Agenda item

Motions on notice

To consider motions from councillors in accordance with Council procedure rule 38. 

 

(1)      Motion to be proposed by Councillor Tim Bearder, seconded by Councillor Andrea Powell:

 

This Council recognises that after four years of delays to the long-awaited environment bill we are still without crucial laws to restore nature and tackle climate change.

 

We are alarmed by the 68% decline in global wildlife populations since 1970 and feel we must take measures to act in the face of Conservative high population growth aspirations for the Oxford/Cambridge Arc.

 

We welcome plans to extend the Chilterns AONB but recognise that all our residents deserve access to nature.

 

With this in mind this Council agrees to support, in principle, the creation of new protected areas in Oxfordshire.

 

Some outline plans have already been devised by local groups, like plans in Otmoor, which have the widespread support of local people and parish councils.

 

These kinds of plans fit with the government’s stated 25 Year Environment Plan commitments and its pledge to protect 30% of the UK’s land by 2030.

 

To ensure we are 'spade ready' for any expressions of interest, Council asks the Leader to bring a paper to Cabinet on:

 

How the Council can take a lead in developing and promoting “regional parks” as part of Oxfordshire’s nature recovery network through its partnerships, and with government agencies, investigating the most appropriate protections and designations to seek which are likely to attract funding.

 

(2)      Motion to be proposed by Councillor Sam Casey-Rerhaye, seconded by Councillor Pieter-Paul Barker

 

Council notes:

Councils are responsible for organising all elections in England.

The recent Queen’s Speech contained government proposals to require people to show identification including a photograph in order to vote in a General Election.

Allegations of electoral registration or voter fraud are very rare in South Oxfordshire.

 

Council believes:

 

Voting at elections is the cornerstone of democracy at both local and national level.

 

Participation in elections should be encouraged in all those who are qualified regardless of age, ethnicity or income.

 

Unnecessary barriers to voting are likely to reduce voter participation in elections, proper representation of all parts of the community and so legitimacy of those elected to office.

 

Voter ID is a solution without a problem and as such insinuates barriers to voting which should be of great concern to anyone who supports an open and effective democratic system of government.

 

Council Resolves:

To oppose the introduction of photo ID as a requirement to vote at polling stations.

 

To request the Leader to write to the relevant minister indicating this opposition and the reasons why and requesting this measure is not included in any forthcoming Bill.

 

That should mandatory photo ID be passed into law, this council will investigate low-cost options for residents, bearing in mind the barriers outlined and focus efforts to promote the ID to those who are most likely to need it.

 

(3)  Motion to be proposed by Councillor Jane Murphy, seconded by Councillor Caroline Newton:

 

 

Council notes our CEO is an LGA Peer and has previously asked group leaders to support our Council being peer challenged.

Council supports him in this and recognizes the contribution that our officers have made to national best practice.

 

 

Minutes:

(1)      Councillor Tim Bearder moved, and Councillor Andrea Powell seconded the motion as set out in the agenda at 11 (1)

 

Amendment

 

Councillor Roberts moved, and Councillor Casey-Rerhaye seconded, an amendment set out below, with additional words shown in bold and deleted words shown with a strikethrough, to provide specific detail about the location of the area referenced in the motion and to identify the need for larger areas of protection.

 

With the agreement of Council, the mover and seconder of the motion accepted the amendment.

 

“This Council recognises that after four years of delays to the long-awaited environment bill we are still without crucial laws to restore nature and tackle climate change.

 

We are alarmed by the 68% decline in global wildlife populations since 1970 and feel we must take measures to act in the face of Conservative high population growth aspirations for the Oxford/Cambridge Arc.

 

We welcome plans to extend the Chilterns AONB but recognise that all our residents deserve access to nature.

 

With this in mind this Council agrees to support, in principle, the creation of new protected areas in Oxfordshire.

 

Some outline plans have already been devised by local groups, like plans in Otmoor, which have the widespread support of local people and parish councils.

Some outline plans have already been devised by local groups, like plans for a 36 sq mile park comprising Otmoor and the Royal Forests of Bernwood and Stowood, which have the widespread support of local people and parish councils.

 

These kinds of plans fit with the government’s stated 25 Year Environment Plan commitments and its pledge to protect 30% of the UK’s land by 2030.

 

To ensure we are 'spade ready' for any expressions of interest, Council asks the Leader to bring a paper to Cabinet on:

 

How the Council can take a lead in developing and promoting “regional parks”How the Council can take a lead in developing and promoting regional parks including at the landscape-scale as part of Oxfordshire’s nature recovery network through its partnerships, and with government agencies, investigating the most appropriate protections and designations to seek which are likely to attract funding”.

 

 

 

 

 

RESOLVED:

 

“This Council recognises that after four years of delays to the long-awaited environment bill we are still without crucial laws to restore nature and tackle climate change.

 

We are alarmed by the 68% decline in global wildlife populations since 1970 and feel we must take measures to act in the face of Conservative high population growth aspirations for the Oxford/Cambridge Arc.

 

We welcome plans to extend the Chilterns AONB but recognise that all our residents deserve access to nature.

 

With this in mind this Council agrees to support, in principle, the creation of new protected areas in Oxfordshire.

 

Some outline plans have already been devised by local groups, like plans for a 36 sq mile park comprising Otmoor and the Royal Forests of Bernwood and Stowood, which have the widespread support of local people and parish councils.

 

These kinds of plans fit with the government’s stated 25 Year Environment Plan commitments and its pledge to protect 30% of the UK’s land by 2030.

 

To ensure we are 'spade ready' for any expressions of interest, Council asks the Leader to bring a paper to Cabinet on:

 

How the Council can take a lead in developing and promoting regional parks including at the landscape-scale as part of Oxfordshire’s nature recovery network through its partnerships, and with government agencies, investigating the most appropriate protections and designations to seek which are likely to attract funding”.

 

(2)      Councillor Sam Casey-Rerhaye moved, and Councillor Pieter-Paul Barker

Seconded, the motion as set out in the agenda at item 11 (2)

 

The majority of councillors supported the motion. Those who expressed a view stated that participation in elections should be encouraged by all those who are qualified, regardless of age, ethnicity or income. Whilst any genuine concerns about voter fraud should be investigated, the introduction of voter ID would be a solution to a problem which has negligible impact in this country and any measures could make it harder for people to vote and could be considered an attempt to manipulate democracy. However, a number of councillors expressed the view that the voter ID pilots had not deterred people from voting. Voter IDs would address electoral fraud and increase public confidence in elections.

 

After debate and on being put to the vote the motion was agreed.

 

RESOLVED: That Council notes:

Councils are responsible for organising all elections in England.

The recent Queen’s Speech contained government proposals to require people to show identification including a photograph in order to vote in a General Election.

 

Allegations of electoral registration or voter fraud are very rare in South Oxfordshire.

 

Council believes:

 

Voting at elections is the cornerstone of democracy at both local and national level.

 

Participation in elections should be encouraged in all those who are qualified regardless of age, ethnicity or income.

 

Unnecessary barriers to voting are likely to reduce voter participation in elections, proper representation of all parts of the community and so legitimacy of those elected to office.

 

Voter ID is a solution without a problem and as such insinuates barriers to voting which should be of great concern to anyone who supports an open and effective democratic system of government.

 

Council Resolves:

To oppose the introduction of photo ID as a requirement to vote at polling stations.

 

To request the Leader to write to the relevant minister indicating this opposition and the reasons why and requesting this measure is not included in any forthcoming Bill.

 

That should mandatory photo ID be passed into law, this council will investigate low-cost options for residents, bearing in mind the barriers outlined and focus efforts to promote the ID to those who are most likely to need it.

 

(3)  Councillor Jane Murphy moved, and Councillor Caroline Newton seconded, the motion as set out in the agenda at item 11 (3):

 

After debate and on being put to the vote the motion was agreed.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That Council notes our CEO is an LGA Peer and has previously asked group leaders to support our Council being peer challenged.

Council supports him in this and recognizes the contribution that our officers have made to national best practice.

 

 

 

 

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