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Agenda item

Notice of Motions

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 12, the following Motions have been received:-

 

a)   Motion – Sewage in Rivers

 

Proposed by Councillor Andrew Doherty, Seconded by Councillor Lisa Spivey

 

Council notes that

 

  1. There is great concern at reports that Thames Water, Seven Trent Water and Wessex Water discharges raw sewage into Cotswold rivers. This happened 1260 times in 2020.

  2. Statistics from the Rivers Trust shows sewage discharges across all locations in the Cotswold district in 2020 occurred for 17609 hours in total.

  3. These timings show that the discharges have become routine, rather than an emergency response to exceptional conditions.

  4. In response to a petition on such discharges, the Government has stated that ‘Tackling the harm caused by sewage is a top priority for Government’.

  5. The Government has stated that ‘Climate change has led to increased rainfall and water infrastructure has not kept pace with development growth’.

  6. In addition to having a negative impact on local wildlife and forcing a local watercress farm to cease trading, this also hugely affects the quality of life and the enjoyment of water-based activities for residents along the course of the rivers and at times causes contaminated water to be on roads and pavements, and into local properties.

 

Council believes that

 

  1. The establishment of a Storm Overflows Taskforce and a date of September 2022 from the Government to publish a plan to reduce sewage discharges from storm outflows is too little, too late to tackle the issue.

  2. The rules on sewage discharges must be tightened and enforcement improved, in conjunction with the Environment Agency.

  3. Housing developers should meet the costs of the required supply and disposal of water from new homes.

  4. The Government must make capital funding urgently available to address these issues.

  5. Solutions to these issues cannot be local, as sewage output in one geographic area affects another.

 

Council instructs

 

  1. The Leader and Chief Executive to write to the relevant Government Ministers, requesting an acceleration in the capital programme to lower risks of untreated sewage discharges into our rivers, and an assurance that local housing developers will be expected to fund water infrastructure to meet the needs of new housing.

 

  1. The Leader and Chief Executive to work with other local authorities to call on the Government to provide guidance and funding to local planning authorities to challenge water companies to deliver the urgent upgrades required to water treatment capacity.

 

??Council resolves to

 

  1. Set up a working group, with neighbouring Local Planning Authorities, that will develop appropriate policy to guide planning application determination and enforcement in those areas where sewage treatment is insufficient. Incorporating legislative frameworks and the five principles recently outlined in legislation: integration, prevention, precautionary, rectification at source, and the polluter pays principle.

 

Rivers Trust Data on Sewage Discharge in the Cotswolds - 2020

 

Where?

Times

Hours

Company

Tetbury

122

502

WW

Didmarton

96

1886

WW

Avening

90

283

STW

South Cerney

72

735

TW

Ampney

108

2316

TW

Fairford

138

2492

TW

Lechlade

51

845

TW

Andoversford

50

822

TW

Northleach

70

984

TW

Bledington

92

1536

TW

Broadwell

31

481

TW

Moreton

62

911

TW

Sheephouse Farm

10

39

STW

Blockley

212

3330

STW

Chipping Campden

49

407

STW

Mickleton

7

40

STW

 

1260

17609

 

 

 

b)   Motion – Parliamentary Boundary Proposals

 

Proposed by Councillor Joe Harris, Seconded by Councillor Jenny Forde

 

Council notes:

 

The Boundary Commission’s proposals to create two new Parliamentary constituencies covering the Cotswold District.

 

Cotswold District Council’s initial response supported the Commission’s proposals and proposed a name change to the proposed new constituencies:

 

?   The proposed ‘The Cotswolds’ constituency be renamed ‘North Cotswolds’

?   The proposed ‘Cirencester & North Wiltshire’ constituency be renamed ‘South Cotswolds’

 

That Baunton Parish Council submitted a request to the Boundary Commission in the initial consultation requesting that Chedworth and Churn Valley ward be included in the proposed Cirencester and North Wiltshire seat.

 

Under the Boundary Commission’s current proposals, Baunton Lane would be split down the middle into two parliamentary constituencies.

 

That residents in the villages that make up the Chedworth and Churn Valley ward look to Cirencester as their main centre for shopping, healthcare and education.

 

That the Boundary Commission’s primary objective is to ensure electoral equality in new parliamentary constituencies.

 

 

 

This Council believes that:

 

The cross-county border constituency of Cirencester & North Wiltshire is a good solution to the need for electoral equality in this sub-region.

 

The Chedworth and Churn Valley ward should be included in the proposed Cirencester and North Wiltshire parliamentary constituency.

 

That the proposed Parliamentary constituencies should be renamed ‘North Cotswolds’ and ‘South Cotswolds’.

 

Council further notes:

 

The commission's current proposals place Cirencester and North Wiltshire constituency on 71,222 electors and The Cotswolds constituency on 74,985 electors.

 

Moving Chedworth and Churn Valley ward into the proposed Cirencester and North Wiltshire Constituency would mean that it would have 72,965 electors and The Cotswolds Constituency would have 73,242, effectively equalising the electorate in the seats.

 

Council resolves to:

 

Authorise the Chief Executive to submit a written response to the Boundary Commission outlining the Council’s position as set out in this motion.


Ask the Leader of the Council to speak at the Boundary Commission’s public hearing in Gloucester later this month in support of the Council’s position.

 

 

c)    Motion – Ukrainian Refugees

 

Proposed by Councillor Patrick Coleman, Seconded by Councillor Nigel Robbins

 

Council notes the appalling conflict unfolding in Ukraine.

 

On behalf of residents in the Cotswolds, the Council wishes to express its solidarity with the people of Ukraine.

 

Council notes that in recent years we have welcomed refugees from Syria and Afghanistan.

 

The Council welcomes the steps being taken to resettle Afghan refugees from their temporary hotel residences within the UK which is still ongoing.

 

Council notes and applauds the record of Gloucestershire Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers (GARAS) in supporting refugees and asylum seekers within our District and County.

 

Council records its thanks and appreciation for the many generous actions taken by residents of our District in support of refugees and asylum seekers.

 

Council requests the Chief Executive brings forward proposals and options for further appropriate support by this Council, at the earliest practicable date, particularly in light of the appalling events currently unfolding in Ukraine.

 

Council requests that the Leader of the Council writes to the Ukrainian ambassador to the UK offering the District's support for the people of Ukraine in these difficult times.

 

Minutes:

Motion 1 - Sewage in Rivers

 

Councillor Doherty and Councillor Spivey presented the report and addressed the Council on the problems of Sewage in Rivers across the District area.  Several Members commented and expressed support for the motion with personal experiences of the problem they had encountered.

 

RESOLVED:  The Council instructed the Leader and Chief Executive to write to the relevant Government Ministers, requesting an acceleration in the capital programme to lower risks of untreated sewage discharges into our rivers, and an assurance that local housing developers will be expected to fund water infrastructure to meet the needs of new housing.

 

The Leader and Chief Executive were also instructed to work with other local authorities to call on the Government to provide guidance and funding to local planning authorities to challenge water companies to deliver the urgent upgrades required to water

 

It was also agreed that the Leader and Chief Executive will set up a working group, with neighbouring Local Planning Authorities, that will develop appropriate policy to guide planning application determination and enforcement in those areas where sewage treatment is insufficient. Incorporating legislative frameworks and the five principles recently outlined in legislation: integration, prevention, precautionary, rectification at source, and the polluter pays principle.

 

Voting Record - For 28, Against: 0, Abstention 0, Absent 6,

 

Motion 2 – Parliamentary Boundary Proposals

 

The Leader, Councillor Harris and Councillor Forde addressed the Council on the Boundary Commission’s proposals to create two new Parliamentary constituencies covering the Cotswold District to ensure electoral equality in numbers in the new parliamentary constituencies.  Cotswold District Council’s had initially supported the Commission’s proposals and proposed the names of the constituencies should be changed from The Cotswolds to North Cotswolds’ and from ‘Cirencester & North Wiltshire to ‘South Cotswolds’ respectively.  Baunton Parish Council had submitted a request to the Boundary Commission in the initial consultation requesting that Chedworth and Churn Valley ward be included in the proposed Cirencester and North Wiltshire seat, as residents in the villages that make up the Chedworth and Churn Valley ward look to Cirencester as their main centre for shopping, healthcare and education.  A number of Members expressed their support or opposition to the proposal

 

RESOLVED: The Council authorised the Chief Executive to submit a written response to the Boundary Commission outlining the Council’s position as set out in this motion and asks the Leader of the Council to speak at the Boundary Commission’s public hearing in Gloucester later this month in support of the Council’s position.

 

A recorded named vote was requested by Cllr Tony Berry and the Conservative Group. Cllrs Berry, Theodoulou and Andrews stood.

 

Voting Record  - For 16, Against 11, Abstention 1, Absent: 6.

 

For: Cllrs Bloomer, Coleman, Coxcoon, Dale, Doherty, Evemy, Forde, Harris (Joe), Harris (Mark), Hughes (Roly), Ind, Layton, Maunder, Robbins, Selwyn, Spivey (16)

 

Against: Cllrs Andrews, Berry, Blomefield, Cunningham, Hirst, Jepson, Judd, Norris, Stowe, Theodoulou, Trotter (11)

 

Abstain: Hughes (Robin) (1)

 

Motion 3 – Ukrainian Refugees

 

Councillor Patrick Coleman and Councillor Nigel Robbins Council stated on behalf of residents in the Cotswolds, the Council wished to express its solidarity with the people of Ukraine and the Council noted that in recent years refugees from Syria and Afghanistan have been welcomed to the area.  The Council welcome the steps being taken to resettle Afghan refugees from their temporary hotel residences within the UK, which was still ongoing, and noted and applauded the record of Gloucestershire Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers (GARAS) in supporting refugees and asylum seekers within the District and County.   The Council also recorded its thanks and appreciation for the many generous actions taken by residents of our District in support of refugees and asylum seekers.

 

RESOLVED:  The Council requested the Chief Executive to bring forward proposals and options for further appropriate support by the Council, at the earliest practicable date, particularly in light of the appalling events currently unfolding in Ukraine

The Council also requests that the Leader of the Council writes to the Ukrainian ambassador to the UK offering the District's support for the people of Ukraine in these difficult times.

 

Voting Record - For 28, Against 0, Abstention 0, Absent 6