(1) Motion 564 – (Councillors Miss E Wainwright and Miss J Norton
The following motion (1-3 and 5-7) had been referred to the Standards Committee for consideration and report
Council resolves to:
(1) The Fawcett Society and Local Government Information Unit report, ‘Does Local Government Work for Women?’ found that structural and cultural barriers hold back women’s participation in local government. The practices and protocols of local government create unnecessary barriers to participation particularly for women with caring responsibilities. https://www.fawcettsociety.org.uk/does-local-government-work-for-women-final-report-of-the-local-government-commission
The Standards Committee at its meeting on 3 February 2021 considered the Motion and following discussion RECOMMENDED to Council
a) Motion 564 (1-3 and 5-7) be supported; and
b) In addition, that point (3) of the motion should include members and officers and the review should include all Council conventions and that in relation to point (5) the Equality Forum and the Community Policy Development Group should be consulted as a whole and not just the Chairs.
(2) Motion 566 – (Councillors: G Barnell and S J Clist – 17 December 2020)
The following motion had been referred to the Cabinet for consideration and report:
This Council agrees to commission, as a matter of urgency, a plan based on evidence of local housing need for the delivery of affordable rented and social rented housing across Mid Devon. This plan should make best use of the Government's Affordable Housing programme 2021/26 and be presented to Council by June 2021.
The Cabinet at its meeting on 4 February 2021 considered the Motion and following discussion RECOMMENDED to Council that Motion 566 not be supported as the timeline proposed within the motion was not achievable, there were already strands of work taking place with a planned programme already set out.
(3) MOTION 568 - (COUNCILLOR A WILCE – 8 FEBRUARY 2021)
The Council has before it a MOTION submitted for the first time:
That, to prevent further ambiguity by making the wording more concise, this Council resolves to amend Rule 14.4 (Automatic reference to Committee) by removing the reference to ‘Council’ and replace it with ‘Chairman’ and to insert after ’report’ ‘unless an alternative proposition is put forward and is accepted’
So as to read:
14.4 Automatic Reference to Committee
If the subject matter of any Motion, of which notice has been duly given, comes within the province of the Cabinet or any Committee or Committees it shall, upon being formally moved and seconded, shall stand referred, without the mover or seconder of the Motion speaking on the substance of the Motion and without any other discussion, to the Cabinet or such Committee or Committees, or to such other Committee or Committees as the Chairman may determine, for consideration and report, unless an alternative proposition is put forward and is accepted; and that the mover (or in his absence, the seconder) of the Motion should be invited to the Meeting of the Cabinet, Committee or Committees to amplify the Motion, but without any right to vote except as a Member of such Committee. Provided that the Chairman may, if he considers it convenient and conducive to the despatch of business allow the Motion to be dealt with at the meeting, at which it is brought forward.
In accordance with Procedure Rule 14.4, the Chairman of the Council has decided to allow this motion (if moved and seconded) to be dealt with at this meeting.
(4) MOTION 569 - (COUNCILLOR A WILCE – 8 FEBRUARY 2021)
The Council has before it a MOTION submitted for the first time:
That this Council resolves to ask the Standards Committee to review Rule 14.4 (Automatic Reference to Committee) and to recommend whether this Council should either:
a) completely remove rule 14.4 or
b) amend the rule to re-enable the Member putting a Motion forward, and the Member Seconding that Motion, to speak to that Motion (and for any further discussion to take place on that Motion that the Chairman may see fit), before that Motion shall stand referred to a Committee or
c) make no changes
In accordance with Procedure Rule 14.4, the Chairman of the Council has decided that this Motion (if moved and seconded) to be dealt with at this meeting.
(5) MOTION 570 - (COUNCILLOR A WILCE – 8 FEBRUARY 2021)
The Council has before it a MOTION submitted for the first time:
That, to improve local planning consultation processes and to regularise current Planning Committee practises, this Council resolves to amend Rule 27.5 as follows:
After (Appendix J to the Constitution), is inserted: in addition, the Chair will also permit the following to speak for no more than 3 minutes, without prior notice being required,
1 Adjacent Ward Members
2 Any Member having previously submitted a comment to that application that permission to speak being limited solely to the raising of material planning considerations relating to directly their Ward, or else to any relevant planning policy or plan appertaining to this Council.
So as to read:
27.5 Any Councillor may attend any meeting of a committee of the Council and may speak on any agenda item for that meeting. However, in relation to the Planning Committee, the right to speak on a planning application, enforcement item, or other report relating to a particular ward of the Council shall be limited to the rights of a Ward Member to speak as set out in paragraphs 9.2 and 9.3 of the Protocol of Good Practice for Councillors Dealing in Planning Matters (Appendix J to the Constitution); in addition, the Chairman will also permit the following to speak for no more than 3 minutes, without prior notice being required:
1 Adjacent Ward members
2 Any Member having previously submitted a comment to that Application that permission to speak being limited solely to the raising of material planning considerations relating to directly their Ward, or else to any relevant planning policy or plan appertaining to this Council.
In accordance with Procedure Rule 14.4, the Chairman of the Council has decided that this Motion (if moved and seconded) will be referred without discussion to the Standards Committee unless there is an alternative proposition.
Minutes:
(1) Motion 564 – (Councillors Miss E Wainwright and Miss J Norton)
The following motion (1-3 and 5-7) had been referred to the Standards Committee for consideration and report
Council resolves to:
(1) The Fawcett Society and Local Government Information Unit report, ‘Does Local Government Work for Women?’ found that structural and cultural barriers hold back women’s participation in local government. The practices and protocols of local government create unnecessary barriers to participation particularly for women with caring responsibilities. https://www.fawcettsociety.org.uk/does-local-government-work-for-women-final-report-of-the-local-government-commission
The Standards Committee at its meeting on 3 February 2021 considered the Motion and following discussion RECOMMENDED to Council
a) Motion 564 (1-3 and 5-7) be supported; and
b) In addition, that point (3) of the motion should include members and officers and the review should include all Council conventions and that in relation to point (5) the Equality Forum and the Community Policy Development Group should be consulted as a whole and not just the Chairs.
In accordance with Procedure Rule 16.5, Councillor Miss E Wainwright sought consent of the Council (which was agreed) to amend her motion to read:
This Council affirms its role in helping to create an equal and inclusive society for all, and recognises that sexism, racism, bigotry, discrimination, intolerance and bad behaviours in any form play no part in this. This Council also acknowledges that language is a powerful tool for change, inclusion and inspiration, as well as a cause of ignorance and damaged relationships -- it should be used thoughtfully and respectfully, and language and behaviour should be challenged where it is not respectful or conducive to good outcomes for the Council and its residents.
In order that the Council can play its part locally in building a more understanding and inclusive society, it resolves:
1. To review all our relevant policies and conventions, and identify any additional Member and Officer training needs, so as to actively promote diversity, engagement and inclusivity.
2. That the Equality Forum and Community Policy Development Group be tasked with exploring opportunities to increase inclusivity, engagement and representation at Mid Devon District Council, including by identifying hard to reach or underrepresented communities, and considering how best to engage with them. ?
3. To review and update the MDDC equalities policy and create a diversity and inclusion strategy, seeking input from residents and local organisations that have expertise where necessary, so as to ensure the council is more socially inclusive in its recruitment, member representation and service provision.
4.That the Scrutiny committee be tasked to consider and make any recommendations to the council regarding the findings of the Fawcett Society/LGiU report: ‘Does Local Government Work for Women?’ (see footnote 1).
(1) The Fawcett Society and Local Government Information Unit report, ‘Does Local Government Work for Women?’ found that structural and cultural barriers hold back women’s participation in local government. The practices and protocols of local government create unnecessary barriers to participation particularly for women with caring responsibilities. https://www.fawcettsociety.org.uk/does-local-government-work-for-women-final-report-of-the-local-government-commission
Consideration was given to:
· How the mover and seconder of the motion had reflected on previous discussions and taken consideration of the recommendation from the Standards Committee
· How Local Government was an important engagement tool and that language was a powerful tool for change, inclusion and inspiration
· The Scrutiny Committee had already added paragraph 4 of the Motion to its work programme
· Support for the motion
· Continued training for members and the need for local people to be involved in local politics
· The number of women already on the Council and the wording around how language was used
· Those who had received equality training
· Whether the motion was specific enough
· The need to affirm commitment to equality
Following discussion and upon a vote being taken, the MOTION was declared to have been CARRIED.
(2) Motion 566 – (Councillors: G Barnell and S J Clist – 17 December 2020)
The following motion had been referred to the Cabinet for consideration and report:
This Council agrees to commission, as a matter of urgency, a plan based on evidence of local housing need for the delivery of affordable rented and social rented housing across Mid Devon. This plan should make best use of the Government's Affordable Housing programme 2021/26 and be presented to Council by June 2021.
The Cabinet at its meeting on 4 February 2021 considered the Motion and following discussion RECOMMENDED to Council that Motion 566 not be supported as the timeline proposed within the motion was not achievable, there were already strands of work taking place with a planned programme already set out.
Councillor G Barnell sought consent of the Council to amend his Motion in accordance with Procedure Rule 16.5 by altering the date of a plan to be presented to Council.
Upon a vote being taking, the request to amend the Motion was not supported.
Consideration was given to:
· The lack of social rented housing in the district
· Funding being made available for other ventures but not for important issues of social housing
· Funding returned to central Government
· The fact that there was a plan in place which needed to be evidenced by a Housing Needs Strategy
· The impact of the Right to Buy Scheme and that social rented housing could still be lost under that scheme
Following discussion and upon a vote being taken, the MOTION was declared to have FAILED.
(3) MOTION 568 - (COUNCILLOR A WILCE – 8 FEBRUARY 2021)
The Council had before it a MOTION submitted for the first time:
That, to prevent further ambiguity by making the wording more concise, this Council resolves to amend Rule 14.4 (Automatic reference to Committee) by removing the reference to ‘Council’ and replace it with ‘Chairman’ and to insert after ’report’ ‘unless an alternative proposition is put forward and is accepted’
So as to read:
14.4 Automatic Reference to Committee
If the subject matter of any Motion, of which notice has been duly given, comes within the province of the Cabinet or any Committee or Committees it shall, upon being formally moved and seconded, shall stand referred, without the mover or seconder of the Motion speaking on the substance of the Motion and without any other discussion, to the Cabinet or such Committee or Committees, or to such other Committee or Committees as the Chairman may determine, for consideration and report, unless an alternative proposition is put forward and is accepted; and that the mover (or in his absence, the seconder) of the Motion should be invited to the Meeting of the Cabinet, Committee or Committees to amplify the Motion, but without any right to vote except as a Member of such Committee. Provided that the Chairman may, if he considers it convenient and conducive to the despatch of business allow the Motion to be dealt with at the meeting, at which it is brought forward.
The MOTION was MOVED by Councillor A Wilce and seconded by Councillor B G J Warren
In accordance with Procedure Rule 14.4, the Chairman of the Council had ruled that the matter be discussed at this meeting.
The Head of Legal (Monitoring Officer) highlighted Procedure Rule 25.2 with regard to any changes to Council procedure rules.
Councillor A Wilce MOVED, seconded by Councillor B G J Warren that Procedure Rule 25.2 be suspended to allow further discussion to take place on the matter proposed.
Upon a vote being taken, the suspension of Procedure Rule 25.2 was CARRIED.
Following discussion the MOTION was declared to have been CARRIED.
(4) MOTION 569 - (COUNCILLOR A WILCE – 8 FEBRUARY 2021)
The Council had before it a MOTION submitted for the first time:
That this Council resolves to ask the Standards Committee to review Rule 14.4 (Automatic Reference to Committee) and to recommend whether this Council should either:
a) completely remove rule 14.4 or
b) amend the rule to re-enable the Member putting a Motion forward, and the Member Seconding that Motion, to speak to that Motion (and for any further discussion to take place on that Motion that the Chairman may see fit), before that Motion shall stand referred to a Committee or
c) make no changes
The MOTION was MOVED by Councillor A Wilce and seconded by Councillor B G J Warren:
In accordance with Procedure Rule 14.4, the Chairman of the Council had ruled that the matter be discussed at this meeting.
Following discussion the MOTION was declared to have been CARRIED.
(5) MOTION 570 - (COUNCILLOR A WILCE – 8 FEBRUARY 2021)
The Council had before it a MOTION submitted for the first time:
That, to improve local planning consultation processes and to regularise current Planning Committee practises, this Council resolves to amend Rule 27.5 as follows:
After (Appendix J to the Constitution), is inserted: in addition, the Chair will also permit the following to speak for no more than 3 minutes, without prior notice being required:
1 Adjacent Ward Members
2 Any Member having previously submitted a comment to that application that permission to speak being limited solely to the raising of material planning considerations relating to directly their Ward, or else to any relevant planning policy or plan appertaining to this Council.
So as to read:
27.5 Any Councillor may attend any meeting of a committee of the Council and may speak on any agenda item for that meeting. However, in relation to the Planning Committee, the right to speak on a planning application, enforcement item, or other report relating to a particular ward of the Council shall be limited to the rights of a Ward Member to speak as set out in paragraphs 9.2 and 9.3 of the Protocol of Good Practice for Councillors Dealing in Planning Matters (Appendix J to the Constitution); in addition, the Chairman will also permit the following to speak for no more than 3 minutes, without prior notice being required:
1 Adjacent Ward members
2 Any Member having previously submitted a comment to that Application that permission to speak being limited solely to the raising of material planning considerations relating to directly their Ward, or else to any relevant planning policy or plan appertaining to this Council.
The MOTION was MOVED by Councillor A Wilce and seconded by Councillor R M Deed:
In accordance with Procedure Rule 14.4, the Chairman of the Council ruled that the MOTION STAND REFERRED to the Standards Committee for consideration.
Note: Councillor J Wright left the meeting at this point.