Agenda item

(1)  Motion 559 (Councillor R B Evans – 22 October 2019)

The following motion had been referred to the Environment Policy Development Group for consideration and report:

It is well known that the planting of trees has an extremely positive effect in the fight against reducing carbon within the atmosphere, each trees sequestration process is known to benefit carbon reduction as each individual tree can absorb as much as 48 pounds of carbon dioxide per year and can sequester 1 ton of carbon dioxide by the time it reaches 40 years old. Given the above and the climate crisis declared by this council and its stated ambition to be carbon neutral by 2030 I ask that the following motion be supported by all members.

This council agrees to use any and all land within the ownership of the authority that is not suitable for development, for the planting of native British trees.

This council agrees to undertake an area wide audit with the assistance of members and land owners to identify suitable sites both within MDDC ownership and private ownership to maximise opportunities for such activity, to be completed within no more than twelve months from the date of this motion , if approved.

This council agrees to work alongside community groups and schools whenever possible to encourage community ownership and sense of place and wellbeing within our communities.

This council agrees that any and all opportunities should be sought to obtain trees from organisations such as government agencies and relevant charitable organisations.  (Woodland Trust, Plant Life, DEFRA / Forestry Commission seeking any funding that may be available).

The Policy Development Group at its meeting on 26 November 2019 considered the Motion and following discussion, Councillor R B Evans in accordance with Procedure Rule 16.4 agreed that the Motion be amended to read:

‘It is well known that the planting of trees has an extremely positive effect in the fight against reducing carbon within the atmosphere, each trees sequestration process is known to benefit carbon reduction as each individual tree can absorb as much as 48 pounds of carbon dioxide per year and can sequester 1 ton of carbon dioxide by the time it reaches 40 years old. Given the above and the climate crisis declared by this council and its stated ambition to be carbon neutral by 2030 I ask that the following motion be supported by all members.

This council agrees to use any and all appropriate land within the ownership of the authority that is not suitable for development, for the planting of native British suitable trees.

This council agrees to undertake an area wide audit with the assistance of members and land owners to identify suitable sites both within MDDC ownership and private ownership to maximise opportunities for such activity, to be completed within no more than twelve months from the date of this motion , if approved.

This council agrees to work alongside community groups and schools whenever possible to encourage community ownership and sense of place and wellbeing within our communities.

This council agrees that any and all opportunities should be sought to obtain trees from organisations such as government agencies and relevant charitable organisations.  (Woodland Trust, Plant Life, DEFRA / Forestry Commission seeking any funding that may be available).’

The Environment Policy Development Group therefore recommended that the Motion (as amended) be supported.

(2)  Motion 560 (Councillor R J Chesterton – 23 October 2019)

The following motion had been referred to the Cabinet for consideration and report:

Review of Development Management Policies on Parking

This Council requests that officers start work on undertaking a review of Mid Devon’s development management policies regarding parking on our new estates.  These should include the number of parking spaces per property as well as how development management can help ease the transition to electric or hybrid vehicles in the future.  

In addition to this, this Council requests that at the earliest available opportunity, and no later than three months after this motion is agreed, a paper is brought to the Planning Policy Advisory Group and Cabinet highlighting some of the possible changes members might have to consider and the best mechanism to bring these about.

The Cabinet at its meeting on 21 November 2019 considered the Motion and following discussion, RECOMMENDED to Council that Motion 560 be supported subject to further discussion prior to Council with regard to the timeframe for any report to the Planning Policy Advisory Group.

Councillor R J Chesterton in accordance with Procedure Rule 16.4 has agreed that the Motion be amended to read:

This Council requests that officers start work on undertaking a review of Mid Devon’s development management policies regarding parking on our new estates.  These should include the number of parking spaces per property as well as how development management can help ease the transition to electric or hybrid vehicles in the future.  

In addition to this, this Council requests that at the earliest available opportunity, and no later than six months after this motion is agreed, a paper is brought to the Planning Policy Advisory Group and Cabinet highlighting some of the possible changes members might have to consider and the best mechanism to bring these about.

(3)  Motion 561 (Councillor R B Evans – 17 December 2019)

The Council has before it a MOTION submitted for the first time:

Development Management Policy 

That this council commits to proactively seeking out and exploring that every opportunity is taken to install a carbon neutral power supply option within all new build development from 01/01/2021 but specifically when residential development is being planned.

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 Cabinet.

(4)  Motion 562 (Councillor R B Evans – 17 December 2019)

The Council has before it a MOTION submitted for the first time:

That MDDC commits to proactively seeking out and exploring development of a long term partnership with a company / companies that can supply innovative power generation that offers carbon neutral power and where possible seeks to give an income stream back to the authority when operational.

That officers are instructed to seek out and explore such opportunities with available companies with immediate effect in order that MDDC can ensure we are actively addressing our own policy to seeking to be carbon neutral by 2030.

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 Cabinet.

(1)  Motion 559 (Councillor R B Evans – 22 October 2019)

The following motion had been referred to the Environment Policy Development Group for consideration and report:

It is well known that the planting of trees has an extremely positive effect in the fight against reducing carbon within the atmosphere, each trees sequestration process is known to benefit carbon reduction as each individual tree can absorb as much as 48 pounds of carbon dioxide per year and can sequester 1 ton of carbon dioxide by the time it reaches 40 years old. Given the above and the climate crisis declared by this council and its stated ambition to be carbon neutral by 2030 I ask that the following motion be supported by all members.

This council agrees to use any and all land within the ownership of the authority that is not suitable for development, for the planting of native British trees.

This council agrees to undertake an area wide audit with the assistance of members and land owners to identify suitable sites both within MDDC ownership and private ownership to maximise opportunities for such activity, to be completed within no more than twelve months from the date of this motion , if approved.

This council agrees to work alongside community groups and schools whenever possible to encourage community ownership and sense of place and wellbeing within our communities.

This council agrees that any and all opportunities should be sought to obtain trees from organisations such as government agencies and relevant charitable organisations.  (Woodland Trust, Plant Life, DEFRA / Forestry Commission seeking any funding that may be available).

The Policy Development Group at its meeting on 26 November 2019 considered the Motion and following discussion, Councillor R B Evans in accordance with Procedure Rule 16.4 agreed that the Motion be amended to read:

‘It is well known that the planting of trees has an extremely positive effect in the fight against reducing carbon within the atmosphere, each trees sequestration process is known to benefit carbon reduction as each individual tree can absorb as much as 48 pounds of carbon dioxide per year and can sequester 1 ton of carbon dioxide by the time it reaches 40 years old. Given the above and the climate crisis declared by this council and its stated ambition to be carbon neutral by 2030 I ask that the following motion be supported by all members.

This council agrees to use any and all appropriate land within the ownership of the authority that is not suitable for development, for the planting of native British suitable trees.

This council agrees to undertake an area wide audit with the assistance of members and land owners to identify suitable sites both within MDDC ownership and private ownership to maximise opportunities for such activity, to be completed within no more than twelve months from the date of this motion , if approved.

This council agrees to work alongside community groups and schools whenever possible to encourage community ownership and sense of place and wellbeing within our communities.

This council agrees that any and all opportunities should be sought to obtain trees from organisations such as government agencies and relevant charitable organisations.  (Woodland Trust, Plant Life, DEFRA / Forestry Commission seeking any funding that may be available).’

The Environment Policy Development Group therefore recommended that the Motion (as amended) be supported.

Upon a vote being taken, the MOTION (as amended) was declared to have been CARRIED.

Note:  The Chief Executive responded to the question posed in public question time stating that discussions had taken place at the Environment PDG with regard to the use of appropriate land for tree planting.  There was a need for a clear policy to be put in place and that the asset team were looking into appropriate land within council ownership. The parameters for planting had not yet been set.

(2)  Motion 560 (Councillor R J Chesterton – 23 October 2019)

The following motion had been referred to the Cabinet for consideration and report:

Review of Development Management Policies on Parking

This Council requests that officers start work on undertaking a review of Mid Devon’s development management policies regarding parking on our new estates.  These should include the number of parking spaces per property as well as how development management can help ease the transition to electric or hybrid vehicles in the future.  

In addition to this, this Council requests that at the earliest available opportunity, and no later than three months after this motion is agreed, a paper is brought to the Planning Policy Advisory Group and Cabinet highlighting some of the possible changes members might have to consider and the best mechanism to bring these about.

The Cabinet at its meeting on 21 November 2019 considered the Motion and following discussion, RECOMMENDED to Council that Motion 560 be supported subject to further discussion prior to Council with regard to the timeframe for any report to the Planning Policy Advisory Group.

Councillor R J Chesterton in accordance with Procedure Rule 16.4 has agreed that the Motion be amended to read:

This Council requests that officers start work on undertaking a review of Mid Devon’s development management policies regarding parking on our new estates.  These should include the number of parking spaces per property as well as how development management can help ease the transition to electric or hybrid vehicles in the future.  

In addition to this, this Council requests that at the earliest available opportunity, and no later than six months after this motion is agreed, a paper is brought to the Planning Policy Advisory Group and Cabinet highlighting some of the possible changes members might have to consider and the best mechanism to bring these about.

Upon a vote being taken, the MOTION (as amended) was declared to have CARRIED.

(3)  Motion 561 (Councillor R B Evans – 17 December 2019)

The Council has before it a MOTION submitted for the first time:

Development Management Policy 

That this council commits to proactively seeking out and exploring that every opportunity is taken to install a carbon neutral power supply option within all new build development from 01/01/2021 but specifically when residential development is being planned.

The MOTION was MOVED by Councillor R B Evans and seconded by Councillor B A Moore.

In accordance with Procedure Rule 14.4, the Chairman of the Council ruled that the MOTION STAND REFERRED to the Cabinet for consideration and report.

(4)  Motion 562 (Councillor R B Evans – 17 December 2019)

The Council has before it a MOTION submitted for the first time:

That MDDC commits to proactively seeking out and exploring development of a long term partnership with a company / companies that can supply innovative power generation that offers carbon neutral power and where possible seeks to give an income stream back to the authority when operational.

That officers are instructed to seek out and explore such opportunities with available companies with immediate effect in order that MDDC can ensure we are actively addressing our own policy to seeking to be carbon neutral by 2030.

The MOTION was MOVED by Councillor R B Evans and seconded by Councillor B A Moore.

In accordance with Procedure Rule 14.4, the Chairman of the Council ruled that the MOTION STAND REFERRED to the Cabinet for consideration and report.