Agenda item

Council considered the Motions of which due notice had been given, as set out below:

 

Motion submitted by Councillor E Fordham:

 

Motion proposed by Councillor E Fordham, which was duly seconded:

 

Enhancing the Peak District National Park.  This Council notes:

 

1.     The 90th anniversary of the mass trespass of Kinder Scout        on 24^th April 1932

2.     That the Peak District National Park - itself 70 this year - was the first created in the UK following the National Parks       and Access to the Countryside Act in 1949

3.     That the Peak District National Park Authority is a valued partner to the County Council and provides focus and     function to the work of preserving and enhancing our   environment

4.     The publication of The Glover Report entitled Landscapes         Review:  National Parks and AONBs, and its significance          for Derbyshire and our economy

 

This Council resolves:

 

1.     To set up a cross Party Working Group comprising the     Leaders of all political groups or their nominated   representative, Cabinet Member for Infrastructure &   Environment and the Chairs of the Improvement and      Scrutiny Committees – Places, and Climate Change,     Biodiversity and Carbon Reduction:

 

2.     To engage with the Landscapes Review with the following principles:

 

a.     Honestly reflecting our opinion in respect of the service the National Park Authority has provided

 

b.     To consider carefully the new and enhanced powers being proposed

 

c.     That this is a good time to seek views within Derbyshire on the Park Authority and its role and powers

 

d.     To reflect positively on what will work best for the future for the Peak District, the people who live and work there, and the assorted local government authorities

 

After discussion Councillor Fordham agreed that this motion should not be put to the vote and be resubmitted at a later point in time where it would be more appropriate.

 

Motion submitted by Councillor T King:

         

Motion proposed by Councillor T King, which was duly seconded:

 

Derbyshire County Council

(i)      Acknowledges:

 

·           the efforts that this Council has made over the last four years or so to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote renewable energy; 

·           the success of the Council’s Green Entrepreneurs Fund in, amongst other things, encouraging community energy schemes and in enabling communities to potentially move towards self-sufficiency in supplying their own energy needs via ‘green’ methods;

·           renewable energy installations will gain the support of local residents and other stakeholders when appropriately located and deliver genuine benefits to the communities they serve.

 

(ii)      Further recognises

 

·               that large financial setup and running costs involved in selling locally generated renewable electricity to local customers result in it being near impossible for local renewable electricity generators to do so, 

·               that making these financial costs proportionate to the scale of a renewable electricity supplier’s operation could create opportunities for local companies, community groups, and Councils, where supported by local residents, to be providers of locally generated renewable electricity directly to local people, businesses and organisations, if they wished, and

·               that revenues received by such local companies, community groups or Councils that chose to become local renewable electricity providers could be used to help improve the local economy, local services and facilities and to reduce local greenhouse gas emissions.

·               Notes that the Parliamentary Environmental Audit Committee, as a result of its 2021 Technological Innovations and Climate Change inquiry, recommended that a Right to Local Supply for local energy suppliers be established to address this.
 

Therefore, this Council resolves to

 

·      support the Local Electricity Bill, which, if made law, would establish a Right to Local Supply which would promote appropriate local renewable electricity supply by making the setup and running costs of selling renewable electricity to local customers proportionate to the size of the supply company,

 

·      inform local media outlets of this decision,

 

·      invite the Leader of the Council to write to local MPs, asking them to support the Bill, and write to the organisers of the campaign for the Bill, Power for People, expressing its support.

 

The motion was duly voted on and declared carried and Council:

 

RESOLVED to

 

1)   Support the Local Electricity Bill, which, if made law, would establish a Right to Local Supply which would promote appropriate local renewable electricity supply by making the setup and running costs of selling renewable electricity to local customers proportionate to the size of the supply company;

 

2)   Inform local media outlets of this decision; and

 

3)   Invite the Leader of the Council to write to local MPs, asking them to support the Bill, and write to the organisers of the campaign for the Bill, Power for People, expressing its support

 

Motion received from Councillor G Kinsella:

 

Motion proposed by Councillor G Kinsella, which was duly seconded:

 

Derbyshire County Council notes the following outcomes from the COP26 Global Summit: 

 

Local government role:

 

That the Glasgow Climate Pact recognises a crucial role for communities and local authorities.  By “recognising the important role of … local communities and civil society, including youth and children, in addressing and responding to climate change, and highlighting the urgent need for multilevel and cooperative action.”  Furthermore, the Pact explicitly calls on us “to actively involve ... local communities in designing and implementing climate action.”

 

Active Travel:

 

That the COP26 declaration on accelerating the transition to 100% zero emission cars and vans states:  “a sustainable future for road transport will require wider system transformation, including support for active travel, public and shared transport, as well as addressing the full value chain impacts from vehicle production, use and disposal.” 

 

Sustainable production and consumption:

 

That the COP26 Glasgow Leader’s Declaration on Land Use, signed by the UK, commits to “facilitate trade and development policies, internationally and domestically, that promote sustainable development, and sustainable commodity production and consumption, that work to countries’ mutual benefit, and that do not drive deforestation and land degradation.”

 

UK Net Zero Forum:

 

That shortly before the Glasgow conference the UK government published its Net Zero Strategy, which includes the intention to establish a Net Zero Forum to coordinate the strategy with local government. 

 

This Council believes:

 

That COP26 failed to provide:

 

·        The national targets that could put the world on course for limiting global average temporary rise to 1.5C

 

·        The carbon price mechanisms needed to shift the world economy away from fossil fuels

 

·        The necessary finance for the less developed nations to develop without fossil fuels or to deal with the loss and damage caused to them by wealthier nations that are historically responsible

 

·        Provision to outlaw all loopholes in ‘offsetting’ mechanisms

 

·        Commitments to phase out fossil fuels

 

The chances for a strong outcome from COP26 were weakened by the UK Government’s mixed messages on climate action:

 

·        The reduction in tax on internal flights

 

·        The continued commitment to new fossil fuel extraction in Cumbria and the North Sea oilfields

 

·        Cuts to overseas aid

 

That the Climate Change Committee is correct when it states that it is “crucial for the [Net Zero] Forum to promptly develop an agreed understanding of the role of local government in delivering Net Zero.  Furthermore, Government must ensure that critical enabling processes, such as the planning system and appraisal methodologies, are properly aligned to these pathways.  Coherent, predictable and long-term funding settlements will help realise effective local delivery that works across communities.”

 

This Council resolves, in line with the Glasgow Pact and associated declarations: 

 

·                  To develop the ‘golden thread’ – the alignment of performance measures with the objectives of the Climate Change Strategy.  These metrics are part of the Council’s performance framework and ensure that every Council service, teams and individuals are clear on the measures that are used to hold them to account on how they are contributing to the Council’s net-zero journey.

 

·                  To achieve the ambitions set out in the Climate Change Strategy and linked    to team and individual performance, the Council speed up delivery of appropriate carbon literacy training for Council staff and members. 

 

·                  To provide for genuine public engagement, that recognising the diversity of our community, in designing and implementing climate actions.  Also, for this engagement to make a difference and not be a ‘rubber stamp’ on existing plans.

 

·                  To strengthen strategic partnerships with Districts, Parish and Town Councils and anchor institutions such as the local NHS Trust, schools, businesses and economic partners, the aim being to provide and regularly update plans for decarbonising both their own activities and their supply chains.

 

·                  To play our part in the wider transport system transformation, including support for active travel, public and shared transport. 

 

The motion was duly voted upon and declared LOST.

 

Motion received from Councillor R George:

 

Motion proposed by Councillor R George, which was duly seconded:

 

Resolution to become a Living Wage Foundation Council and to Make Flexible Working the Default

 

This Council recognises:

 

1.     The vital work done by County Council staff across all grades of pay, including those in care, schools, maintenance and administration who have been on the frontline in person or by phone to support vulnerable residents during the pandemic and we thank them for the sacrifices they have made.

 

2.     That our frontline services are suffering from a crisis of recruitment that is affecting our service delivery to those who most need us, in spite of the hard work and dedication of existing staff.

 

3.     That a fair level of pay and flexibility over hours of work are essential to enable the Council to recruit and retain the skilled staff we need at all levels.

 

4.     That over 70 Councils are already accredited by the Living Wage Foundation as Living Wage employers, as championed by the Prime Minister as Mayor of London, not only investing in their staff but supporting their local communities and economies.

 

5.     That the real Living Wage, as set by the Living Wage Foundation is currently £9.90 an hour compared to Grades 1 and 2 in Derbyshire which apply to many catering staff are £9.25 an hour, Grade 3 which applies to many care staff is £9.43, Grade 4 is £9.62 and Grade 5 starts at £9.81 an hour.

 

6.     That the Government has indicated they wish to see flexible working become the default and is running a consultation to put this into practice, stating, “Flexible working can be particularly valuable for those who need to balance their personal lives with their working lives, including those with caring responsibilities. It can also bring benefits to employers – attracting more applicants and increasing productivity and motivation levels among staff.”

 

To recognise and support the valuable work of Council staff in all departments, and to aid recruitment to vital frontline roles, Derbyshire County Council therefore resolves:

 

1.     To become a Living Wage employer, accredited by the Living Wage Foundation

 

2.     To implement the recommendations of the Government’s consultation, ‘Making Flexible Working the Default’, including giving serious consideration to flexible working arrangements for all staff and successful job applicants who request it, and making this clear in our recruitment.

 

The motion was duly voted upon and declared to be LOST.

 

Council Procedure Rules - Standing Order 4.1

 

On the motion of Councillor B Lewis, duly seconded,

 

RESOLVED that under rule 4.1 of the Council Procedure Rules within the Council’s Constitution relating to the time meetings should end (5pm) Council agreed the meeting should continue for a period of 25 minutes to enable the remaining business on the agenda to be considered.

 

Motion submitted by Councillor W Major

 

As Councillor Major had submitted apologies for the meeting, the motion was not moved and therefore not considered

 

Motion submitted by Councillor E Fordham:

 

The motion was withdrawn by Councillor E Fordham.

 

 

 

 

The meeting closed at 5.10pm.