Motion 1
Combating Litter
“Chairman, I am sure that we will all have spoken to residents over the last few months who have commented on how dramatically litter levels declined during the national lockdown. However, litter is again becoming a common issue despite the hard work of the street cleaners and bin men. Therefore, all of us must play our part in preventing the build up of litter in our community. This motion outlines how we can do this.
West Lindsey District Council notes that:
· The Keep Britain Tidy Campaign offers local councils the opportunity to become members of a Network, which provides access to specialist advice and support.
· The campaign is also promoting a Love Parks campaign and a Charity Bin sponsorship scheme whereby the monies raised from recycling cans is contributed to local charities.
· Several national supermarket chains are now operating trials of reverse vending machines, whose customers are rewarded for returning used cans and bottles for recycling.
· DEFRA has published a voluntary code for local businesses and groups to sign up to and reduce the litter that results from fast food businesses.
West Lindsey District Council recognises that:
· Whilst we are committed to tackling litter in our District and to working for cleaner streets, roads, verges and public spaces across our communities, we can not do this alone.
· In the battle for cleaner streets and public spaces, we must involve the public and businesses in a co-operative effort.
· There are community champions and organisations commendably ‘doing their bit’.
· In doing their bit, residents and businesses help the Council make the
· streets, town/villages, parks and public amenities of our District more inviting to residents and visitors.
West Lindsey District Council resolves to:
· Promote participation in litter prevention activities to members of the public, community, faith and youth groups, through our social media, website and existing emails-outs to partners.
· To examine the merits of becoming a local authority member of the Keep Britain Tidy Network, and identify which of the campaign’s including Love Parks and Charity Bins, could be introduced in the District.
· Ask the Leader and Chief Executive to write to national supermarket chains with stores in this district asking them to install a reverse vending machine.
· Promote take up of the DEFRA voluntary code amongst our fast food businesses and local business partnerships and seek their sponsorship for the introductory of a Charity Bin scheme and for public education programme.
I so move.
Councillor Stephen Bunney”
Motion 2
Universal Credit and Free School Meals
“Chairman, it is widely accepted that the £20 per week uplift to Universal Credit and Working Tax Credit along with the provision of vouchers to those families eligible for Free School Meals has been a lifeline for families during the coronavirus storm.
The ending of the Universal Credit uplift in April 2021 will see families, representing around 16 million individuals, overnight lose £1040 per year.
Inevitably this will hit those on the lowest incomes and families with children. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation estimate that this will pull 700,000 more people into poverty. This at a time when the Government is continually promising to protect living standards and level up the economic and regional divides in our country.
The impact of the cut will be multiplied in the future as job losses, brought about by the pandemic, occur over the next few months. There is serious concern among social economists that this will plunge a further 500,000 individuals into deep poverty – 50% below the poverty line.
No region, let alone West Lindsey, is immune from these devastating problems and so urgent action is required.
West Lindsey District Council require The Chief Executive and Leader of The Administration to write to The Chancellor of The Exchequer, The Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP, supporting both;
· the open letter, written at the end of September, from at least 50 leading welfare charities, calling for the permanent £20 uplift to Universal Credit and Working Tax Credit; and
· Marcus Rashford MBE’s call for the Government to provide food vouchers during all holidays for those families with young people entitled to free school meals.
I so move and commend this motion to the Council.
Councillor Stephen Bunney”
Minutes:
Councillor Stephen Bunney had submitted the following motion
“Combating Litter
Chairman, I am sure that we will all have spoken to residents over the last few months who have commented on how dramatically litter levels declined during the national lockdown. However, litter is again becoming a common issue despite the hard work of the street cleaners and bin men. Therefore, all of us must play our part in preventing the build up of litter in our community. This motion outlines how we can do this.
West Lindsey District Council notes that:
· The Keep Britain Tidy Campaign offers local councils the opportunity to become members of a Network, which provides access to specialist advice and support.
· The campaign is also promoting a Love Parks campaign and a Charity Bin sponsorship scheme whereby the monies raised from recycling cans is contributed to local charities.
· Several national supermarket chains are now operating trials of reverse vending machines, whose customers are rewarded for returning used cans and bottles for recycling.
· DEFRA has published a voluntary code for local businesses and groups to sign up to and reduce the litter that results from fast food businesses.
West Lindsey District Council recognises that:
· Whilst we are committed to tackling litter in our District and to working for cleaner streets, roads, verges and public spaces across our communities, we cannot do this alone.
· In the battle for cleaner streets and public spaces, we must involve the public and businesses in a co-operative effort.
· There are community champions and organisations commendably ‘doing their bit’.
· In doing their bit, residents and businesses help the Council make the
· streets, town/villages, parks and public amenities of our District more inviting to residents and visitors.
West Lindsey District Council resolves to:
· Promote participation in litter prevention activities to members of the public, community, faith and youth groups, through our social media, website and existing emails-outs to partners.
· To examine the merits of becoming a local authority member of the Keep Britain Tidy Network, and identify which of the campaign’s including Love Parks and Charity Bins, could be introduced in the District.
· Ask the Leader and Chief Executive to write to national supermarket chains with stores in this district asking them to install a reverse vending machine.
· Promote take up of the DEFRA voluntary code amongst our fast food businesses and local business partnerships and seek their sponsorship for the introduction of a Charity Bin scheme and for public education programme.
I so move.
Councillor Stephen Bunney”
The Leader of the Council made an initial response to the motion: -
“I would whole-heartedly support this motion and its intention. Tackling litter in our District and working for cleaner streets, roads, verges and public spaces across our communities, has always been a priority for this Council. It is also fully recognised (and I support your view) that the battle for cleaner streets and a more inviting District for residents and visitors alike is something the Council must work in partnership to deliver.
I also believe some of the actions and activities proposed by this Motion support the Council’s already agreed commitment to sustainability and are to be welcomed.
We have a collective responsibility as a whole community, elected representatives, residents, businesses, everyone, to address both these matters.
I will, should Council require me to, write to the national supermarket chains regarding reverse vending machines.
I think the additional promotion proposed is to be welcomed and again would support the motion and activity suggested, the emphasis being on collective responsibility.
I think it would be remiss to not examine the merits of becoming a LA member of the Keep Britain Tidy Network and would support that such examination is undertaken by a report to the Prosperous Communities Committee.
Whilst I am aware of the DEFRA Voluntary Code, given the current ongoing national situation relating to Covid-19, it is unclear whether the DEFRA code is now aligned with the Covid secure guidance, which favours disposable items for infection control purposes. I am also conscious the final element of this motion has resource and capacity implications, which would firstly need to be assessed
I am therefore happy to second the motion subject to the final element of the motion being further explored by way of a report to the Prosperous Communities Committee for a formal decision.”
At the request of a Member, the Monitoring Officer advised, with the indicated agreement of the original mover, Members would not be required to vote on the amendment. The original mover of the motion did indicate his agreement to the Leader’s proposed amendments.
Members wished to take the opportunity to again thank all of the refuse and street cleaning team for their continued hard work.
On being put to the vote, it was RESOLVED that the motion as amended, be ACCEPTED and as such the Council commits to : -
(a) promoting participation in litter prevention activities to members of the public, community, faith and youth groups, through our social media, website and existing emails outs to partners;
(b) by way of report to Prosperous Communities Committee, examine the merits of becoming a local authority member of the Keep Britain Tidy Network, and identify which of the campaign’s including Love Parks and Charity Bins, could be introduced in the District;
(c) the Leader and Chief Executive writing to national supermarket chains with stores in this district asking them to install a reverse vending machine.
(d) by way of report to Prosperous Communities Committee, investigate whether promoting take-up of the DEFRA voluntary code amongst our fast food businesses and local business partnerships is appropriate and investigate the resource and capacity implications, of seeking their sponsorship for the introduction of a Charity Bin scheme and for a public education programme. Prosperous Communities Committee are charged with making a formal decision in respect of this aspect of the motion.
Councillor Stephen Bunney had also submitted the following motion to the meeting: -
“Chairman, it is widely accepted that the £20 per week uplift to Universal Credit and Working Tax Credit along with the provision of vouchers to those families eligible for Free School Meals has been a lifeline for families during the coronavirus storm.
The ending of the Universal Credit uplift in April 2021 will see families, representing around 16 million individuals, overnight lose £1040 per year.
Inevitably this will hit those on the lowest incomes and families with children. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation estimate that this will pull 700,000 more people into poverty. This at a time when the Government is continually promising to protect living standards and level up the economic and regional divides in our country.
The impact of the cut will be multiplied in the future as job losses, brought about by the pandemic, occur over the next few months. There is serious concern among social economists that this will plunge a further 500,000 individuals into deep poverty – 50% below the poverty line.
No region, let alone West Lindsey, is immune from these devastating problems and so urgent action is required.
West Lindsey District Council require The Chief Executive and Leader of The Administration to write to The Chancellor of The Exchequer, The Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP, supporting both;
• the open letter, written at the end of September, from at least 50 leading welfare charities, calling for the permanent £20 uplift to Universal Credit and Working Tax Credit; and
• Marcus Rashford MBE’s call for the Government to provide food vouchers during all holidays for those families with young people entitled to free school meals.
I so move and commend this motion to the Council.
Councillor Stephen Bunney”
The Leader of Council made an initial response as follows: -
“Thank you for bringing this motion forward Cllr Bunney. With regard to your proposal I do, of course, acknowledge the value of the extra funding that Government has already provided to help alleviate the real and increasing financial pressure people face in such challenging times and especially as we approach the second lockdown of the pandemic.
However, I believe the provision of meal vouchers for pupils during school holidays to be a simple and targeted measure that is valuable not only for qualifying pupils, their parents and carers, but also for the reassurance it would provide to the wider community.
Accordingly, whilst I personally support your motion and am happy to second its content, I leave it entirely to other Members to form their own view and reach a consensus.
Debate ensued with a number of Members from across the political parties speaking in support of the motion. Food poverty was an issue across the District and the ongoing work undertaken by voluntary organisations should be acknowledged.
On being put to the vote it was RESOLVED that the motion as submitted, be ACCEPTED and as such Full Council requests The Chief Executive and Leader of The Administration to write to The Chancellor of The Exchequer, The Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP, in line with the motion.
Note: Councillor John McNeill declared a personal interest in the above matter as lay Vice-Chairman of the Lincoln Cathedral Community Association and Chairman of the Executive Committee of the same body, both organisations which had provided in recent years a substantial amount of money to the charity currently supported as the Chairman’s Charity – FISH (Food in School Holidays).