Agenda item

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule No 10 to consider Motions on notice from Members.  Motions must be received in writing or by email to the Monitoring Officer by 12 noon twelve clear working days before the meeting. 

The following Motions have been received:-

Motion A – Proposed by Councillor S Clough

Council notes it has a duty of care to ensure our residents are protected, as much as possible within the planning rules and conditions implemented and managed accordingly. Council also supports the strong enforcement of planning conditions.

Over recent years there have been many developments where Planning Applications and Conditions have been raised as a growing concern, but Enforcement actions have been limited, sometimes down to what residents believe is ‘Developer Power’.

Council therefore resolves:

1.     To request a review, through the relevant scrutiny committee, into broadening the conditions applied to planning approvals, to protect our residents of our towns and villages as much as possible.

2.     To provide more frequent reports to Planning Committee to review sites where potential breaches of condition are being investigated.

3.     To write to government and ask them to look at providing extra powers and give more teeth to planning authorities, to allow them to ensure that conditions set at the planning stage, can be enforced without the fear of challenge from developers who apply the greatest pressure, where enforcement is applied.

Motion B – Proposed by Councillor A Dale

This Council notes that all District Councillors are elected to represent the interests of the communities and district area of North East Derbyshire first and foremost.

This Council also notes that since July 2024, the new Government has taken several decisions which will have significant impacts on some of our residents and businesses. Some of these decisions, and the specific impact they have on our area, include:

·       the removal of the Winter Fuel Allowance from 22,257 pensioners in North East Derbyshire District;

·       the scrapping of the Restoring Your Railway Fund, which had included the re-opening of the Barrow Hill Line to passenger transport and the opening of new stations in Killamarsh and potentially Clay Cross;

·       the pausing and review of the funding and provision of a new primary school on The Avenue in Wingerworth;

·       the removal of the £2 bus fare cap, increasing it instead by 50%;

·       the consultation on planning reforms which would set a mandatory housebuilding requirement of 622 homes each year – a 178% increase;

·       changes to inheritance tax relief which would have a detrimental impact on family farms, of which there are a significant number in our predominantly rural District, and also risking food security in our area;

·       an increase in National Insurance contributions for employers which local business owners have said will mean job losses in NED and the loss of local business.

In response, Council resolves to:

·        request the relevant scrutiny committee(s) to consider carrying out an assessment of the social, economic and regenerative impact/costs of the above changes and wider Budget measures specifically on North East Derbyshire residents and businesses which might include;

·        the impact of the Winter Fuel Payment changes.

·        consideration of additional financial support to local organisations and charities for grant relief payments and the provision of additional warm hubs.

·        consider recommending to Council the signing of the ‘Save the Winter Fuel Payment for Struggling Pensioners’ petition run by Age UK.

·        Engaging with local residents, farmers and businesses to get their feedback on the impact of the changes.

·       when appropriate to do so, provide updates on progress to Council.

Motion A – Proposed by Councillor S Clough

Council notes it has a duty of care to ensure our residents are protected, as much as possible within the planning rules and conditions implemented and managed accordingly. Council also supports the strong enforcement of planning conditions.

Over recent years there have been many developments where Planning Applications and Conditions have been raised as a growing concern, but Enforcement actions have been limited, sometimes down to what residents believe is ‘Developer Power’.

Council therefore resolves:

1.     To request a review, through the relevant scrutiny committee, into broadening the conditions applied to planning approvals, to protect our residents of our towns and villages as much as possible.

2.     To provide more frequent reports to Planning Committee to review sites where potential breaches of condition are being investigated.

3.     To write to government and ask them to look at providing extra powers and give more teeth to planning authorities, to allow them to ensure that conditions set at the planning stage, can be enforced without the fear of challenge from developers who apply the greatest pressure, where enforcement is applied.

Councillor S Clough moved the Motion.

Councillor S Reed seconded the Motion.

Councillor N Barker stated that Councillor S Clough had chaired a scrutiny review into this subject, which had submitted recommendations to Cabinet, which had been accepted.  Councillor N Barker moved an amendment, that the Council resolves to request the relevant Scrutiny Committee consider the Motion as submitted and review the recommendations made by the Organisation Scrutiny Committee in June 2023 to be implemented from April 2025. 

It was clarified that the original Motion would be considered by the relevant Scrutiny Committee, and whether to consider writing to government would be part of its consideration.

The amendment was seconded by Councillor J Birkin.

Council debated the merits of agreeing the original Motion as submitted or the amendment to request scrutiny to consider the previous review and recommendations.

In responding to the amendment, Councillor S Clough stated that he had concerns if the letter to Government was not taken forward and he therefore could not accept the amendment.

The amendment was put to the vote and passed.  The amended Motion became the Substantive Motion.

The Substantive Motion was put to the vote and passed.

RESOLVED - that the Council resolves to request the relevant Scrutiny Committee consider the Motion as submitted and review the recommendations made by the Organisation Scrutiny Committee in June 2023 to be implemented from April 2025. 

The meeting was adjourned at 4.10pm and recommenced at 4.19pm.

Motion B – Proposed by Councillor A Dale

This Council notes that all District Councillors are elected to represent the interests of the communities and district area of North East Derbyshire first and foremost.

This Council also notes that since July 2024, the new Government has taken several decisions which will have significant impacts on some of our residents and businesses. Some of these decisions, and the specific impact they have on our area, include:

·       the removal of the Winter Fuel Allowance from 22,257 pensioners in North East Derbyshire District;

·       the scrapping of the Restoring Your Railway Fund, which had included the re-opening of the Barrow Hill Line to passenger transport and the opening of new stations in Killamarsh and potentially Clay Cross;

·       the pausing and review of the funding and provision of a new primary school on The Avenue in Wingerworth;

·       the removal of the £2 bus fare cap, increasing it instead by 50%;

·       the consultation on planning reforms which would set a mandatory housebuilding requirement of 622 homes each year – a 178% increase;

·       changes to inheritance tax relief which would have a detrimental impact on family farms, of which there are a significant number in our predominantly rural District, and also risking food security in our area;

·       an increase in National Insurance contributions for employers which local business owners have said will mean job losses in NED and the loss of local business.

In response, Council resolves to:

·        request the relevant scrutiny committee(s) to consider carrying out an assessment of the social, economic and regenerative impact/costs of the above changes and wider Budget measures specifically on North East Derbyshire residents and businesses which might include;

·        the impact of the Winter Fuel Payment changes.

·        consideration of additional financial support to local organisations and charities for grant relief payments and the provision of additional warm hubs.

·        consider recommending to Council the signing of the ‘Save the Winter Fuel Payment for Struggling Pensioners’ petition run by Age UK.

·        Engaging with local residents, farmers and businesses to get their feedback on the impact of the changes.

·       when appropriate to do so, provide updates on progress to Council.

Councillor A Dale moved the Motion.

Councillor C Cupit seconded the Motion.

Council debated the Motion. 

Councillor N Barker responded to the Motion.  He stated that the new Government had to make some difficult decisions.  The work the Motion requested would be a large project which would take away from services to residents. He would not support the Motion.

Councillor P Windley spoke in support of the Motion and highlighted the effect on families of the revamping of day centres. Councillor F Adlington-Stringer stated that he supported the aims of the Motion, to assess the impact on residents, but it was undermined by the party political nature of the Motion. Councillor M Thacker spoke about the practical solutions the Council could offer to signpost people to help and support.  Councillor D Hancock agreed that it needed to be about pragmatic help, such as opening the council offices as a warm hub.  Councillor H Wetherall reflected on what Councillors were elected to do. Councillor R Welton talked about the impact of the National Insurance and increased employment regulation. Councillor R Shipman stated that the essence of the Motion was to look at and to help with the social and economic challenges that had and continue to be faced, which he supported.  Councillor M Foster talked about the impact on Parish Councils and the effect on the precept as well as the likely increase in excess winter deaths. Councillor S Reed stated that how the residents were being affected needed to be properly considered and actions the Council could take explored.

Councillor C Lacey stated that she would not be supporting the Motion as it was all about party politics. Councillor J Barry stated that Council officers would continue to work to support residents and get them the help they needed.

In reply, Councillor A Dale stated that the intention was to make assessment of the impact to inform Members. Work that officers were likely to be doing anyway.  The Motion was broadly trying to assess the pragmatic action that could be taken.

The Motion was put to the vote and rejected.