to consider the following motions received (if any) in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 10.1
a. From Cllr Chown and Cllr Hodgson
“Debate Not Hate motion
Intimidation and abuse, in person or otherwise, undermines democracy.
Therefore, this council resolves to:
• Uphold exemplary standards of political debate in all it does
• Challenge the normalisation of abuse by promoting respectful, courteous, and constructive debate amongst our residents
• Sign up to the LGA’s ‘Debate Not Hate’ campaign which aims to raise public awareness of the role of councillors in local communities, encourage healthy debate, and improve the response to and support those in public life facing abuse and intimidation.
• Write to the local Members of Parliament to ask them to support the campaign
• Write to the Government to ask them to work with the LGA to develop and implement a plan to address abuse and intimidation of politicians
• Regularly review the support available to councillors in relation to abuse and intimidation and councillor safety
• Take a zero-tolerance approach to abuse of councillors and officers”
Minutes:
81/22
It was noted that one Motion on Notice had been received in accordance with Council Procedure Rules.
a. From Cllr Chown and Cllr Hodgson
“Debate Not Hate motion
Intimidation and abuse, in person or otherwise, undermines democracy.
Therefore, this council resolves to:
• Uphold exemplary standards of political debate in all it does
• Challenge the normalisation of abuse by promoting respectful, courteous, and constructive debate amongst our residents
• Sign up to the LGA’s ‘Debate Not Hate’ campaign which aims to raise public awareness of the role of councillors in local communities, encourage healthy debate, and improve the response to and support those in public life facing abuse and intimidation.
• Write to the local Members of Parliament to ask them to support the campaign
• Write to the Government to ask them to work with the LGA to develop and implement a plan to address abuse and intimidation of politicians
• Regularly review the support available to councillors in relation to abuse and intimidation and councillor safety
• Take a zero-tolerance approach to abuse of councillors and officers
During debate, there was widespread support expressed for the Motion and the proposer and seconder were thanked for bringing it forward to this Meeting.
To further supplement the Motion, an amendment was PROPOSED, SECONDED that read as follows:
‘Write to the Government to ask them to work with the LGA to develop and implement a plan to address abuse and intimidation of politicians including the restoration of the power to suspend Councillors at all levels of Local Government whose behaviour is deemed under the Standards Complaints Procedure to warrant this sanction.’
In support of the amendment, the proposer felt that it was critical to be able to impose meaningful sanctions in the event of any Councillor breaching their Code of Conduct. In agreement with this view, the proposer and seconder of the motion were willing to accept the amendment and it was therefore included as part of the substantive motion.
It was then:
RESOLVED
That this Council RESOLVES to:
(a) Uphold exemplary standards of political debate in all it does;
(b) Challenge the normalisation of abuse by promoting respectful, courteous, and constructive debate amongst our residents;
(c) Sign up to the LGA’s ‘Debate Not Hate’ campaign which aims to raise public awareness of the role of councillors in local communities, encourage healthy debate, and improve the response to and support those in public life facing abuse and intimidation;
(d) Write to the local Members of Parliament to ask them to support the campaign;
(e) Write to the Government to ask them to work with the LGA to develop and implement a plan to address abuse and intimidation of politicians. In so doing, to write to the Government to ask them to work with the LGA to develop and implement a plan to address abuse and intimidation of politicians including the restoration of the power to suspend Councillors at all levels of Local Government whose behaviour is deemed under the Standards Complaints Procedure to warrant this sanction;
(f) Regularly review the support available to councillors in relation to abuse and intimidation and councillor safety; and
(g) Take a zero-tolerance approach to abuse of councillors and officers.