Agenda item

NOTICES OF MOTION

Meeting of Council, Wednesday, 19th April, 2017 7.00 pm (Item C. 684)

The following Notices of Motion have been received:-

(i) Domestic abuse evidence letter fees-Scrap the fee campaign

Tackling domestic violence and abuse is a key priority for Bury Council. For many years, we have had, and continue to have, a zero tolerance approach.

Bury Council believes that it is everyone’s responsibility to stop domestic violence and abuse and it is our ambition that people treat one another with respect and compassion.

Yet between April 2014 and March 2015 domestic abuse incidents reported in Bury increased by 35%.

National statistics have not changed for decades- 2 women are killed every week in England and Wales by a current former partner. 1 in 4 women will experience domestic violence in their lifetimes.

Legal Aid is a lifeline for women in the city fleeing domestic abuse. It helps them to protect themselves, their children and secure their financial situation. Yet due to government changes to the rules for women to qualify for legal aid they now need to provide a prescribed piece of evidence to prove they have been subjected to abuse.

One of the accepted forms of evidence is a letter from a GP. However, some GPS charge a fee - in some cases as much as £75 –to produce that letter.

NO GP should charge victims of domestic abuse for a letter they need to access legal aid. It’s immoral. And it has to stop.

Bury Council will:

1. Support the “scrap the fee” campaign which was established by Tom Watson MP following a plea from Wythenshawe Safe Spots.

2. Call on the government to scarp this unfair and unjust charge by bringing this service back under the NHS contract.

3. Resolve to use its strengthened relationship with GPs through Health& Social Care Devolution to work with them to bring to bring about a “Manchester GPS pledge” to not charge for legal aid evidence letters in cases of domestic abuse.

4. Work with the Greater Manchester Mayor to highlight this campaign across all 10 Greater Manchester Councils.

In the names of Councillors P Adams, N Bayley, J Black, S Briggs, R Cathcart, M Connolly, A Cummings, E FitzGerald, J Grimshaw, S Haroon T Holt, M James, D Jones, J Kelly, S Kerrison, J Lewis, A Mckay, J Mallon, A Matthews, E O’Brien, N Parnell, C Preston, A Quinn, R Shori, R Skillen, S Smith, Sarah Southworth, Susan Southworth, T Tariq, J Walker, S Walmsley and M Whitby.

(ii) Pavements are for People

This Council notes:

1 Pavement parking can pose a hazard to pedestrians, especially people with sight loss, parents with pushchairs, children, wheelchair users and other disabled people.

2 People with sight loss are especially at risk as they can be forced into the road and faced with oncoming traffic that they cannot see.

3 Pavements are not designed to take the weight of vehicles and so surfaces can become damaged or subside, presenting a further hazard for pedestrians, particularly those with disabilities.

4 Other avoidable pavement obstacles which can cause a danger and nuisance to members of the public, including bins left out after collection, advertising ‘A-boards’ and poorly maintained garden bushes.

This Council further notes:

1 The reality on many of our roads that parking, at least partially on the pavement, is unavoidable due to the width of the carriageway and the lack of availability of other parking places.

2 Existing campaigns, for example by the RNIB, to raise awareness of the importance of protecting pavements for pedestrians, and also the recent suggestion by the Local Government Association that local authorities outside of London should be given simpler powers to prevent pavement parking where required.

The Council therefore resolves:

1 To work with media partners and the Council’s own communication channels to help educate members of the public about the need for responsible pavement parking, bin management, and other pavement obstructions.

2 To ask the Leader of the Council to write to Ministers, and both of Bury’s MPs, in support of the recent proposals by the LGA to allow for greater powers to regular pavement parking outside of Greater London.

3. To work, as resources allow with the local police and parking enforcement contractors to address the pavement parking ‘blackspots’ and consider addressing this through Traffic Regulation Orders in the worst cases.

In the names of Councillors M D’Albert, T Pickstone and S Wright.

(iii) Air Quality

Bury Council has a duty to assess air quality to protect the health of everyone living and working here as well as those visiting the Borough.Those most at risk from poor air quality are the young, the elderly and those with pre-existing lung or heart conditions.

Bury is an area that historically had poor air quality due to industrial emissions. This is less so now due to cleaner technology and the closure of many traditional heavy industry premises. However, the main air quality issue is now motor vehicle pollution due to high traffic volume, congestion together with homes and schools being close to the road network.

Residents are being exposed to hazardous levels of pollutants in the air and this Council must be proactive in formulating a strategy within the planning process to improve air quality and reduce carbon emissions within our Borough.

It is recognised that efforts have been made to address these matters at a GM level over a number of years and this necessary work continues. This Council however recognises that action must be taken now and policies put in place as part of the wide strategy to tackle air pollution. For example, by retaining our green spaces and countryside such areas absorb significant levels of CO2.

THIS COUNCIL THEREFORE RESOLVES TO:

1. Instruct officers to produce a Bury Climate Change Plan and Bury Public Health Planning Policy Document to assist and advise Council as part of the wider strategy to mitigate air pollution, assess its impact on the environment and improve public health outcomes.

2. Ensure these documents are included in the considerations of the all party working group on the Bury Local Plan as resolved to be set up by Council on the 1st February.

3. Ensure all members are provided with copies of the Bury Climate Change Plan and Bury Public Health Planning Policy Document prior to the Local Plan being debated in Council, which is expected to take place within 6 months.

4. To publish all air pollution data from the existing air monitoring stations and nitrogen dioxide diffusion tubes within the Borough on the Council website.

In the names of Councillors I Bevan, R Caserta, J Daly, I Gartside, D Gunther, M Hankey, J Harris, R Hodkinson, K Hussain, G Keeley, O Kersh, S Nuttall, I Schofield, D Silbiger, R Walker, and Y Wright

Minutes:

Three Notices of Motion had been received and set out in the Summons.

i) Domestic abuse evidence letter fees-Scrap the fee campaign

A motion had been received and set out in the summons in the names of:

Councillors P Adams, N Bayley, J Black, S Briggs, R Cathcart, M Connolly, A Cummings, E FitzGerald, J Grimshaw, S Haroon T Holt, M James, D Jones, J Kelly, S Kerrison, J Lewis, A Mckay, J Mallon, A Matthews, E O’Brien, N Parnell, C Preston, A Quinn, R Shori, R Skillen, S Smith, Sarah Southworth, Susan Southworth, T Tariq, J Walker, S Walmsley and M Whitby.

It was moved by Councillor McKay and seconded by Councillor Jones that :-

Tackling domestic violence and abuse is a key priority for Bury Council. For many years, we have had, and continue to have, a zero tolerance approach.

Bury Council believes that it is everyone’s responsibility to stop domestic violence and abuse and it is our ambition that people treat one another with respect and compassion.

Yet between April 2014 and March 2015 domestic abuse incidents reported in Bury increased by 35%.

National statistics have not changed for decades- 2 women are killed every week in England and Wales by a current former partner. 1 in 4 women will experience domestic violence in their lifetimes.

One of the accepted forms of evidence is a letter from a GP. However, some GPS charge a fee - in some cases as much as £75 –to produce that letter.

NO GP should charge victims of domestic abuse for a letter they need to access legal aid. It’s immoral. And it has to stop.

Bury Council will:

1. Support the “scrap the fee” campaign which was established by Tom Watson MP following a plea from Wythenshawe Safe Spots.

2. Call on the government to scrap this unfair and unjust charge by bringing this service back under the NHS contract.

4. Work with the Greater Manchester Mayor to highlight this campaign across all 10 Greater Manchester Councils.

On being put, with no one voting against and no one abstaining, the Mayor declared the motion carried unanimously

ii)Pavements are for People

A motion had been received and set out in the summons in the names of:

In the names of Councillors M D’Albert, T Pickstone and S Wright.

This Council notes:

1. Pavement parking can pose a hazard to pedestrians, especially people with sight loss, parents with pushchairs, children, wheelchair users and other disabled people.

2. People with sight loss are especially at risk as they can be forced into the road and faced with oncoming traffic that they cannot see.

3. Pavements are not designed to take the weight of vehicles and so surfaces can become damaged or subside, presenting a further hazard for pedestrians, particularly those with disabilities.

4. Other avoidable pavement obstacles which can cause a danger and nuisance to members of the public, including bins left out after collection, advertising ‘A-boards’ and poorly maintained garden bushes.

This Council further notes:

1. The reality on many of our roads that parking, at least partially on the pavement, is unavoidable due to the width of the carriageway and the lack of availability of other parking places.

2. Existing campaigns, for example by the RNIB, to raise awareness of the importance of protecting pavements for pedestrians, and also the recent suggestion by the Local Government Association that local authorities outside of London should be given simpler powers to prevent pavement parking where required.

The Council therefore resolves:

1. To work with media partners and the Council’s own communication channels to help educate members of the public about the need for responsible pavement parking, bin management, and other pavement obstructions.

2. To ask the Leader of the Council to write to Ministers, and both of Bury’s MPs, in support of the recent proposals by the LGA to allow for greater powers to regular pavement parking outside of Greater London.

On being put, with 43 voting for, no one voting against and with the Mayor abstaining, the Mayor declared the motion carried.

iii) Air Quality

A motion had been received and set out in the summons in the names of:

Councillors I Bevan, R Caserta, J Daly, I Gartside, D Gunther, M Hankey, J Harris, R Hodkinson, K Hussain, G Keeley, O Kersh, S Nuttall, I Schofield, D Silbiger, R Walker, and Y Wright

Bury Council has a duty to assess air quality to protect the health of everyone living and working here as well as those visiting the Borough. Those most at risk from poor air quality are the young, the elderly and those with pre-existing lung or heart conditions.

THIS COUNCIL THEREFORE RESOLVES TO:

2. Ensure these documents are included in the considerations of the all-party working group on the Bury Local Plan as resolved to be set up by Council on the 1st February.

4. To publish all air pollution data from the existing air monitoring stations and nitrogen dioxide diffusion tubes within the Borough on the Council website.

It was moved by Councillor Quinn and seconded by Councillor Black as an amendment:-

Retain:

It is recognised that efforts have been made to address these matters at a GM level over a number of years and this necessary work continues.

Add:

This Council however recognises that action must be taken now and policies put in place as part of the wide strategy to tackle air pollution. For example, by retaining our green spaces and countryside such areas absorb significant levels of CO2.

Air quality cannot be looked at in isolation. Whilst this motion recognises the work done on air quality at GM level, further work needs to be done on other environmental issues, if we are to have an impact upon air pollution and the many other problems that climate change will cause. Greater Manchester is currently on target to hit our carbon reduction targets, however to ensure we do this effectively we need a GM strategic approach, with all 10 local authorities adopting green aspirations.

THIS COUNCIL THEREFORE RESOLVES TO:

Retain:

2. Ensure these documents are included in the considerations of the all party working group on the Bury Local Plan as resolved to be set up by Council on the 1st February.

4. To publish all air pollution data from the existing air monitoring stations and nitrogen dioxide diffusion tubes within the Borough on the Council website.

Add:

5. Continue to work closely with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and new GM Mayor on a range of measures to improve air quality and to implement CO2 emissions reductions in Bury and Greater Manchester via a regulated public transport system that is affordable and environmentally friendly.

6. Lobby to ensure that legally binding EU air quality standards will be enshrined in UK law, post-Brexit, and that this Government maintains the highest possible standards for energy efficiency.

7. Continue the introduction of cleaner low emission vehicles in Council use, and to lobby Government for a fair diesel scrappage scheme that benefits all users of older diesel cars.

8. In addition to air quality, the scope of any Climate Change Plan should include flood defences, energy (fuel and heating), housing (both newbuild and retrofit), transport and planning policies. Other priorities can be identified as part of this process – these will include tackling Ash Die Back and other tree pests and diseases by an aggressive plan of planting across GM, and further measures to increase recycling by working with Government to introduce a Deposit Return Scheme for bottles and cans.

9. Via an all-member approach and resident involvement, ensure there is strong public involvement in the development of this strategy and action plan, and that that this work is integrated with work on the Bury Local Plan as this develops.

10. On being put, with 43 voting for and no one voting against, and with the Mayor abstaining, the Mayor declared the amendment carried.

11. On being put, with 43 voting for, no one voting against and with the Mayor abstaining, the Mayor declared the substantive motion carried.