Agenda item

Motion 1

 

DEBATE NOT HATE

 

“Members will be aware of the Local Government Association’s ‘Debate Not Hate’ campaign, based on the premise that, whilst debating and disagreeing with one another is a healthy part of democracy, abuse and intimidation crosses the line into dangerous territory.

 

Anyone, regardless of their background or political affiliation, should feel safe to become a Councillor and be proud to represent their community.  But an increasing level of abuse and intimidation aimed at local politicians is preventing elected members from representing those they serve, deterring individuals from standing for election and undermining local democracy.

 

The ‘Debate Not Hate’ campaign aims to raise public awareness of the role of councillors in their communities, encourage healthy debate and improve the responses and support for local politicians facing abuse and intimidation.  We need to be united in calling for change.

 

Although individual Councillors can support the campaign simply by signing the public statement on the LGA’s website (something I would urge all colleagues to do) I hereby call upon the Leader of the Council to add West Lindsey District Council to the list of supporting organisations.

 

I so move.

 

Councillor Anne Welburn”

 

 

Motion 2

 

SUPPORT FOR THE COMMUNITY WEALTH FUND PROPOSAL

 

“An organisation called the Local Trust (established in 2012 to deliver Big Local, a National Lottery Community Fund funded programme) is promoting a proposal to use dormant stocks and shares (which have an estimated value of £900 million) to fund a new Community Wealth Trust.

 

The proposal is to use the funds so released to directly support the 225 most ‘left behind areas’ throughout the country, including our own Gainsborough East Ward.

 

This proposal is at a preliminary stage, however similar initiatives such as the Dormant Assets Scheme have already successfully delivered significant social and environmental investment.

 

Local Trust has now invited local authorities to ‘sign up’ to affirm their ‘in principle’ support for their initiative and accordingly I propose that we recognise the opportunity and take up the offer to potentially benefit not only Gainsborough itself but, by extension, the whole of West Lindsey.

 

Further information on the Trust is attached to the agenda and the Local Trusts’ website is

https://localtrust.org.uk/policy/left-behind-neighbourhoods/

 

I ask the Leader and Chief Executive to write to Local Trust offering our support for their initiative.

 

I so move.

 

Councillor Mick Devine”  

 

Minutes:

The Chairman advised the meeting that two motions pursuant to Council Procedure Rule No.10 had been submitted to the meeting, these were as set out in the agenda.

 

Councillor Anne Welburn, was invited to put her motion to the meeting, as follows:

 

DEBATE NOT HATE

Members will be aware of the Local Government Association’s ‘Debate Not Hate’ campaign, based on the premise that, whilst debating and disagreeing with one another is a healthy part of democracy, abuse and intimidation crosses the line into dangerous territory.

 

Anyone, regardless of their background or political affiliation, should feel safe to become a Councillor and be proud to represent their community.  But an increasing level of abuse and intimidation aimed at local politicians is preventing elected members from representing those they serve, deterring individuals from standing for election and undermining local democracy.

 

The ‘Debate Not Hate’ campaign aims to raise public awareness of the role of councillors in their communities, encourage healthy debate and improve the responses and support for local politicians facing abuse and intimidation.  We need to be united in calling for change.

 

Although individual Councillors can support the campaign simply by signing the public statement on the LGA’s website (something I would urge all colleagues to do) I hereby call upon the Leader of the Council to add West Lindsey District Council to the list of supporting organisations.

 

I so move.

 

Councillor Anne Welburn”

 

With the motion duly seconded, debate ensued during which Members shared their experiences, particularly those of recent years, when such behaviour had escalated, even extending to family members, with a Councillor seeking the support of local Police.

 

The age of social of media had only added to and increased the problem, with people appearing to be quite comfortable abusing people from behind a computer keyboard.

 

It was suggested that many Members accepted a level of abuse, almost deeming this to come with the job, whether correct or not, but all were in agreement, that when abuse was then directed at family members, personal phones and e-mails, that that was totally unacceptable.  However, such behaviours had been experienced.

 

All were in agreement, the fear of abuse, without doubt, deterred potential candidates and “volunteers”, with many Parish Councillors, receiving no remuneration for the work they undertook.

 

The level of abuse from Members of the public had increased, and yet Councillors were of the view, that in the event they challenged back, they found themselves reported to the Monitoring Officer and subject to a potential Code of Conduct case.   Members at a District level were not granted anything similar to Parliamentary Privilege, extended to MPs.

 

Members spoke of the lack of support, not a criticism of Officers, but of the system, general framework, and lack of legal powers.  Sanctions (for complaints against Councillors) had been abolished with the Localism Act.  Officers and the Council’s Standard’s Sub-Committee, Governance and Audit Committee, and Full Council itself, having written on a number of occasions lobbying for change. 

 

Whilst change in this area would help resolve Councillor to Councillor issues, this would not deal with abuse from Members of the public.

 

Members were of the view that there needed to be a much bigger debate about what Councils could do to support Councillors in these situations, as it was considered that they had a duty of care to Councillors as they did their employees.  

 

There was a suggestion that the Member Development Group or appropriate Board / Group within the Council could maybe consider how the Council may increase support to elected Members and Candidates prior to elections in May 2023.  

 

On being put to the vote, the MOTION AS SUBMITTED was declared CARRIED and as a result it was

 

RESOLVED unanimously that the Leader of the Council be required to add West Lindsey District Council to the list of supporting organisations for the Debate not Hate Campaign.

 

 

The Chairman invited Councillor Devine, to put his motion to Council as follows: -

 

SUPPORT FOR THE COMMUNITY WEALTH FUND PROPOSAL - An organisation called the Local Trust (established in 2012 to deliver Big Local, a National Lottery Community Fund funded programme) is promoting a proposal to use dormant stocks and shares (which have an estimated value of £900 million) to fund a new Community Wealth Trust.

 

The proposal is to use the funds so released to directly support the 225 most ‘left behind areas’ throughout the country, including our own Gainsborough East Ward.

 

This proposal is at a preliminary stage, however similar initiatives such as the Dormant Assets Scheme have already successfully delivered significant social and environmental investment.

 

Local Trust has now invited local authorities to ‘sign up’ to affirm their ‘in principle’ support for their initiative and accordingly I propose that we recognise the opportunity and take up the offer to potentially benefit not only Gainsborough itself but, by extension, the whole of West Lindsey.

 

Further information on the Trust is attached to the agenda and the Local Trusts’ website is

https://localtrust.org.uk/policy/left-behind-neighbourhoods/

 

I ask the Leader and Chief Executive to write to Local Trust offering our support for their initiative.

 

I so move.

 

Councillor Mick Devine” 

 

With the motion duly seconded, debate ensued.

 

Several Members indicated their support for the motion, others sought indication how the Scheme worked, with the Chief Executive outlining this, confirming the stocks and shares were dormant and not recognised as owned. Current estimates were also considered prudent.

 

On being put to the vote, the MOTION AS SUBMITTED was declared CARRIED and as a result it was

 

RESOLVED unanimously that the Leader and Chief Executive be required to write to Local Trust offering our support for their initiative.

 

 

Supporting documents: