to consider the following motions received (if any) in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 10.1
(a) By Cllrs Hopwood and Austen
‘All types of businesses from the cake maker to the carpenter play a major role in our communities. They help to support economic growth from the ground up. Following the pandemic, these often innovative and dynamic small businesses are going to be key to our recovery.
The principle of shopping locally and supporting local trades is something that we can all do as we support each other to grow and thrive in the coming years and that can begin as local as your own street, community or village. As a Council (and elected Members) we can support and encourage support local and be ‘Support Local’ advocates within our communities.’
(b) By Cllrs Hodgson and Rose
“In line with our formal declaration of a climate and biodiversity emergency, and our commitment to actions to change behaviour to address the causes of this situation, and mitigate the impacts, this Council supports the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill proposed by a coalition of scientists, academics and lawyers with the aim of bringing the UK’s climate policy into one with evolving scientific evidence. Currently this also supported by 96 cross-party members of parliament. Nationally we need a strong legislative framework that embeds the Government’s targets in law, enabling us as supportive players, to plan and develop our future trajectories, to fit in with those targets.
Council therefore resolves to:
i. Support the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill; and
ii. Inform the local media of this decision;
(c) By Cllrs Birch and Holway
‘Following the decision of Full
Council at its meeting on 11 February 2021 to allocate the sum of
£200,000 to Climate Change and Biodiversity projects, it is
resolved that part of this sum be allocated to Members as a
CC&B Locality Fund for CC&B projects, in a similar manner
to that adopted in respect of the Sustainable Community Locality
Fund.
Each Member will be allocated the
sum of £3,000 for distribution for CC&B projects and it
is a condition that any funds distributed be in respect of projects
that fall within the ambit of the Council’s Climate Change
and Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan adopted on 17 December
2020 (and any subsequent amendments).
The Member allocating his/her budget or any part thereof to any project will submit six monthly reports from the recipient organisation. The reports shall comply with the reporting arrangements to be determined by the Leader of the Council and the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel.
The allocation will be initially for the financial year 2021-22, and to be reviewed during the budget setting process for 2022-23, when the spend, quality of projects and reports submitted by Members, along with any other competing budget pressures, will be taken into consideration.’
(d) By Cllrs Brazil and O’Callaghan
‘South Hams District Council continues to lobby government to close the loophole that allows domestic properties to switch to business rates and then pay nothing by claiming the small business exemption. Additionally, local authorities need to be permitted to charge up to 200% on second/holiday homes in their area.’
(e) By Cllrs Baldry and Thomas
1. Many South Hams councillors live quite a distance from Totnes. For some it is an hour a round trip to attend meetings. It isn’t always easy, particularly during winter time to attend all the meetings because of inclement weather and work commitments
2. SHDC has declared a climate emergency and by attending meetings via Teams or Zoom we are not driving and using non-renewal resources but are cutting down on our carbon footprint – a priority of this council.
3. Virtual meetings have saved the council a considerable amount of money.
4. Councillors wish to attend SHDC meetings but are also keen to attend meetings of the Parish and Town Councils within their wards. Some are also County Councillors and there is often a clash of dates. This means that councillors have to choose which to attend. The result is less engagement with the District Council, or the County Council or the Parish Councils. Having remote meetings means that councillors can more easily attend most of the meetings, to the advantage of all the councils.
5. The engagement of the public and press has also generally increased. The level of reporting about council business has increased as physical meetings no longer attracted the local press due to cutbacks in their staff.
6. For some councillors who have work commitments, mobility issues or are carers remote meetings have been easier for them to attend. This may well help to attract a wider age range of potential councillors in future elections.
This Council would like to have the flexibility to hold remote and physical meetings. We recognise that some meetings are better dealt with physically and we also recognise that perhaps a hybrid model could also work successfully.
This Council resolves to …
1. Write to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) urging that the temporary change to the meeting rules set out in the Local Government Act 1972 be made permanent so that after May we have the flexibility to hold meetings remotely or physically or by using a combination of the two.
2. Write to our MPs, the County Council and Town and Parish Councils asking for support for this flexible approach to council meetings.
3. Once our request is successful to explore the use of technology to develop remote meetings even more in order to attract a wider audience.”
(f) By Cllrs Hodgson and Rose
“This Council supports the government’s Active Travel Initiative and agrees to work with Devon County Council to ensure this important pedestrian and cycling infrastructure linking towns and rural villages is fully developed in a timely manner and maintained, to recognise the significance of these non-vehicular routes to the health and well-being of South Hams residents and visitors and to enable behaviour change in line with responding to the Council’s declaration of a climate and biodiversity Emergency and Devon County Council’s Carbon Plan”.
(g) By Cllrs Hodgson and Rose
“In line with this Council’s climate and biodiversity emergency, this council commits to work with Devon County Council to implement Air Quality Management Action plans in SHDC to:
· Improve recording of air pollutants (including Nitrous Oxides and particulates) to ensure accurate and comprehensive real time data collection
· Assess and report the cumulative impacts on human health and wildlife within 10 meters of monitored public highways and footpaths
· Address and significantly reduce the air quality issues in those zones as a matter of priority
· Implement urgent measures to protect residents from the impacts of these pollutants.”
Minutes:
54/20
It was noted that seven motions had been received in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 10:
(a) By Cllrs Hopwood and Austen
‘All types of businesses from the cake maker to the carpenter play a major role in our communities. They help to support economic growth from the ground up. Following the pandemic, these often innovative and dynamic small businesses are going to be key to our recovery. The principle of shopping locally and supporting local trades is something that we can all do as we support each other to grow and thrive in the coming years and that can begin as local as your own street, community or village.
As a Council (and elected Members) we can support and encourage support local and be ‘Support Local’ advocates within our communities.’
Since the agenda had been published, the Chairman advised that the proposer and seconder had given notice of their wish to formally withdrawn their motion.
(b) By Cllrs Hodgson and Rose
‘In line with our formal declaration of a climate and biodiversity emergency, and our commitment to actions to change behaviour to address the causes of this situation, and mitigate the impacts, this Council supports the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill proposed by a coalition of scientists, academics and lawyers with the aim of bringing the UK’s climate policy into one with evolving scientific evidence. Currently this is also supported by 96 cross-party members of parliament. Nationally we need a strong legislative framework that embeds the Government’s targets in law, enabling us as supportive players, to plan and develop our future trajectories, to fit in with those targets.
Council therefore resolves to:
i. Support the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill; and
ii. Inform the local media of this decision;
At the discretion of the Chairman, the proposer of the motion wished to express her deep reservations at the decision of the Monitoring Officer to remove it from this meeting agenda due to the Council currently being in a Purdah Period. The Member proceeded to advise that a similar motion had been accepted by the Monitoring Officer at Devon County Council and, in light of the extent of the public concerns in the matter, she asked that the Chairman reinstate her motion on to the agenda.
The Monitoring Officer apologised to the proposer for the unfortunate timing of his decision but remained of the view that his ruling was correct. As a consequence of the professional advice given, the Chairman concluded that she was not willing to reinstate the motion on to this agenda and confirmed that it would therefore be rolled over to the Annual Council meeting on 20 May 2021 for consideration.
(c) By Cllrs Birch and Holway
‘Following the
decision of Full Council at its meeting on 11 February 2021 to
allocate the sum of £200,000 to Climate Change and
Biodiversity projects, it is resolved that part of this sum be
allocated to Members as a CC&B Locality Fund for CC&B
projects, in a similar manner to that adopted in respect of the
Sustainable Community Locality Fund.
Each Member will be allocated the
sum of £3,000 for distribution for CC&B projects and it
is a condition that any funds distributed be in respect of projects
that fall within the ambit of the Council’s Climate Change
and Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan adopted on 17 December
2020 (and any subsequent amendments).
The Member allocating his/her budget or any part thereof to any project will submit six monthly reports from the recipient organisation. The reports shall comply with the reporting arrangements to be determined by the Leader of the Council and the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel.
The allocation will be initially for the financial year 2021-22, and to be reviewed during the budget setting process for 2022-23, when the spend, quality of projects and reports submitted by Members, along with any other competing budget pressures, will be taken into consideration.’
In discussion, there was widespread support expressed for the motion and the proposer and seconder were both thanked for putting it on this agenda.
It was then:
RESOLVED
Following the decision of Full
Council at its meeting on 11 February 2021 to allocate the sum of
£200,000 to Climate Change and Biodiversity projects, it is
resolved that part of this sum be allocated to Members as a
CC&B Locality Fund for CC&B projects, in a similar manner
to that adopted in respect of the Sustainable Community Locality
Fund.
Each Member will be allocated the
sum of £3,000 for distribution for CC&B projects and it
is a condition that any funds distributed be in respect of projects
that fall within the ambit of the Council’s Climate Change
and Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan adopted on 17 December
2020 (and any subsequent amendments).
The Member allocating his/her budget or any part thereof to any project will submit six monthly reports from the recipient organisation. The reports shall comply with the reporting arrangements to be determined by the Leader of the Council and the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel.
The allocation will be initially for the financial year 2021-22, and to be reviewed during the budget setting process for 2022-23, when the spend, quality of projects and reports submitted by Members, along with any other competing budget pressures, will be taken into consideration.
(d) By Cllrs Brazil and O’Callaghan
‘South Hams District Council continues to lobby government to close the loophole that allows domestic properties to switch to business rates and then pay nothing by claiming the small business exemption. Additionally, local authorities need to be permitted to charge up to 200% on second/holiday homes in their area.’
In his introduction, the proposer made reference to:
o the details in relation to the recent Central Government announcement being awaited;
o his wish to thank the Leader for her unwavering support on this issue; and
o his belief that a 200% charge on second/holiday homes was a far more fairer form of taxation.
During the ensuing debate, the following points were raised:
(a) Some Members supported the spirit of the motion but also emphasised the importance of the tourism industry to the South Hams;
(b) A number of Members wished to record their thanks to Anthony Mangnall MP for his tireless work in progressing this matter but also recognised the need to maintain the pressure in this respect;
(c) It was recognised that any initiative to charge 200% to second/holiday homeowners would require a change in primary legislation from Central Government.
It was then:
RESOLVED
That South Hams District Council continues to lobby government to close the loophole that allows domestic properties to switch to business rates and then pay nothing by claiming the small business exemption. Additionally, local authorities need to be permitted to charge up to 200% on second/holiday homes in their area.
(e) By Cllrs Baldry and Thomas
1. Many South Hams councillors live quite a distance from Totnes. For some it is an hour a round trip to attend meetings. It isn’t always easy, particularly during winter time to attend all the meetings because of inclement weather and work commitments
2. SHDC has declared a climate emergency and by attending meetings via Teams or Zoom we are not driving and using non-renewal resources but are cutting down on our carbon footprint – a priority of this council.
3. Virtual meetings have saved the council a considerable amount of money.
4. Councillors wish to attend SHDC meetings but are also keen to attend meetings of the Parish and Town Councils within their wards. Some are also County Councillors and there is often a clash of dates. This means that councillors have to choose which to attend. The result is less engagement with the District Council, or the County Council or the Parish Councils. Having remote meetings means that councillors can more easily attend most of the meetings, to the advantage of all the councils.
5. The engagement of the public and press has also generally increased. The level of reporting about council business has increased as physical meetings no longer attracted the local press due to cutbacks in their staff.
6. For some councillors who have work commitments, mobility issues or are carers remote meetings have been easier for them to attend. This may well help to attract a wider age range of potential councillors in future elections.
This Council would like to have the flexibility to hold remote and physical meetings. We recognise that some meetings are better dealt with physically and we also recognise that perhaps a hybrid model could also work successfully.
This Council resolves to
1. Write to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) urging that the temporary change to the meeting rules set out in the Local Government Act 1972 be made permanent so that after May we have the flexibility to hold meetings remotely or physically or by using a combination of the two.
2. Write to our MPs, the County Council and Town and Parish Councils asking for support for this flexible approach to council meetings.
3. Once our request is successful to explore the use of technology to develop remote meetings even more in order to attract a wider audience.”
In debate on the motion, particular reference was made to:-
(a) the view that hybrid arrangements would be appropriate in the future;
(b) the concerns of the Council being similarly shared by a number of local town and parish councils;
(c) the benefits of remote meetings. Whilst there were limitations with meeting remotely, there had also been a number of benefits that included:
o the savings in travel and mileage;
o the consequent reduction in carbon footprint; and
o increased attendance at meetings by Members.
It was then:
RESOLVED
1. Many South Hams councillors live quite a distance from Totnes. For some it is an hour a round trip to attend meetings. It isn’t always easy, particularly during winter time to attend all the meetings because of inclement weather and work commitments;
2. SHDC has declared a climate emergency and by attending meetings via Teams or Zoom we are not driving and using non-renewal resources but are cutting down on our carbon footprint – a priority of this council.
3. Virtual meetings have saved the council a considerable amount of money.
4. Councillors wish to attend SHDC meetings but are also keen to attend meetings of the Parish and Town Councils within their wards. Some are also County Councillors and there is often a clash of dates. This means that councillors have to choose which to attend. The result is less engagement with the District Council, or the County Council or the Parish Councils. Having remote meetings means that councillors can more easily attend most of the meetings, to the advantage of all the councils.
5. The engagement of the public and press has also generally increased. The level of reporting about council business has increased as physical meetings no longer attracted the local press due to cutbacks in their staff.
6. For some councillors who have work commitments, mobility issues or are carers remote meetings have been easier for them to attend. This may well help to attract a wider age range of potential councillors in future elections.
7. This Council would like to have the flexibility to hold remote and physical meetings. We recognise that some meetings are better dealt with physically and we also recognise that perhaps a hybrid model could also work successfully.
This Council resolves to
1. Write to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) urging that the temporary change to the meeting rules set out in the Local Government Act 1972 be made permanent so that after May we have the flexibility to hold meetings remotely or physically or by using a combination of the two.
2. Write to our MPs, the County Council and Town and Parish Councils asking for support for this flexible approach to council meetings.
3. Once our request is successful to explore the use of technology to develop remote meetings even more in order to attract a wider audience.
(f) By Cllrs Hodgson and Rose
“This Council supports the government’s Active Travel Initiative and agrees to work with Devon County Council to ensure this important pedestrian and cycling infrastructure linking towns and rural villages is fully developed in a timely manner and maintained, to recognise the significance of these non-vehicular routes to the health and well-being of South Hams residents and visitors and to enable behaviour change in line with responding to the Council’s declaration of a climate and biodiversity Emergency and Devon County Council’s Carbon Plan”.
During discussion, the following points were raised:-
(a) The close linkages to the Council’s Climate Change and Biodiversity Emergency was highlighted;
(b) The importance of both adequate infrastructure being in place and behavioural changes being implemented were recognised;
(c) It was recognised that finance would not satisfy all potential schemes and the need to prioritise was therefore emphasised.
It was then:
RESOLVED
This Council supports the government’s Active Travel Initiative and agrees to work with Devon County Council to ensure this important pedestrian and cycling infrastructure linking towns and rural villages is fully developed in a timely manner and maintained, to recognise the significance of these non-vehicular routes to the health and well-being of South Hams residents and visitors and to enable behaviour change in line with responding to the Council’s declaration of a climate and biodiversity Emergency and Devon County Council’s Carbon Plan.
(g) By Cllrs Hodgson and Rose
“In line with this Council’s climate and biodiversity emergency, this council commits to work with Devon County Council to implement Air Quality Management Action plans in SHDC to:
· Improve recording of air pollutants (including Nitrous Oxides and particulates) to ensure accurate and comprehensive real time data collection
· Assess and report the cumulative impacts on human health and wildlife within 10 meters of monitored public highways and footpaths
· Address and significantly reduce the air quality issues in those zones as a matter of priority
· Implement urgent measures to protect residents from the impacts of these pollutants.”
In her introduction, the proposer highlighted the cumulative effects on wildlife corridors, hedgerows and residential areas and stated that these were all related to increased traffic. Furthermore, increased vehicular movements were also leading to increased instances of childhood asthma.
In discussion, the following amendment was PROPOSED and SECONDED:-
“In line with this Council’s climate and biodiversity emergency, this council commits to work with Devon County Council to implement Air Quality Management Action plans, where Air Quality Management Areas have been declared, in SHDC to:
- Continue to record air pollutants Nitrogen Dioxide) to ensure accurate and comprehensive data collection; and
- Work with partners and stakeholders to review the Air Quality Action Plans to secure compliance with national air quality objectives.
Whilst some Members expressed their support for the amendment, other Members felt that it diluted the original motion and omitted any reference to tangible actions.
When put to the vote, the amendment was declared, by virtue of a Chairman’s Casting Vote, to be CARRIED.
It was then:
RESOLVED
In line with this Council’s climate and biodiversity emergency, this council commits to work with Devon County Council to implement Air Quality Management Action plans, where Air Quality Management Areas have been declared, in SHDC to:
o Continue to record air pollutants Nitrogen Dioxide) to ensure accurate and comprehensive data collection; and
o Work with partners and stakeholders to review the Air Quality Action Plans to secure compliance with national air quality objectives.