Council

28 January 2021

Agenda Items 104 - 107

Brighton & Hove City Council

CONFIRMATORY VOTING FOR ITEMS 75 TO 78 FROM THE DECEMBER 2020 COUNCIL MEETING

At the Council meeting that took place on 17 December, the webcast was interrupted half way through the proceedings when the item 75 (No cut to universal credit) was being discussed. The Council was not aware of this and continued the debate and voting. When the issue was identified, the meeting was adjourned.

The business that was not discussed was disposed of at the special meeting held on Friday 22^nd January.

Because the votes on 4 notices of motion were held when the webcast was not working, there is a need to have the decisions taken confirmed through a vote that complies with the access to meetings rules as they apply to virtual meetings.

It is therefore proposed to suspend standing orders and ask Members to do one confirmatory vote. Members will be asked:

1. To suspend standing orders to enable a votes to be taken regarding the outstanding items using the special procedure set out in the next paragraphs.

2. The Notices of Motion and amendments, as listed in the paper, will be taken as having been moved and seconded by the persons mentioned in the minutes.

3. Members Will be asked to confirm whether they wish to confirm the votes as indicated in the minutes or change any votes

4. The Mayor will announce the result of the confirmatory vote.

Members are asked to check that the record in the minutes (shown in grey boxes) reflects how they would like to vote.

75 NO CUTS TO UNIVERSAL CREDIT - LET FAMILIES KEEP THE £20 INCREASE

NOTICE OF MOTION

NO CUTS TO UNIVERSAL CREDIT – LET FAMILIES KEEP THE £20 INCREASE

This Council resolves to:

· Request the Chief Executive to write to the Chancellor and the Prime Minister, imploring the Government to take necessary steps to ensure that the £20 increase to Universal Credit is made permanent and extended to claimants on legacy benefits; and

· To request that the Chief Executive and officers work with other local government organisations, such as the LGA to form a coalition to pressure the government to make the £20 increase to Universal Credit permanent.

Moved by Cllr Brennan Seconded by Cllr Knight

Supporting Information:

· Next April the Government plan to cut the benefit level for millions of claimants by ending of the time limited increase to the basic rate of Universal Credit (and the tax credit equivalent) announced by the Chancellor on 20th March as part of his pandemic response package.

· The £20 a week boost reflected the reality that the level of benefits were not adequate to protect the swiftly increasing number of households relying on them as the crisis hit. Exactly because that increase was a very significant and welcome move to bolster low- and middle-income families living standards, its removal will be a huge loss.

· Pressing ahead would see the level of unemployment support fall to its lowest real-terms level since 1990-91, and it’s lowest ever relative to average earnings. Indeed, the basic level of out-of-work support prior to the March boost was – at £73 a week (£3,800 a year) – less than half the absolute poverty line.

· The increase in benefits have had a positive effect on the lives of thousands of local claimants who are better able to pay for life’s essentials such as food, clothing and utilities.

· The local economy has also benefited from the increase in benefit levels as claimants spend their money locally thereby supporting local businesses and jobs.

75.1 The Notice of Motion as listed on the agenda was proposed by Councillor Brennan as an Independent Member and formally seconded by Councillor Knight who reserved her right to speak later in the debate.

75.2 Councillors Fishleigh, Gibson, Evans, Nemeth and Knight spoke on the motion and Councillor Brennan thanked those for their supportive comments.

75.3 The Mayor then put the motion as listed to the vote:

This Council resolves to:

· Request the Chief Executive to write to the Chancellor and the Prime Minister,

imploring the Government to take necessary steps to ensure that the £20 increase

to Universal Credit is made permanent and extended to claimants on legacy

benefits; and

· To request that the Chief Executive and officers work with other local government

organisations, such as the LGA to form a coalition to pressure the government to

make the £20 increase to Universal Credit permanent.

75.4 The Mayor called on each of the Group Leaders to confirm their position as well as the Groups in turn and each of the Independent Members:

Councillor Mac Cafferty stated that the Green Group were in favour of the motion and this was confirmed by the Members of the Green Group;

Councillor Platts stated that the Labour Group were in favour of the motion and this was confirmed by the Members of the Labour Group;

Councillor Bell stated that the Conservative Group wished to abstain from voting on the motion and this was confirmed by the Members of the Conservative Group;

Councillor Brennan confirmed that she was voting for of the motion;

Councillor Fishleigh confirmed that she wished to abstain from voting on the motion;

Councillor Janio confirmed that he was voting against the motion;

Councillor Knight confirmed that she was voting for the motion.

75.5 The Mayor confirmed that the motion had been carried.

76 ACTION TO REDUCE THE IMPACT OF FIREWORKS

NOTICE OF MOTION

ACTION TO REDUCE THE IMPACT OF FIREWORKS

The Council notes and welcomes the RSPCA campaign which calls for action to reduce the impact of fireworks on animals and vulnerable people, and;

The Council calls for;

1) organisers of all public firework displays within Brighton & Hove advertise them in advance of the event, allowing residents to take precautions for their animals and vulnerable people;

2) 2) officers to actively promote a public awareness campaign about the impact of fireworks on animal welfare and vulnerable people – including the precautions that can be taken to mitigate risks; and

3) to encourage local suppliers of fireworks to stock ‘quieter’ fireworks for public display;

The Council further asks the Chief Executive to write to the Government urging;

1) the introduction of legislation to limit the maximum noise level of fireworks to 90 decibels for those sold to the public for private displays; and

2) The Council also asks that any Government response is shared at a future Council meeting.

Moved by Cllr Fowler Seconded by Cllr Childs

Supporting Information:

Fireworks are used by people throughout the year to mark different events.

Whilst they can bring much enjoyment to some people, they can cause significant problems and fear for other people and animals.

Vulnerable people can become confused and disorientated by the noise.

They can be a source of fear and distress for many animals (including pets, farm livestock and wildlife).

Animals affected not only suffer psychological distress but can also cause themselves injuries, sometimes very serious ones, as they attempt to run away or hide from the noise.

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76.1 The Notice of Motion as listed on the agenda was proposed by Councillor Fowler on behalf of the Labour Group and formally seconded by Councillor Grimshaw.

76.2 Councillors Hugh-Jones, McNair, Janio and Peltzer Dunn spoke on the motion and Councillor Fowler thanked those for their supportive comments.

76.3 The Mayor then put the motion as listed to the vote:

The Council notes and welcomes the RSPCA campaign which calls for action to reduce the impact of fireworks on animals and vulnerable people, and;

The Council calls for;

1) organisers of all public firework displays within Brighton & Hove advertise them in advance of the event, allowing residents to take precautions for their animals and vulnerable people;

2) officers to actively promote a public awareness campaign about the impact of fireworks on animal welfare and vulnerable people – including the precautions that can be taken to mitigate risks; and

3) to encourage local suppliers of fireworks to stock ‘quieter’ fireworks for public display;

The Council further asks the Chief Executive to write to the Government urging;

1) the introduction of legislation to limit the maximum noise level of fireworks to 90 decibels for those sold to the public for private displays; and

2) The Council also asks that any Government response is shared at a future Council meeting.

76.4 The Mayor called on each of the Group Leaders to confirm their position as well as the Groups in turn and each of the Independent Members:

Councillor Mac Cafferty stated that the Green Group were in favour of the motion and this was confirmed by the Members of the Green Group;

Councillor Platts stated that the Labour Group were in favour of the motion and this was confirmed by the Members of the Labour Group;

Councillor Bell stated that the Conservative Group were in favour of the motion and this was confirmed by the Members of the Conservative Group;

Councillor Brennan confirmed that she was voting for of the motion;

Councillor Fishleigh was not present for the vote;

Councillor Janio confirmed that he was voting for the motion;

Councillor Knight confirmed that she was voting for the motion.

The Mayor confirmed that the motion had been carried

77 SUPPORT UNITED NATIONS TPNW: ICAN CITIES APPEAL

NOTICE OF MOTION

SUPPORT UNITED NATIONS TPNW: ICAN CITIES APPEAL

This Council notes;

1) That any nuclear weapon detonation by accident or intent would constitute a major humanitarian catastrophe, with consequences transcending national borders and having grave implications for the health and survival of current and future generations;

2) That the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons negotiated under United Nations auspices and adopted by 122 UN Member States on 7 July 2017, will gain international legal force on January 22nd 2021, 90 days after being signed and ratified by the first fifty governments;

3) The important security, peace-building, safety and educational roles and responsibilities of local authorities worldwide, including through 'Nuclear Free Local Authorities' (NFLA) and ‘Mayors for Peace’, of which BHCC is a member;

4) That Mayors for Peace works with the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN, 2017 Nobel Peace laureate) and other partners in over a hundred countries to encourage cities to support the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons;

This Council resolves;

1) To declare its support for the obligations and full implementation of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons;

2) To call on the UK government to work for global peace in a world free of nuclear weapons by signing and ratifying the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and working alongside other UN Member States for its full implementation;

3) To inform the Prime Minister, UN Secretary-General, Mayors for Peace and International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons of the Council's adoption of this resolution.

Moved by Cllr Evans Seconded by Cllr Childs

Supporting Information:

Legislation based on ICAN's Cities Appeal has been adopted by Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Washington DC, Los Angeles, Edinburgh, Manchester, Oxford, Sydney, Melbourne, Geneva and many other cities, as well as the State of California and the County of Renfrewshire in Scotland, as listed here: https://cities.icanw.org/list_of_cities

GREEN GROUP AMENDMENT

NOTICE OF MOTION

SUPPORT UNITED NATIONS TPNW: ICAN CITIES APPEAL

That the motion be amended as shown below in bold italics.

This Council notes:

generations;

2) That the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons negotiated under United

Nations auspices and adopted by 122 UN Member States on 7 July 2017, will gain

international legal force on January 22nd 2021, 90 days after being signed and

ratified by the first fifty governments;

3) The important security, peace-building, safety and educational roles and

responsibilities of local authorities worldwide, including through 'Nuclear Free

Local Authorities' (NFLA) and ‘Mayors for Peace’, of which BHCC is a member;

4) That Mayors for Peace works with the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear

Weapons (ICAN, 2017 Nobel Peace laureate) and other partners in over a

hundred countries to encourage cities to support the UN Treaty on the Prohibition

of Nuclear Weapons;

This Council resolves;

1) To declare its support for the obligations and full implementation of the Treaty on

the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and the decommissioning of the UK's

Trident nuclear weapons system;

2) To call on the UK government and all parliamentary parties to commit to working for global peace in a world free of nuclear weapons by signing and ratifying the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and working alongside other UN

Member States for its full implementation. This requires the UK to

decommission and eliminate all British nuclear weapons and facilities.

3) To request that the Chief Executive inform the Prime Minister, UN Secretary-

General, Mayors for Peace and International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear

Weapons of the Council's adoption of this resolution.

Proposed by: Cllr Clare

Seconded by: Cllr Hugh-Jones

77.1 The Notice of Motion as listed on the agenda was proposed by Councillor Evans on behalf of the Labour Group and formally seconded by Councillor Childs.

77.2 Councillor Clare moved an amendment on behalf of the Green Group which was formally seconded by Councillor Hugh-Jones.

77.3 Councillors Shanks, Nemeth and Janio spoke on the motion and Councillor Evans thanked everyone for their comments and confirmed that she could not accept the amendment.

77.4 The Mayor noted that the amendment had not been accepted and therefore put the amendment from the Green Group to the vote and called on each of the Group Leaders to confirm their position as well as the Groups in turn followed by the Independent Members:

Councillor Mac Cafferty stated that the Green Group were voting in favour of the

amendment and this was confirmed by the Green Group Members;

Councillor Platts stated that the Labour Group were voting against the amendment and this was confirmed by the Labour Group Members;

Councillor Bell stated that the Conservative wished to abstain from voting on the

amendment and this was confirmed by the Conservative Group Members;

Councillor Brennan confirmed that she was voting against the amendment;

Councillor Fishleigh confirmed that she wished to abstain from voting on the

amendment;

Councillor Janio confirmed that he was voting against the amendment;

Councillor Knight confirmed that she was voting in favour of the amendment.

77.5 The Mayor confirmed that the outcome of the vote was tied and therefore he chose to use his casting vote against the amendment. He confirmed that the amendment had been lost and therefore put the motion as listed to the vote

This Council notes;

generations;

2) That the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons negotiated under United

Nations auspices and adopted by 122 UN Member States on 7 July 2017, will gain

international legal force on January 22nd 2021, 90 days after being signed and

ratified by the first fifty governments;

3) The important security, peace-building, safety and educational roles and

responsibilities of local authorities worldwide, including through 'Nuclear Free Local

Authorities' (NFLA) and ‘Mayors for Peace’, of which BHCC is a member;

4) That Mayors for Peace works with the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear

Weapons (ICAN, 2017 Nobel Peace laureate) and other partners in over a hundred

countries to encourage cities to support the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear

Weapons;

This Council resolves;

1) To declare its support for the obligations and full implementation of the Treaty on theProhibition of Nuclear Weapons;

2) To call on the UK government to work for global peace in a world free of nuclear

weapons by signing and ratifying the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons

and working alongside other UN Member States for its full implementation;

3) To inform the Prime Minister, UN Secretary-General, Mayors for Peace and

International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons of the Council's adoption of this

resolution.

77.6 The Mayor called on each of the Group Leaders to confirm their position as well as the Groups in turn and each of the Independent Members:

Councillor Mac Cafferty stated that the Green Group were in favour of the motion and this was confirmed by the Members of the Green Group;

Councillor Platts stated that the Labour Group were in favour of the motion and this was confirmed by the Members of the Labour Group;

Councillor Bell stated that the Conservative Group wished to abstain from voting on the motion and this was confirmed by the Members of the Conservative Group;

Councillor Brennan confirmed that she was voting for the motion;

Councillor Fishleigh confirmed that she wished to abstain from voting on the motion;

Councillor Janio confirmed that he was voting against the motion;

Councillor Knight confirmed that she was voting for the motion.

77.7 The Mayor confirmed that the motion had been carried.

78 POWER OF YOUTH CHARTER

NOTICE OF MOTION

POWER OF YOUTH CHARTER

That this council:

· agrees the importance of including young people’s voices in decision-making and commends the recent work on a ‘youth engagement’ action plan, which was created with young people themselves who worked hard on this initiative to ensure young voices have greater influence

· commends the work of young people at the forefront of the Black Lives Matter movement, the Youth Climate Strikes, and in organising the Youth Climate Assembly

· thanks Brighton and Hove Youth Council, YouthWise and Children in Care Council for their work in formally representing young people within council structures and recognises their importance

· reaffirms its prior commitment to votes at 16

This council therefore:

· agrees, subject to Children, Young People & Skills Committee approval, to sign up to the ‘Power of Youth Charter’, using the youth engagement report as a basis for showing how we will meet its aims

· requests the Children, Young People & Skills Committee receive a yearly report on actions taken against the Charter across the council

· commits to using our communication channels as councillors and political parties to support the work of young people, as per the charter

· calls for a report to Children, Young People & Skills Committee, no later than April 2021, that:

o assesses the methods the Council uses to engage with young people;

o seeks to improve our communication with young people through a collaborative process; and

o explores how young people are consulted and their views considered in all local policy decisions that impact them.

Moved by Cllr Clare Seconded by Cllr Heley

LABOUR GROUP AMENDMENT

NOTICE OF MOTION

POWER OF YOUTH CHARTER

That the motion be amended to insert the text as shown below in bold italics and delete the text as struck through.

That this council:

 agrees the importance of including young people’s voices of young people in decision-making and commends the recent work on a ‘youth engagement’ action plan, which was created with the young people themselves who worked hard on this initiative to ensure young voices have greater influence

 commends the work of young people at the forefront of the Black Lives

Matter movement, the Youth Climate Strikes, and in organising the Youth

Climate Assembly

 thanks Brighton and Hove Youth Council, YouthWise and Children in Care

Council for their work in formally representing young

people within council structures and recognises their importance

 reaffirms its prior commitment to votes at 16

This council therefore:

 agrees, subject to Children, Young People & Skills

Committee approval, to sign up to the ‘Power of Youth Charter’, using the

youth engagement report as a basis for showing how we will

meet its aims

 requests that the Children, Young People & Skills Committee receive a yearly

report on actions taken against the Charter across the council

 commits to using our communication channels as councillors and political

parties to support the work of young people, as per the charter.

 calls for a report to Children, Young People & Skills Committee, no later

than April 2021, that:

o assesses the methods the Council uses to engage with young

people;

o seeks to improve our communication with young people through a

collaborative process; and

o explores how young people are consulted and their views

considered in all local policy decisions that impact them.

Proposed by: Cllr Allcock

Seconded by: Cllr Williams

78.1 The Notice of Motion as listed in the agenda was proposed by Councillor Clare on behalf of the Green Group and formally seconded by Councillor Heley.

78.2 Councillor Allcock moved an amendment on behalf of the Labour Group which was formally seconded by Councillor Williams.

78.3 Councillors Brown welcomed the motion and the amendment but because of the reference to reducing the age of voting to 16 asked that the Conservative Group’s opposition to such a change be recorded in the minutes.

78.4 Councillors Janio, Fishleigh and McNair also spoke on the motion and the amendment. Councillor Clare thanked everyone for their comments and confirmed that she was happy to accept the amendment. She hoped that the CYPS Committee would approve signing up to the Charter and improvements in communication and engagement with young people could be made so that they felt listened to.

78.5 The Mayor noted that the amendment had been accepted and that the Council was happy to move to a vote on the motion as amended, and therefore put the revised motion to the vote:

That this council:

· agrees the importance of including young people’s voices in decision-making and

commends the recent work on a ‘youth engagement’ action plan, which was created

with young people themselves who worked hard on this initiative to ensure young

voices have greater influence

· commends the work of young people at the forefront of the Black Lives Matter

movement, the Youth Climate Strikes, and in organising the Youth Climate

Assembly

· thanks Brighton and Hove Youth Council, YouthWise and Children in Care Council

for their work in formally representing young people within council structures and

recognises their importance

· reaffirms its prior commitment to votes at 16

This council therefore:

· agrees, subject to Children, Young People & Skills Committee approval, to sign up

to the ‘Power of Youth Charter’, using the youth engagement report as a basis for

showing how we will meet its aims;

· requests the Children, Young People & Skills Committee receive a yearly report on

actions taken against the Charter across the council;

· commits to using our communication channels as councillors and political parties to

support the work of young people, as per the charter

· calls for a report to Children, Young People & Skills Committee, no later than April

2021, that:

§ assesses the methods the Council uses to engage with young people;

§ seeks to improve our communication with young people through a collaborative

process; and

§ explores how young people are consulted and their views considered in all

local policy decisions that impact them.

78.6 The Mayor then called on each of the Group Leaders to confirm their position as well as the Groups in turn followed by each of the Independent Members:

Councillor Mac Cafferty stated that the Green Group were in favour of the motion as

amended and this was confirmed by the Green Group Members;

Councillor Platts stated that the Labour Group were in favour of the motion as amended and this was confirmed by the Labour Group Members;

Councillor Bell stated that the Conservative were in favour of the motion as amended

and this was confirmed by the Conservative Group Members;

Councillor Brennan confirmed that she was voting for the motion as amended;

Councillor Fishleigh confirmed that she wished to abstain from voting on the motion;

Councillor Janio confirmed that he was voting against the motion as amended;

Councillor Knight confirmed that she was voting for the motion.

78.7 The Mayor confirmed that the motion as amended had been carried.