Agenda item

The following Notices of Motion submitted to the County Council by the Councillors named below have been referred to the Cabinet in accordance with Standing Order 8(2) to refer it to another Committee or make a recommendation back to the Council:

 

(a)    LGBT+ Inclusive Relationship and Sex Education (Councillor Hannaford)

(b)   Care Leavers Council Tax Exemption (Councillor Hannaford)

(c)   Artificial Light Pollution (Councillor Shaw)

(d)   Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service - Consultation and Options for Change (Councillor Shaw)

(e)   Prevention Concordat for Better Mental Health and the 'Every Mind Matters' Campaign (Councillor Scott)

 

A factual briefing note relating to all Motions is attached (CSO/20/1).

(a) LGBT+ Inclusive Relationship and Sex Education

 

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

 

This Council notes that LGBT+ inclusive relationships and sex education is crucial to the development of young LGBT+ people, and in creating a more tolerant, caring and open society.

 

Council notes with concern that the current climate for LGBT+ people in the UK means that that nearly half - including 64 per cent of trans pupils - are bullied for being LGBT+ in Britain's schools.

 

Council notes that the repeal of Section 28 was a pivotal moment for LGBT+ rights, and that the UK must never move backwards on LGBT+ rights by stopping LGBT+ inclusive education in schools.

 

Council notes that people of all faiths and none are LGBT+ and it is vital that all children receive comprehensive and inclusive age appropriate relationships and sex education.

 

Council welcomes the introduction of statutory Relationships Education and Relationships and Sex Education (RSE), which all primary and secondary schools in England respectively will be required to teach from September 2020.

 

Council affirms unequivocally its support for compulsory LGBT+ inclusive Relationships Education and Relationships and Sex Education in all state funded primary and secondary schools.

 

Council commits to ensuring that schools are delivering RSE in line with new Government guidance.

 

Members considered the Officer’s factual briefing note on the matter (CSO/20/1) which referred to the aim of the new RSE curriculum including helping pupils understand the benefits of healthy relationships and equal opportunity to explore the features of stable and healthy same-sex relationships, the support offered by the Devon advisory service and training and support from Stonewall trust, the RSE statutory guidance under S80A of the Education Act 2002 and S403 of the Education Act 1996 and that whilst the Local Authority had a limited influence over academies they would monitor implementation and continue to promote good practice, raising concerns as needed.

 

The Cabinet considered the recommendation now before them and the actions now proposed and already undertaken.

 

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

 

RESOLVED that Council be asked to support the principles of the Motion and therefore commits to advocate, promote and challenge schools to deliver RSE in line with new Government guidance.

 

 

(b) Care Leavers Council Tax Exemption

 

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

 

This Council notes that:

 

1. Last year 780 young people (aged 16 or over) left the care of Devon County Council and began the difficult transition out of care and into adulthood.

 

2. A 2016 report by The Children’s Society found that when care leavers move into independent accommodation they begin to manage their own budget fully for the first time. The report showed that care leavers can find this extremely challenging and with no family to support them and insufficient financial education, are falling into debt and financial difficulty.

 

3. Research from The Centre for Social Justice found that over half (57%) of young people leaving care have difficulty managing their money and avoiding debt when leaving care.

 

4. The local authority has statutory corporate parenting responsibilities towards young people who have left care up until the age of 25.

 

5. The Children and Social Work Act 2017 places corporate parenting responsibilities on district councils for the first time, requiring them to have regard to children in care and care leavers when carrying out their functions.

 

This Council believes that:

 

1. To ensure that the transition from care to adult life is as smooth as possible, and to mitigate the chances of care leavers falling into debt as they begin to manage their own finances, they should be exempt from paying council tax until they are 25.

 

2. Care leavers are a particularly vulnerable group for council tax debt.

 

This Council, therefore, resolves:

 

1. To use the county council’s convening powers and expertise in corporate parenting to work with all council tax collecting authorities to exempt all care leavers in the county from council tax up to the age of 25, sharing any arising costs proportionately.

 

Members considered the Officer’s factual briefing note on the matter (CSO/20/1) which referred to the Council’s role as Corporate Parents, that the transition to independent living was a big step for a care leaver, potential entitlement to benefits and access to extra support through Exceptional Hardship Funding and/or discretionary Council Tax write offs and how this was facilitated. It was also reported that an evaluation of the first-year operation of this scheme would be prepared in April 2020 to establish how many care leavers had been assisted, how they had benefited, the costs to the Collection Fund and to inform a further consideration of alternative options available for the future.

 

The Cabinet considered the recommendation now before them and the actions now proposed and already undertaken.

 

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

 

RESOLVED 

 

(a) that Council note that in April 2020 there will be an evaluation of the first-year operation of the scheme established by the Devon Local Government Steering Group (targeted support including exceptional hardship funding and/or discretionary Council Tax write offs); and

 

(b) that this review establish how the Council continue to support care leavers by establishing how many care leavers have been assisted, how they have benefited, the costs to the Collection Fund and to inform a further consideration of alternative options available for the future of support for care leavers.

 

 

(c) Artificial Light Pollution

 

This County Council is concerned by scientific findings showing that artificial light pollution is a major factor in the decline of insect populations, and resolves to review the appropriateness of all external lighting for which the Council is responsible in the light of this concern, in conjunction with its Climate Emergency planning.

 

Members considered the Officer’s factual briefing note on the matter (CSO/20/1) which referred to a new Report by Professor Dave Goulson (Sussex University) and the vital roles performed by insects such as pollination and seed dispersal and the profound consequences of the decline. The briefing paper outlined the declines in species of bees, flower-visiting wasps, butterflies and larger moths and also the causes of the decline including habitat loss, pesticide use, fertiliser use, invasive species, other pollutants and climate change, noting that artificial light was often overlooked but new evidence showed it was another major driver of the decline. The Report then outlined what the Council was doing to reduce detrimental lighting impacts for example actions within the Street Lighting Policy as well as other work with wildlife and lighting experts and the first ever ‘Devon Dark Skies Day’ on 31st October 2019 which had involved workshops on how to reduce lighting impacts. Partners were keen to organise another bigger Dark Skies Day in 2020.      

 

The Cabinet considered the recommendation now before them and the actions now proposed and already undertaken.

 

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

 

RESOLVED that Council;

 

(a) Notes with concern recent research highlighting the effect of artificial lighting in contributing to the decline of insect populations;

 

(b) Continues its current efforts to reduce the detrimental effects of artificial lighting; and

 

(c) Investigates what further steps might be taken as part of its commitment to enhanced environmental action through the DCC Environmental Performance Board.

 

 

(d) Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service - Consultation and Options for Change

 

This County Council notes that the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service have carried out a public consultation on 7 options for change, all of which include the closure of fire stations at Appledore, Ashburton, Budleigh Salterton, Colyton, Kingston, Porlock, Topsham and Woolacombe, as well as the removal of engines from other stations, and that, while a potential overall improvement in safety has been claimed as a result of these options, all are likely to result in increased risk for the substantial proportion of Devon's population who live near the affected stations.

    

This County Council notes that divisional members representing affected stations who are not members of the Fire and Rescue Authority, while having had the opportunity to submit written representations to the consultation, would not normally be able under the Authority's Standing Orders to address the Authority's decision-making meeting, This Council therefore requests the Authority to provide an opportunity, Standing Orders notwithstanding, for any affected members who wish so to speak.

     

This County Council also regrets the failure of the Fire and Rescue Service to consult directly with the Council as a partner Category 1 responder organisation in the provision of emergency services under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004, and notes that detailed discussion of the impact on civil contingencies such as flooding was not provided in the consultation. The Council therefore resolves to communicate its concern to the Service about this aspect of the consultation.

 

Members considered the Officer’s factual briefing note on the matter (CSO/20/1) which referred to the options in the consultation, its Standing Orders and speaking at meetings of the Fire Authority, the briefing previously provided to members of the Council’s Corporate Infrastructure and Regulatory Services Scrutiny Committee, the responsibility for coordination of flooding and the role of the Local Resilience Forums.

 

An updated briefing note was circulated at the meeting which gave an update on the outcome of the Fire Authority meeting on 10^th January 2020 and the changes to services. This is appended to the minutes of this meeting.

 

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 Council notes the decisions made on 10 January 2020 by the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Authority about changes to operation of the fire and rescue service, the details of which are summarised in the statement available here; http://www.dsfire.gov.uk/News/Newsdesk/PressReleaseArticle.cfm?ReleaseID=2277&siteCategoryId=3&T1ID=26&T2ID=36

 

 

(e) Prevention Concordat for Better Mental Health and the 'Every Mind Matters' Campaign

 

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

 

DCC to sign the Prevention Concordat for better mental health.

 

Recognises and commits to support The Every Mind Matters campaign.

 

Supports the mental health of all DCC employees and contractors, this is key to providing first class services and leadership in Devon.

 

Understands the need to prevent mental health problems and promote good mental health through the lived experience of people who have suffered mental health problems. 

 

Members considered the Officer’s factual briefing note on the matter (CSO/20/1) which referred to the Council’s recognition of mental health and emotional wellbeing as a local priority, the Public Health England’s ‘Prevention Concordat for Better Mental Health’, the focus on prevention, cross-sectoral action to deliver an increased focus on the prevention of mental health problems and the promotion of good mental health at local level, collaborative working across organisational boundaries and building the capacity and capability across the workforce to prevent mental health problems and promote good mental health. The Council was committed to supporting local authorities, policy makers, NHS clinical commissioning groups and other commissioners, service providers, employers and the voluntary and community sector to adopt the Concordat and its approach.

 

The Cabinet considered the recommendation now before them and the actions now proposed and already undertaken.

 

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

 

RESOLVED that this Council requests the support of all Members for signing the Prevention Concordat; in promoting the Public Health England ‘Every Mind Matters’ campaign; in supporting the mental health of the Council’s employees and, through its commissioned services, the mental health of providers; and to support the work the Council currently does – and will continue to do – in using the lived experience of people to better understand and to help and prevent mental ill-health.