Agenda item

1.  It was moved by County Councillor Samara Barnes and seconded by County Councillor Anna Hindle that:

 

This council notes:

 

That we are seeing a crisis of food poverty born out of the political choices and systemic failings created over the past four decades, which have now reached a tipping point for so many in our communities. The figures are devastating for one of the richest nations in the world and highlight the inequality of the UK in 2022.

 

Need for food banks is already at a record high. Food banks in the Trussell Trust network gave out 2.1 million emergency food parcels between April 2021 and March 2022, a 14% rise on the year 2019/20. This comes on top of year-on-year increases in need. With inflation at a record high and the worst cost of living crisis in living memory the pressures on many families will be unbearable across Lancashire. The cost of living crisis will lead to a massive increase in child poverty across Lancashire.

 

Recycling Lives, a charity that works across Lancashire and Cumbria, has gone from delivering 4,000 trays of food per week during lockdown to 6,500 now. In West Lancashire alone, 4,580 households experience food insecurity, with over 2,000 children under 16 living in food insecure households. Food banks in Chorley and East Lancashire are reporting increases in demand from 30% to 50%, whilst donations are down by as much as 80%, and it's the same picture across the whole County.

 

We also note the Government’s National Food Strategy which reported in July 2021 and was the first independent review of England’s entire food system for 75 years, and its subsequent response. The ‘Right to Food’ campaign believes that the 11 million people currently living in food poverty must be central to the response from Government.

 

This council further believes:

 

Enshrining the ‘Right to Food’ into law would clarify Government obligations on food poverty and would introduce legal avenues to hold Government bodies accountable for violations.

 

This council resolves:

 

(i)  To call for the Right to Food to be incorporated in the Government’s White Paper in response to the National Food Strategy. We ask the Chief Executive to write to the Prime Minister to further this request.

(ii)  To formally declare as a Right to Food Council and join with other councils across the country to continue to push for a Right to Food enshrined in law.

(iii)  To appoint a food security champion for Lancashire County Council.

 

The following Amendment was proposed by County Councillor Michael Green and seconded by County Councillor Sue Whittam:

 

This council notes:

 

That the cost of food has real consequences for people across Lancashire and that the broader affordability of food, and individuals’ access to food, is an important key element of the government’s approach to tackling poverty, as we learn to live with recent events and manage the impact of cost-of-living pressures. 

 

Food banks in the Trussell Trust network gave out 2.1 million emergency food parcels between April 2021 and March 2022, a 14% rise on the year 2019/20. This comes on top of year-on-year increases in need. With inflation approaching 10% in the latest ONS figures (still significantly below their peak of around 24% in August 1975) and the worst cost of living pressures in living memory.

 

Recent interventions by government have reduced the pressures on many families across Lancashire. This support is to be welcomed, without which, the cost of living pressures could have led to increases in child poverty across Lancashire.

 

Recycling Lives, a charity that works across Lancashire and Cumbria, has gone from delivering 4,000 trays of food per week during lockdown to 6,500 now. In West Lancashire alone, 4,580 households experience food insecurity, with over 2,000 children under 16 living in food insecure households. Food banks in Chorley and East Lancashire are reporting increases in demand from 30% to 50%, whilst donations are down by as much as 80%, and it's the same picture across the whole County.

 

The Independent Review titled 'National Food Strategy' led by Henry Dimbleby, and supported by an Advisory Panel of experts from across the food system with extensive experience of the issues, reported in July 2021 and was the first independent review of England’s entire food system for 75 years.

 

The subsequent response by government was published in the White Paper 'Government Food Strategy' in June 2022.

  

This council further believes:

 

That this strategy clearly sets out the government's ambitions and priorities to create a more prosperous agri-food sector that delivers healthier, more home-grown and affordable diets for all, regardless of where people live or their income, and importantly that this strategy is the only the beginning of this conversation.

 

This council resolves:

 

(i)  To ask the Chief Executive to write to Henry Dimbleby to thank him and the members of the Advisory Panel for their contributions to the Independent Report 'National Food Strategy'.

(ii)  To increase the funding available from Lancashire County Council's 'Community Food Grant Scheme' to £250,000 for the year 2022/23.

(iii)  To request that Lancashire County Council's Health and Adult Services Scrutiny Committee reviews the effectiveness of the 'Community Food Grant Scheme'.

 

Following a brief adjournment, the Notice of Motion was withdrawn.

 

2.  It was moved by County Councillor Julie Gibson and seconded by County Councillor John Fillis that:

 

This Council notes the recent decision of the Department for Transport to reject the latest bid for infrastructure funding for Skelmersdale Railway Station.

 

This Council further notes the long-term cross-party support for this project alongside West Lancashire Borough Council and West Lancashire MP, Rosie Cooper.

 

This Council believes that a new railway station in the heart of Skelmersdale linking with both Liverpool and Manchester would open-up a world of opportunities for Skelmersdale residents to access wider education, training, employment and social opportunities and that inward investment would be drawn to the new town centre benefitting the whole of the West Lancashire and wider Lancashire economy. 

 

This council also believes that government support for the Skelmersdale Railway Station project would be a significant indicator of the government's 'levelling up' agenda and that the campaign for a Station must continue. It rejects the Department for Transport's statement that this project is 'poor value for money' - a direct contradiction to the principle of levelling up.

 

This Council resolves to ask the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State for Transport, the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and the Prime Minister to ask them to honour their 2019 commitment to funding Skelmersdale Railway Station.

 

Notice was given by County Councillor Charles Edwards of an amendment at which point County Councillor Julie Gibson requested that her Notice of Motion be withdrawn.

 

3.  It was moved by County Councillor Steve Holgate and seconded by County Councillor Jackie Oakes that:

 

Lancashire County Council recognises most junior schools in Lancashire have formed eco or green councils made up of pupils from across the age range to help ensure they are doing all in their power to initiate projects to help reduce their carbon footprint and promote biodiversity both at school, traveling to and from school, and at home.

 

Many schools are now looking at ways in which they can help towards hitting the Government target of providing over 300,000 Electric Vehicle charger units across the country by 2030.

 

To this end:

 

(i)  Lancashire County Council commits to identifying ways it can support every school in Lancashire that indicates a wish to provide single or multiple Electric Vehicle charger points on school premises, for the use of both staff and visitors alike. 

(ii)  Lancashire County Council will provide a single point of contact to co-ordinate and support this objective and let it be known this service and support is available.

(iii)  Lancashire County Council is delighted with the many environmental initiatives, of which this is just one being promoted and led by young people across Lancashire and will write to every school governing body setting out the support available.

(iv)  Lancashire County Council's electrical vehicle strategy will include a section working and supporting schools.

 

The following friendly Amendment was proposed by County Councillor Shaun Turner in accordance with Standing Order B42:

 

Lancashire County Council recognises junior schools in Lancashire have formed eco or green councils made up of pupils from across the age range to help ensure they are doing all in their power to initiate projects to help reduce their carbon footprint and promote biodiversity both at school, traveling to and from school, and at home.

 

Many schools are now looking at ways in which they can help towards hitting the Government target of providing over 300,000 Electric Vehicle charger units across the country by 2030.

 

To this end:

 

(i)  Lancashire County Council commits to identifying ways it can support every school in Lancashire that indicates a wish to provide single or multiple Electric Vehicle charger points on school premises, for the use of both staff and visitors alike. 

(ii)  Lancashire County Council will regularly update schools and signpost them towards available support such as government grants and advise on any changes to EV charging infrastructure policy.  

(iii)  Lancashire County Council is delighted with the many environmental initiatives, of which this is just one being promoted and led by young people across Lancashire and will support these wherever it can.

(iv)  Lancashire County Council's electrical vehicle strategy will outline how it intends to work with all our partners, including schools, when it is published by the end of the year.

 

The friendly Amendment was accepted by County Councillor Holgate and became the substantive Motion.

 

The substantive Motion, as amended by County Councillor Turner's friendly Amendment, was then put to the vote and was CARRIED. It was therefore:

 

Resolved: - That:

 

Lancashire County Council recognises junior schools in Lancashire have formed eco or green councils made up of pupils from across the age range to help ensure they are doing all in their power to initiate projects to help reduce their carbon footprint and promote biodiversity both at school, traveling to and from school, and at home.

 

Many schools are now looking at ways in which they can help towards hitting the Government target of providing over 300,000 Electric Vehicle charger units across the country by 2030.

 

To this end:

 

(i)  Lancashire County Council commits to identifying ways it can support every school in Lancashire that indicates a wish to provide single or multiple Electric Vehicle charger points on school premises, for the use of both staff and visitors alike. 

(ii)  Lancashire County Council will regularly update schools and signpost them towards available support such as government grants and advise on any changes to EV charging infrastructure policy.  

(iii)  Lancashire County Council is delighted with the many environmental initiatives, of which this is just one being promoted and led by young people across Lancashire and will support these wherever it can.

(iv)  Lancashire County Council's electrical vehicle strategy will outline how it intends to work with all our partners, including schools, when it is published by the end of the year.

 

At the invitation of the Chairman, and prior to County Councillor Dowding moving the Motion, the Monitoring Officer provided Full Council with legal advice in relation to the subject matter.

 

4.  It was moved by County Councillor Gina Dowding and seconded by County Councillor Andy Fewings that:

 

This Council notes:

 

(i)  That the Government introduced a moratorium on fracking on 2 November 2019 due to evidence of the relationship between hydraulic shale gas fracturing (“Fracking”) and seismic events in Lancashire.

(ii)  The moratorium was hugely welcomed by large numbers of people of Lancashire following years of disruption including not only earthquakes, but noise, traffic, and distress caused by the risks to health and environment associated with the Fracking industry as it tried to set up in Lancashire.

(iii)The lack of support for Fracking by local communities in Lancashire.

(iv)That the new Prime Minister has lifted the ban on Fracking but has said resumption of fracking in England would also be dependent on “where there is local support for it”.

(v)  That Lancashire County Council has committed to pursuing measures to combat the climate emergency. 

 

Therefore, Lancashire County Council:

 

(i)  Resolves to follow examples of good practice in climate policy in its review of the Lancashire Minerals and Waste Plan due for review this autumn. The Plan will, subject to statutory obligations, advice and guidance, and to agreement with Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen, include a commitment that any application to extract hydrocarbons would have to fully reflect the “net zero impact on climate change” objective, in line with commitments the Government made in the 2008 Climate Change Act and as signatories to the Paris Climate Agreement. 

(ii)  Asks the government to engage with Lancashire and other local authorities as soon as possible to clarify the criteria for determining "local support".

 

The following Amendment was proposed by County Councillor Aidy Riggott and seconded by County Councillor John Singleton:

 

This Council notes:

 

(i)  That the Government introduced a moratorium on fracking on 2 November 2019 due to evidence of the relationship between hydraulic shale gas fracturing (“Fracking”) and seismic events in Lancashire.

(ii)  The moratorium was welcomed by people in Lancashire following years of disruption to the lives of local residents and a significant burden on the public purse as a result. 

(iii)That consent for Fracking by local communities in Lancashire, has yet to be tested and determined, following the recent lifting of the moratorium on shale gas extraction.

(iv)That the new Prime Minister has lifted the ban on Fracking but has saidthe government would "only press ahead with fracking in areas where there is local community support".

(v)  That Lancashire County Council has committed to pursuing measures to combat climate change. 

 

Therefore, Lancashire County Council resolves:

 

(i)  To follow examples of good practice in its review of the Lancashire Minerals and Waste Plan. The Plan will, be subject to statutory obligations, advice and guidance, and to agreement with Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen.

(ii)  To ask the Chief Executive to write to the Rt. Hon. Jacob Rees-Mogg MP, Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, to seek clarity on how consent will be measured and precisely who will be asked in relation to any proposed fracking activities in Lancashire.

 

The Amendment was accepted as a Friendly Amendment by County Councillor Dowding and became the substantive Motion.

 

The following friendly Amendment was proposed by County Councillor Azhar Ali in accordance with Standing Order B42:

Add point (iii) as follows:

 

"Asks the Government to commit to decision-making on fracking to remain solely with locally elected councillors in the local strategic planning authority".

 

The friendly Amendment was accepted by County Councillor Dowding and became the substantive Motion.

 

Following a brief adjournment, and legal advice, it was agreed that the word 'strategic' be removed from County Councillor Ali's friendly Amendment. The Chief Executive and Monitoring Officer clarified for Full Council that Lancashire County Council was the local planning authority with responsibility for the approval of the Lancashire Minerals and Waste Plan.

 

The substantive Motion, as amended by County Councillor Riggott's friendly Amendment together with County Councillor Ali's friendly Amendment, with the deletion of the word 'strategic', was then put to the vote and was CARRIED. It was therefore:

 

Resolved: - That:

 

This Council notes:

 

(i)  That the Government introduced a moratorium on fracking on 2 November 2019 due to evidence of the relationship between hydraulic shale gas fracturing (“Fracking”) and seismic events in Lancashire.

(ii)  The moratorium was welcomed by people in Lancashire following years of disruption to the lives of local residents and a significant burden on the public purse as a result.

(iii)That consent for Fracking by local communities in Lancashire, has yet to be tested and determined, following the recent lifting of the moratorium on shale gas extraction.

(iv)That the new Prime Minister has lifted the ban on Fracking but has said the government would "only press ahead with fracking in areas where there is local community support".

(v)  That Lancashire County Council has committed to pursuing measures to combat climate change. 

 

Therefore, Lancashire County Council resolves:

 

(i)  To follow examples of good practice in its review of the Lancashire Minerals and Waste Plan. The Plan will, be subject to statutory obligations, advice and guidance, and to agreement with Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen.

(ii)  To ask the Chief Executive to write to the Rt. Hon. Jacob Rees-Mogg MP, Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, to seek clarity on how consent will be measured and precisely who will be asked in relation to any proposed fracking activities in Lancashire. 

(iii)Asks the Government to commit to decision-making on fracking to remain solely with locally elected councillors in the local planning authority.