(1) Environment and Sustainability –
To consider the following Notice of Motion, which has been submitted by Cllr C.J. Stewart pursuant to Standing Order 9 (1):
“Taking into
account the responses from residents to the recent consultation on a long-term
vision for the Borough, this Council agrees to develop a plan to enable a green
and sustainable Rushmoor and a carbon neutral Council by 2030.”
(2) Climate Emergency –
To consider the following Notice of Motion, which has been submitted by Cllr A.J Halstead pursuant to Standing Order 9 (1):
“This Council will hereby:
1. Declare a ‘Climate Emergency’;
2. Pledge to make the Borough of Rushmoor carbon-neutral by 2030, taking into account production and consumption emissions;
3. Explore ethical procurement, and incentivising electric car usage;
4. Seek to exceed the national average for recycling rates;
5. Eliminate the use of single-use plastics by the council by 2030;
6. Call on Westminster to provide necessary powers and resources to achieve the 2030 targets;
7. Mandate the Portfolio Holder responsible to regularly report back with actions undertaken to address this emergency.”
(3) Rushmoor Community Contribution Scheme –
To consider the following Notice of Motion, which has been submitted by Cllr A.S. Dekker pursuant to Standing Order 9 (1):
“That this Council introduce a "Community Contribution Scheme" similar to that run by Westminster Council. Higher value properties, such as band H, would be asked to make a voluntary contribution of double the normal contribution of Rushmoor's share of the council tax.
Funds raised by the scheme would be used in three specific areas:
· Helping young people – investing in youth clubs
· Extra support for people who find themselves sleeping on the streets
· Helping to tackle isolation and loneliness – not just amongst the elderly but across all age groups, including children.”
Minutes:
The Council was asked to consider three Notices of Motion which had been submitted for debate in accordance with the provisions of Standing Order 9 (1).
(1)
Environment
and Sustainability/Climate Emergency
The first two Motions had been submitted by Cllrs C.J. Stewart and A.J. Halstead in respect of environment and sustainability/climate emergency.
In introducing this item, Cllr Stewart referred to discussions held by the Conservative and Labour Groups, in consultation with the Liberal Democrat Group, to amalgamate the first two Motions to cover the subject of a green and sustainable Borough and carbon-neutral Council by 2030. It was therefore MOVED by Cllr Stewart and SECONDED by Cllr Gaynor Austin that the first two Motions on the agenda be consolidated as follows:
“This Council acknowledges a ‘Climate Emergency’.
Taking into account the responses from residents to the recent public engagement on a long-term vision for the Borough, this Council agrees to develop a plan to enable:
- a green and sustainable Rushmoor; and
- a carbon-neutral Council by 2030.
In developing this plan, Rushmoor Council will:
- seek to improve the Borough’s recycling rates;
- explore the adoption of a ‘green’ procurement strategy;
- aim to eliminate its use of single-use plastics; and
- by working with partner agencies, encourage greener transport usage.
Using the full democratic processes of the Council and encompassing all members in the development, scrutiny and implementation of this plan, it will be brought back to this Council by year end.”
Speaking in support of the amended Motion, Cllr Stewart stated that the Council must be committed to making lasting change. He was of the opinion that the Council had to facilitate the Borough’s residents to work with the Council to create a greener and sustainable Rushmoor. Cllr Stewart also referred to the need for the Council to be clear what actions could be taken to make Rushmoor more resilient and to work with partners to achieve this.
In seconding the amendment, Cllr Gaynor Austin drew attention to the need to declare a climate emergency and for the Council to work together with residents and partners to achieve the aims set out in the amendment.
During discussion, Members referred to the need for green transport opportunities, local authorities to work together or a task and finish group to drive the aims of the amended Motion forward and co-ordinate action.
On a recorded vote, there voted FOR: Cllrs Gaynor Austin, Diane Bedford, J.B. Canty, Sophia Choudhary, A.K. Chowdhury, R.M. Cooper, A.H. Crawford, A.S. Dekker, K. Dibble, Veronica Graham-Green, C.P. Grattan, Christine Guinness, A.J. Halstead, L. Jeffers, Prabesh KC, Mara Makunura, J.H. Marsh, Nadia Martin, S.J. Masterson, Marina Munro, K.H. Muschamp, A.R. Newell, Sophie Porter, M.J. Roberts, M.L. Sheehan, M.D. Smith, C.J. Stewart, P.G. Taylor, M.J. Tennant, B.A. Thomas, J.E. Woolley, Deputy Mayor (Cllr P.F. Rust) (32); AGAINST: 0; and ABSTAINED: The Mayor (Cllr Sue Carter) (1) and the amended Motion was DECLARED CARRIED.
(2)
Rushmoor
Community Contribution Scheme
A Motion had been submitted by Cllr A.S. Dekker in respect of a Rushmoor Community Contribution Scheme. It was MOVED by Cllr A.S. Dekker; SECONDED by Cllr A.K. Chowdhury – That
“This Council introduce a “Community Contribution Scheme”, similar to that run by Westminster Council. Higher value properties, such as Band H, would be asked to make a voluntary contribution of double the normal contribution of Rushmoor’s share of the Council Tax.”
In introducing the Motion, Cllr Dekker said that a community contribution scheme would involve inviting residents of higher value properties to make a voluntary contribution to help pay for local projects, such as helping young people, extra support for the homeless, a graffiti wall for young people and helping to tackle isolation and loneliness across all age groups. Cllr Dekker was of the opinion that such a scheme could be open to anyone in the Borough.
In seconding the Motion, Cllr Chowdhury referred to the current lack of money for many projects for the community. He felt that the proposed scheme could be based on the principle that many people cared about others in their community. He stressed that the scheme would be voluntary and would not be about giving money to subsidise Council services. He also made the point that the proposed scheme could make a real difference to the lives of the most needy in the Borough and bring hope to people.
During debate, the point was made that Rushmoor was not comparable to the City of Westminster and that there was already provision of £1.2 million in the Council’s budget for good causes.
During the discussion it was MOVED by Cllr K. Dibble; SECONDED by Cllr Sophie Porter that the Motion be referred to the Policy and Project Advisory Board for further investigation. On a recorded vote, there voted FOR: Cllrs Gaynor Austin, Sophia Choudhary, A.K. Chowdhury, A.H. Crawford, A.S. Dekker, K. Dibble, C.P. Grattan, Christine Guinness, A.J. Halstead, Nadia Martin, Sophie Porter and M.J. Roberts (12); AGAINST: Cllrs J.B. Canty, R.M. Cooper, Veronica Graham-Green, L. Jeffers, Prabesh KC, J.H. Marsh, S.J. Masterson, Marina Munro, K.H. Muschamp, A.R. Newell, M.L. Sheehan, M.D. Smith, C.J. Stewart, P.G. Taylor, B.A. Thomas and J.E. Woolley (16); and, ABSTAINED: Cllrs Diane Bedford, Mara Makunura, M.J. Tennant, the Deputy Mayor (Cllr P.F. Rust) and the Mayor (Cllr Sue Carter) (5) and the Amendment was DECLARED LOST.
During debate on the substantive Motion, Members referred to existing grants and funding available for community projects, which the community contribution scheme could duplicate. The view was also expressed that, by asking residents from Band H properties to contribute to the scheme, it could result in these people then not donating to charities. It was also noted that the Borough only had 25 Band H properties, most of which were MOD properties.
The substantive Motion was then put to the meeting. There voted FOR: 2; AGAINST: 17 and the Motion was DECLARED LOST.