Agenda item

Motions

Meeting of Council, Thursday, 10 December 2020 6.00 pm (Item 301/20)

To receive any motions from Councillors in accordance with Standing Order 19.

Note: The deadline for motions to be considered at this meeting was Monday 30 November 2020 and four were received.

Motion 1

Fireworks

1. To require all public firework displays within the local authority boundaries to be advertised in advance of the event, allowing residents to take precautions for their animals and vulnerable people

2. 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

3. To write to the UK Government urging them to introduce legislation to limit the maximum noise level of fireworks to 90dB for those sold to the public for private displays

4. To encourage local suppliers of fireworks to stock ‘quieter’ fireworks for Public use.

Proposed by Councillor D. Saliagopoulos

Seconded by Councillor T. Lagden

Motion 2

We would like to propose a vote of thanks to our Officers, as well as our Key Workers and Volunteers, for all their hard work during 2020 with the challenges that have arisen due to the pandemic. We hope that in the New Year of 2021 we can look forward to a return to normality and working together as a strong team to best serve the needs of our residents.

Proposed by Councillor S. Dunn

Seconded by Councillor R.W. Sider BEM

Motion 3

Spelthorne Borough Council notes with grave concern the budget cuts being forced upon Surrey Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) by Surrey County Council’s (SCC) Fire Authority which will result in the risk to the public and firefighters soaring to an alarming and unacceptable level.

The budget cuts imposed on SFRS by SCC have resulted in a litany of hazardous consequences for firefighters, the constituents of Spelthorne and Surrey, which include the following:

· Implemented in April 2020, Phase 1 of SCC cuts removed four fire engines from night cover which includes one from Spelthorne’s night time cover. As 75% dwelling fire deaths occur at night, Spelthorne Borough Council believes this is an extremely dangerous and reckless cut. Phase 2 will cut a further three night cover fire engines effecting Egham, Banstead and Painshill, which will also have a detrimental effect on Spelthorne as Spelthorne relies on these neighbouring areas for additional cover.

· Phase 2 of the Making Surrey Safer Plan calls for only 350 operational firefighters, which constitutes a 30% reduction in personnel since 2010.

· On top of that, many firefighters have left the service to transfer to other FRSs as they are no longer willing to work in an environment where their health and safety is endangered or accept a 12 hour shift system imposed without negotiation which has had severe impacts on their work life balance. Others have suffered imposed pay cuts which range from 6% to 26%.

· Whole-time fire engines crew have been reduced from 5 to 4 despite the fact that according to the Fire Brigade Union, the safety of people and firefighters will be severely comprised by a fire engine crewed by less than 5 Firefighters.

· SFRS has failed to comply with its own Emergency Response Standard (which has been downgraded 3 times since 2005) for the last 5 years. With a further cut of 70 firefighters and the removal of 7 fire engines from night cover this year, the possibility of compliance with its Emergency Response Standard in 2020 and beyond is becoming even more remote.

· A decrease of fire engine availability at Fordbridge Fire Station in Spelthorne from 75.8% in Jan 2020 to 38.7% in October 2020 after the Phase 1 cuts had been implemented.

· From 1-26 November, 2 engines during the day (the minimum requirement for an adequate level of safety provided by FBU) were available for just 4 days at Fordbridge. There were 0 pumps available for 2 days.

· No improvement on approximately 40% understaffing of On Call Firefighters.

· A 66% decrease in the number of Fire Protection audits carried out

· An eye-watering 388% increase from 2019 to 2020 in the number of emergency calls the London Fire Brigade have attended in Surrey revealing how under-resourced SFRS is.

Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) which independently assesses the effectiveness and efficiency of the fire & rescue services in the public interest, has stated that they “have concerns about the performance of Surrey Fire and Rescue Service in keeping people safe and secure and in particular, serious concerns about the service’s effectiveness and efficiency” in their report Effectiveness, Efficiency and People 2018/19 – an inspection of Surrey Fire and Rescue Service.

Spelthorne Council is extremely concerned that the cuts imposed by SCC to the SFRS will result in increasing the risk of serious injury and death to residents. SCC owes a duty of care to Spelthorne residents to ensure that their fire service is discharged with optimum safety management, and hence calls on SCC, by writing to the Leader of Surrey County Council, Tim Oliver and the Cabinet Member for Communities, Denise Turner-Stewart to:

1. Reverse the Phase 1 cuts

2. Halt the Phase 2 cuts

3. Reinstate a fit for purpose budget, in agreement with the Fire Brigade Union, which will restore an optimum level of safety for the public and firefighters in Surrey.

Proposed by Councillor V. Siva

Seconded by Councillor J. Doerfel

Motion 4

The Staines Masterplan has evolved in administrative changes, but the document remains important as the framework to establish sustainable development of Staines Town Centre.

In recognition of this importance, this motion states that the council shall henceforth order that:

1. Any proposed development of Staines Town Centre by Spelthorne Borough Council and Knowle Green Estates shall be kept on hold until the Staines Masterplan has been approved.

2. Developers of Major applications proposed in the Staines Town Centre shall be invited to defer their applications until such time that the Council has established policy direction from the Staines Masterplan.

3. The Staines Masterplan needs significant consultation with the community of Spelthorne from the outset.

Not considering this motion now would mean development with no clear strategy that we will be having to attempt to remedy too late. Residents expect clarity for what Staines will look like in the future to ensure they can buy into a positive and ambitious future for Staines Town that respects its heritage but developed for a sustainable future.

Proposed by Councillor C. Bateson

Seconded by Councillor T. Lagden

Minutes:

The Mayor announced that in accordance with Standing Order 17 the Council received four written Notices of Motions.

Motion 1

Councillor D. Saliagopoulos moved and Councillor J.R. Sexton seconded the following motion:

2. 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

3. To write to the UK Government urging them to introduce legislation to limit the maximum noise level of fireworks to 90dB for those sold to the public for private displays

4. To encourage local suppliers of fireworks to stock ‘quieter’ fireworks for Public use.

Councillor S.M. Doran left the meeting at this point.

Councillor M. Gibson proposed the following amendment by the addition and deletion of words, which was seconded by Councillor J.R. Boughtflower:

2. 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 in conjunction with the RSPCA and the wealth of experience it can impart

3. To write to the UK Government urging them to introduce legislation to limit the maximum noise level of fireworks to 90dB for those sold to the public for private displays

4. To ask the UK Government to legislate at national level ~~to encourage~~ for local suppliers of fireworks to stock ‘quieter’ fireworks for Public use.

The amendment was put to the vote and agreed.

The substantive motion was then put to the vote and carried.

Resolved:

2. 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 in conjunction with the RSPCA and the wealth of experience it can impart

3. To write to the UK Government urging them to introduce legislation to limit the maximum noise level of fireworks to 90dB for those sold to the public for private displays

4. To ask the UK Government to legislate at national level for local suppliers of fireworks to stock ‘quieter’ fireworks for Public use.

Motion 2

The following motion was proposed by Councillor S.A. Dunn and seconded by Councillor R.W. Sider, BEM:

“We would like to propose a vote of thanks to our Officers, as well as our Key Workers and Volunteers, for all their hard work during 2020 with the challenges that have arisen due to the pandemic. We hope that in the New Year of 2021 we can look forward to a return to normality and working together as a strong team to best serve the needs of our residents.”

The motion was debated, put to the vote and carried.

Resolved to propose a vote of thanks to our Officers, as well as our Key Workers and Volunteers, for all their hard work during 2020 with the challenges that have arisen due to the pandemic. We hope that in the New Year of 2021 we can look forward to a return to normality and working together as a strong team to best serve the needs of our residents.

Motion 3

In accordance with Standing Order 20.13, Councillor V. Siva proposed an alteration to the third motion:

“Spelthorne Council is extremely concerned that the cuts imposed by SCC to the SFRS will result in increasing the risk of serious injury and death to residents. SCC owes a duty of care to Spelthorne residents to ensure that their fire service is discharged with optimum safety management, and hence calls on SCC, by writing to the Leader of Surrey County Council, Tim Oliver and the Cabinet Member for Communities, Denise Turner-Stewart to:

1. Reverse the Phase 1 cuts and reinstate the appliance removed from Spelthorne’s night cover.

2. Halt the Phase 2 cuts

3. Reinstate a fit for purpose budget, in agreement with the Fire Brigade Union, which will restore an optimum level of safety for the public and firefighters in Surrey.

4. Launch an independent inquiry into the causes that have led to many Firefighters and other staff leaving the service in recent years and advising on how better retention of personnel can be achieved.”

The Council gave its consent to the alteration.

The motion was seconded by Councillor J.H. Doerfel.

Following a debate the motion was put to the vote and carried.

Resolved that:

1. Reverse the Phase 1 cuts and reinstate the appliance removed from Spelthorne’s night cover.

2. Halt the Phase 2 cuts

3. Reinstate a fit for purpose budget, in agreement with the Fire Brigade Union, which will restore an optimum level of safety for the public and firefighters in Surrey.

Motion 4

In accordance with Standing Order 20.13, Councillor C. Bateson proposed the an alteration to Motion 4:

“The Staines-upon-Thames Development Framework is currently being

defined and is important as the framework for the preservation and further

development of a sustainable town centre.

In recognition of this importance, the Council shall require that:

The Cabinet should consider whether Any proposed development of Staines

Town Centre by Spelthorne Borough Council should be kept on hold until the

Staines Development Framework has been adopted.

The Cabinet should consider whether Developers of Major applications

proposed in the Staines Town Centre should be requested to defer their

applications until the Staines Development Framework is adopted.

The Staines Development Framework needs significant consultation with the

community of Spelthorne and a public consultation will be held to review the

proposed Staines Development Framework prior to formal adoption.”

The Council gave its consent to the alteration.

The motion was seconded by Councillor J.H. Doerfel.

Having sat for almost 3 hours it was moved and seconded and

Resolved to suspend Standing Order 5 and continue until the close of business or 10.00pm when the offices closed, whichever was sooner.

Councillor N. Islam left the meeting during consideration of this item.

Following a debate the motion was put to the vote and carried.

Resolved that

“The Staines-upon-Thames Development Framework is currently being

defined and is important as the framework for the preservation and further

development of a sustainable town centre.

In recognition of this importance, the Council shall require that:

The Cabinet should consider whether Any proposed development of Staines

Town Centre by Spelthorne Borough Council should be kept on hold until the

Staines Development Framework has been adopted.

The Cabinet should consider whether Developers of Major applications

proposed in the Staines Town Centre should be requested to defer their

applications until the Staines Development Framework is adopted.

The Staines Development Framework needs significant consultation with the

community of Spelthorne and a public consultation will be held to review the

proposed Staines Development Framework prior to formal adoption.”

Councillors H. and I.T.E. Harvey left the meeting due to another commitment.

Supporting documents: