The following motions have been placed on the agenda in the order received; up to 60 minutes shall be allowed for debates on motions on notice:
1. From Councillor Prater, Leader of the Liberal Democrat group
This Council resolves to:
1. Encourage all publicly organised firework displays within the district area to be advertised online in advance of the event by offering or signposting a free listing service, so that residents can both enjoy the celebrations and take precautions for their animals and vulnerable people;
2.Promote a public awareness campaign about the impact of fireworks on animal welfare and vulnerable people and the precautions that can be taken to mitigate risks, such as asking people to let neighbours know about private displays in advance, and the penalties for causing a noise nuisance late at night where not allowed by legislation;
3.Encourage retailers to follow the lead of Sainsburys in withdrawing the sale of fireworks to the public;
4.Develop and promote a voluntary local code on firework sale licenced premises to promote quieter firework options;
5.Write to the UK Government urging them to introduce legislation to limit the maximum noise level of fireworks to 90dB for those sold to the public for private display;
6.Encourage the public to notify KCC Trading Standards of retail outlets that are not correctly applying the regulations of the selling of fireworks both in terms of age-appropriateness, licensing and CE markings;
7.Given the damage they cause and risk they present, institute a ban on the release of sky lanterns from F&HDC land, and write to the UK Government urging them to consider banning sky lanterns in the UK in total.
2. From Councillor McConville, Leader of the Labour Group
Council Notes
That in recent years there has been a worrying reported rise in racism, xenophobia and hate crimes across the United Kingdom. In the year 2018/19 there were 103,379 reported hate crimes, this is in comparison to 42,255 in 2012/13.
Taking many forms, the impact this is having on people in their day-to-day lives and the inequalities faced have been highlighted by groups such as Amnesty International, Stonewall, Black Lives Matter, stop hate, hope not hate and many others.
Folkestone and Hythe District Council is proud that communities in our area are tolerant and inclusive to people from all racial, ethnic, sexual and religious backgrounds, but also recognises that continuing work is still necessary to ensure that everyone feels welcomed and safe here.
Council Believes:
That there needs to be a commitment to ensure there is no place for institutional racism or unconscious bias in its functions and practices and that it is an authority not just tackling inequality to meet a duty, but one that actively works with its communities and other agencies to fight racism and hate crime throughout the district.
That a key duty of a council and its representatives is to condemn racism, xenophobia, hate crime, and all other forms of intolerance. Express our support to victims of these crimes and urge members of the public to report such incidents and work with key partners to break down barriers in reporting.
Council Resolves:
· Make a recommendation to cabinet to consider the following
· To declare that this Council is intolerant to racism and will continue to seek to eradicate it, Islamophobia, sexual orientation discrimination, Anti-Semitism and hate crime across the district by developing initiatives that are actively inclusive and anti-racist. This declaration, or pledge, should appear on the council’s website.
· Commit to working with all our partners, including the KCC, national government and Kent Police, to ensure that divisive and discriminatory behaviour is not allowed to continue in our area.
· Be supportive of groups and individuals that are seeking to address these issues through respectful and constructive dialogue.
· To invite appropriate speakers on these issues to help with training for councillors and staff.
· To ensure the points raised above can be realised, the council should establish a community working group. This group can act as a conduit between community groups and organisations and elected representatives with the aim of building community cohesion, tackling discrimination and promoting the district.
3. From Councillor McConville, Leader of the Labour Group
This Council notes:
· The publication by Government of the White Paper, ‘Planning for the Future’ on 6 August 2020, which set out proposals on reforms to the planning process for the future.
· That the vast majority of planning applications are given the go ahead by local authority planning committees, with permission granted to around 9 out of 10 applications.
· That research by the Local Government Association has said that there are existing planning permissions for more than one million homes that have not yet been started.
This Council is concerned that the proposals have the potential to:
· Reduce or remove the right of residents to object to applications near them.
· Grant automatic rights for developers to build on land identified as ‘for growth’.
· Makes alterations to how and where affordable homes can and will be built.
· Reduce the effectiveness o the Infrastructure Levy to provide ring fenced money for affordable housing or perhaps even infrastructure.
This Council Further Notes:
1. The Royal Institute for British Architects called the proposals ‘shameful and which will do almost nothing to guarantee delivery of affordable, well-designed and sustainable homes’. RIBA also said that proposals could lead to the next generation of slum housing
2. The reforms are opposed by the all-party Local Government Association, currently led by Conservative Councillors.
This Council Believes:
1. That existing planning procedures, as currently administered by our own team allow for local democratic control over future development, and give local people a say in planning proposals that affect them.
2. That proposals for automatic rights to build in ‘growth’ areas, and increased permitted development rights, risk unregulated growth and unsustainable communities.
3. That local communities must be in the driving seat on shaping the future of their communities, and local determination of the planning framework and planning applications play an important part in this process.
This Council resolves to:
· Highlight the council’s comments submitted through consultation to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government by means of an addressed letter.
· Highlight the council’s comments submitted through consultation, including any possible responses to the public via the council website.
Minutes:
1. The Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group set out his motion, which set out a number of actions for the Council to take in respect of fireworks and Chinese lanterns, as set out in the agenda.
Proposed by Councillor Prater,
Seconded by Councillor Fuller; and
RESOLVED:
That the Council takes the following action:
1. Encourage all publicly organised firework displays within the district area to be advertised online in advance of the event by offering or signposting a free listing service, so that residents can both enjoy the celebrations and take precautions for their animals and vulnerable people;
2. Promote a public awareness campaign about the impact of fireworks on animal welfare and vulnerable people and the precautions that can be taken to mitigate risks, such as asking people to let neighbours know about private displays in advance, and the penalties for causing a noise nuisance late at night where not allowed by legislation;
3. Encourage retailers to follow the lead of Sainsburys in withdrawing the sale of fireworks to the public;
4. Develop and promote a voluntary local code on firework sale licenced premises to promote quieter firework options;
5. Write to the UK Government urging them to introduce legislation to limit the maximum noise level of fireworks to 90dB for those sold to the public for private display;
6. Encourage the public to notify KCC Trading Standards of retail outlets that are not correctly applying the regulations of the selling of fireworks both in terms of age-appropriateness, licensing and CE markings;
7. Given the damage they cause and risk they present, institute a ban on the release of sky lanterns from F&HDC land, and write to the UK Government urging them to consider banning sky lanterns in the UK in total.
(Voting figures: 27 for, 0 against, 2 abstentions).
2. The Leader of the Labour Group set out his motion which asked the council to take a number of actions in order to help eradicate racism, as set out in the agenda.
Upon opening the debate, it was proposed by Councillor Field that the question now be put (as per paragraph 15.11.1 (closure motions), part 4 of the Constitution). The Chairman indicated that insufficient debate had taken place at that point, and therefore the Motion fell, and the debate was allowed to conclude.
Proposed by Councillor McConville,
Seconded by Councillor Keutenius; and
RESOLVED:
That Full Council recommend to Cabinet to consider the following:
· To declare that this council is intolerant to racism and will continue to seek to eradicate it, Islamophobia, sexual orientation discrimination, Anti-Semitism and hate crime across the district by developing initiatives that are actively inclusive and anti-racist. This declaration, or pledge, should appear on the council’s website.
· Commit to working with all our partners, including the KCC, national government and Kent Police, to ensure that divisive and discriminatory behaviour is not allowed to continue in our area.
· Be supportive of groups and individuals that are seeking to address these issues through respectful and constructive dialogue.
· To invite appropriate speakers on these issues to help with training for councillors and staff.
· To ensure the points raised above can be realised, the council should establish a community working group. This group can act as a conduit between community groups and organisations and elected representatives with the aim of building community cohesion, tackling discrimination and promoting the district
(Voting figures: 29 for, 0 against, 0 abstentions).
3. The Leader of the Labour Group withdrew his motion which sought the council’s approval to highlight its comments in response to consultation on the Government White Paper, ‘Planning for the Future’, as the actions requested, set out in the agenda, had been agreed by Cabinet earlier that evening.