Agenda item

Motions

Meeting of Council, Wednesday, 14th November, 2012 2.00 pm (Item 73.)

(a) Councillor Letts to move:-

“Council notes the impact that the Government’s austerity programme has had on the City of Southampton.

Council is dismayed that the cumulative impact of budget savings in 2011-12 and 2012-13 amounts to £353 per household.

This Council notes the potential for further cuts in funding for the budget round in 2013-14.

Council believes it is the duty of all Councillors elected by the citizens of Southampton to do the best they can to secure a fair funding deal from any government for our City.

Council calls on all Group leaders to jointly lobby Government ministers on behalf of the City to secure the best funding deal available.

Council calls on all elected representatives both parliamentary and local government to ‘Stand up for Southampton’.”

(b) Councillor Vinson to move:-

“Planning and Housing

This Council believes that local people, through their democratically elected local authorities, are the most suitable judges of what development is acceptable in an area and the suitable level of contributions that developers should make.

This Council opposes:

· The Secretary of State's proposals for the Planning Inspectorate to have powers to override agreements between Councils and developers over the number of affordable housing units allocated to planning applications.

· The Secretary of State’s proposals for planning permission – currently required for extensions of more than three or four metres from the rear wall of any home – to only be needed for those reaching beyond 8m for detached homes and 6m for others

· The Secretary of State's proposals for the Planning Inspectorate to take planning powers away from local authorities deemed to be slow or of making poor quality planning decisions in determining applications.

This Council urges the Government to listen to the concerns being expressed by the cross-party LGA.

This Council resolves to formally write to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, outlining this Council’s opposition to the plans.”

Minutes:

(a) Council Funding

With the consent of the meeting,Councillor Letts altered and moved his motion and Councillor Dr Williams seconded:-

“Council notes the impact that the Government’s austerity programme has had on the City of Southampton.

This Council notes the potential for further cuts in funding for the budget round in 2013-14.

Council believes it is the duty of all Councillors elected by the citizens of Southampton to do the best they can to secure a fair funding deal from any government for our City.

Council calls on all Group leaders to jointly lobby Government ministers on behalf of the City to secure the best funding deal available.

Council calls on all elected representatives both parliamentary and local government to ‘Stand up for Southampton’.”

With the consent of the meeting, Councillor Vinson altered and moved his amendment and Councillor Turner seconded:-

Additional text to be added at the end of the Motion:

‘Council also calls on the Government to recognise the adverse impact on Southampton of the closure of the Ford plant and to take this into account in determining future grant allocations to the City”.

Amended Motion to read:

Council notes the impact that the Government’s austerity programme has had on the City of Southampton.

This Council notes the potential for further cuts in funding for the budget round in 2013-14.

Council believes it is the duty of all Councillors elected by the citizens of Southampton to do the best they can to secure a fair funding deal from any government for our City.

Council calls on all Group leaders to jointly lobby Government ministers on behalf of the City to secure the best funding deal available.

Council calls on all elected representatives both parliamentary and local government to ‘Stand up for Southampton.

Council also calls on the Government to recognise the adverse impact on Southampton of the closure of the Ford plant and to take this into account in determining future grant allocations to the City.

The Council agreed to suspend Council Procedure Rules 14.2, 14.5, 14.6, 14.7, 14.8, 14.9 and 16.2:-

(i) to enable the above items to be considered together;

(ii) to enable any amendments to be proposed, seconded and considered at the same time;

(iii) to enable any amendment to be re-introduced later into the meeting.

UPON BEING PUT TO THE VOTE THE AMENDMENT IN THE NAME OF COUNCILLOR VINSON WAS DECLARED CARRIED

UPON BEING PUT TO THE VOTE THE MOTION AS AMENDED WAS DECLARED CARRIED

RESOLVED that the motion as amended be approved.

(b) Planning and Housing

Councillor Vinson moved and Councillor Turner seconded:-

This Council opposes:

This Council urges the Government to listen to the concerns being expressed by the cross-party LGA.

This Council resolves to formally write to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, outlining this Council’s opposition to the plans.”

With the consent of the meeting, Councillor Mrs Blatchford altered and moved an amendment and Councillor Jeffery seconded:

In first paragraph:-

In the first line, after “This Council believes that”, delete “local people, through their democratically elected local authorities,”

and insert “all development should contribute to improving the quality of life for the citizens of Southampton. Democratically elected local authorities,”

In the third line after “..suitable judges of what development” add “and standards” and after “are acceptable” add “together with”.

Insert fourth bullet point:

· The Secretary of State’s proposals for the review of Building Regulations that will harm standards on energy efficiency, accessible access, noise, vibration, fire safety, security, ventilation, drainage and waste.

Add at end of motion:

That Officers respond to the consultation on extending permitted development rights for Homeowners and Businesses in consultation with the Cabinet Member and Chair of the Planning and Rights of Way Panel.

Amended Motion to read:-

This Council believes that all development should contribute to improving the quality of life for the citizens of Southampton. Democratically elected local authorities are the most suitable judges of what development and standards are acceptable together with the suitable level of contribution that developers should make. This Council opposes:

This Council urges the Government to listen to the concerns being expressed by the cross-party Local Government Association.

This Council resolves to formally write to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, outlining this Council’s opposition to the plans.

Further amendment moved by Councillor Fitzhenry and seconded by Councillor Smith:

Delete first and last bullet points:-

Amended Motion to read:

The Secretary of State’s proposals for planning permission– currently required for extensions of more than three or four metres from the rear wall of any home – to only be needed for those reaching beyond 8m for detached homes and 6m for others

This Council urges the Government to listen to the concerns being expressed by the cross-party Local Government Association.

This Council resolves to formally write to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, outlining this Council’s opposition to the plans.”

The Council agreed to suspend Council Procedure Rules 14.2, 14.5, 14.6, 14.7, 14.8, 14.9 and 16.2:-

(i) to enable the above items to be considered together;

(ii) to enable any amendments to be proposed, seconded and considered at the same time;

(iii) to enable any amendment to be re-introduced later into the meeting.

UPON BEING PUT TO THE VOTE THE AMENDMENT IN THE NAME OF COUNCILLOR FITZHENRY WAS DECLARED LOST

UPON BEING PUT TO THE VOTE THE AMENDMENT IN THE NAME OF COUNCILLOR MRS BLATCHFORD WAS DECLARED CARRIED

UPON BEING PUT TO THE VOTE THE MOTION AS AMENDED BY COUNCILLOR MRS BLATCHFORD WAS DECLARED CARRIED

RESOLVED that the motion as amended be approved.