Agenda item

Motions

To consider those motions received from Councillors in accordance with Standing Order 19 which were adjourned from the meeting held on 22 October 2020.

Motion 3

“This Council notes: The publication by Government of the White Paper, Planning for the Future on 6 August 2020, which set out proposals on reforms to the planning process for the future.

This Council believes:

1. That existing planning procedures, as currently administered by our own team, allow for local democratic control over future development, and give local people a say in planning proposals that affect them.

2. That proposals for automatic rights to build in growth areas, and increase permitted development rights, risk unregulated growth and unsustainable communities.

3. That local communities must be in the driving seat on shaping the future of their communities, and local determination of the planning framework and planning applications play an important part in this process.

And this Council resolves to:

1. Take part in the consultation on the planning proposals, and to make representations against the proposals as outlined in this motion.

2. Write to and lobby our Member of Parliament, urging him to oppose these proposals and to circulate the reply to members.

3. Highlight its concerns over these proposals with the public and local residents.

This Council is concerned that the proposals seek to:

1. Reduce or remove the right of residents to object to applications near them.

2. Grant automatic rights for developers to build on land identified for growth.

3. Remove section 106 payments for infrastructure and their replacement with a national levy.

The vast majority of planning applications are given the go ahead by local authority planning committees, with permission granted to around 9 out of 10 applications.
And research by the Local Government Association has said that there are existing planning permissions for more than one million homes that have not yet been started.

This Council further notes: The Royal Institute for British Architects called the proposals shameful and which will do almost nothing to guarantee delivery of affordable, well-designed and sustainable homes. RIBA also said that proposals could lead to the next generation of slum housing. The reforms are opposed by the all-party Local Government Association, currently led by Conservative Councillors.”

Proposed by Councillor B.B. Spoor

Seconded by Councillor T. Fidler

Motion 4 - disallowed

Motion 5

"According to the Royal College of Physicians an estimated 40,000 deaths a year in the UK are linked to air pollution, with engine idling contributing to this. Engine idling can release 150 balloons worth of exhaust emissions in just one minute.

As stated by the RAC “(t)hese fumes contain a number of harmful gasses including carbon dioxide, which is bad for the environment and contributes towards climate change, as well as a range of other harmful gasses including nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons which are linked to asthma and other lung diseases.”

As a Council that wishes to improve air quality across the borough, this council herewith decides to:-

a) Declare a Borough-wide “Clean Air and no idling zone” by 1st January 2021,
b) encourage all residents and businesses to stop engine idling in the Borough through awareness-rising in Council publications, communications and as part of a general awareness campaign pointing out the harm of idling and that engine idling is already liable for a penalty notice under existing legislation,
c) encourage and assist schools, businesses, and other partners in the Borough to highlight the health hazards and environmental impact of idling and to take measures to combat idling through signage and other measures,
d) write to Surrey County Council urging the Council to proactively address and combat idling as a matter of urgency including through the implementation of a Traffic Regulation Order to this effect, increased use of custom signage, idling penalties and increased enforcement resourcing for monitoring of idling hotspots including in busy shopping areas, car parks, near schools and in residential areas.
e) Write to the Government urging for a substantial increase in fines for stationary idling and repeat idling through legislative reform and statutory operational guidance to authorities.
f) Work with other local authorities to learn from best practices and work together for legislative reform."

Proposed by Councillor J. Doerfel

Seconded by Councillor T. Lagden

Motion 6

Climate Emergency Motion

Spelthorne Borough Council herewith

1. declares a climate emergency immediately.
2. decides to commission a detailed study by the end of this year identifying practical steps, precise targets and concrete courses of action that can achieve carbon neutrality as soon as possible,
3. decides to network with other local authorities and the Local Government Association with a view to learning from best practices by other Councils that have adopted carbon neutrality targets and/or other measures mitigating the effects of Climate Change,
4. decides to establish a Climate Change Citizens Assembly for residents to help address our climate emergency before the end of the year with the first meeting to be held remotely in January 2021.

Proposed by Councillor J. Doerfel

Seconded by Councillor V. Siva

Minutes:

The Council considered those motions received from councillors in accordance with Standing Order 19 which were adjourned from the meeting held on 22 October 2020.

Motion 3

It was proposed by Councillor B.B. Spoor and seconded by Councillor T. Fidler that:

“This Council notes: The publication by Government of the White Paper, Planning for the Future on 6 August 2020, which set out proposals on reforms to the planning process for the future.

This Council believes:

1. that existing planning procedures, as currently administered by our own team, allow for local democratic control over future development, and give local people a say in planning proposals that affect them.

2. that proposals for automatic rights to build in growth areas, and increase permitted development rights, risk unregulated growth and unsustainable communities.

3. that local communities must be in the driving seat on shaping the future of their communities, and local determination of the planning framework and planning applications play an important part in this process.

And this Council resolves to:

1. take part in the consultation on the planning proposals, and to make representations against the proposals as outlined in this motion.

2. write to and lobby our Member of Parliament, urging him to oppose these proposals and to circulate the reply to members.

3. highlight its concerns over these proposals with the public and local residents.

This Council is concerned that the proposals seek to:

1. reduce or remove the right of residents to object to applications near them.

2. grant automatic rights for developers to build on land identified for growth.

3. remove section 106 payments for infrastructure and their replacement with a national levy.

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

Resolved that:

This Council notes: The publication by Government of the White Paper, Planning for the Future on 6 August 2020, which set out proposals on reforms to the planning process for the future.

This Council believes:

2. that proposals for automatic rights to build in growth areas, and increase permitted development rights, risk unregulated growth and unsustainable communities.

And this Council resolves to:

1. take part in the consultation on the planning proposals, and to make representations against the proposals as outlined in this motion.

2. write to and lobby our Member of Parliament, urging him to oppose these proposals and to circulate the reply to members.

3. highlight its concerns over these proposals with the public and local residents.

This Council is concerned that the proposals seek to:

1. reduce or remove the right of residents to object to applications near them.

2. grant automatic rights for developers to build on land identified for growth.

3. remove section 106 payments for infrastructure and their replacement with a national levy.

Motion 5

It was proposed by Councillor J.H. Doerfel and seconded by Councillor J.R. Sexton that:

As a Council that wishes to improve air quality across the borough, this council herewith decides to:-

Councillor I.J. Beardsmore proposed the following amendment by the addition and deletion of words, which was seconded by Councillor T. Lagden:

In relation to Paragraph a) to read: “a) seek to declare a no idling zone as a matter of urgency.”

In relation to Paragraph d) to read: “d) write to Surrey County Council urging the Council to proactively address the declaration of a Clean Air Zone, and combat idling as a matter of urgency including through the implementation of a Traffic Regulation Order to this effect, increased use of custom signage, idling penalties and increased enforcement resourcing for monitoring of idling hotspots including in busy shopping areas, car parks, near schools and in residential areas.”

The amendment was put to the vote and carried.

Councillor N.J. Gething had left the meeting during the debate on the amendment.

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

Resolved that:

As a Council that wishes to improve air quality across the borough, this council herewith decides to:-

a) seek to declare a no idling zone as a matter of urgency,
b) encourage all residents and businesses to stop engine idling in the Borough through awareness-rising in Council publications, communications and as part of a general awareness campaign pointing out the harm of idling and that engine idling is already liable for a penalty notice under existing legislation,
c) encourage and assist schools, businesses, and other partners in the Borough to highlight the health hazards and environmental impact of idling and to take measures to combat idling through signage and other measures,
d) write to Surrey County Council urging the Council to proactively address the declaration of a Clean Air Zone and combat idling as a matter of urgency including through the implementation of a Traffic Regulation Order to this effect, increased use of custom signage, idling penalties and increased enforcement resourcing for monitoring of idling hotspots including in busy shopping areas, car parks, near schools and in residential areas.
e) Write to the Government urging for a substantial increase in fines for stationary idling and repeat idling through legislative reform and statutory operational guidance to authorities.
f) Work with other local authorities to learn from best practices and work together for legislative reform.

Motion 6

It was proposed by Councillor T. Lagden and seconded by Councillor V. Siva that:

Spelthorne Borough Council herewith

Councillor R.J. Noble proposed the following amendment by the addition and deletion of words, which was seconded by Councillor R.W. Sider BEM:

In relation to Paragraph 4. to read: decides to establish a Climate Change Residents’ Fora for constituents to help address our climate emergency before the end of the year with the first meeting to be held remotely in March 2021.

The amendment was put to the vote and as there was an equality of votes, the Mayor used his casting vote. The amendment was carried.

Councillor N.J. Gething re-joined the meeting during the debate on the amendment.

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

Resolved that:

Spelthorne Borough Council herewith

4. decides to establish a Climate Change Residents’ Fora for constituents to help address our climate emergency before the end of the year with the first meeting to be held remotely in March 2021.