Agenda item

Motions on notice

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

 

(1)       Motion to be proposed by Councillor Bethia Thomas, seconded by Councillor Bob Johnston:

 

Healthy food is vital to us all and food production and farming is an important economic and employment sector in our district, with agriculture at the heart of many of our communities. However, the rising costs of fuel and other supplies is creating increased pressure on farmers across the district, whilst government policies on international trade deals threaten to und

ermine UK food quality standards and risk putting farmers out of business – as well as exacerbating food insecurity in the UK.  At the same time, significant increases in the cost of living are putting pressure on residents across the Vale, forcing them to make difficult choices regarding their household budgets, including the amount spent on food and heating.

 

The district council has a number of powers and opportunities that can help influence food production, support sustainable farming and distribution, reduce food waste, and promote healthy eating for the benefit of our residents and the environment, whilst supporting action to address climate change.

 

Council therefore resolves:

  

1.        To create a Member Food and Farming Champion to promote local food production and distribution, as well as healthy eating in the Vale.

2.        To encourage farming communities and agricultural businesses to respond to any consultation on our new Joint Local Plan and Oxfordshire Plan 2050.

3.        To encourage developers to include community gardens and allotment provision within all new housing developments.

4.        To encourage and promote high environmental health standards at all stages of food production, distribution and redistribution, and continue to support local businesses and ‘farm-door’ sales, recognising their positive impact on reducing the carbon emissions associated with food miles.

5.        To maximise opportunities to highlight the importance of food and farming in our local economy via the press and through social media.

6.        To continue to investigate ways we can support food redistribution organisations and food charities to address food poverty in the district, noting the work that has already been done in this regard.

7.        To continue to promote ways we can reduce food waste through our waste service and the use of food recycling bins.

8.        To continue to promote the use of waste food and the highlight the climate benefits this can bring.

9.        To minimise food waste at any event that we may host that serves food, and to use such occasions to highlight the use of waste food, low carbon options, and locally sourced produce wherever possible.

 

(2)       Motion to be proposed by Councillor Eric de la Harpe, seconded by Councillor Samantha Bowring:

 

There have been a number of fatal road accidents in Oxfordshire recently involving cyclists.   This is despite changes to the highway code which came into force on the 29 January 2022.   The aim of these changes, ?which Council believes are to be commended, is to improve the safety of pedestrians, cyclists and horses on the highway by assigning a hierarchy of responsibility such that the heavier the mode of transport, the more responsibility the operator carries for the safety of others using lighter modes of transport. Motorists turning left, for example, must stop for cyclists behind them in a cycle lane.   Cyclists are now also advised to ride in the centre of the lane and to ride two-abreast 

  

Encouraging active travel is central to Council’s key themes of tackling the Climate Emergency and Building Healthy Communities.  However, not all residents are aware of these new changes ?to the Highway Code and any confusion arising from this could lead to serious ?incidents, between motorists and cyclists and this ?could discourage active travel. 

  

Council ?resolves to: 

  1. Express regret for the recent loss of life on our roads ?and believes that the changes to the Highway Code should be commended as they seek to mitigate any risk to safety.
  2. Asks the Leader to write to Oxfordshire County Council ?to ensure that 
    1. the County Council as the highways authority publicises the changes to the Highway Code widely as part of its highways safety messaging and requesting it ensures that all future transport schemes in the Vale of White Horse reflect the latest changes to the Highway Code and encourage Active Travel by default. 
    2. all cycle infrastructure should be delivered in accordance with the standards set out in the Government's Cycle infrastructure design (LTN 1/20) guidance 
  3. Ask the Cabinet member for Community Engagement to work with officers to highlight government and county council communications about the Highway Code changes via our media channels and signpost (for example in Vale News) to the Government website and the latest guidance where relevant. 

 

(3)  Motion to be proposed by Councillor Max Thompson, seconded by Councillor Richard Webber:

Oxfordshire County Council has been undertaking consultation on its new Oxfordshire Transport and Connectivity Plan, which will support the County Council’s local transport plan vision, which is to deliver a zero-carbon Oxfordshire transport system that enables all parts of the county to thrive, with the intention of supporting clean growth, tackling inequality and protecting our natural and historic environment.

The County Council are seeking to reduce the need to travel within the County and discouraging unnecessary individual private vehicle use by individuals and wish to see walking, cycling, public and shared transport become the natural first choice for residents.   These objectives are inline with those that the district and city councils within the County have already signed up to as part of the Oxfordshire Plan 2050 process and also with the Government’s climate change and carbon reduction policies.

Council resolves to:

  • Welcome Oxfordshire County Councils commitment to set out an ambitious plan to reduce car journeys and reliance on private motor vehicles
  • Support the commitment by the County Council to put climate change action at the heart if its proposals.
  • Continue to respond to consultations on the Oxfordshire Transport and Connectivity Plan supporting the overarching objectives but asks the cabinet member to work with Officers to challenge the policies, as appropriate, in order to ensure they are robust enough to achieve their aim.
  • Ask the Cabinet member for Corporate Services and Transformation to work with officers to continue to ensure that this councils contributions to OxPlan2050 and the forthcoming Joint Local Plan support these aspirations and work to develop spatial planning and policies within those plans reflects the need to reduce the number of avoidable journeys that are currently undertaken by car, such as those required purely for commuting or shopping.
  • Ask the leader to write to the Leader of the county council encouraging them to ensure that they reflect, as far as possible, their aspirations when responding to planning consultations, not only Vale, but across the County noting that they will need to comply with policy.

 

 

 

Minutes:

Council considered the motions from councillors set out in the agenda in accordance

with Council Procedure Rule 38.

 

  1. Councillor Bethia Thomas moved, and Councillor Bob Johnston seconded the motion as set out in the agenda at agenda item 15:

 

After debate and on being put to the vote the motion was agreed.

RESOLVED: That

Healthy food is vital to us all and food production and farming is an important economic and employment sector in our district, with agriculture at the heart of many of our communities. However, the rising costs of fuel and other supplies is creating increased pressure on farmers across the district, whilst government policies on international trade deals threaten to undermine UK food quality standards and risk putting farmers out of business – as well as exacerbating food insecurity in the UK.  At the same time, significant increases in the cost of living are putting pressure on residents across the Vale, forcing them to make difficult choices regarding their household budgets, including the amount spent on food and heating.

 

The district council has a number of powers and opportunities that can help influence food production, support sustainable farming and distribution, reduce food waste, and promote healthy eating for the benefit of our residents and the environment, whilst supporting action to address climate change.

 

Council therefore resolves:

  

1.     To create a Member Food and Farming Champion to promote local food production and distribution, as well as healthy eating in the Vale.

2.   To encourage farming communities and agricultural businesses to respond to any consultation on our new Joint Local Plan and Oxfordshire Plan 2050.

3.   To encourage developers to include community gardens and allotment provision within all new housing developments.

4.   To encourage and promote high environmental health standards at all stages of food production, distribution and redistribution, and continue to support local businesses and ‘farm-door’ sales, recognising their positive impact on reducing the carbon emissions associated with food miles.

5.   To maximise opportunities to highlight the importance of food and farming in our local economy via the press and through social media.

6.   To continue to investigate ways we can support food redistribution organisations and food charities to address food poverty in the district, noting the work that has already been done in this regard.

7.   To continue to promote ways we can reduce food waste through our waste service and the use of food recycling bins.

8.   To continue to promote the use of waste food and the highlight the climate benefits this can bring.

9.   To minimise food waste at any event that we may host that serves food, and to use such occasions to highlight the use of waste food, low carbon options, and locally sourced produce wherever possible.

 

B.   Councillor Eric de la Harpe moved, and Councillor Samantha Bowring seconded the motion as set out in the agenda at agenda item 15:

 

After debate and on being put to the vote the motion was agreed.

RESOLVED: That

There have been a number of fatal road accidents in Oxfordshire recently involving cyclists.   This is despite changes to the highway code which came into force on the 29 January 2022.   The aim of these changes, ?which Council believes are to be commended, is to improve the safety of pedestrians, cyclists and horses on the highway by assigning a hierarchy of responsibility such that the heavier the mode of transport, the more responsibility the operator carries for the safety of others using lighter modes of transport. Motorists turning left, for example, must stop for cyclists behind them in a cycle lane.   Cyclists are now also advised to ride in the centre of the lane and to ride two-abreast 

  

Encouraging active travel is central to Council’s key themes of tackling the Climate Emergency and Building Healthy Communities.  However, not all residents are aware of these new changes ?to the Highway Code and any confusion arising from this could lead to serious ?incidents, between motorists and cyclists and this ?could discourage active travel. 

  

Council ?resolves to: 

  1. Express regret for the recent loss of life on our roads ?and believes that the changes to the Highway Code should be commended as they seek to mitigate any risk to safety.
  2. Asks the Leader to write to Oxfordshire County Council ?to ensure that 
    1. the County Council as the highways authority publicises the changes to the Highway Code widely as part of its highways safety messaging and requesting it ensures that all future transport schemes in the Vale of White Horse reflect the latest changes to the Highway Code and encourage Active Travel by default. 
    2. all cycle infrastructure should be delivered in accordance with the standards set out in the Government's Cycle infrastructure design (LTN 1/20) guidance 
  3. Ask the Cabinet member for Community Engagement to work with officers to highlight government and county council communications about the Highway Code changes via our media channels and signpost (for example in Vale News) to the Government website and the latest guidance where relevant. 

C. Councillor Max Thompson moved, and Councillor Richard Webber seconded the motion as set out in the agenda at agenda item 15:

 

After debate and on being put to the vote the motion was agreed.

RESOLVED: That

Oxfordshire County Council has been undertaking consultation on its new Oxfordshire Transport and Connectivity Plan, which will support the County Council’s local transport plan vision, which is to deliver a zero-carbon Oxfordshire transport system that enables all parts of the county to thrive, with the intention of supporting clean growth, tackling inequality and protecting our natural and historic environment.

The County Council are seeking to reduce the need to travel within the County and discouraging unnecessary individual private vehicle use by individuals and wish to see walking, cycling, public and shared transport become the natural first choice for residents.   These objectives are in line with those that the district and city councils within the County have already signed up to as part of the Oxfordshire Plan 2050 process and also with the Government’s climate change and carbon reduction policies.

Council resolves to:

  • Welcome Oxfordshire County Councils commitment to set out an ambitious plan to reduce car journeys and reliance on private motor vehicles
  • Support the commitment by the County Council to put climate change action at the heart if its proposals.
  • Continue to respond to consultations on the Oxfordshire Transport and Connectivity Plan supporting the overarching objectives but asks the cabinet member to work with Officers to challenge the policies, as appropriate, in order to ensure they are robust enough to achieve their aim.
  • Ask the Cabinet member for Planning to work with officers to continue to ensure that this council’s contributions to OxPlan2050 and the forthcoming Joint Local Plan support these aspirations and work to develop spatial planning and policies within those plans reflects the need to reduce the number of avoidable journeys that are currently undertaken by car, such as those required purely for commuting or shopping.
  • Ask the leader to write to the Leader of the county council encouraging them to ensure that they reflect, as far as possible, their aspirations when responding to planning consultations, not only Vale, but across the County noting that they will need to comply with policy.

 

 

Supporting documents:

 

Contact us - Democratic services

Phone icon

01235 422520
(Text phone users add 18001 before dialing)

Address icon

Vale of White Horse District Council
Abbey House, Abbey Close,
Abingdon
OX14 3JE