Agenda item

 

Councillor S Swann proposed a motion that was duly seconded, in the following terms:

 

"That Council supports a total ban on HGV drivers using standard car sat navs, and requests that the Leader writes to the Secretary of State for Transport calling on the Government to take urgent action by using its forthcoming Transport Bill to legally require all HGVs to employ specialist sat nav devices. 

 

Council also asks the Department for Transport to review legislation to allow Highway Authorities to deploy more effective signage to deter HGVs from using unsuitable roads.

 

The support of all MPs in the County is sought in tackling the blight caused by HGVs to numerous local communities as well as the impact this issue has on the safety, health, and general wellbeing of residents."

 

Following debate, the motion was duly voted on and declared to be WON. It was therefore

 

RESOLVED that:

 

1)    Council supports a total ban on HGV drivers using standard car sat navs, and requests that the Leader writes to the Secretary of State for Transport calling on the Government to take urgent action by using its forthcoming Transport Bill to legally require all HGVs to employ specialist sat nav devices;

 

2)    Council also asks the Department for Transport to review legislation to allow Highway Authorities to deploy more effective signage to deter HGVs from using unsuitable roads; and

 

3)    The support of all MPs in the County is sought in tackling the blight caused by HGVs to numerous local communities as well as the impact this issue has on the safety, health, and general wellbeing of residents.

 

Councillor R George proposed a motion that was duly seconded, in the following terms:

 

To call upon the Cabinet of Derbyshire County Council to:

 

1)    declare a cost-of-living crisis in Derbyshire

 

2)    lead the way in acting with partner organisations, including the voluntary sector, to develop an anti-poverty strategy

 

3)    revise its Corporate Plan to reflect this situation and reallocate the use of reserves to match this commitment

 

4)    lobby the government to urgently put in place measures to help households throughout the oncoming Winter crisis

 

5)    make extra funding available, as it did during the pandemic, via the Community Leadership scheme to specifically help groups who are taking initiatives to help communities with the cost-of-living crisis

 

6)    ensure residents have the information and support they need to access all the assistance available to them via a “Quids In” type campaign.

 

An amendment to the motion was proposed by Councillor G Hickton, which was duly seconded, in the following terms:

 

To call upon the Cabinet of Derbyshire County Council to:

 

1)    In recognition of the international and national declare a cost-of-living crisis crises, in Derbyshire continue acting in meaningful ways to support the people of Derbyshire and reaffirm its determination that local residents are protected from the financial challenges driven by the combined effects of the Covid pandemic and Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine.

 

2)   Carry on leading lead the way in acting with partner organisations, including the voluntary sector, to develop an anti-poverty strategy.

 

3)    Consider, if necessary, revisions to revise its Corporate Plan to reflect this situation and reallocate the use of reserves as appropriate. to match this commitment

 

4)    Ensure all Councillors are encouraged to make full use of the extra funding made available by the Council’s Conservative administration, just as it did very successfully during the pandemic, via the Members’ Community Leadership sScheme to specifically help groups who are taking initiatives to help communities with the cost-of-living crisis.

 

5)    Outline the significant package of support the Council’s administration is making available in Derbyshire, including:

 

-       A new £50,000 fund to support warm spaces in community venues for residents and their families who are struggling to heat their homes.

-       An additional £80,000 to Locality Health Partnerships to provide cost-of-living support to people in their local communities.

-       £100,000 to Marches Energy Advice which, working alongside foodbanks, supports people in crisis with emergency heating measures.

-       £100,000 to Foundation Derbyshire to support the work of foodbanks plus £67,000 to support the work of Citizens’ Advice in providing wrap-around support to people using them.

-       Derbyshire Law Centre receiving an additional £42,000 to support its work with people in secure housing, and £22,000 to support people facing eviction.

-       £54,000 to support the Winter Rough Sleeping project co-ordinated by the Derbyshire Homeless Officers Group.

-       £20,000 to Rural Action Derbyshire for its Rural Hardship Fund.

-     This is all in addition to the Derbyshire Discretionary Fund which can provide grants or emergency cash payments for residents in urgent need of financial help following a crisis or disaster along with £5.4 million from the Government to continue our support to families under the Household Support Fund.

 

6)   Acknowledge the significant measures the Government has introduced to support the residents of Derbyshire including the energy price guarantee; the help the £400 energy bill discount will give every household along with equivalent support for those not on the mains energy grid; the additional support of the £650 cost of living payment for those in receipt of means-tested benefits; £300 for pensioner households; £150 for recipients of disability benefits; reductions to National Insurance payments in July and November; the £150 Council Tax rebate; and the safeguarding of local jobs that the six-month protection for businesses will provide.

 

7)   Work with the Government to ensure that it delivers the extensive package of support to the residents of Derbyshire as quickly as possible, especially as it is noted that some councils within the County, such as South Derbyshire, have been very slow in enacting the Government’s measures to help local people.  lobby the government to urgently put in place measures to help households throughout the oncoming Winter crisis

8)    Ensure residents, particularly those most in need of support in Derbyshire, have access to the information about the local and Government assistance for which they are eligible. have the information and support they need to access all the assistance available to them via a “Quids In” type campaign

 

The Chairman agreed to an adjournment to give members the opportunity to read the amendment to the motion.

 

The meeting adjourned between 3.51 pm and 4.08 pm.

 

Following debate, the amendment was put to a vote and the Chairman declared that the amendment was CARRIED so the amendment became the substantive motion.

 

The proposition, as amended, was put to a named vote and declared to be WON.

 

It was therefore

 

RESOLVED to call upon the Cabinet of Derbyshire County Council to:

 

1)   Carry on leading the way in acting with partner organisations, including the voluntary sector, to develop an anti-poverty strategy.

 

2)    Consider, if necessary, revisions to its Corporate Plan to reflect this situation and reallocate the use of reserves as appropriate.

 

3)    Ensure all Councillors are encouraged to make full use of the extra funding made available by the Council’s Conservative administration, just as it did very successfully during the pandemic, via the Members’ Community Leadership Scheme to specifically help groups who are taking initiatives to help communities with the cost-of-living crisis.

 

4)    Outline the significant package of support the Council’s administration is making available in Derbyshire, including:

 

-       A new £50,000 fund to support warm spaces in community venues for residents and their families who are struggling to heat their homes.

-       An additional £80,000 to Locality Health Partnerships to provide cost-of-living support to people in their local communities.

-       £100,000 to Marches Energy Advice which, working alongside foodbanks, supports people in crisis with emergency heating measures.

-       £100,000 to Foundation Derbyshire to support the work of foodbanks plus £67,000 to support the work of Citizens’ Advice in providing wrap-around support to people using them.

-       Derbyshire Law Centre receiving an additional £42,000 to support its work with people in secure housing, and £22,000 to support people facing eviction.

-       £54,000 to support the Winter Rough Sleeping project co-ordinated by the Derbyshire Homeless Officers Group.

-       £20,000 to Rural Action Derbyshire for its Rural Hardship Fund.

-     This is all in addition to the Derbyshire Discretionary Fund which can provide grants or emergency cash payments for residents in urgent need of financial help following a crisis or disaster along with £5.4 million from the Government to continue our support to families under the Household Support Fund.

 

9)   Acknowledge the significant measures the Government has introduced to support the residents of Derbyshire including the energy price guarantee; the help the £400 energy bill discount will give every household along with equivalent support for those not on the mains energy grid; the additional support of the £650 cost of living payment for those in receipt of means-tested benefits; £300 for pensioner households; £150 for recipients of disability benefits; reductions to National Insurance payments in July and November; the £150 Council Tax rebate; and the safeguarding of local jobs that the six-month protection for businesses will provide.

 

10)                Work with the Government to ensure that it delivers the extensive package of support to the residents of Derbyshire as quickly as possible, especially as it is noted that some councils within the County, such as South Derbyshire, have been very slow in enacting the Government’s measures to help local people

11)Ensure residents, particularly those most in need of support in Derbyshire, have access to the information about the local and Government assistance for which they are eligible.