Agenda item

1.  It was moved by County Councillor Matthew Maxwell-Scott and seconded by County Councillor Ash Sutcliffe that:

 

Lancashire County Council notes and is supportive of the UK Government’s ambition to make our country a clean energy superpower, is proud of the UK’s record on cutting greenhouse emissions and welcomes the global leadership we are demonstrating on these vital issues.

 

However, Lancashire County Council is concerned by the impact of widely reported and often illegal protests on its residents, threatening our essential infrastructure, public services and amenities, such as occurred when a recent slow march in Lancaster brought the city to a standstill.

 

Lancashire County Council understands the urgent need to act on the environment but believes the most desirable way to do so is by working in cooperation with our residents as well as the Government to pursue our shared objectives rather than by causing disruption to our community's lives, livelihoods and wellbeing.

 

Lancashire County Council therefore:

 

Condemns utterly all illegal protests by organisations such as Just Stop Oil, and urges them to cease all such activities.

 

Recommends instead that our collective energies be harnessed by working together constructively to achieve our net-zero targets.

 

And resolves to ask the Chief Executive to write to Lancashire's Police and Crime Commissioner to ask him to ensure that the rights and safety of our residents are the top priorities for policing in Lancashire. 

 

 

An Amendment was proposed by County Councillor Andy Fewings. The Vice-Chairman ruled the Amendment out of order in accordance with Standing Orders B39(4)(a) and (d)

 

The following Amendment was proposed by County Councillor Gina Dowding and seconded by County Councillor Andy Fewings:

 

Lancashire County Council notes and is supportive of the UK Government’s ambition to make our country a clean energy superpower, is proud of the UK’s record on cutting greenhouse emissions and welcomes the global leadership that has been demonstrated on these vital issues, but is concerned that the latest Climate Change Committee report (June 2023) shows that the government is failing to achieve 41 of 50 key indicators of progress.

 

However, Lancashire County Council is concerned by the impact of widely reported extreme weather and environmental events caused by human-made climate change, which have caused protests, on its residents, threatening our essential infrastructure, public services and amenities.

Lancashire County Council therefore:

 

Notes the recent protests by organisations such as Just Stop Oil, and understand the reasons behind all such activities.

 

Recommends that our collective energies be harnessed by working together constructively to achieve our net-zero targets.

 

Resolves to ask the Chief Executive to write to Lancashire's Police and Crime Commissioner to ask him to ensure that the rights and safety of our residents are the top priorities for policing in Lancashire. 

 

And writes to the Prime Minister, the Right Honourable Rishi Sunak MP, to express our concerns that inaction on the climate and biodiversity crisis is putting Lancashire residents at risk of significant long-term harm.

 

On being put to the vote, the Amendment was LOST.

 

There being no further Amendments, the substantive Motion was then put to the vote. In accordance with Standing Order B45(4), a recorded vote was taken. The names of the county councillors who voted for or against the Motion and those who abstained are set out below:

 

For (69)

 

Aldridge	Clifford	Hindle	Motala	Singleton
Ali	Couperthwaite	Holgate	O'Toole	Smith
Arif	Cox	Hosker	Oakes	Snape
Ashton	Cullens	Hurn	Parr	Sutcliffe
Aziz	Edwards	Iqbal	Pattison	Swarbrick
Bailey	Fillis	Jones	Pope	Tomlinson
Beavers	Gardiner	Kay	Purcell	Towneley
Berry	Gibson	Khan, H	Rear	Turner
Britcliffe	Gooch	Khan, N	Rigby, P	Vincent
Brown	Goulthorp	Malik	Rigby, S	Westley
Buckley	Green	Maxwell-Scott	Riggott	Whittam
Cheetham	Haythornthwaite	Mein	Salter	Williamson
Clarke	Hennessy	Mirfin	Serridge	Woollam
Clempson	Hind	Morris	Shedwick

 

Against (4)

 

Dowding

Fewings

Howarth

Potter

 

Abstain (0)

 

The Motion was therefore CARRIED.

 

It was therefore:

 

Resolved: - That:

 

Lancashire County Council notes and is supportive of the UK Government’s ambition to make our country a clean energy superpower, is proud of the UK’s record on cutting greenhouse emissions and welcomes the global leadership we are demonstrating on these vital issues.

 

However, Lancashire County Council is concerned by the impact of widely reported and often illegal protests on its residents, threatening our essential infrastructure, public services and amenities, such as occurred when a recent slow march in Lancaster brought the city to a standstill.

 

Lancashire County Council understands the urgent need to act on the environment but believes the most desirable way to do so is by working in cooperation with our residents as well as the Government to pursue our shared objectives rather than by causing disruption to our community's lives, livelihoods and wellbeing.

 

Lancashire County Council therefore:

 

Condemns utterly all illegal protests by organisations such as Just Stop Oil, and urges them to cease all such activities.

 

Recommends instead that our collective energies be harnessed by working together constructively to achieve our net-zero targets.

 

And resolves to ask the Chief Executive to write to Lancashire's Police and Crime Commissioner to ask him to ensure that the rights and safety of our residents are the top priorities for policing in Lancashire. 

 

2.  It was moved by County Councillor Charles Edwards and seconded by County Councillor Anne Cheetham that:

 

This Council recognises the importance of local radio to provide support for events, community groups and impartial journalism. 

 

BBC Radio Lancashire has been a valued part of the community for over 50 years and continues to this day to champion the very best of the county.

 

This Council resolves to write to the Director-General of the BBC to highlight the positive impact BBC Radio Lancashire has on our community and ensure that it is adequately resourced to maintain its role as a source of trusted local news, information and entertainment.

 

On being put to the vote the Motion was CARRIED and it was therefore:

 

Resolved: - That:

 

This Council recognises the importance of local radio to provide support for events, community groups and impartial journalism. 

 

BBC Radio Lancashire has been a valued part of the community for over 50 years and continues to this day to champion the very best of the county.

 

This Council resolves to write to the Director-General of the BBC to highlight the positive impact BBC Radio Lancashire has on our community and ensure that it is adequately resourced to maintain its role as a source of trusted local news, information and entertainment.

 

3.  It was moved by County Councillor Sue Whittam and seconded by County Councillor Mike Goulthorp that:

 

Recent NHS figures show that the number of 11 to 15 year old children using vapes has increased by 50% between 2018 and 2021. A recent Lancashire Trading Standards survey of young people aged 14 to 17 showed that 1 in 6 make regular use of vapes, almost 3 times as many as in 2020.  Lancashire Trading Standards have seen a significant increase in complaints about sales of disposable vapes to young people.

 

Although selling vapes to residents under the age of 18 is illegal, it is clear from the recent rise in teenage use of vapes and the recent surge in the use and promotion of cheap, colourful products, that unscrupulous businesses are targeting children.  Almost half of Lancashire's young people have claimed to have never smoked a cigarette, but have tried a vape.

 

This council welcomes the Prime Minister's recent statement expressing deep concern about the sharp rise in children vaping and is shocked by reports of illicit vapes containing lead getting into the hands of school children.

 

This Council therefore resolves:

 

(i)  To ask the Chief Executive to write to the Prime Minister welcoming the crackdown on unscrupulous businesses targeting young people with vaping products.

(ii)  To ask the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care in support of the review on the rules for issuing on-the-spot fines to shops that break the law by selling vapes to underage children, and look into banning the sale of nicotine-free vapes to under 18s.

(iii)  To ask the Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing to take a report to Lancashire's Health and Wellbeing Board, to include enforcement activity related to the illegal sale of vaping products to children and opportunities for further communicating the potential dangers of vaping to young people.

 

The following Amendment was proposed by County Councillor John Fillis and seconded by County Councillor Azhar Ali:

 

To add as (iv) 'This council makes available £100,000, extra on top of the normal budget, for a Trading Standards Campaign to crack down on unscrupulous vape sales venues'. 

 

Following a brief period of debate, the Amendment was withdrawn.

 

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

 

To add as (iv) 'To ask the Health and Wellbeing Board to consider making available funding for a Trading Standards campaign to crack down on unscrupulous vape sales venues'.

 

The friendly Amendment was accepted by County Councillor Whittam and became the substantive Motion. The substantive Motion, as amended by County Councillor Fillis's friendly Amendment, was then put to the vote and was CARRIED and it was therefore:

 

Resolved: - That:

 

Recent NHS figures show that the number of 11 to 15 year old children using vapes has increased by 50% between 2018 and 2021. A recent Lancashire Trading Standards survey of young people aged 14 to 17 showed that 1 in 6 make regular use of vapes, almost 3 times as many as in 2020.  Lancashire Trading Standards have seen a significant increase in complaints about sales of disposable vapes to young people.

 

Although selling vapes to residents under the age of 18 is illegal, it is clear from the recent rise in teenage use of vapes and the recent surge in the use and promotion of cheap, colourful products, that unscrupulous businesses are targeting children.  Almost half of Lancashire's young people have claimed to have never smoked a cigarette, but have tried a vape.

 

This council welcomes the Prime Minister's recent statement expressing deep concern about the sharp rise in children vaping and is shocked by reports of illicit vapes containing lead getting into the hands of school children.

 

This Council therefore resolves:

 

(i)  To ask the Chief Executive to write to the Prime Minister welcoming the crackdown on unscrupulous businesses targeting young people with vaping products.

(ii)  To ask the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care in support of the review on the rules for issuing on-the-spot fines to shops that break the law by selling vapes to underage children, and look into banning the sale of nicotine-free vapes to under 18s.

(iii)  To ask the Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing to take a report to Lancashire's Health and Wellbeing Board, to include enforcement activity related to the illegal sale of vaping products to children and opportunities for further communicating the potential dangers of vaping to young people.

(iv)  To ask the Health and Wellbeing Board to consider making available funding for a Trading Standards campaign to crack down on unscrupulous vape sales venues.

 

4.  It was moved by County Councillor Azhar Ali and seconded by County Councillor Mark Clifford that:

 

Play streets are resident-led short road closures, creating a safe place for children and young people to play freely together on their avenue, street or close. Play streets promote 'free play' and don't require organised activity to take place. Children are free to play with their friends or family and can enjoy playing on their doorstep safely.

 

They were first introduced in Bristol in 2009 and have now been taken up by hundreds of street communities all over the UK. Play streets are supported by over 90 councils at the time of writing: from Bath and North East Somerset to Blackpool and beyond.

 

With council permission and general consensus from neighbours, residents legally close the road to through-traffic, using 'Road Closed' signs and cones, or other barriers such as wheelie-bins. Residents still have vehicle access and can leave their cars parked on the road. Volunteer stewards (usually residents) stand at each end of the street and walk in front of any moving vehicles to keep it safe.

 

In 2019, the Department for Transport wrote to all English councils encouraging them to support play streets and advising them about which legal routes to use. Revised road closure guidance to boost children's outdoor play - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

 

They followed this up by publishing updated guidance on temporary traffic regulation orders for play streets: Temporary traffic regulation orders for special events - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

 

Our children in Lancashire deserve the opportunity to play out safely, improve their physical and mental health through play and do so in an area with reduced nitrogen oxide levels too.

 

Lancashire County Council therefore resolves to:

 

(i)  Develop a policy framework to enable a pilot to take place across Lancashire including designing a quick and simple application process for residents wishing to facilitate playing out sessions on their street, and removing barriers to them doing so.

(ii)  Make contact with relevant officers where similar schemes are currently operating successfully, to learn about the key steps to successfully implementing the policy, and to research the concept on the Playing Out website.

(iii)  Present proposals to Cabinet for approval, with a view to advertising the new scheme in time for communities to come forward to be part of the pilot starting in Autumn 2023.

 

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

 

Play streets are resident-led short road closures, creating a safe place for children and young people to play freely together on their avenue, street or close. Play streets promote 'free play' and don't require organised activity to take place. Children are free to play with their friends or family and can enjoy playing on their doorstep safely.

 

They were first introduced in Bristol in 2009 and have now been taken up by hundreds of street communities all over the UK. Play streets are supported by over 90 councils at the time of writing: from Bath and North East Somerset to Blackpool and beyond.

 

With council permission and general consensus from neighbours, residents legally close the road to through-traffic, using 'Road Closed' signs and cones, or other barriers such as wheelie-bins. Residents still have vehicle access and can leave their cars parked on the road. Volunteer stewards (usually residents) stand at each end of the street and walk in front of any moving vehicles to keep it safe.

 

In 2019, the Department for Transport wrote to all English councils encouraging them to support play streets and advising them about which legal routes to use. Revised road closure guidance to boost children's outdoor play - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

 

They followed this up by publishing updated guidance on temporary traffic regulation orders for play streets: Temporary traffic regulation orders for special events - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

 

Our children in Lancashire deserve the opportunity to play out safely, improve their physical and mental health through play and do so in an area with reduced nitrogen oxide levels too.

 

Lancashire County Council therefore resolves to:

 

(i)  Develop a protocol to support applicants applying to their district council under the Town Police Clauses Act 1984 to ensure that the application process is quick and simple for residents wishing to facilitate playing out sessions on their street, removing barriers to them doing so.

(ii)  Make contact with relevant officers where similar schemes are currently operating successfully, to learn about the key steps to successfully implementing the protocol and to research the concept on the Playing Out website.

(iii)  Launch the protocol in Autumn 2023 to include promotion to district partners. 

 

The friendly Amendment was accepted by County Councillor Ali and became the substantive Motion. The substantive Motion, as amended by County Councillor Swarbrick's friendly Amendment, was then put to the vote and was CARRIED and it was therefore:

 

Resolved: - That:

 

Play streets are resident-led short road closures, creating a safe place for children and young people to play freely together on their avenue, street or close. Play streets promote 'free play' and don't require organised activity to take place. Children are free to play with their friends or family and can enjoy playing on their doorstep safely.

 

They were first introduced in Bristol in 2009 and have now been taken up by hundreds of street communities all over the UK. Play streets are supported by over 90 councils at the time of writing: from Bath and North East Somerset to Blackpool and beyond.

 

With council permission and general consensus from neighbours, residents legally close the road to through-traffic, using 'Road Closed' signs and cones, or other barriers such as wheelie-bins. Residents still have vehicle access and can leave their cars parked on the road. Volunteer stewards (usually residents) stand at each end of the street and walk in front of any moving vehicles to keep it safe.

 

In 2019, the Department for Transport wrote to all English councils encouraging them to support play streets and advising them about which legal routes to use. Revised road closure guidance to boost children's outdoor play - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

 

They followed this up by publishing updated guidance on temporary traffic regulation orders for play streets: Temporary traffic regulation orders for special events - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

 

Our children in Lancashire deserve the opportunity to play out safely, improve their physical and mental health through play and do so in an area with reduced nitrogen oxide levels too.

 

Lancashire County Council therefore resolves to:

 

(i)  Develop a protocol to support applicants applying to their district council under the Town Police Clauses Act 1984 to ensure that the application process is quick and simple for residents wishing to facilitate playing out sessions on their street, removing barriers to them doing so.

(ii)  Make contact with relevant officers where similar schemes are currently operating successfully, to learn about the key steps to successfully implementing the protocol and to research the concept on the Playing Out website.

(iii)  Launch the protocol in Autumn 2023 to include promotion to district partners.