversity crisis and the poverty and inequality suffered by billions of people. The report has been described as ‘brutal’ by Laurence Tubiana one of the architects of the Paris Agreement, and he went on to say ‘there can be no more excuses’ [for inaction].
The UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world and more than one in seven of our plants and animals face extinction—and more than 40% are in decline. We have lost 95% of our hedgehogs. The UK needs a legally-enforceable nature target so that, by 2030, nature is visibly and measurably on the path of recovery, in line with the Global Goal for Nature and the Leaders’ Pledge for Nature.
West Northamptonshire Council notes that:
1. Many local authorities are already playing an important role in the UK taking action to achieve net zero carbon emissions—and to protect and revitalise local wildlife and natural habitats.
2. The UK Parliament, in May 2019, declared an Environment and Climate Emergency and this council declared a climate emergency in July 2021.
3. There is a Bill before the UK Parliament—the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill (published as the Climate and Ecology Bill)—which, if it becomes law, would require the UK Government to develop a UK-wide strategy to address the emergency that would ensure that:
· the ecological crisis is tackled shoulder to shoulder with the climate crisis via a joined-up approach;
· the Paris Agreement is enshrined into law to ensure that the UK does its real, fair share to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C;
· the Leaders’ Pledge for Nature is enshrined into law to ensure that the UK’s ecosystems are protected and restored with a focus on biodiversity, soils and natural carbon sinks;
· the UK takes full responsibility for our entire greenhouse gas footprint—i.e. consumption emissions plus shipping, aviation and land-based transport—by accounting for all of the emissions that take place overseas to manufacture, transport and dispose of the goods and services that we import and consume;
· the UK takes full responsibility for our ecological footprint so that we protect the health and resilience of ecosystems along both domestic and our global supply chains; and
· an independent, temporary Climate and Nature Assembly is set-up—representative of the UK nations’ populations—to engage with the UK Parliament and UK Government to help develop the emergency strategy.
The latest IPCC report is also crystal clear in stating that adapting to the climate crisis is as much a social problem as a scientific one. In an accompanying document the report’s authors say ‘targeting a climate resilient, sustainable world involves fundamental changes to how society functions, including changes to underlying values, world-views, ideologies, social structures, political and economic systems and power relationships. This may feel overwhelming at first, but the world is changing anyway – climate resilient development offers us ways to drive change to improve wellbeing for all.’
The end of this century is less than a lifetime away. A child born today would be 78 years old in 2100. So actions taken today will have a profound effect on the quality of our children’s lives.
Supporting this motion fully aligns to this council’s sustainability pathway and underpins a number of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and will therefore aid progress.
West Northamptonshire Council therefore resolves to:
1. Declare an ecological emergency.
2. Support the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill (CEE Bill);
3. Inform local press and media of this decision;
4. Write an open letter to all local MPs (Chris Heaton-Harris, Andrea Leadsom, Michael Ellis, Andrew Lewer), shared with our residents through local and social media, urging them to sign up to support the CEE Bill.
5. Write to Zero Hour (the CEE Bill Alliance) the organisers of the all-party campaign for the CEE Bill, expressing its support (joinus@ceebill.uk).
Motion 4 (Liberal Democrat)
Proposed by: Cllr Sally Beardsworth
Seconded by: Cllr Jonathan Harris
The invasion of Ukraine is an act of aggression by Putin, not by residents with Russian heritage living and working within West Northamptonshire.
In addition to the situation the Afghan refugees are facing, we are now faced with a further refugee crisis as a result of Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.
We note the ongoing challenge for Afghan refugees, not least that 200 refugees are still in hotel accommodation in Northamptonshire and still awaiting support to enable them to find work here. We also note the substantial numbers of refugees who arrive in West Northants as separated children. These issues must also be addressed.
In order to ensure focus, this motion asks for you to consider the support we provide to the Ukrainian refugees who are fleeing war and all its horrors. It does not downplay or ignore the challenges we must address for all those fleeing conflict, oppression or disaster.
This council notes:
1. Notes that over 4million Ukrainians have been forced to leave the country fleeing the conflict, and that those people who have remained in the country are facing a humanitarian crisis.
2. that we stand in solidarity with Ukraine and the Ukrainian people against Putin’s illegal invasion, we stand with their friends and relatives here in West Northamptonshire, as well as Russian citizens who are bravely protesting against the war despite the serious risk to their own lives and safety.
3. a vote of thanks to West Northamptonshire residents and organisations who have already made generous donations to support Ukrainian refugees, offered refuge as part of the Homes for Ukraine scheme or volunteered to help in any way that they can.
4. a wholehearted condemnation of the barbaric and illegal invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces. As a democratic chamber, we are appalled by what we have seen unfold over recent weeks and we support the Ukrainian people in their fight to maintain democracy and self-determination as a nation.
This council resolves to:
1. Set aside an emergency fund provision from general reserves of £300,000. These funds to be utilised in the event that the £10,500 per head allocated by Government proves to be insufficient. For indicative example these funds could be utilised to provide a refugee centre. This could provide a single point of reference and access to information and advice, access to services such as The Red Cross, Community Law and Citizen’s Advice Bureau along with the teaching of English.
A large number of refugees are in Northampton however, as refugees are welcomed across the whole of West Northants, there will be need for out-reach and transport to be provided. The Refugee Centre, with appropriate outreach, could
· provide English to young refugees to enable to them to fully integrate into the school system
· for adults with the right to remain, it could help them more effectively find jobs,
· provide teaching materials
· We could also look to keep libraries open longer to allow volunteer teachers to have a suitable teaching space.
2. Continue to Support Ukrainian refugees, working in collaboration with the local voluntary and community sector for those fleeing conflict and set up a volunteer register for those offering support of any kind.
3. Where we have vacancies in our caring services, we will look to recruit suitably qualified personnel from the refugee communities to assist in the provision of excellent services to incoming communities.
4. Write to our MPs (Chris Heaton-Harris, Andrew Leadsom, Michael Ellis and Andrew Lewer) and The Home Secretary to implore them to make changes to the visa requirement for the Homes For Ukraine system, which is embroiled in red tape, cumbersome and unjust for Ukrainian babies and children, and totally impractical.
Motion 5 (Conservative)
Proposed by: Cllr Fiona Baker
Seconded by: Cllr Daniel Lister
Children and young people with Cerebral Palsy face a fractured system of provision that does not always meet the standards and timelines of care needed to make a real difference to their lives.
Cerebral Palsy is a lifelong neurodisability affecting each person living with it differently. Early identification of the condition in childhood is essential to putting those with it in touch with the specific support they need. However, there is often a postcode lottery of services, meaning that tens of thousands, including potentially children in West Northants, do not have access to timely assistance in education and healthcare.
· The current UK incidence rate is around 1 in 400 births.
· Approximately 1,800 children are diagnosed with cerebral palsy every year.
· There are an estimated 30,000 children with cerebral palsy in the UK.
· There are more boys born with cerebral palsy than girls. For every 100 girls with cerebral palsy, there are 135 boys with cerebral palsy.
· Just under half of children with cerebral palsy were born prematurely (before 37 weeks gestation).
Over half of the parents who responded to a national survey conducted by Action Cerebral Palsy felt that education and therapy services were not working together in supporting their child. Meanwhile, almost 60% said that the Health, Education and Care Plan process was unsatisfactory for their child’s needs. Only 15% felt the process was ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’.
We recognise that the complex and varied needs of the Cerebral Palsy community require close working across several widely differing areas. There are many in the system who are striving to do their best for children and young people with Cerebral Palsy, but often lack contact with others involved in the process or an understanding of how Cerebral Palsy affects those they are care for.
West Northamptonshire Council notes that March was Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month and that we have an established relationship with Cerebral Palsy Northamptonshire however we recognises that many people living with Cerebral Palsy across England, including in West Northants, do not enjoy a common standard of access to services because of a postcode lottery.
West Northamptonshire Council notes that access to vital support services for children living Cerebral Palsy and their families is imperative to transforming their life chances.
The Council notes the recommendations of the Commons Education Select Committee’s report on SEND for including Cerebral Palsy specifically within that framework and commits to working with relevant bodies, including Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission to furthering this aim in West Northamptonshire.
The Council understands the important role it can play in improving the lives of children, young people and adults with Cerebral Palsy and therefore resolves to:
1. Promote the work of Action Cerebral Palsy, Cerebral Palsy Northamptonshire and third sector and independent providers delivering Cerebral Palsy support services in West Northamptonshire on the Councils website, social media and all other appropriate publications.
2. Complete a local needs assessment to better understand the support requirements of children, Young People and Adults with Cerebral Palsy, so to contribute to the West Northamptonshire Health and Wellbeing strategy
3. Commits to offering the Councils and Northamptonshire Children’s Trust staff training on Cerebral Palsy awareness.
4. Encourage health and education and social care workers in West Northants to take up training in this area.
Minutes:
Motion 1
Councillor Roberts proposed and Councillor Strachan seconded:
“This Council welcomes the work of the Fair-Trade Foundation to encourage the use of Fair Trade goods, and notes that the Council, as an important consumer and opinion leader, should research, develop and support a strategy to facilitate fair trade where appropriate as part of its commitment to work in pursuit of a sustainable West Northamptonshire.
It, therefore, resolves:-
1. to promote awareness of fair trade issues and the opportunities for supporting fair trade in the area;
2. to make publicity and educational information available to local people concerning the worldwide impact of unfair trade and the opportunities that fair trade provides for sustainable development;
3. to make the Council’s employees, the public and local businesses aware of the Council’s resolution on fair trade;
4. to encourage the use of fair trade goods, for example, products carrying Fair Trade mark and products in vending machines/shops within council buildings;
5. to request the Council’s venues to stock fair trade products in addition to other brands;
6. to integrate fair trade considerations into the Council’s Environment Plan in support of the Council’s corporate objective to improve the environment;
7. For West Northamptonshire Communities to seek to become Fair Trade Communities by applying for Fair Trade Status;
8. to nominate an officer to work on implementing the resolution; and
9. to report annually on progress made with implementing this resolution.”
Upon a vote, the motion fell.
Motion 2
An amendment to the motion was accepted by Councillor Z Smith.
Amended motion to read:
“We want the Council to support the work that we are undertaking currently, as well as, working through the process of setting up two more youth forums, one in South Northants and one in Daventry.? These will add to the youth forum in Northampton.? These three Forums will elect members to a Youth Parliament to attend West Northants Council meetings and feed into our work.? ?We have also started working on expanding youth activities across the District. ?
Previously, our young people had been badly impacted by a historic lack of youth service provision, the activity of county lines, the disruption to schooling caused by the pandemic.
WNC is committed to working with our youth and listening to the youth voice.
We will continue to engage with young people across all West Northants Council areas, and work with them to develop a strategy for youth."
Upon a vote, the amended motion was carried.
Motion 3
Councillor Humphreys accepted an amendment to the motion.
Amended motion to read:
“Humans have already caused irreversible climate change, the impacts of which are being felt in the UK and around the world. The global temperature has already increased by 1.2°C above pre-industrial levels and the natural world has reached crisis point, with 28% of plants and animals currently threatened with extinction. ?
Unless we drastically change course, the world is set to exceed the Paris Agreement’s safe 1.5°C limit. Pledges such as the Paris Agreement and updated emissions targets are not legally-binding. The gap between pledges and policy leaves the world on course for catastrophic warming of near 3%.
As the 2018 report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) makes clear, every half a degree makes a world of difference:? severe climate impacts with 1.5°C of warming—such as extreme weather patterns causing flooding and heat waves—get significantly worse at 2°C. According to the IPCC, limiting heating to 1.5°C may still be possible with ambitious action from national and sub-national authorities, civil society, the private sector and local communities.
In the latest IPCC report spells out in the strongest terms to date that the climate crisis is inseparable from the biodiversity crisis and the poverty and inequality suffered by billions of people.? The report has been described as ‘brutal’ by Laurence Tubiana one of the architects of the Paris Agreement, and he went on to say ‘there can be no more excuses’ [for inaction].
The UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world and more than one in seven of our plants and animals face extinction—and more than 40% are in decline.? We have lost 95% of our hedgehogs.? The UK needs a legally-enforceable nature target so that, by 2030, nature is visibly and measurably on the path of recovery, in line with the?Global Goal for Nature and the Leaders’ Pledge for Nature.
West Northamptonshire Council notes that:
1. Many local authorities are already playing an important role in the UK taking action to achieve net zero carbon emissions—and to protect and revitalise local wildlife and natural habitats.
2. The UK Parliament, in May 2019, declared an Environment and Climate Emergency and this council declared a climate emergency in July 2021.?
3. There is a Bill before the UK Parliament—the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill (published as the Climate and Ecology Bill)—which, if it becomes law, would require the UK Government to develop a UK-wide strategy to address the emergency that would ensure that:
· the ecological crisis is tackled shoulder to shoulder with the climate crisis via a joined-up approach;
· the Paris Agreement is enshrined into law to ensure that the UK does its real, fair share to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C;
· the Leaders’ Pledge for Nature is enshrined into law to ensure that the UK’s ecosystems are protected and restored with a focus on biodiversity, soils and natural carbon sinks;
· the UK takes full responsibility for our entire greenhouse gas footprint—i.e. consumption emissions plus shipping, aviation and land-based transport—by accounting for all of the emissions that take place overseas to manufacture, transport and dispose of the goods and services that we import and consume;
· the UK takes full responsibility for our ecological footprint so that we protect the health and resilience of ecosystems along both domestic and our global supply chains; and
· an independent, temporary Climate and Nature Assembly is set-up—representative of the UK nations’ populations—to engage with the UK Parliament and UK Government to help develop the emergency strategy.
4. That this Council can lead the way in implementing change and has a duty to do so.
The latest IPCC report is also crystal clear in stating that adapting to the climate crisis is as much a social problem as a scientific one.? In an accompanying document the report’s authors say ‘targeting a climate resilient, sustainable world involves fundamental changes to how society functions, including changes to underlying values, world-views, ideologies, social structures, political and economic systems and power relationships.? This may feel overwhelming at first, but the world is changing anyway – climate resilient development offers us ways to drive change to improve wellbeing for all.’
The end of this century is less than a lifetime away.? A child born today would be 78 years old in 2100.? So actions taken today will have a profound effect on the quality of our children’s lives. ?
Supporting this motion fully aligns to this council’s sustainability pathway and underpins the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and will therefore aid progress.
West Northamptonshire Council therefore resolves to:
1. Declare an ecological emergency.
2. Support the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill (CEE Bill);
3. Inform local press and media of this decision;
4. Write an open letter to all local MPs (Chris Heaton-Harris, Andrea Leadsom, Michael Ellis, Andrew Lewer), shared with our residents through local and social media, urging them to sign up to support the CEE Bill.
5. Write to Zero Hour (the CEE Bill Alliance) the organisers of the all-party campaign for the CEE Bill, expressing its support (joinus@ceebill.uk).
6. That all of the above are detailed as commitments as part of the Sustainability Strategy/Pathway.
7. That a report on the completion of actions forms part of the annual report to Council on progress or sooner if appropriate.
Upon a vote, the amended motion fell.
Motion 4
An amendment was accepted by Councillor Beardsworth.
Amended motion to read:
“The invasion of Ukraine is an act of aggression by Putin, not by residents with Russian heritage living and working within West Northamptonshire.
In addition to the situation the Afghan refugees are facing, we are now faced with a further refugee crisis as a result of Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.
Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine means that the refugee support in West Northamptonshire must be scaled up both in support of Ukrainian people, the refugees already here from Afghanistan but also those who are not currently part of any government scheme, where need is identified.? West Northamptonshire Council previously passed a motion to support becoming a place of sanctuary.
In order to ensure focus, this motion asks for you to consider the support we provide to the Ukrainian refugees who are fleeing war and all its horrors.? It does not downplay or ignore the challenges we must address for all those fleeing conflict, oppression or disaster.
This council notes:
1. That over 4 million Ukrainians have been forced to leave the country fleeing the conflict, and that those people who have remained in the country are facing a humanitarian crisis.
2. that we stand in solidarity with Ukraine and the Ukrainian people against Putin’s illegal invasion, we stand with their friends and relatives here in West Northamptonshire, as well as Russian citizens who are bravely protesting against the war despite the serious risk to their own lives and safety.
3. a vote of thanks to West Northamptonshire residents and organisations who have already made generous donations to support Ukrainian refugees, offered refuge as part of the Homes for Ukraine scheme or volunteered to help in any way that they can.
4. a wholehearted condemnation of the barbaric and illegal invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces.? As a democratic chamber, we are appalled by what we have seen unfold over recent weeks and we support the Ukrainian people in their fight to maintain democracy and self-determination as a nation.
This council resolves to:
1. Continue to make a full commitment to supporting Ukrainian Evacuees.? At this point, the Government funding provided appears to be adequate, but this is an emerging situation which we realise may in time require council funding, to support both Evacuees and Hosts.? WNC will not be found wanting should this become the case. There will be the need for a great deal of support to be provided, including out-reach support in their locality, and so the council makes a firm commitment to establishing localized hubs for Ukrainians, working with community and faith groups, enabling Evacuees to meet and to be supported by council, community and other support, including developing English language skills.
2. Continue to Support Ukrainian refugees, working in collaboration with the local voluntary and community sector for those fleeing conflict, and encourage people to come forward and complete our volunteer register
3. There are always opportunities for employment within WNC, and applications from qualifying Ukrainians Evacuees will of course be most welcomed.
4. Continue dialogue with our MPs (Chris Heaton-Harris, Andrea Leadsom, Michael Ellis and Andrew Lewer)?and The Home Secretary to implore them to make changes to the visa requirement for the Homes For Ukraine system,?which is embroiled in red tape,?cumbersome and unjust for Ukrainian babies and children, and totally impractical.
5. We are confident that the needs of Afghan Re-settlers are being met and are actively working on the support that Ukrainian evacuees need, as those needs become more clearly known.? Council resolved to ensure that all such support needs are continually reviewed.
Upon a vote, the amended motion was carried.
At 21:45 the Chairman drew Council’s attention to Rule 10 of the Council Procedure Rules:
10. Extension of the meeting
10.1 If the business of a Council meeting has not been concluded by 9.45 pm, the Chair will draw the attention of the meeting to the time and to this Rule.
10.2 In the case of any motions or recommendations on the agenda that have not been dealt with by 9.45 pm the Chair will decide whether to end the meeting or to deal with the outstanding matters provided that those matters can reasonably be dealt with by 10.00pm.
10.3 Where the outstanding matters cannot be dealt with by that time each item will be put to the vote without further debate and a vote will be taken on whether the item should be accepted, rejected, referred, deferred or withdrawn.
The following motions were put to the vote without debate.
Motion 5
Councillor Baker proposed and Councillor Lister seconded:
“Children and young people with Cerebral Palsy face a fractured system of provision that does not always meet the standards and timelines of care needed to make a real difference to their lives.
Cerebral Palsy is a lifelong neurodisability affecting each person living with it differently. Early identification of the condition in childhood is essential to putting those with it in touch with the specific support they need. However, there is often a postcode lottery of services, meaning that tens of thousands, including potentially children in West Northants, do not have access to timely assistance in education and healthcare.
· The current UK incidence rate is around 1 in 400 births.
· Approximately 1,800 children are diagnosed with cerebral palsy every year.
· There are an estimated 30,000 children with cerebral palsy in the UK.
· There are more boys born with cerebral palsy than girls. For every 100 girls with cerebral palsy, there are 135 boys with cerebral palsy.
· Just under half of children with cerebral palsy were born prematurely (before 37 weeks gestation).
Over half of the parents who responded to a national survey conducted by Action Cerebral Palsy felt that education and therapy services were not working together in supporting their child. Meanwhile, almost 60% said that the Health, Education and Care Plan process was unsatisfactory for their child’s needs. Only 15% felt the process was ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’.
We recognise that the complex and varied needs of the Cerebral Palsy community require close working across several widely differing areas. There are many in the system who are striving to do their best for children and young people with Cerebral Palsy, but often lack contact with others involved in the process or an understanding of how Cerebral Palsy affects those they are care for.
West Northamptonshire Council notes that March was Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month and that we have an established relationship with Cerebral Palsy Northamptonshire however we recognise that many people living with Cerebral Palsy across England, including in West Northants, do not enjoy a common standard of access to services because of a postcode lottery.
West Northamptonshire Council notes that access to vital support services for children living Cerebral Palsy and their families is imperative to transforming their life chances.
The Council notes the recommendations of the Commons Education Select Committee’s report on SEND for including Cerebral Palsy specifically within that framework and commits to working with relevant bodies, including Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission to furthering this aim in West Northamptonshire.
The Council understands the important role it can play in improving the lives of children, young people and adults with Cerebral Palsy and therefore resolves to:
1. Promote the work of Action Cerebral Palsy, Cerebral Palsy Northamptonshire and third sector and independent providers delivering Cerebral Palsy support services in West Northamptonshire on the Council’s website, social media and all other appropriate publications.
2. Complete a local needs assessment to better understand the support requirements of children, Young People and Adults with Cerebral Palsy, so to contribute to the West Northamptonshire Health and Wellbeing strategy
3. Commits to offering the Councils and Northamptonshire Children’s Trust staff training on Cerebral Palsy awareness.
4. Encourage health and education and social care workers in West Northants to take up training in this area.
5. Write to the Councils MP’s asking them to raise the issue of provision of support services for children living Cerebral Palsy.
Upon a vote, the motion was carried.