Agenda item - The following Notices of Motion have been submitted by Members for consideration:

(1)          These Walls Must Fall.  Joint motion from the Labour, Conservative and Green Groups, proposed by Councillors Daniel, Wealls and Littman (copy attached).

 

(2)          Unite Construction Charter.  Proposed by Councillor Platts on behalf of the Labour & Co-operative Group (copy attached).

 

(3)          Women Against State Pension Injustice (WASPI) Campaign.  Joint motion from the Labour, Conservative and Green proposed by Councillor Meadows, Bell and Littman (copy attached).

 

(4)          Hove Library Planning Application.  Proposed by Councillor Nemeth on behalf on the Conservative Group (copy attached).

 

(5)          Women in Government and Politics.  Proposed by Councillor Greenbaum on behalf of the Green Group (copy attached).

 

(6)          Commercial Recycling for Small Businesses.  Proposed by Councillor Janio on behalf of the Conservative Group (copy attached).

 

(1)    These Walls Must Fall

 

94.1      The joint Notice of Motion as listed in the agenda was proposed by Councillor Councillors Daniel on behalf of the Labour & Co-operative, Conservative and Green Groups and seconded by Councillors Wealls and Littman.

 

94.2      The Mayor then put the following motion to the vote:

 

This council resolves to support the These Walls Must Fall declaration, noting:

 

•      That the practice of indefinite detention for immigration purposes is an unacceptable breach of basic human rights. It is an affront to some of our most important shared values, robbing people of the right to liberty, justice and dignity.

 

•      That the harm and injustice of the detention system, its direct impact on individuals and on our society, cannot be addressed by improvements to conditions or minor reforms to the way the system is operated.

 

•      That indefinite detention is a serious civil rights issue that must not be ignored. We have a responsibility to act, and we will work to expose this injustice and bring an end to the practice of indefinite detention.

 

This council also requests the Chief Executive writes to the Home Secretary asking that the Government examines immigration systems outside of the United Kingdom where indefinite detention is prohibited, in order to develop robust alternatives.

 

94.3      The Mayor confirmed that the motion had been carried unanimously.

 

(2)    Unite Construction Charter

 

94.4      The Notice of Motion as listed in the agenda was proposed by Councillor Platts who stated that she believed everyone went into politics to make a positive difference for people they represent.  She was grateful to the Unite Union which was seeking to protect the construction industry and she hoped that Members would support the notice of motion calling for a report to the Policy, Resources & Growth Committee.  She noted that a number of local authorities had signed up to the Charter and stated that health & safety in the workplace should be an open process and shouldn’t rely on whistle blowers to raise awareness.  The Charter gave an opportunity to protect construction workers in the city and should be fully supported.

 

94.5      The Mayor congratulated Councillor Platts on behalf of the Council on her maiden speech.

 

94.6      Councillor Cattell seconded the motion.

 

94.7      Councillor Mears moved an amendment on behalf of the Conservative Group which was seconded by Councillor Bell.

 

94.8      The Mayor noted that the Conservative Group’s amendment had not been accepted by Councillor Platts and put it to the vote which was lost by 16 votes to 33.

 

94.9      The Mayor then put the following motion as listed in the agenda to the vote:

This council resolves to  support the Unite the Union Construction Charter and request that a report come to the Policy, Resources & Growth Committee regarding signing up to the Charter, recognising that:

 

·           As a Local Authority we are responsible for the procurement of construction projects.

·           It is therefore appropriate that as a responsible client we sign up to this Charter, and commit to working with the appropriate trade unions, in order to achieve the highest standards in respect of; direct employment status, Health & Safety, standard of work, apprenticeship training and the implementation of appropriate nationally agreed terms and conditions of employment.

·           As more local authorities support the Charter this may lead to policy change at a national level leading to improved minimum standards in local authority procurement of construction projects.

 

94.10   The Mayor confirmed that the motion had been carried by 33 votes to 16.

 

(3)    Women Against State Pension Injustice (WASP) Campaign.

 

94.11   The joint Notice of Motion as listed in the agenda was proposed by Councillor Meadows on behalf of the Labour & Co-operative, Conservative and Green Groups and seconded by Councillors Bell and Littman.

 

94.12   The Mayor then put the following motion to the vote:

 

The Council resolves to ask the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and the Minister for Women and Equalities, calling upon the Government to:

 

·           Make fair transitional state pension arrangements for all women born on or after 6th April 1950, who have unfairly borne the burden of the increase to the State Pension Age (SPA), with lack of appropriate notification, so not enabling them to make alternative arrangements.

 

·           Recognise that women born in the 1950s affected by these pension changes are likely to suffer particular financial hardship, due to the obstacles to them re-entering the workplace, including age discrimination, and due to the fact that many will also have taken on caring responsibilities for relatives and grandchildren.

 

94.13   The Mayor confirmed that the motion had been carried unanimously.

 

(4)    Hove Library Planning Application.

 

94.14   The Notice of Motion as listed in the agenda was proposed by Councillor Nemeth on behalf of the Conservative Group and seconded by Councillor Wealls.

 

94.15   Councillor Daniel moved an amendment on behalf of the Labour & Co-operative Group which was seconded by Councillor Cattell.

 

94.16   The Mayor noted that the Labour & Co-operative Group’s amendment had not been accepted by Councillor Nemeth and put it to the vote which was lost by 20 votes to 27.

 

94.17   The Mayor then called on the Monitoring Officer to clarify the position prior to putting the substantive motion to the vote.

 

94.18   The Monitoring Officer confirmed that should the motion be carried it would result in officers being asked to consult with the cross-party working group which would be fully informed of the situation prior to a decision being taken on the matter by officers.

 

94.19   The Mayor then put the following motion to the vote:

 

This Council resolves to:

 

1.      Immediately call a halt to the proposed works to Hove Library following criticism from residents, campaigners, conservation societies and the Conservation Advisory Group (CAG) about the way in which the planning process was handled, until the go-ahead is given by the Cross-Party Hove Library Working Group (which was not consulted on the proposal); and

 

2.         Requests the Chair of the Tourism, Development & Culture Committee to call for an officer report on the way in which application BH2017/03940 for works to the Library was advertised during the Christmas period and granted planning permission without either resident, councillor or CAG scrutiny, that includes specific proposals on both consultation period and councillor intervention to ensure that such an event does not happen again.

 

94.20   The Mayor confirmed that the motion had been carried by 27 votes to 0, with 20 abstentions.

 

(5)    Women in Government and Politics.

 

94.21   The Notice of Motion as listed in the agenda was proposed by Councillor Greenbaum on behalf of the Green Group and seconded by Councillor Mac Cafferty.

 

94.22   The Mayor then put the following motion to the vote:

 

This Council resolves to:

1)        Request the Chair of the Policy, Resources & Growth Committee to call for a report detailing the options for how Brighton & Hove City Council can implement the relevant recommendations for Local Authorities (where not already in place) listed in the Fawcett Society/LGiU report: ‘Does Local Government Work for Women?’  (1)

2)        Request the Chief Executive write to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, supporting the introduction of a statutory maternity, paternity, adoption and parental leave policy for Councillors;

3)        Request the Chair of the Policy, Resources & Growth Committee, to call for a report detailing options for how the council can implement its own formal maternity, paternity, adoption and parental leave policy for Councillors;

4)        Request the Chief Executive writes to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government calling for guidance to be issued to local remuneration panels to promote the Fawcett model for a comprehensive dependent carers’ allowance scheme, so that all childcare and adult dependent care costs are covered,

5)        Request that as part of its next review of the Members Allowances Scheme, the Independent Remuneration Panel consider options to update the Scheme, changing the hourly child and dependent care allowance to the Brighton Living Wage (£8.75); and longer term, to seek to more accurately reflect the true cost of Ofsted registered childcare and adult care (2)

6)        Request that Audit & Standards Committee consider adding Sexual Harassment and Sex Discrimination policies to the Code of Conduct.

 

94.23   The Mayor confirmed that the motion had been carried by 31 votes to 16.

 

 

 

 

(6)    Commercial Recycling for Small Businesses.

 

94.24   The Notice of Motion as listed in the agenda was proposed by Councillor Janio on behalf of the Conservative Group and seconded by Councillor Wares.

 

94.25   The Mayor then put the following motion to the vote:

 

This Council notes that It is often not commercially viable for many small businesses and sole traders to use commercial waste recycling services.

 

This council resolves to:

 

Request the Chair of Environment, Transport & Sustainability to call for a report to be provided to the next Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee on a process of how Cityclean could provide an affordable and suitable commercial recycling service for small businesses and sole traders who operate from home or produce very small quantities of recyclable waste.

 

94.26   The Mayor confirmed that the motion had been carried by 27 votes to 19.