Agenda item

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

 

(a)  Istanbul Convention to Prevent and Combat Violence against Women and Girls and Article 59 - Councillor Atkinson

(b)  Stop Shortchanging Devon - Save our Services - Councillor Brazil

(c)  Voter Photo ID – Councillor’s Wrigley / Bailey

(a) Istanbul Convention to Prevent and Combat Violence against Women and Girls and Article 59 - Councillor Atkinson

 

RESOLVED that Council is committed to ensuring that victims presenting for domestic abuse support by local services commissioned by DCC receive the support they need and are not disadvantaged because of their status and therefore the Council will:

 

(a) work with local providers to explore how we can further improve access to support and services to be completely assured that no one is turned away on the basis of their immigration status;

 

(b) work with colleagues to understand how the issue presents itself in Devon within local migrant and settling communities (including those seeking asylum, those housed under the homes for Ukraine scheme and those housed in Home Office hotels, bridging hotels and in resettlement schemes);

 

(c) engage with organisations that already support and others that may be in a position to support this group to identify solutions that may minimise the impact of the reservation of Article 59 and ensure access to bespoke support; and

 

(d) create an opportunity to look at this issue in the context of the wider system and engage stakeholders, particularly DWP, housing, health, generic support services, police and adult and children social care, in this conversation focused on increasing awareness and developing shared solutions.

 

(b) Stop Short-changing Devon - Save our Services - Councillor Brazil

 

RESOLVED that Council be asked to;

 

(a) note the concerns expressed in the Notice of Motion regarding the fair funding of Services; and

 

(b) continue County Council’s lobbying campaign, working in partnership with Devon MPs, the LGA and CCN on matters of common concern and in the best interests of the people of Devon.

 

 (c) Voter Photo ID - Councillor Wrigley / Bailey

 

(a) that Council note the concerns raised by the Notice of Motion, in particular the additional requirements on Local Authorities to deliver Voter ID in a short timescale and also the additional financial costs at a time when budgets are constrained and squeezed;

 

(b) that Council share the concern of the Local Government Association, as articulated by its Chair, Cllr James Jamieson and further supports its view of the Gould Principle whereby electoral law should not be changed within six months of an election that the change would impact; and

 

(c) therefore, Council agrees to write to the LGA outlining its support of the LGA’s position and that the letter be copied to the CCN and the Devon MP’s.

(a) Istanbul Convention to Prevent and Combat Violence against Women and Girls and Article 59 - Councillor Atkinson

 

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

 

On 1^st November the UK’s ratification of the Istanbul convention to prevent and combat violence against women and girls and domestic violence finally came into force.

 

However, the Government has reserved article 59 of the treaty opting out of protecting migrant women. By quietly reserving article 59 of the treaty, the Government is still failing some of the most vulnerable women living in Devon: migrant women.

 

The Government’s National Statement of Expectations on Domestic Violence sets out what local areas like Devon need to put in place to ensure their response to Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) issues is as collaborative, robust and effective as it can be so that all victims and survivors can get the help they need. The Home Office expects to see local strategies and services that, amongst other things, put the victim at the centre of service delivery.

 

This Council believes:

 

·         The Devon County Council and UK Government not being obliged to provide VAWG support and protection to migrant women effectively reinforces the two-tier system of support for victims, as some remain discriminated against because of their migration status.

·         The Government must immediately remove the reservation to this article and provide equal protection for every woman in need, irrespective of migration status. 

·         All women, regardless of where they come from, deserve protection against violence. 

·         That DCC resolves to make available to migrant women in Devon services and support that it provides for other women.

 

Members considered the Officer’s factual briefing note on the matter (LDS/23/1) which referred to the Council’s recognition of the issue of people with no recourse to public funds (NRPF) being unable to access support and services when attempting to flee domestic abuse. It also outlined the Council’s understanding of the impact of the reservation to Article 59, the picture in Devon and the impact of having NRPF (for people affected by Article 59 and beyond) in Devon.

 

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 is committed to ensuring that victims presenting for domestic abuse support by local services commissioned by DCC receive the support they need and are not disadvantaged because of their status and therefore the Council will:

 

(a) work with local providers to explore how we can further improve access to support and services to be completely assured that no one is turned away on the basis of their immigration status;

 

(b) work with colleagues to understand how the issue presents itself in Devon within local migrant and settling communities (including those seeking asylum, those housed under the homes for Ukraine scheme and those housed in Home Office hotels, bridging hotels and in resettlement schemes);

 

(c) engage with organisations that already support and others that may be in a position to support this group to identify solutions that may minimise the impact of the reservation of Article 59 and ensure access to bespoke support; and

 

(d) create an opportunity to look at this issue in the context of the wider system and engage stakeholders, particularly DWP, housing, health, generic support services, police and adult and children social care, in this conversation focused on increasing awareness and developing shared solutions.

 

 

(b) Stop Short-changing Devon - Save our Services - Councillor Brazil

 

(Councillor Brazil attended in accordance with Standing Order 8 and Councillors Biederman and Whitton attended in accordance with 25(2) and spoke to this item).

 

‘While the Conservative Leader of Devon County Council reports that the authority's 'financial situation has never been so bleak as it is now', the Government has slashed the surcharge paid by UK banks from 8% to just 3% and lifted the threshold before the levy is even paid from £25million to £100million.

 

Yet again, while local government faces huge challenges to support the most vulnerable in our community and maintaining services, it is not increasing support to Councils that is at the forefront of the Conservatives in Government, but helping their banker mates.

 

The Cost of Chaos budget from short-lived Prime Minister Liz Truss which sparked the mortgage interest rate rise has also helped boost Bank earnings with NatWest, Santander, HSBC and Barclays, among others, reporting their earnings boosted in the last quarter as mortgage rates surged.

 

And while energy companies, fat on the profits of record increases in the price of gas and electricity, were slapped with a windfall tax, the Conservative Chancellor decided not to do the same for banks.

 

Devon County Council believes the budget delivered by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt was a very poor deal for the people of Devon and has done nothing to address the real terms cut of 72% in core funding for Devon in the 11 years to 2021/22. Cuts now being considered by the county council are a direct result of the Government's failure to support this authority and the Leader is instructed to write again to the Chancellor and Prime Minister setting out the devastating impacts for Devon and to call, once more, for fair funding for Devon’.

 

Members considered the Officer’s factual briefing note on the matter (LDS/23/1) which referred to the policy paper ‘Amendments to the surcharge on banking companies’ and actions in budget statements that related thereto, support to local authorities to fund social care (outlined in the Autumn Statement in November 2022), the additional ‘flexibility’ in setting Council Tax for 2023/24, the December 2022 written ministerial statement to Parliament on the provisional local government finance settlement for 2023/24 and the actions of the Council in lobbying Government.

 

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;

 

(a) note the concerns expressed in the Notice of Motion regarding the fair funding of Services; and

 

(b) continue County Council’s lobbying campaign, working in partnership with Devon MPs, the LGA and CCN on matters of common concern and in the best interests of the people of Devon.

 

 

(c) Voter Photo ID - Councillor Wrigley / Bailey

 

(Councillor Wrigley and Bailey attended in accordance with Standing Order 8 and Councillor Biederman attended in accordance with 25(2) and spoke to this item).

 

The Government has recently introduced a requirement for photographic identification before electors are to be permitted to vote.

 

This is to take effect for all elections from May 2023. 

 

Devon condemns the introduction of the requirement for Voter Photo ID and considers that the introduction of photographic ID for elections is completely unnecessary, as voter fraud is extremely rare, and at the last count, a single prosecution was taken forward on the matter. The move would have the effect of suppressing voter participation in democratic processes.

 

The requirement for Voter Photo ID will disenfranchise anyone without a UK Driving Licence or Passport in their hands at the time of voting.  The range of additional acceptable IDs is limited and skewed towards the elderly.

 

The Council considers that the new rules would place a considerable burden on Returning Officers, Presiding Officers, and polling staff who would have to adjudicate on identification issues. Staff at polling stations would inevitably have to deal with angry would-be voters turned away from the polling stations. Furthermore, District councils are expected to deliver free IDs with no funding or guidance yet issued, despite it being less than six months until the elections.

 

The Association of Electoral Administration considers that the timelines for the new rules under the Elections Act ‘are optimistic at best, undeliverable at worst’. Details of how voters without photographic ID can apply for a 'Voter Authority Certificate' has not even been published yet.

 

The move could suppress the number of residents who should be able to vote, which does not reflect British standards for democracy and respect for voters.

 

Motion

  

The Council therefore agrees;  

 

1  To ask the Local Government Association (LGA) and the County Council Network (CCN) to raise the matter with the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities expressing its great concern about the proposed use of photographic identification for May 2023 elections.  

 

2  In particular the Council stresses its concern about the procedures to be introduced, which will have a disproportionately detrimental impact on younger voters for whom the procedures will be more challenging than for older voters. The Council asks the LGA and the CCN to press the Government to actively seek to encourage young people to participate in elections, not to place obstacles in the way of young would-be voters. 

 

3 Asks the LGA and the CCN to press the Secretary of State not to introduce voter photographic identification for the scheduled 2023 elections. The Council also asks the LGA and the CCN to urge the Secretary of State to engage in debate with the LGA and CCN about the need for voter photographic identification, and should it be concluded that it is necessary that a more acceptable system be considered. 

  

4. The Council agrees to send a copy of its message to the LGA and the CCN to its MPs and the Prime Minister. 

 

Members considered the Officer’s factual briefing note on the matter (LDS/23/1) which referred to the requirements of the Elections Act 2022, the types of ID required, the concerns of electoral administrators and also the position with voter fraud. It further reported on the new burden funding allocations and the readiness of District Councils as well as the position of the LGA on the matter. It concluded with a summary of the proposed public awareness campaign form the Electoral Commission.

 

The Cabinet considered the recommendation now before them and the actions now proposed:

 

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

 

RESOLVED

 

(a) that Council note the concerns raised by the Notice of Motion, in particular the additional requirements on Local Authorities to deliver Voter ID in a short timescale and also the additional financial costs at a time when budgets are constrained and squeezed;

 

(b) that Council share the concern of the Local Government Association, as articulated by its Chair, Cllr James Jamieson and further supports its view of the Gould Principle whereby electoral law should not be changed within six months of an election that the change would impact; and

 

(c) therefore, Council agrees to write to the LGA outlining its support of the LGA’s position and that the letter be copied to the CCN and the Devon MP’s.