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Agenda item

Notice of Motions

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

 

Rail Ticket Offices Motion

 

Proposed by Councillor Paul Hodgkinson and seconded by Councillor Angus Jenkinson

 

Council notes with concern the announcement by the Rail Delivery Group that train companies are pressing ahead with plans to close up to 1000 rail ticket offices across England over the next 3 years.

Council believes that ticket offices provide a vital service to residents in the Cotswolds. Having a clearly sign-posted place in the station for people with ticket enquiries provides certainty and confidence for customers who may struggle to otherwise locate station staff.  

Council is concerned the closure of ticket offices will disproportionately affect elderly and disabled residents in the Cotswolds – as well as those with poor IT skills.

Council notes the statistics from Age UK that 3 million elderly people in the UK do not have access to the internet, and statistics from the Royal National Institute for Blind People that only 3% of those with partial or full sight loss feel able to use ticket machines.

Council is also concerned about the possible implications for current station staff and the concerns that have been raised over possible staff redundancies – given that there will be no regulations for minimum staffing levels at stations and on platforms.

Council therefore resolves to:

·         Instruct the Chief Executive to write to Mark Harper MP Secretary of State for Transport, and the Chief Executive of the Rail Delivery Group, expressing Council’s opposition to the possible closure of staffed rail ticket offices – and in particular the office(s) at Moreton in Marsh, Kemble and Kingham.

·         Instruct the Chief Executive to write to Great Western Railway expressing the Council’s opposition to any plans to close the staffed ticket office(s) at Moreton in Marsh, Kemble and Kingham.

·         Refer this issue to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee with the recommendation that representatives from Great Western Railway are invited to attend a Scrutiny Meeting at the earliest possible point to discuss future plans for ticket offices and staffing at our local stations.

 

 

 

Grey Water Motion

 

Proposed by Councillor Julia Judd, and seconded by Councillor Andrew Maclean

 

Thames Water believes that limiting water use and runoff could help to stop the outflow of sewage into rivers from its systems. In 2020, this occurred for more than 200,000 hours.

 

Much of the CDC district is within Thames Water catchment, one of the worst for leaks losing about 25% across its network which is classed as under serious water stress. Cirencester and our Trinity Road offices of Cotswold District Council are within Thames Water district. 

 

The Environment Agency has warned that parts of England could run out of water within 25 years as a result of growing demand from a rising population and the impacts of climate change, and has called for household water use to be cut by a third.  We already experience periods of drought followed by periods of deluge and as a responsible authority, we should be doing our utmost to mitigate predictable catastrophes.

 

It is this Council’s duty to do our utmost to achieve water neutrality.  To promote water saving technology, through our Planning and Building Regulations advice and policies.  Examples such as low-flow systems, which use less water and pressure, and systems that use grey water should be the ambition for larger developments in the Cotswolds. Water butts should be encouraged for all properties and can easily and cheaply be retro-fitted. Capturing peak storm water flows and helping to prevent storm related sewage discharges is particularly relevant to older properties in towns and villages where there is a greater chance of "combined" sewerage systems.

 

Therefore this motion requests that Council:

 

·         Endorses the use of rainwater and greywater systems to achieve water neutrality.

·         Request that officers investigate how rainwater and greywater systems can be promoted for use in developments and properties in the wider District.

·         Request that officers investigate how rainwater and/or greywater systems could be applied to Council assets such as the Council Offices, Trinity Road.

·         Request that the findings of these requests be delivered by officers through a briefing note to Members’.

 

 

Minutes:

There were two motions presented to Full Council as included with the document pack.

 

Motion 1: Rail Ticket Offices Motion.

 

The motion was presented by Councillor Hodgkinson as the proposer.

 

  • It was noted that this issue was important as it was central to the concerns from the closure of rail ticket offices. The specific concerns were around accessibility, the quality of service and the future of public transport within the District.

 

  • It was highlighted there had been a decline in rail ticket offices over the previous 10 years which had been met with public concern. It was stated that recent announcements in the Summer of 2023 about the closure of ticket offices in Moreton and Kemble and in Kingham in West Oxfordshire.

 

  • It was noted that a petition had been launched by Councillor Hodgkinson and Councillor Jenkinson in response to the proposed closure of Moreton’s rail ticket office, which had received public support.

 

  • It was noted that there was a concern around job security for those staff working in ticket offices in the District.

 

  • It was noted that the Chief Executive as part of the motion was being instructed to write to Mark Harper MP, as Secretary of State for Transport, and also to Great Western Railway in regards to the closures.

 

  • It was also noted that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee could provide value in questioning the decision with representatives from the railway.

 

An amendment had been tabled by Councillor Fowles and seconded by Councillor Blomefield which struck out point 3 of the resolution (the referral to Overview and Scrutiny Committee) and inserted the following point (point 4):

 

• Petition the MP for the Cotswolds to write to Mark Harper MP, Secretary of State for Transport, to request a review of the provision of rural ticket offices in the Cotswolds.

 

Councillor Hodgkinson clarified that in proposing the motion he was altering the motion to accept the insertion of point 4 but without removing point 3 which referred the issue to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

 

Councillor Jenkinson as the seconder, spoke in regard to the altered motion.

 

  • It was highlighted that whilst there was an understanding to make the railways viable, it was a core service for many residents.

 

  • It was reaffirmed that many individuals struggle with a digital platform for tickets, and having a human support was important.

 

 

Councillor Fowles asked for clarity in regard to the motion due to some revisions being accepted. The Chair clarified that the motion was altered by the proposer who accepted the amendment in regard to point 4. Councillor Fowles then announced that following discussions with Councillor Hodgkinson before this item, that the amendment would be withdrawn so the proposal could be fully supported.

 

There was also a question by Councillor Fowles about whether it could be a cross-party motion, but the Chair highlighted that Councillor Jenkinson as seconder had already spoken to the motion.

 

There were various comments made in debate raising concerns for elderly and disabled residents, and those lacking ICT skills in the district highlighted in the motion. It was also highlighted how these were the same residents affected by the removal of cash payments from car parks.

 

It was noted that there was a safeguarding element to rail ticket offices, especially with railway stations at night.

 

It was highlighted that as the railway companies were private operators, and it was important for them to have a human interface.

 

It was noted that providing ticket offices was particularly important to promote sustainable travel into the future for all people.

 

Councillor Blomefield, as Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, spoke about the importance for Members to engage with the sessions proposed with Great Western Railway.

 

There were comments raised about the capacity for Overview and Scrutiny Committee to examine this on top of the usual business.

 

RESOLVED: That Council agreed (as amended) to

  • INSTRUCT the Chief Executive to write to Mark Harper MP Secretary of State for Transport, and the Chief Executive of the Rail Delivery Group, expressing Council’s opposition to the possible closure of staffed rail ticket offices – and in particular the office(s) at Moreton in Marsh, Kemble and Kingham.
  • INSTRUCT the Chief Executive to write to Great Western Railway expressing the Council’s opposition to any plans to close the staffed ticket office(s) at Moreton in Marsh, Kemble and Kingham.
  • REFERRED the issue to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee with the recommendation that representatives from Great Western Railway are invited to attend a Scrutiny Meeting at the earliest possible point to discuss future plans for ticket offices and staffing at our local stations.
  • PETITION the MP for the Cotswolds to write to Mark Harper MP, Secretary of State for Transport, to request a review of the provision of rural ticket offices in the Cotswolds.

 

 

 

 

Voting Record

 

30 For, 0 Against, 1 Abstention, 3 Absent/Did not vote

 

For

Against

Abstention

Absent/Did not vote

Andrew Maclean

 

Gary Selwyn

Chris Twells

Angus Jenkinson

 

 

Jon Wareing

Chris Twells

 

 

Ray Brassington

Claire Bloomer

 

 

 

Clare Muir

 

 

 

Clare Turner

 

 

 

Daryl Corps

 

 

 

David Cunningham

 

 

 

David Fowles

 

 

 

Dilys Neill

 

 

 

Gina Blomefield

 

 

 

Helen Mansilla

 

 

 

Ian Watson

 

 

 

Jeremy Theyer

 

 

 

Joe Harris

 

 

 

Julia Judd

 

 

 

Juliet Layton

 

 

 

Len Wilkins

 

 

 

Lisa Spivey

 

 

 

Mark Harris

 

 

 

Michael Vann

 

 

 

Mike Evemy

 

 

 

Mike McKeown

 

 

 

Nikki Ind

 

 

 

Nigel Robbins

 

 

 

Patrick Coleman

 

 

 

Paul Hodgkinson

 

 

 

Tom Stowe

 

 

 

Tony Dale

 

 

 

Tony Slater

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Motion 2: Grey Water Motion

 

Councillor Julia Judd as the proposer of the motion introduced the motion. The following points were highlighted:

 

  • It was highlighted how there were very simple ways of capturing rainwater such as water butts which could have a big impact.

 

  • It was noted that there were significant problems with water drought, and the harvesting of rainwater and re-use of grey water was important to combat this.

 

  • It was noted that minimising hot water use was important for reducing carbon emissions.

 

  • It was noted that it was important that the use of these systems can prevent localised flooding.

 

Councillor Maclean then seconded the motion and spoke to the motion.

 

  • It was highlighted that promoting these schemes in developments is difficult to enforce at present.

 

  • It was highlighted that river pollution was also a big problem and these systems will help to reduce that.

 

An amendment was tabled by Councillor Spivey which was highlighted at Annex A.

 

Councillor Judd and Councillor Maclean accepted the amendment, and this became the substantive motion.

 

Councillor Spivey as the proposer for the amendment thanked Councillor Judd and Councillor Maclean for accepting the amendment.

 

It was noted that the measures should be part of national standards and it was important to promote this within the National Planning Police Framework, and with the water companies.

 

It was highlighted that as part of the review of the Local Plan, the Cotswold District design code could be reviewed to reflect the intentions of this motion.

 

It was highlighted by Members that parts of the motion did not go far enough to cover areas like agriculture which were high users of water.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That Council:

 

Endorses the use of rainwater and greywater systems to achieve water neutrality.

•      Request that officers investigate how rainwater and greywater systems can be promoted for use in developments and properties in the wider District.

•      Request that officers investigate how rainwater and/or greywater systems could be applied to Council assets such as the Council Offices, Trinity Road.

•      Request that the findings of these requests be delivered by officers through a briefing note to Members’.

•      Instructs the Chief Executive to write to the MP asking for urgent action on funding for the Environment Agency to investigate and take action on illegal sewage spills by water companies

•      Writes to the Secretary of State for DHLUC lobbying for changes in the NPPF and Building Regulations, making the introduction of greywater recycling mandatory in new housing developments

 

Voting Record

 

31 For, 0 Against, 0 Abstention

 

For

Against

Abstention

Absent/Did not vote

Andrew Maclean

 

 

Chris Twells

Angus Jenkinson

 

 

Jon Wareing

Chris Twells

 

 

Ray Brassington

Claire Bloomer

 

 

 

Clare Muir

 

 

 

Clare Turner

 

 

 

Daryl Corps

 

 

 

David Cunningham

 

 

 

David Fowles

 

 

 

Dilys Neill

 

 

 

Gary Selwyn

 

 

 

Gina Blomefield

 

 

 

Helen Mansilla

 

 

 

Ian Watson

 

 

 

Jeremy Theyer

 

 

 

Joe Harris

 

 

 

Julia Judd

 

 

 

Juliet Layton

 

 

 

Len Wilkins

 

 

 

Lisa Spivey

 

 

 

Mark Harris

 

 

 

Michael Vann

 

 

 

Mike Evemy

 

 

 

Mike McKeown

 

 

 

Nikki Ind

 

 

 

Nigel Robbins

 

 

 

Patrick Coleman

 

 

 

Paul Hodgkinson

 

 

 

Tom Stowe

 

 

 

Tony Dale

 

 

 

Tony Slater

 

 

 

 

Supporting documents:

 

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