The following Notices of Motion have been received:
Reducing Plastic Waste
This Council notes with concern:
1 That 300 million tons of new plastic is made each year, half of which is for single use plastic such as packaging and convenience foods. In many cases, such as plastic straws, takeaway food containers and coffee cups, there are practical alternatives available that are either reusable or sustainable.
2 That in 2016, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation estimated that by weight, there could be more plastic in our oceans than fish, as soon as 2050. As plastics are durable and strong they will stay in our environment for up to an estimated 600 years. (Columbia University)
3 That marine plastic leads to coastal / offshore dead zones, entanglement, death through ingestion, toxic transfer and, once degraded into micro plastics, contamination of the food chain – including our own. We are quite literally eating the plastic that has ended up in our seas.
Council welcomes:
1 The significant increase in recycling achieved in the Borough in the last decade, through improvements to doorstep recycling.
2 Policy adopted in 2017 in support of Deposit Return Schemes, and the significant reduction in plastic waste that such schemes could achieve.
3 The success of the ‘Plastic Bag Levy’, introduced by the 2010-15 Coalition Government, which has led to an 85% reduction in disposable plastic bag usage.
This Council therefore commits that Bury will play its full role in helping to reduce plastic waste, specifically:
1 That the Council will undertake an audit, within existing resources, of single use plastics used by the Authority seek to replace with sustainable or reusable alternatives where practicable.
2 That the Council will play its role in helping to educate members of the public about plastic waste, specifically by including information for members on the public on reducing plastic waste in both online and written materials.
3 That the Council will use its membership of the Greater Manchester Waste Disposal and Combined Authorities to work towards increasing the amount of plastic product that can be recycled through doorstep and other recycling.
4 To write to both our members of Parliament and the European Parliament, and to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, urging them to consider legislation and regulations which will reduce the amount of single use plastic used by society.
To use the links we have with businesses in Bury to encourage them to reduce the amount of plastic waste produced and specifically to write to each of our major supermarkets asking them to consider introducing a ‘plastic free aisle’ in their Bury store(s) on a trial basis.
In the names of Councillors D’Albert, Pickstone and S Wright
Loneliness
This Council notes that chronic loneliness is unhealthy and leads to many physical and mental health problems. It can affect anyone at any stage of their life. A disconnected society could be costing the UK economy £32 billion a year and also has a massively negative impact on communities across Bury.
Nine million people, across all ages and social groups, in the UK report themselves lonely all or most of the time – including 43% of 17-25 year olds, 24% of parents and 8 out of 10 carers. Up to 50% of disabled people will be lonely on any given day and 3.6 million people aged over 75 say that television is their main form of company.
This Council notes the work of the Jo Cox Commission on Loneliness in tackling this scourge on society. The Commission has, over the course of this year, put a spotlight on a number of sections of society, including older people, refugees, carers and children; not only highlighting the problem, but acting as a call to action. With the message ‘Start a Conversation’, the Commission is trying to get people talking to one another, whether chatting to a neighbour, visiting an old friend or just making time for the people they meet. It is also targeting businesses and employer organisations to get them to be part of the solution.
The Council also notes the Commission has produced a manifesto of recommendations on how to reduce loneliness, calling for a UK wide strategy for loneliness across all ages led by Government “ but built on the insight, expertise and capacity of many others including statutory bodies, the voluntary and community sector and business.” However, the Commission believes that this joint national strategy should “ be underpinned by equivalent strategies at the local level.”
THIS COUNCIL therefore resolves to::
(1) Instruct the Chief Executive to write to the Co-Chairs of the Jo Cox Commission on Loneliness (Seema Kennedy MP and Rachel Reeves MP) to offer the Council’s support for their recommendations,
(2) Instruct the Leader and Chief Executive to develop a strategy document identifying Bury residents who may be particularly affected by loneliness and to set out plans for local action to address these challenges.
(3) Request that Councillors and officers of the Council work with local voluntary groups, business and Government to reduce loneliness in communities across the Borough of Bury
(4) Ask Councillors and officers of the Council to ‘Start a Conversation’ and take the time to do something to make someone feel less lonely
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
Young Savers Credit Union Scheme
This Council Notes:
1) That the Chief Executive of the Financial Conduct Authority has warned that a growing number of young people are having to borrow to cover basic living costs.
2) That a recent report by the Money Advice Trust found that:
a. More than a third of young people have debts of almost £3000.
b. That just over half of young people said they regularly worried about money, with 32% feeling their debts were a "heavy burden".
c. That the average debt of £2,989 excludes student loans and mortgages. The average student loan balance is £25,505.
d. National Debtline, run by Money Advice Trust, state that too few young people are seeking free advice from debt charities when they fall into financial difficulty.
3) That National Debtline have recommended:
a. earlier and more co-ordinated financial education
b. timely support for first-time borrowers or credit card holders
c. a wider role for employers to support money management for young workers
d. practical reforms to student finance payments
This Council Resolves to:
1) Explore the possibility of setting up a Young Savers Credit Union Scheme, through Bury Credit Union, local Secondary Schools and Colleges, which would aim to sign up young people to a Credit Union account and offer advice and guidance around borrowing.
2) Launch a trial scheme in the new school year (September 2018), with full roll out in 2019.
3) Work with interested parties to support the creation and work of the Young Savers Credit Union Scheme.
Encourage all Governing Bodies to support schools and colleges to deliver additional advice and guidance on money management and borrowing.
In the names of Councillors P Adams, N Bayley, J Black, S Briggs, R Cathcart, A Cummings, E FitzGerald, J Grimshaw, S Haroon, T Holt, M James, D Jones, J Kelly, S Kerrison, K Leach, A Mckay, J Mallon, E O’Brien, C Preston, A Quinn, R Shori, A Simpson, R Skillen, S Smith, Sarah Southworth, Susan Southworth, T Tariq, J Walker, S Walmsley and M Whitby.