Agenda item

Notices of Motion submitted under Procedural Standing Order 14.2.1(a) (Part C)

Minutes:

 

1.  It was moved by County Councillor Gina Dowding and seconded by County Councillor Paul Hayhurst that:

 

According to recent research, eight million metric tons of plastic waste ends up in the world’s oceans each year [1], endangering marine life. There is also a growing understanding of the risks posed to human health by toxic chemicals present in plastics [2]. Less than a year after the introduction of the 5p bag charge, use of single-use plastic bags had already dropped by 85% [3], 300 million tons of plastic are produced around the globe each year. Public awareness of the problems of our throwaway culture is at an all-time high.

 

It is time for Lancashire to take a lead on this issue.

 

Council resolves to ask Cabinet to:

 

(i)  Develop a robust strategy to make Lancashire County Council a ‘single-use-plastic-free’ authority by the end of 2018 and encourage the county’s institutions, businesses and citizens to adopt similar measures;

(ii)  End the sale and provision of SUP products such as bottles, cups, cutlery and drinking straws in council buildings, events and services;

(iii)  Encourage schools and social care facilities to adopt measures, with the aim of phasing out single-use plastic, for example containers and cutlery in their premises by the end of 2018;

(iv)  Ensure that the County Council, via its procurement of goods and suppliers, has integrated the aim to end SUPs by suppliers by 2018 wherever feasible and appropriate.

 

[1] http://www.sciencemag.org/content/347/6223/768
[2]
http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153.short#sec-5
[3]
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/jul/30/england-plastic-bag-

 

The following amendment was proposed by County Councillor Graham Gooch and seconded by County Councillor Philippa Williamson:

 

According to recent research, eight million metric tons of plastic waste ends up in the world’s oceans each year, endangering marine life. There is also a growing understanding of the risks posed to human health by toxic chemicals present in plastics.

Less than a year after the introduction of the 5p bag charge, use of single-use plastic (SUP) bags had already dropped by 85%, 300 million tons of plastic are produced around the globe each year. Public awareness of the problems of our throwaway culture is at an all-time high.

 

It is time for Lancashire to take a lead on this issue.

 

Council resolves to ask Cabinet to work towards:

 

(i)  Developing a robust strategy to make Lancashire County Council a ‘single-use-plastic-free’ authority and encourage the county’s institutions, businesses and citizens to adopt similar measures;

(ii)  Ending the sale and provision of SUP products such as bottles, cups, cutlery and drinking straws in council buildings, events and services;

(iii)  Encouraging schools and social care facilities to adopt measures, with the aim of phasing out single-use plastic, for example containers and cutlery in their premises;

(iv)  Ensuring that the County Council, via its procurement of goods and suppliers, has integrated the aim to end the use of SUP products by suppliers wherever feasible and appropriate;

(v)  Exploring measures to encourage District and Borough Councils and other statutory partners of Lancashire County Council within Lancashire to adopt a rigorous enforcement policy on disposal of SUP products.

 

The amendment was accepted and became the substantive motion. The substantive motion was then put to the vote and was CARRIED. It was therefore:

 

Resolved: - That:

 

According to recent research, eight million metric tons of plastic waste ends up in the world’s oceans each year, endangering marine life. There is also a growing understanding of the risks posed to human health by toxic chemicals present in plastics.

Less than a year after the introduction of the 5p bag charge, use of single-use plastic (SUP) bags had already dropped by 85%, 300 million tons of plastic are produced around the globe each year. Public awareness of the problems of our throwaway culture is at an all-time high.

 

It is time for Lancashire to take a lead on this issue.

 

Council resolves to ask Cabinet to work towards:

 

(i)  Developing a robust strategy to make Lancashire County Council a ‘single-use-plastic-free’ authority and encourage the county’s institutions, businesses and citizens to adopt similar measures;

(ii)  Ending the sale and provision of SUP products such as bottles, cups, cutlery and drinking straws in council buildings, events and services;

(iii)  Encouraging schools and social care facilities to adopt measures, with the aim of phasing out single-use plastic, for example containers and cutlery in their premises;

(iv)  Ensuring that the County Council, via its procurement of goods and suppliers, has integrated the aim to end the use of SUP products by suppliers wherever feasible and appropriate;

(v)  Exploring measures to encourage District and Borough Councils and other statutory partners of Lancashire County Council within Lancashire to adopt a rigorous enforcement policy on disposal of SUP products.

2.  It was moved by County Councillor Christian Wakeford and seconded by County Councillor Jenny Purcell that:

 

Lancashire County Council welcomes the announcement made by the Secretary of State for Transport, Rt. Hon. Chris Grayling that the Department for Transport and Transport for the North are funding a feasibility study into the reopening of the Colne to Skipton railway line. The study which will report by Summer 2018 will take into account the viability and business case for reopening the line.

 

Council recognises the huge benefit the reopening of the line could have for East Lancashire both economically and connectivity but Council also recognises there are further opportunities to improve connectivity East to West and will continue to work towards a deliverable plan for a Colne and villages bypass that would not only ease congestion but also provide a huge economic boost.

 

Council therefore resolves to:

 

(i)  Welcome the study into the reopening of the Colne to Skipton railway line.

(ii)  Reaffirm its support for the line to be reopened.

(iii)  To contribute and support as necessary the Department for Transport and Transport for the North throughout the study.

(iv)  Pay tribute to SELRAP for all their work and campaign to have the line reopened.

(v)  Thank Andrew Stephenson MP and Julian Smith MP who both played pivotal roles in securing the funding for the study from the Department of Transport.

(vi)  Continue to explore all options for a Colne and villages bypass.

 

The following amendment was proposed by County Councillor Mohammed Iqbal and seconded by County Councillor Azhar Ali:

 

Lancashire County Council welcomes the announcement made by the Secretary of State for Transport, Rt. Hon. Chris Grayling that the Department for Transport and Transport for the North are funding a feasibility study into the reopening of the Colne to Skipton railway line. The study which will report by Summer 2018 will take into account the viability and business case for reopening the line.

 

Lancashire County Council also welcome the announcement by John McDonnell MP to committing to re-opening the Colne to Skipton railway line.

 

Council recognises the huge benefit the reopening of the line could have for East Lancashire both economically and connectivity but Council also recognises there are further opportunities to improve connectivity East to West and will continue to work towards a deliverable plan for a Colne and villages bypass that would not only ease congestion but also provide a huge economic boost.

 

Council therefore resolves to:

 

(i)  Welcome the study into the reopening of the Colne to Skipton railway line.

(ii)  Reaffirm its support for the line to be reopened.

(iii)  To contribute and support as necessary the Department for Transport and Transport for the North throughout the study.

(iv)  Pay tribute to SELRAP for all their work and campaign to have the line reopened.

(v)  Thank all political parties who are playing a pivotal role in the reopening of the Colne to Skipton railway line.

(vi)  Continue to explore all options for a Colne and villages bypass.

 

The amendment was put to the vote and was LOST.

 

The substantive motion was then put to the vote and was CARRIED. It was therefore:

 

Resolved: - That:

 

Lancashire County Council welcomes the announcement made by the Secretary of State for Transport, Rt. Hon. Chris Grayling that the Department for Transport and Transport for the North are funding a feasibility study into the reopening of the Colne to Skipton railway line. The study which will report by Summer 2018 will take into account the viability and business case for reopening the line.

 

Council recognises the huge benefit the reopening of the line could have for East Lancashire both economically and connectivity but Council also recognises there are further opportunities to improve connectivity East to West and will continue to work towards a deliverable plan for a Colne and villages bypass that would not only ease congestion but also provide a huge economic boost.

 

Council therefore resolves to:

 

(i)  Welcome the study into the reopening of the Colne to Skipton railway line.

(ii)  Reaffirm its support for the line to be reopened.

(iii)  To contribute and support as necessary the Department for Transport and Transport for the North throughout the study.

(iv)  Pay tribute to SELRAP for all their work and campaign to have the line reopened.

(v)  Thank Andrew Stephenson MP and Julian Smith MP who both played pivotal roles in securing the funding for the study from the Department of Transport.

(vi)  Continue to explore all options for a Colne and villages bypass.

 

3.  It was moved by County Councillor Sobia Malik and seconded by County Councillor Nikki Hennessy that:

 

In Lancashire we are fortunate to have many Ofsted rated outstanding nursery schools across the county. These grant maintained nurseries serve children and their families in our most deprived communities. Having listened to many of those head teachers talk about the pressures they face in their work, it is clear their greatest concern is being able to remain viable up to, and beyond, 2020.

 

To remain outstanding in socio-economically challenging contexts means caring day in and day out, above and beyond the call of duty. That is the calibre of professionals we have working in early years. It's worth noting the early years sector in Lancashire has a higher proportion of Ofsted rated outstanding schools than any other education sector in the county.

This Council resolves to:

(i)  Instruct the Interim Chief Executive and Director of Resources to write to the Secretary of State for Education asking him for a meeting with an all-party delegation from Lancashire County Council to discuss the early year funding challenges facing our nursery schools.

(ii)  Arrange an all-party meeting with all Lancashire MPs to discuss lobbying for funding changes to support our children.

(iii)  Establish a Scrutiny Task and Finish Group to look in to the difficulties faced by Lancashire grant maintained nursery schools and report back to Full Council in May 2018.

 

The following amendment was proposed by County Councillor Susie Charles and seconded by County Councillor Philippa Williamson:

 

In Lancashire we are fortunate to have many Ofsted rated outstanding nursery schools across the county.  These grant maintained nurseries serve children and their families in our most deprived communities.

 

To remain outstanding means caring day in and day out, above and beyond the call of duty.  That is the calibre of professionals we have working in early years.  It's worth noting that the early years sector in Lancashire has a higher proportion of Ofsted rated outstanding schools than any other education sector in the county.

 

This Council notes that grant maintained nurseries will be an item at Education Scrutiny in June for discussion.

 

The amendment was put to the vote and was CARRIED and became the substantive motion. The substantive motion was then put to the vote and was CARRIED. It was therefore:

 

Resolved: - That:

 

In Lancashire we are fortunate to have many Ofsted rated outstanding nursery schools across the county.  These grant maintained nurseries serve children and their families in our most deprived communities.

 

To remain outstanding means caring day in and day out, above and beyond the call of duty.  That is the calibre of professionals we have working in early years.  It's worth noting that the early years sector in Lancashire has a higher proportion of Ofsted rated outstanding schools than any other education sector in the county.

 

This Council notes that grant maintained nurseries will be an item at Education Scrutiny in June for discussion.

 

4.  It was moved by County Councillor Steve Holgate and seconded by County Councillor Lizzi Collinge that:

 

This Council believes that local authorities should retain the powers to approve or reject fracking planning applications. Council instructs the Interim Chief Executive and Director of Resources to respond to the select committee inquiry with a statement that supports retaining local government powers in this area.

 

The key reasons for this are:

 

  • Decisions should be made at the most local level possible - this is the principle of subsidiarity.
  • Fracking is an extremely important issue for local people and their local representatives, accountable to them directly, should be accountable for planning decisions leading to any fracking.
  • The exploratory nature of fracking, and the fact that it does not contribute to our energy needs in any significant way, means that it cannot be considered national infrastructure.

 

The following amendment was proposed by County Councillor Michael Green and seconded by County Councillor Aidy Riggott:

 

This Council believes that local authorities should retain the powers to approve or reject fracking planning applications. Decisions should be made by the County Council, having due regard to current planning policy as set out in the development plan, Government guidance on the National Planning Policy Framework and material planning considerations.

 

Council therefore resolves to instruct the Interim Chief Executive and Director of Resources to respond to the select committee inquiry with a statement that supports retaining local government powers in this area.  The response should also address the other questions about planning policy and guidance posed by the Committee, drawing on the County Council's unique experience in this area.

 

The amendment was accepted and became the substantive motion. The substantive motion was then put to the vote and was CARRIED. It was therefore:

 

Resolved: - That:

 

This Council believes that local authorities should retain the powers to approve or reject fracking planning applications. Decisions should be made by the County Council, having due regard to current planning policy as set out in the development plan, Government guidance on the National Planning Policy Framework and material planning considerations.

 

Council therefore resolves to instruct the Interim Chief Executive and Director of Resources to respond to the select committee inquiry with a statement that supports retaining local government powers in this area.  The response should also address the other questions about planning policy and guidance posed by the Committee, drawing on the County Council's unique experience in this area.

 

5.  It was moved by County Councillor Lorraine Beavers and seconded by County Councillor Azhar Ali that:

 

Following the successful free swimming projects in Fleetwood and Pendle it is important to continue to address the health inequalities across Lancashire by expanding the aforementioned schemes across the County.

 

Therefore, this Council resolves to instruct the Interim Chief Executive and Director of Resources and the Director of Public Health to work with the Clinical Commissioning Groups, Health and Wellbeing Partnerships, Leisure Trusts and other partners to introduce 'free swimming' for all school children residing in Lancashire, in part using the public health grant.

 

The following amendment was proposed by County Councillor Shaun Turner and seconded by County Councillor David Foxcroft:

 

Following the free swimming projects in Fleetwood and Pendle it is important to evaluate its success in terms of encouraging children to be more active and whether this could be further expanded.

 

Therefore, this Council resolves to refer this to the Health and Wellbeing Board so that its impact and effectiveness can be fully considered ahead of committing more funding to this initiative.

 

The amendment was accepted and became the substantive motion. The substantive motion was then put to the vote and was CARRIED. It was therefore:

 

Resolved: - That:

 

Following the free swimming projects in Fleetwood and Pendle it is important to evaluate its success in terms of encouraging children to be more active and whether this could be further expanded.

 

Therefore, this Council resolves to refer this to the Health and Wellbeing Board so that its impact and effectiveness can be fully considered ahead of committing more funding to this initiative.