Agenda item

to consider the following motions received (if any) in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 10.1

 

Notices of Motion – to consider the following motions received in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 10.1:

 

(a)    By Cllrs Pearce and Bastone

 

‘With immediate effect, this Council adopts the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism that reads as follows:

 

‘Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred towards Jews.  Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.”

 

S:\All Staff\Committee Reports\South Hams Committees\Council\2020-02-13

 

 

(b)By Cllrs Chown and Hawkins

 

‘That South Hams District Council:

 

(i)    acknowledges the progress that this Council has made to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote renewable electricity;

 

(ii)   recognises that councils can play a central role in creating sustainable communities, particularly through the provision of locally generated renewable electricity;

 

(iii)   further recognises:

 

·           that very large financial setup and running costs involved in selling locally generated renewable electricity to local customers result in it being impossible for local renewable electricity generators to do so;

 

·           that making these financial costs proportionate to the scale of a renewable electricity supplier’s operation would create significant opportunities for councils to be providers of locally generated renewable electricity directly to local people, businesses and organisations; and

 

·           that revenues received by councils that became local renewable electricity providers could be used to help fund local greenhouse gas emissions reduction measures and to help improve local services and facilities;

 

(iv)        accordingly resolves to support the Local Electricity Bill, currently supported by a cross-party group of 115 MPs in the previous Parliament, and which, if made law, would make the setup and running costs of selling renewable electricity to local customers proportionate by establishing a Right to Local Supply; and

 

(v)         further resolves to:

 

·      inform the local media of this decision,

 

·      write to local MPs, asking them to support the Bill, and

 

·      write to the organisers of the campaign for the Bill, Power for People, (at 8 Delancey Passage, Camden, London NW1 7NN) expressing its support.

 

(Additional Note: this motion also has the support of Sir Gary Streeter MP as below:

 

Dear Matt,

Thank you for your email and I set out my statement of support below:

“I am pleased to express my support for the Local Electricity Bill brought forward by Private Members’ Bill in the last Parliament, but which unfortunately did not complete its passage before the election.

I am encouraging the government to adopt this measure to enable local renewable energy generators to sell that energy into their local community and not simply to a utility company.  I am sure that this kind of micro generation and distribution is an important part of the renewable landscape as we move towards our carbon zero targets.”

Best wishes,

Gary)

 

74/19              

It was noted that two motions had been received in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 10:

 

(a)   By Cllrs Pearce and Bastone

 

“With immediate effect, this Council adopts the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism that reads as follows:

 

‘Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred towards Jews.  Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.”

 

In her introduction, the proposer highlighted the importance of the issue and that the motion sought adoption of the recognised international definition of Antisemitism. 

 

In discussion, there was unanimous support expressed for approval of the motion.

 

It was then:

 

RESOLVED

 

With immediate effect, this Council adopts the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism that reads as follows:

 

‘Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred towards Jews.  Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.’

 

 

(b)   By Cllrs Chown and Hawkins

 

“That South Hams District Council:

 

(i)           acknowledges the progress that this Council has made to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote renewable electricity;

 

(ii)         recognises that councils can play a central role in creating sustainable communities, particularly through the provision of locally generated renewable electricity;

 

(iii)        further recognises:

 

·     that very large financial setup and running costs involved in selling locally generated renewable electricity to local customers result in it being impossible for local renewable electricity generators to do so;

 

·     that making these financial costs proportionate to the scale of a renewable electricity supplier’s operation would create significant opportunities for councils to be providers of locally generated renewable electricity directly to local people, businesses and organisations; and

 

 

·     that revenues received by councils that became local renewable electricity providers could be used to help fund local greenhouse gas emissions reduction measures and to help improve local services and facilities;

 

(iv)        accordingly resolves to support the Local Electricity Bill, currently supported by a cross-party group of 115 MPs in the previous Parliament, and which, if made law, would make the setup and running costs of selling renewable electricity to local customers proportionate by establishing a Right to Local Supply; and

 

(v)         further resolves to:

 

·     inform the local media of this decision,

 

·     write to local MPs, asking them to support the Bill, and

 

·     write to the organisers of the campaign for the Bill, Power for People, (at 8 Delancey Passage, Camden, London NW1 7NN) expressing its support.

 

During his introduction, the proposer advised that, should the Bill became law, it was likely to have many benefits for existing Community Energy Groups.  In addition, the proposer advised that a number of other local authorities had already supported similar motions.

 

In debate, a number of Members thanked the proposer for submitted his motion and particular reference was also made to:-

 

(a)     the motion having already been approved by Totnes Town Council;

 

(b)     there being a general need to improve awareness of how the Grid worked;

 

(c)     the Council’s Renewable Energy policies.  A Member expressed his view that the Council needed to revisit its policies relating to Renewable Energy;

 

(d)     the need for all Members to lobby their local MPs in this regard.

 

It was then:

 

RESOLVED

 

That South Hams District Council:

 

(i)       acknowledges the progress that this Council has made to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote renewable electricity;

 

(ii)      recognises that councils can play a central role in creating sustainable communities, particularly through the provision of locally generated renewable electricity;

 

(iii)     further recognises:

 

·      that very large financial setup and running costs involved in selling locally generated renewable electricity to local customers result in it being impossible for local renewable electricity generators to do so;

 

·      that making these financial costs proportionate to the scale of a renewable electricity supplier’s operation would create significant opportunities for councils to be providers of locally generated renewable electricity directly to local people, businesses and organisations; and

 

·          that revenues received by councils that became local renewable electricity providers could be used to help fund local greenhouse gas emissions reduction measures and to help improve local services and facilities;

 

(iv)    accordingly resolves to support the Local Electricity Bill, currently supported by a cross-party group of 115 MPs in the previous Parliament, and which, if made law, would make the setup and running costs of selling renewable electricity to local customers proportionate by establishing a Right to Local Supply; and

 

(v)      further resolves to:

 

·      inform the local media of this decision;

 

·      write to local MPs, asking them to support the Bill; and

 

·      write to the organisers of the campaign for the Bill, Power for People, (at 8 Delancey Passage, Camden, London NW1 7NN) expressing its support.