Agenda item

To consider motions from councillors in accordance with Council procedure rule 38. 

 

(1)      Motion to be proposed by Councillor Emily Smith, seconded by Councillor Jenny Hannaby:

 

Council recognises that:

·         Thames Valley Police are stretched to capacity, and that parking enforcement is one of their lowest priorities

·         members are regularly contacted by residents about inconvenient, illegal and dangerous parking violations that aren’t being enforced

·         we have the power to introduce civil parking enforcement, as neighbouring councils have done at no additional cost to their tax payers

This Council agrees in principle to introduce a civil parking enforcement scheme across the Vale of White Horse.

Council instructs officers to produce a Business Case (to include financial costs and income, delivery options and timescales) to be considered as part of next year's budget.

 

 

(2)      Motion to be proposed by Councillor Katie Finch, seconded by Councillor Chris Palmer:

 

This Council congratulates the Cabinet on the significant investment in Abingdon’s Abbey Meadows, particularly the open air pool.  The decision to secure the future of those facilities for many years to come is particularly welcomed by residents, especially in the light of the stated intention of a previous administration to close the pool permanently.  Council is grateful for the significant efforts of officers and local interest groups in delivering the scheme.

 

 

(3)  Motion to be proposed by Councillor Debby Hallett, seconded by Councillor Helen Pighills

 

Council recognises the hugely valuable work that charities across the Vale do to support residents and help make our district a better place to live. But Council also recognises charities and community groups are struggling in the current financial climate.

 

South Oxfordshire District Council has recently implemented a successful charity lottery making it easier for residents who want to contribute and enabling that council to support more local voluntary sector organisations.

Council would like this scheme replicated for the Vale of White Horse and requests that officers compile a business case for a local charity lottery scheme for the Vale.

 

 

(4)  Motion to be proposed by Councillor Debby Hallett, seconded by Councillor Judy Roberts

 

Council notes that the Seven Principles of Public Life requires members to make their decisions available for public scrutiny and that "information should not be withheld from the public unless there are clear and lawful reasons for doing so". Councillors must adhere to the Code of Conduct in our behaviour.

 

Council must be, and must be perceived to be, open and transparent in our decision making.

 

This Council asks the monitoring officer to bring forward to the Joint Audit and Governance Committee a protocol on publishing councillor code of conduct complaint decisions and outcomes for district and parish councillors.

 

 

 

 

A.     Motion proposed by Councillor Emily Smith, seconded by Councillor Jenny Hannaby:

 

Council recognises that:

·                Thames Valley Police are stretched to capacity, and that parking enforcement is one of their lowest priorities

·                members are regularly contacted by residents about inconvenient, illegal and dangerous parking violations that aren’t being enforced

·                we have the power to introduce civil parking enforcement, as neighbouring councils have done at no additional cost to their tax payers

 

This Council agrees in principle to introduce a civil parking enforcement scheme across the Vale of White Horse.

 

Council instructs officers to produce a Business Case (to include financial costs and income, delivery options and timescales) to be considered as part of next year's budget.

 

With the consent of Council the mover and seconder of the original motion accepted amended wording suggested by Councillor Elaine Ware and seconded by Councillor Mike Badcock (new words in bold deleted words shown by a strikethrough).

 

Council recognises that:

·         Thames Valley Police are stretched to capacity, and that parking enforcement is one of their lowest priorities

·         members are regularly contacted by residents about inconvenient, illegal and dangerous parking violations that aren’t being enforced

·         we have the power to request the county council to delegate introduce civil parking enforcement, as neighbouring councils have done at no additional cost to their council tax payers

 

This Council agrees in principle to introduce requests officers to investigate further the possibility of implementing a civil parking enforcement scheme across the Vale of White Horse. 

 

Council instructs requests officers to produce a Business Case (to include financial costs and income, delivery options and timescales) to be considered as part of next year's budget.

 

The majority of councillors supported the motion noting that it was an issue in both the towns and villages of the district. They noted that due to other competing priorities the police are unable to fully resource parking enforcement.  Illegal parking impacted on businesses, waste collection and bus movements due traffic congestion. It was therefore time to introduce civil parking enforcement to manage the road network safely and to ensure the smooth flow of traffic.  Council noted that the Cabinet member for housing and environment had already requested officers to investigate further the possibility of implementing Civil Parking Enforcement with a financial appraisal of the costs.

 

RESOLVED:

That Council recognises that:

·         Thames Valley Police are stretched to capacity, and that parking enforcement is one of their lowest priorities

·         members are regularly contacted by residents about inconvenient, illegal and dangerous parking violations that aren’t being enforced

·         we have the power to request the county council to delegate civil parking enforcement, as neighbouring councils have done at no additional cost to their council tax payers

 

This Council requests officers to investigate further the possibility of implementing a civil parking enforcement scheme across the Vale of White Horse. 

 

Council requests officers to produce a Business Case (to include financial costs and income, delivery options and timescales) to be considered as part of next year's budget.

 

 

B.     Motion to be proposed by Councillor Katie Finch, seconded by Councillor Chris Palmer:

 

This Council congratulates the Cabinet on the significant investment in Abingdon’s Abbey Meadows, particularly the open air pool. The decision to secure the future of those facilities for many years to come is particularly welcomed by residents, especially in the light of the stated intention of a previous administration to close the pool permanently. Council is grateful for the significant efforts of officers and local interest groups in delivering the scheme.

 

Councillors welcomed the refurbished facility which is well used and receiving favourable feedback from the public. A number of councillors referred to a previous lack of finance which threatened the viability of the facility.         

 

Councillors thanked Councillor Charlotte Dickson, former Cabinet member for leisure, officers and community groups for the role they had played in the specification and delivery of the current facility. With the agreement of Council, the mover and seconder of the motion agreed to include “officers and the contractor” in the motion.

 

RESOLVED:

That Council congratulates the Cabinet, officers and the contractor on the significant investment in Abingdon’s Abbey Meadows, particularly the open air pool.  The decision to secure the future of those facilities for many years to come is particularly welcomed by residents, especially in the light of the stated intention of a previous administration to close the pool permanently.  Council is grateful for the significant efforts of officers and local interest groups in delivering the scheme.

 

C.   With the agreement of Council, councillor Debby Hallett moved an altered motion from that set out in the agenda, seconded by Councillor Helen Pighills, to take account of a proposed amendment. Additional words are shown in bold with deleted words shown by a strikethrough:

 

Council recognises the hugely valuable work that charities across the Vale do to support residents and help make our district a better place to live. But Council also recognises charities and community groups are struggling in the current financial climate.

 

South Oxfordshire District Council has recently implemented a successful charity lottery, making it easier for residents who want to contribute and enabling that council to support more local voluntary sector organisations.

 

Council would like this scheme replicated for the Vale of White Horse and requests that officers compile a business case for a local charity lottery scheme for the Vale for member review and consideration.

 

Councillors supported the motion. The scheme, if implemented, would provide an opportunity for local people to support local charities and the voluntary sector. The relatively low prize payouts would not attract those with a gambling addiction. Councillors noted that a number of local authorities operate such schemes and that officers should be able to progress the matter in a relatively short timescale.  

 

RESOLVED:

That Council recognises the hugely valuable work that charities across the Vale do to support residents and help make our district a better place to live. But Council also recognises charities and community groups are struggling in the current financial climate.

 

South Oxfordshire District Council has recently implemented a successful charity lottery, making it easier for residents who want to contribute and enabling that council to support more local voluntary sector organisations.

 

Council requests that officers compile a business case for a local charity lottery scheme for the Vale for member review and consideration.

 

 

A.     Motion to be proposed by Councillor Debby Hallett, seconded by Councillor Judy Roberts

 

Council notes that the Seven Principles of Public Life requires members to make their decisions available for public scrutiny and that "information should not be withheld from the public unless there are clear and lawful reasons for doing so". Councillors must adhere to the Code of Conduct in our behaviour.

 

Council must be, and must be perceived to be, open and transparent in our decision making.

 

This Council asks the monitoring officer to bring forward to the Joint Audit and Governance Committee a protocol on publishing councillor code of conduct complaint decisions and outcomes for district and parish councillors.

 

Those councillors who supported the motion expressed the view that, if implemented, the revised process would illustrate that the council is open and transparent. It would provide the public with information about steps taken to improve the behaviour of district and parish councillors and provide reassurance in circumstances where no breach is established.

 

However, other councillors expressed the view that the current process is working well. The Joint Audit and Governance Committee receives an annual report and at its meeting in March did not consider that the current system required amending. Any proposals to do so should be considered as part of that review.  

 

With the consent of Council and the seconder, in accordance with Council procedure rule 52, Councillor Hallett withdrew her motion.