Agenda item

The following Notices of Motion submitted to the County Council in accordance with Standing Order 8(2) have been referred to the Cabinet for consideration, to refer it to another committee or make a recommendation back to the Council:

 

(a)   Devon County Council and Fracking (Councillor Hodgson)

(b)   British Sign Language (Councillor Dewhirst)

(c)   Devon’s Housing Need / CPRE Reports (Councillor Shaw)

(d)   The Impact of Brexit to Devon’s Economy (Councillor Shaw)

(e)   Fair and Adequate Funding to Local Authorities (Councillor Atkinson)

(f)    Fair Funding Formula for Police Forces (Councillor Atkinson)

(g)   Climate Change (Councillor Hodgson)

(a) Devon County Council and Fracking (Councillor Hodgson)

 

(Councillor Hodgson attended in accordance with Standing Order 8 and spoke to this item).

 

I am aware that South Devon has little if any shale reserves that could attract potential fracking exploration or would be economically viable to extract. However, as part of a national support to prevent controversial planning matters being able to avoid public consultation and protest and also to support a permanent ban on fracking in the UK, I am also requesting this motion regarding permitted development rights which has now been allowed for Fracking planning applications.  This means that applications can by-pass the usual pubic consultation and objection processes and publicly represented decision making bodies such as council planning committees.  France, Ireland, Bulgaria, Germany, Victoria, in NSW Australia, four provinces in Canada New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia and Quebec have all banned fracking and Germany has placed an indefinite moratorium, Netherlands has placed a temporary moratorium on fracking. This also supports this Council’s agreement in principle to support initiatives that will prevent or mitigate climate change.

 

1.     Will write to the Secretary of State to object to applications for fracking having permitted development rights such that applicants can avoid the usual planning system.

 

2.     Supports a national ban on fracking in the UK on public safety and climate change grounds.

 

Members considered the Officer’s factual briefing note on the matter (CSO/19/2) which referred to the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government’s consultation on ‘Permitted development for shale gas exploration’ to seek views on the principle of whether non-hydraulic fracturing shale gas exploration development should be granted planning permission through a permitted development right. It also noted that, in Devon, there were no viable geological formations with potential for shale gas and was highly unlikely that there would be any planning applications for shale gas exploration.

 

The Cabinet considered the recommendation now before them and the actions now proposed and already undertaken and any other relevant factors (e.g. public health, financial, environmental, risk management and equality and legal considerations and Public Health impact):

 

It was MOVED by Councillor Hart, SECONDED by Councillor Croad, and

 

RESOLVED that the Committee on Climate Change will advise government on a revised ‘net-zero’ carbon emissions target.  Government will then need to consider the contribution that shale gas can make to meeting that target.  It is therefore recommended that as there is no government consultation on extending permitted development rights for ‘fracking’ it is not necessary to write to the Secretary of State on this matter.

 

(b) British Sign Language (Councillor Dewhirst)

 

(Councillor Dewhirst attended in accordance with Standing Order 8 and spoke to this item).

 

This Council passionately believes that good communication lies at the heart of a civilised society and furthermore believes that inclusion is a vital part of a fair society.

 

To that end this Council realises that there is a large number of British Sign Language (BSL) users in Devon and so offers Deaf people an on-line interpretation service to enable people whose first language is BSL to communicate and interact with our Council.

 

The BBC offer in-vision BSL interpretations of some popular and topical programmes however it is not provided for the local and live news services.   They do however offer the option for subtitles to be used for their programmes for Deaf people or people with limited hearing.   Sadly, Deaf people find this service less than helpful and often very confusing - try watching the news with the sound off and just subtitles.   ITV offer no services for Deaf people.   Many Deaf people in Devon wish to keep up with the news in our County and wish that the BBC and ITV offered a similar interpretation service to our Council.   This currently happens in America and most western countries.

 

In a spirit of inclusion this Council resolves to ask the BBC and ITV to start a process of full inclusion by asking the Chief Executive to write to the Director General of the BBC to ask for Spotlight South West to be signed in BSL and to the Managing Director of ITV Westcountry to ask for West Country News to be signed in BSL.

 

 

Members considered the Officer’s factual briefing note on the matter (CSO/19/2) which referred to the Council being signed up to the British Deaf Association British Sign Language Charter and the facilities to enable access to services. The briefing also outlined how news was accessed and the duty on organisations such as the BBC in relation to Public Sector Equality Duty. Moving forward, the Council was committed to meeting and exceeding the new EU standards around accessibility.

 

The Cabinet considered the recommendation now before them and the actions now proposed and already undertaken and any other relevant factors (e.g. public health, financial, environmental, risk management and equality and legal considerations and Public Health impact):

 

It was MOVED by Councillor Hart, SECONDED by Councillor McInnes, and

 

RESOLVED that the County Council writes to the BBC and ITV in support of a campaign for Spotlight South West and West Country News to be signed in BSL and that the Council asks other partners and stakeholders such as the Police, NHS and voluntary sector to join in support of the Deaf Community in taking this action.

 

(c) Devon’s Housing Need / CPRE Reports (Councillor Shaw)

 

(Councillor Shaw attended in accordance with Standing Order 8 and Councillor Hannaford

attended in accordance with Standing Order 25(2) and spoke to this item).

 

Devon County Council welcomes the reports published by the Council for the Preservation of Rural England (Devon branch), 'Devon Housing Needs Evidence' and 'A Review of Government Housing Policy and Its Impact on Devon' and the extensive research from which they result. Noting that the reports conclude that Devon's real housing needs are substantially less than currently assumed, Council asks Cabinet to commission a full evaluation of the implications of these reports for both the Council's policies and relevant joint ventures including the Greater Exeter Strategic Plan.

 

Members considered the Officer’s factual briefing note on the matter (CSO/19/2) which referred to the updated NPPF (July 2018) which introduced a national methodology for establishing house building numbers at the local authority level and also the role of the County Council which didn’t have a duty to prepare local plans which set the housing requirements, but did have a role in providing advice to the districts on their plans.

 

The Cabinet considered the recommendation now before them and the actions now proposed and already undertaken and any other relevant factors (e.g. public health, financial, environmental, risk management and equality and legal considerations and Public Health impact):

 

It was MOVED by Councillor Hart, SECONDED by Councillor Davis, and

 

RESOLVED that whilst the County Council recognises and welcomes the engagement of the CPRE in the planning process it is also recognises that the local planning authorities are required to comply with the government requirements in setting housing numbers in local plans and ensuring housing delivery. The County Council’s role is to ensure the necessary infrastructure is planned for and in this role it is considered that it is not necessary for DCC to commission work on the CPRE reports.

 

(d) The Impact of Brexit to Devon’s Economy (Councillor Shaw)

 

(Councillor Shaw attended in accordance with Standing Order 8 and Councillor Hannaford attended in accordance with Standing Order 25(2) and spoke to this item).

 

While welcoming the Devon councils' support for Flybe, this County Council expresses its alarm that Brexit has contributed to the airline's crisis and that it has been followed by the announcement of the closure of the Schaeffler factory in Plymouth.

 

In view of (a) this accelerating harm to Devon's economy, which also threatens our agricultural, health, university and small business sectors and living standards, and (b) polling evidence which suggests that a majority of Devon voters and Devon districts now oppose Brexit, Council calls on the Government to organise a referendum in which voters are offered the choice of accepting the deal which the Government has negotiated or remaining in the European Union.

 

Members considered the Officer’s factual briefing note on the matter (CSO/19/2) which referred to the current national position and potential timeline, the contents of the Governments long-term economic impact assessment (of 28th November 2018), the scenario modelling released by the Bank of England and also the work of the County Council in working with its partner local authorities across Devon and Somerset and with the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership to explore the potential opportunities and impacts of Brexit including the Brexit Resilience and Opportunities Group. There was also a working group within the Council looking at the impact of Brexit on Devon’s residents and businesses, including a watching brief on the local economy including news on Flybe and other major employers. 

 

The Cabinet considered the recommendation now before them and the actions now proposed and already undertaken and any other relevant factors (e.g. public health, financial, environmental, risk management and equality and legal considerations and Public Health impact):

 

It was MOVED by Councillor Hart, SECONDED by Councillor Gilbert, and

 

RESOLVED that the Council be recommended to endorse the work being carried out to support Devon residents and businesses through the Brexit period, to help understand and minimise the impacts where possible and take advantage of opportunities.  The Council will continue to work with businesses during the transition period and beyond to support our local economy, including working with district colleagues and the HotSW LEP.

 

(e) Fair and Adequate Funding to Local Authorities (Councillor Atkinson)

 

(Councillor Atkinson attended in accordance with Standing Order 8 and spoke to this item).

 

Philip Alston, the UN’s special rapporteur. has found that Local Government in the UK has been “gutted” by government policies reflecting the “dismantling of the social safety net”. He finds that since the onset of austerity,  cuts in  to local government funding have transferred service costs to users who are “least able to pay”,  and local authorities are “even struggling with the basic services they are statutorily obligated to provide” such that  the “overall social safety net is being systematically dismantled” as  Local authorities, especially in England, which perform vital roles in providing a real social safety net have been gutted by a series of government policies.

 

The UN official referenced the National Audit Office’s finding that local government has incurred a  49% cuts in funding since 2011-2018 ( but 75% cut in revenue funding to fund services  in Devon County Council ) community and youth centres have been shrunk and underfunded, public spaces and buildings including parks and recreation centres have been sold off and 14 million people – one fifth of the population – live in poverty, and noted that Institute for Fiscal Studies calculations predict a 7% rise in child poverty between 2015 and 2022. He also says that despite these factors, Alston claimed ministers were in “a state of denial” about UK poverty. Other areas in which social security have been undermined include cuts to legal aid and benefit reductions.

 

This Council agrees with the raporteur’s findings and urges the government to introduce fair and adequate funding to local authorities to meet local people’s needs in Devon.

 

Members considered the Officer’s factual briefing note on the matter (CSO/19/2) which referred to the contents of the rapporteur’s Report, the definition of extreme poverty, the wide-ranging impact of cuts in Local Government funding, the role of the Council in pressing Government for change, the role of the lobbying group f40, the regular briefings to Devon MPs and the recent briefing provided to Government by the Leader on the Council’s budget position and suggestions of five essential steps to safeguard Devon’s public services.

 

The Cabinet considered the recommendation now before them and the actions now proposed and already undertaken and any other relevant factors (e.g. public health, financial, environmental, risk management and equality and legal considerations and Public Health impact):

 

It was MOVED by Councillor Hart, SECONDED by Councillor Barker, and

 

RESOLVED that Council agrees with the rapporteur’s findings and makes use of the UN report to underline and intensify the ongoing campaigning work described in this note for fair and adequate funding to meet local people’s needs in Devon.

 

(f) Fair Funding Formula for Police Forces (Councillor Atkinson)

 

(Councillor Atkinson attended in accordance with Standing Order 8 and Councillors Hannaford and Connett attended in accordance with Standing Order 25(2) and spoke to this item).

 

The government has been more interested in terrorism and high-end threats but less focused on local crimes and policing.

 

Steep budget reductions and a widening mission for the police has forced Devon and Cornwall Police to make the difficult decision to cut budgets for local policing.

Austerity cuts in other public services have also impacted on the police who are often the service of last resort for people with mental health conditions.

 

The National Audit Office report castigated the government’s handling of the police. The NAO assesses the government did not fully understand the actual impact of these cuts on police forces such that policing is at the tipping point.  

 

This council calls on the Government and local MPs to ensure that the anticipated review of police funding agrees a fair funding formula for police forces that ensures an increase in funding for Devon and Cornwall Police which does not pass funding increases on through council tax beyond the current permitted up to 2% annual increase in the police precept.

 

Members considered the Officer’s factual briefing note on the matter (CSO/19/2) which referred to the funding formula for Police Forces and the factors taken into account, the Devon and Cornwall PCC giving evidence to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) inquiry into the financial sustainability of police forces in England and Wales and the geography of Devon and Cornwall which places additional challenges for policing.

 

The Cabinet considered the recommendation now before them and the actions now proposed and already undertaken and any other relevant factors (e.g. public health, financial, environmental, risk management and equality and legal considerations and Public Health impact):

 

It was MOVED by Councillor Hart, SECONDED by Councillor Croad, and

 

RESOLVED that it be recommended that the Council writes to Devon’s Members of Parliament, thanking them for the increased precept but highlight the new challenges and rising demand which are putting the Devon and Cornwall Police under stress and urges MPs to support the introduction of a fair funding formula which takes account of all the demands on Police Forces nationally.

 

(g) Climate Change (Councillor Hodgson)

 

(Councillor Hodgson attended in accordance with Standing Order 8 and Councillor Prowse

attended in accordance with Standing Order 25(2) and spoke to this item).

 

Full Council notes:

 

1.     Humans have already caused irreversible climate change, the impacts of which are being felt around the world.  Global temperatures have already increased by 1 degree Celsius from pre-industrial levels.  Atmospheric CO2 levels are above 400 parts per million (ppm).  This far exceeds the 350 ppm deemed to be a safe level for humanity;

 

2.     In order to reduce the chance of runaway Global Warming and limit the effects of Climate Breakdown, it is imperative that we as a species reduce our CO2eq (carbon equivalent) emissions from their current 6.5 tonnes per person per year to less than 2 tonnes as soon as possible[i];

 

3.     Individuals cannot be expected to make this reduction on their own. Society needs to change its laws, taxation, infrastructure, etc., to make low carbon living easier and the new norm;

 

4.     Carbon emissions result from both production and consumption;

 

5.     Devon County Council has already shown foresight and leadership when it comes to addressing the issue of climate change when back in 2004 we signed up to the Nottingham Declaration on Climate Change and has since recognised this in its strategy for responding to the Climate Change Act 2008 which underpins its strategies, actions plans, public statements and advice to businesses, residents and parish councils;

 

6.     Unfortunately, our current plans and actions are not enough.  The world is on track to overshoot the Paris Agreement’s 1.5 degrees Celsius limit before 2050;[ii]

 

7.     The IPCC’s Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5 degrees Celsius, published last month, describes the enormous harm that a 2 degrees Celsius rise is likely to cause compared to a 1.5 degrees Celsius, and told us that limiting Global Warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius may still be possible with ambitious action from national and sub-national authorities, civil society, the private sector, indigenous peoples and local communities;[iii]

 

8.     Local Authorities around the world are responding by declaring a ‘Climate Emergency’ and committing resources to address this emergency.[iv]

 

Full Council believes that:

 

1.     All governments (national, regional and local) have a duty to limit the negative impacts of Climate Breakdown, and local governments that recognize this should not wait for their national governments to change their policies.  It is important for the residents of Devon and the UK that counties commit to carbon neutrality as quickly as possible;

 

2.     Local Authorities are uniquely placed to lead the world in reducing carbon emissions;[v]

 

3.     The consequences of global temperature rising above 1.5 degrees Celsius are so severe that preventing this from happening must be humanity’s number one priority; and,

 

4.     Bold climate action can deliver economic benefits in terms of new jobs, economic savings and market opportunities (as well as improved well-being for people worldwide).

 

Full Council calls on the Leader to:

 

1.     Declare a ‘Climate Emergency’;

 

2.     Pledge to make the county of Devon carbon neutral by 2030, taking into account both production and consumption emissions (scope 1,2,3);[vi]

 

3.     Call on Westminster to provide the powers and resources to make the 2030 target possible;

 

4.     Work with other governments (both within the UK and internationally) to determine and implement best practice methods to limit Global Warming to less than 1.5 degrees Celsius;

 

5.     Continue to work with partners across the county and region to deliver this new goal through all relevant strategies and plans;

 

6.     Report to Full Council within six months with the actions the Council will take to address this emergency.

 

Members considered the Officer’s factual briefing note on the matter (CSO/19/2) which referred to the projections and recommendations of the 15th Special Report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the Council’s own emissions which had  reduced by 36% since 2012/13, the Corporate Energy Policy targets (under review by the Environmental Performance Board) setting more stretching, but realistic goals, review of the Council’s Climate Change Strategy in 2018 and the collaborative discussions occurring within Devon to encourage more activity at strategic, community and individual levels.

 

The Cabinet considered the recommendation now before them and the actions now proposed and already undertaken and any other relevant factors (e.g. public health, financial, environmental, risk management and equality and legal considerations and Public Health impact):

 

It was MOVED by Councillor Hart, SECONDED by Councillor Croad, and

 

RESOLVED that

 

(a) the Council reaffirms its recognition of the scale and urgency of the global challenge from climate change, as documented by the latest Special Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and declares a climate emergency; and

 

(b) mandates the Environmental Performance Board to review and recommend what further corporate approaches can be taken through the DCC Climate Change Strategy and Corporate Energy Policy and to facilitate stronger Devon-wide action through collaboration at a strategic, community and individual level.