Agenda item - Notices of Motion.

(a)       Transport Forum.  Proposed by Councillor Gill Mitchell.

 

(b)       Deafblind Support.  Proposed by Jeane Lepper.

 

(c)       10:10 Campaign.  Proposed by Councillor Alex Phillips.

 

(d)       10:10 Carbon Commitment.  Proposed by Councillor Fallon-Khan.

 

(e)       Unveiling of the Brighton and Hove Aids Memorial.  Proposed by Councillor Paul Elgood.

 

(f)        Reduce the Speed Limit in Built-Up Areas from 30mph to 20mph.  Proposed by Councillor Ian Davey.

 

(g)       Action on Drugs Harm.  Proposed by Councillor Georgia Wrighton.

 

(h)       70^th Anniversary of the Citizen’s Advice Bureau (CAB).  Proposed by Councillor Steve Harmer-Strange.

 

(i)         Energy Crunch.  Proposed by Councillor Brian Oxley.

 

(j)         Shaping the Future of Care Together (SFCT).  Proposed by Councillor Keith Taylor.

 

(k)       National Rape and Sexual Assault Hotline.  Proposed by Councillor Ben Duncan.

 

 

(a)            Inclusive Transport Planning – A City-wide Transport Forum for Brighton and Hove

 

24.1       The Notice of Motion as detailed in the agenda was proposed by Councillor Mitchell and seconded by Councillor Morgan.

 

24.2       Councillor Mears moved an amendment, seconded by Councillor Theobald, which was accepted by Councillor Mitchell.

 

24.3       The Mayor then put the following Notice of Motion as amended to the vote:

 

“Strategic and sustainable transport plans are of vital importance to Brighton and Hove and its surrounding region.  Successful, integrated transport plans should support and enhance all of the city’s key priorities in terms of improving our urban environment, boosting the local economy and reducing the city’s carbon footprint. 

 

The main policy driver for the city’s current Sustainable Transport Strategy is the 2007/2011 Local Transport Plan (LTP 2) and work on LTP 3 has already begun.

 

It has become clear that rather than being restricted to only being able to feed-in comments relating to transport issues on separate policy documents, in what can be a rather ad-hoc manner often only relating to individual areas of the city, there is a strong desire for a more formalised, on-going dialogue on strategic transport planning issues between the council, its partner organisations, user groups, councillors and other stakeholders. The start of the formation of Local Transport Plan 3 would seem an ideal time to formalise such a dialogue.

 

This council therefore welcomes the decision taken at the last meeting of the Brighton & Hove Local Strategic Partnership (with the full backing of the Administration) to establish a city-wide transport partnership chaired by the Cabinet Member for Environment.”

 

24.4       The motion was carried.

 

 

(b)      Support and Guidance for the Deafblind in Brighton and Hove.

 

24.5       The Notice of Motion as detailed in the agenda was proposed by Councillor Lepper and seconded by Councillor McCaffery.

 

24.6       Councillor Norman moved an amendment, seconded by Councillor Pidgeon, which was accepted by Councillor Lepper.

 

24.7       The Mayor then put the following Notice of Motion as amended to the vote:

 

“Whilst there is no generally accepted definition of deafblindness there is a working description that has been accepted over many years; ‘persons are regarded as deafblind if their combined sight and hearing impairment cause difficulties with communication, access to information and mobility’.  Deafblindness is a visual and hearing impairment. These impairments can be of any type or degree and are sometimes called multi-sensory impairments (MSI). There are many different causes of MSI. Most people who are multi-sensory impaired have some useful vision and/or hearing.

 

This Council welcomes the Department of Health’s Social Care for Deafblind Children and Adults – LAC (DH) 2009 6 circular.  The implementation of this guidance will have a positive impact upon the level of support that deafblind people in the City receive. 

 

The improved deafblind guidance expects this Council to carry out the following:

 

·       Identify, make contact with and keep records of deafblind people in the City

·       Ensure that assessments are carried out by properly trained personnel

·       Ensure that appropriate services are provided for deafblind people- remembering that individual services who are deaf or who are blind, may not be appropriate for someone who is both deaf and blind

·       Ensure that all deafblind people in the City have access to fully trained, one-to-one support workers if necessary

·       Provide information in a suitable format which is accessible to deafblind people

 

The Council therefore requests that the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care & Healthconsiders the guidance contained in the circular and how it could best be implemented to suit the particular local circumstances in Brighton & Hove.”

 

24.8       The motion was carried.

 

 

(c)      10:10 Campaign

(d)      10:10 Carbon Management

 

24.9       The Mayor noted that the two Notices of Motion listed as items 24(c) and 24(d) on the agenda referred to the same issue and as such stated that she proposed to take both motions under the one debate.  However, she would then take a vote on each motion separately.

 

24.10    The Notice of Motion 24(c) as detailed in the agenda was proposed by Councillor Phillips and seconded by Councillor Randall.

 

24.11    The Mayor congratulated Councillor Phillips on her maiden speech.

 

 

24.12    The Mayor then put the following Notice of Motion to the vote:

 

“This council notes that 10:10 is a mass movement that has seen people and organisations from across the country sign up to reduce their carbon emissions by 10 per cent in 2010. From councils and hospitals to faith groups, scout troops and national newspapers, organisations across the UK have joined what it commonly being seen as the start of the journey to a low-carbon society.

 

Leaders of the national Green, Liberal Democrat, Labour and Conservative parties have all committed to 10:10. Councils from across the political spectrum including Greenwich, Hackney, Islington, Richmond, Oxford, Slough, West Sussex, Stroud, Eastleigh, Kirklees have also signed up.

 

This council notes that:

 

·       Cutting global carbon emissions is vital if we are to stave off runaway climate change.

 

·       The Lancet earlier this year published a report warning that climate change is the biggest threat to global health of the 21st century.

 

·       There are compelling business reasons for joining the 10:10 campaign, not least that cutting our spending on energy is one way to reduce costs and increase efficiency.

 

·       The importance of the outcome of the Climate Change talks in Copenhagen in December this year cannot be overstated, and early commitment to the 10:10 Campaign has the potential to influence those talks to make urgent cuts in global emissions a reality.

 

Therefore this council requests the Cabinet to consider the possibilities of Brighton & Hove City Council signing up to the 10:10 campaign.”

 

24.13    The motion was carried.

 

24.14    The Notice of Motion 24(d) as detailed in the agenda was proposed by Councillor Fallon-Khan and seconded by Councillor Janio.

 

24.15    Councillor Steedman moved an amendment, seconded by Councillor Phillips, which was put to the vote by the Mayor and lost.

 

24.16    The Mayor then put the following Notice of Motion the vote:

 

“This Council recognises the progress that has been made in recent years to reduce the Council’s and City’s carbon emissions and on wider sustainability initiatives. In particular:

 

·       Launching a £6 million energy efficiency grant scheme over three years to help householders cut costs and carbon emissions

·       Committing to installing a network of electric car charging points in the city

·       Running a successful Carbon Management Programme, saving more than £50,000 to date in energy efficiency measures, with more to follow

·       Committing the council and the city to tough, short-term targets to cut carbon dioxide emissions – by 12% over three years

·       Helping secure £180,000 from the Department for International Development for Climate Connections, a three year city-wide public engagement project

·       Committing to introduce a network of park and rides sites at key strategic locations in the City

·       Launching an impressive bid at an internationally-recognised conference to become the world’s first Urban Biosphere

·       Playing an integral part in helping the city’s Food Partnership secure a grant of £500,000 over four years

·       Launching a major Be Local Buy Local campaign to support local jobs and the environment.

 

This Council welcomes the national 10:10 campaign to persuade every sector of British society to work together to achieve a 10% cut in their carbon emissions in 2010. The 10:10 campaign is receiving growing support from a wide range of organisations in the public, private and voluntary sectors as well as from individuals and households.

 

Therefore, as part of its continuing drive towards achieving a low carbon Brighton & Hove, this Council resolves to:

 

·     Call on the Cabinet, as soon as possible, to sign up to the 10:10 campaign to reduce the City Council’s carbon emissions by 10% in 2010/11.

 

·     Request that the Cabinet considers calling for a report to be brought to the meeting of the Sustainability Cabinet Committee in January 2010 outlining the measures which will be taken to attempt to achieve this ambitious goal.”

 

24.17    The motion was carried.

 

 

(e)      Unveiling of the Brighton and Hove Aids Memorial

 

24.18    The Notice of Motion as detailed in the agenda was proposed by Councillor Elgood and seconded by Councillor Watkins.

 

24.19    The Mayor then put the following Notice of Motion to the vote:

 

“This council welcomes the unveiling of the Brighton and Hove AIDS Memorial in the New Steine, which marks the devastating impact of AIDS and HIV to many people in Brighton and Hove.

 

It notes:

 

·       That the memorial is a stunning piece of public art by local artist Romany Mark Bruce and was entirely funded by public donations, at no cost to the taxpayer.

 

·       That the importance to all residents of Brighton and Hove of ensuring accessible support and healthcare for residents with HIV and AIDS. Furthermore, it welcomes the ongoing health education and promotion work undertaken in the city, especially that by the voluntary sector.

 

·       That HIV and AIDS crosses all boundaries and all groups of people, and the dedication of the memorial aims to reflect this.

 

The council therefore applauds all the effort in securing the acquisition of the memorial and thanks the artist and all individuals who supported the memorial through their donations.”

 

24.20    The motion was carried.

 

 

(f)       Reduce the Default Speed Limit in Built-up Areas from 30 to 20mph

 

24.21    The Notice of Motion as detailed in the agenda was proposed by Councillor Davey and seconded by Councillor Steedman.

 

24.22    Councillor Theobald moved an amendment, seconded by Councillor Barnett, which was withdrawn by Councillor Theobald following the debate and prior to any voting.

 

24.23    Councillor Hamilton moved an amendment, seconded by Councillor Davis which was accepted by Councillor Davey.

 

24.24    The Mayor then put the following Notice of Motion as amended to the vote:

 

“This council is deeply concerned that:

 

1.     141 people were killed or seriously injured on roads in the city in 2008-9 (NI047)

2.     13 of these were children (NI048)

 

And that these casualty figures particularly those for children, whilst falling, are still far too high. Also that the relevant performance indicators for both of these figures have until recently been at red. 

 

This council recognises that:

 

1.     The most effective measure that can be taken to lower the number of serious road casualties is to reduce traffic speed [1]

2.     That many towns and cities across the country have already decided to set speed limits at 20mph across large urban areas. These include: Glasgow, Portsmouth, Leicester, Norwich and Bristol.

3.     That campaigning organisations such as Living Streets are calling on local Authorities across the country to do likewise.

4.     Many residents and community groups throughout the city have called for traffic speed reductions on their local roads.

 

This council is also aware that additional benefits of reduced traffic speed include:

 

1.     Reduced emissions and improved traffic flow – as proven by research in Germany where 30kph (19mph) speed limits have long been commonplace. [2]

2.     Improved sociability - recent research in Bristol found that relationships between residents increased and improved on streets with lower traffic speed. [3].

3.     Safer conditions for walking and cycling.

 

This council supports the principle of implementing 20mph speed limits in residential areas of Brighton & Hove wherever feasible. 

 

It therefore requests Cabinet to consider referring this issue to ECSOSC with a view to the setting up of a Scrutiny Panel to undertake a detailed study and examination, that the Panel reports back as soon as possible and that its report forms the basis of a Cabinet report that will look at the viability of rolling out a programme of 20mph speed limits in suitable areas across the city.

 

In addition this council requests that the Cabinet Member for Environment gives consideration to the inclusion of the Scrutiny Panel’s report within the council’s submission to the Department of Transport’s ‘Delivering a Sustainable Transport Strategy’ programme where the south coast is being prioritised as a key priority area for sustainable transport planning that will include accident reduction.”

 

24.25    The motion was carried.

 

Notes

[1]someone struck by a car at 35mph has a 50% chance of survival. At 20mph this increase to 97%. www.rospa.com/roadsafety/advice/driving/speed_policy.htm

[2] Dr Carmen Hass-Klau. An illustrated Guide to Traffic Calming p3.

[3] Joshua Hart (2008). Driven to Excess. www.driventoexcess.org

[4] As defined in the Road Traffic Regulation Act (1984) as streets with streetlamps no more than 183 metres apart.

 

 

(g)      Action on Drugs Harm

 

24.26    The Notice of Motion as detailed in the agenda was proposed by Councillor Wrighton and seconded by Councillor Taylor.

 

24.27    Councillor Turton moved an amendment, seconded by Councillor Allen, which was accepted by Councillor Wrighton.

 

24.28    The Mayor then put the following Notice of Motion as amended to the vote:

 

“This Council Notes:

 

1.     Brighton and Hove is once again Drugs Death Capital of the UK

 

2.     44 people died in the City as a result of drugs in 2008, ranking it above London, Manchester and Birmingham

 

3.     This is the 6^th time in 8 years the City has topped the list after falling to second place in 2006 and 2007.

 

4.  Brighton and Hove has around 2,300 injecting heroin addicts, who are particularly at risk.

 

5.     The majority of deaths in Brighton and Hove, compiled from coroners’ reports, were from heroin but there were also 5 from cocaine and 2 from ecstasy

 

6.     The partial contribution of dangerously strong street heroin to drugs deaths in 2008

 

7.     National research suggests that between one half and two thirds of all crime in the UK is drug-related and three quarters of crack and heroin users claim they commit crime to feed their habit

 

8.     The personal, social and public costs of drugs harm to the City,

 

9.     The value of City frontline workers who assist people in accessing existing services and tackle street dealing.

 

          It notes furthermore, that:

 

1.  The recently published results of a national drugs treatment trial in Brighton and Hove, London and Darlington called RIOTT (Randomised Injecting Opiod Treatment) which gave heroin to injecting addicts in supervised clinics, along with psychological support and help with their housing and social needs, showed that in the study areas:

 

a)    Three quarters ‘substantially’ reduced their use of street heroin

 

b)    More than half were ‘largely abstinent’ and 1 in 5 did not use street heroin at all

 

c)     Criminal offences were down from 1,731 in 30 days to 547 in 6 months

 

d)    Spending on drugs was down from £300 to £50 a week.

 

2.     The Government stated in its National Drugs Strategy, published last year, that it would “roll out” clinics for the prescription of injectible heroin after the findings of the pilot scheme’s scientific analysis has been fully published along with the Department of Health’s own evaluation and the NHS, care providers and local services have been given opportunity to respond to the trial.

 

3.     The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs calls on the government to make the drug naloxone much more widely available and to allow frontline workers who may witness an overdose to retain and administer the drug. Naloxone is a drug that reverses heroin overdoses long enough for medical help to arrive and has been estimated could save 500 lives nationally every year.

 

Given the demonstrable success of the recent pilot and national calls for action, this Council now calls on the government to take urgent action that will reduce harm caused by heroin drug addiction in Brighton and Hove. 

 

It therefore asks that the Chief Executive write to the Secretary of State for Health requesting the government to:

 

1.     Honour its pledge to roll out clinics for the prescription of injectible heroin.

 

2.     Respond to the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs’ calls for the drug naloxone to be made more widely available, only after the extensive training of relevant staff and in consultation with the NHS and local care providers.

 

3.     Provide this Council’s Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee with an urgent report of additional proposals to enable the prevention of drugs deaths on the scale experienced in Brighton and Hove.

 

This Council further requests that the Chief Executive writes to the City’s 3 MPs asking that they indicate their support for the actions set out under points 1, 2 and 3 above.”

 

24.29    The motion was carried.

 

 

(h)      70^th Anniversary of the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB)

 

24.30    The Notice of Motion as detailed in the agenda was proposed by Councillor Simson in the absence of Councillor Harmer-Strange and seconded by Councillor Brown.

 

24.31    The Mayor then put the following Notice of Motion to the vote:

 

          “This Council congratulates the CAB on its 70^th Anniversary which took place on 4^th September 2009.

 

This Council recognises the vital contribution made by CABs in providing free, independent and confidential advice on a wide variety of topics including: debt, benefits, housing, employment, consumer issues, relationships, family matters, health, education, discrimination, immigration and the law.

 

The CAB provides a vital service to the residents of Brighton & Hove. During 2008/9 the local Brighton & Hove branch helped over 10,000 residents with advice and support, a 7% increase on the previous year. The CAB has been particularly invaluable to those who have been hit hard by the recession - personal debt is now the single biggest problem dealt with by the CAB.

 

Furthermore, this Council recognises that every CAB is a registered charity reliant on trained volunteers and public funds to provide these vital services for local communities.

 

Therefore, this Council resolves to ask the Chief Executive to write to the Director of the Brighton & Hove Citizens’ Advice Bureau congratulating them on reaching this significant milestone and expressing the Council’s sincere appreciation for the excellent work they carry out for some of Brighton & Hove’s most vulnerable residents.”

 

24.32    The motion was carried.

 

 

(i)       Energy Crunch

 

24.33    The Notice of Motion as detailed in the agenda was proposed by Councillor Oxley and seconded by Councillor Fallon-Khan.

 

24.34    Councillor Steedman moved an amendment, seconded by Councillor Wakefield-Jarrett, which was put to the vote by the Mayor and lost.

 

24.35    The Mayor then put the following Notice of Motion to the vote:

 

“This Council notes with grave concern the Government’s predictions in the “UK Low Carbon Transition Plan” that they are expecting power cuts equivalent to three thousand megawatt hours a year by 2017. This is equivalent to a million people seeing the lights go out for 15 minutes at peak time on twenty-four winter evenings a year by 2017. This will have a serious and detrimental impact on both residents and businesses in Brighton & Hove.

Furthermore, this Council notes that North Sea gas supply peaked in 1999, since when the flow has fallen by half and by 2015 it will have dropped by two-thirds. By 2015 four of Britain’s ten nuclear power stations will have shut and no new ones are likely to be ready for years after that. Of a total UK generating capacity of around 75 Gigawatts, estimates suggest that between 20 and 32 Gigawatts will disappear by 2015.

This Council regrets the lack of foresight and planning by the Government in addressing these putative shortfalls. For the last decade it has been known that:

·       UK nuclear plants were reaching the end of their planned life

·       The most polluting coal-fired power stations would need to be closed

·       We continue to lag well behind most of our European neighbours in exploiting renewable resources. 

 

Therefore, this Council resolves to ask the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State for Energy & Climate Change asking him what steps are being taken to address this vital issue for the residents of Brighton & Hove and the rest of the UK.”

 

24.36    The motion was carried.

 

 

(j)       Shaping the Future of Care Together (SFCT)

 

24.37    The Notice of Motion as detailed in the agenda was proposed by Councillor Taylor and seconded by Councillor Wrighton.

 

24.38    Councillor Norman moved an amendment, seconded by Councillor Barnett, which was accepted by Councillor Taylor.

 

24.39    The Mayor then put the following Notice of Motion as amended to the vote:

“This council notes the Green paper Shaping the Future of Care Together, concerning the funding of social services, both residential and home-based and welcomes the opportunity to comment on emerging government policy.

 

City care services are in a period of transition - moving toward personalised budgets at the same time as increasing budgetary pressures. The combination of insufficient funding, increased demand from an ageing society and escalating costs is already placing an immeasurable strain on adult care.

 

The Local Government Association believes councils already contribute a significant amount to total local adult social care expenditure through Council Tax. They estimate that local government contributes 39%, or more than £5.3bn to total adult care spend of over £13bn.

 

The Green paper;

 

·       Points to current geographic inequalities both in services provided concerning both the level of need of the recipients and services provided and proposes a National Care Service (NCS) be formed to coordinate standards.

 

·       The Green paper proposes that the work of the NCS and the benefits it provides will be funded through one of three options, Partnership, Insurance or Comprehensive. All of these options require means-tested personal contributions – (apart from the Partnership arrangement where people with less than £23,000 (or an amount to be agreed) would get basic services free.

 

·       Rules out services being wholly funded by the state.

 

·       Proposes a realignment of ‘disability benefits’, which is widely understood to mean that Disability Living Allowance be ceased (DLA), and its funds be diverted to services arranged via NCS.

 

Such a comprehensive reorganisation of social care payments would affect thousands of Brighton & Hove residents - 12,460 people claimed DLA alone in the year ending August 2008.  Added to this are the significant number of people receiving home and residential care packages. Withdrawal or reduction of benefits payable to the most vulnerable will cause real hardship and further widen the poverty gap.

 

Bearing in mind the importance of these issues to residents and the Council itself; this Council encourages all individuals, organisations and political groups, including the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care & Health, to respond to the Government consultation on the green paper.”

 

24.40    The motion was carried.

 

 

(k)      National Rape and Sexual Assault Hotline

 

24.41    The Notice of Motion as detailed in the agenda was proposed by Councillor Duncan and seconded by Councillor Randall in the absence of Councillor Kennedy.

 

24.42    Councillor Simson moved an amendment, seconded by Councillor Kemble, which was accepted by Councillor Duncan.

 

24.43    The Mayor then put the following Notice of Motion as amended to the vote:

 

          “This council notes:

 

1.     Though under-reporting makes exact figures elusive, the Home Office estimates that more than five per cent of women and men are thought to be raped, and 21 per cent of women and 11 per cent of men are sexually assaulted, at some point in their lives (Cross Government Action Plan on Sexual Violence and Abuse www.homeoffice.gov.uk/documents/ Sexual-violence-action-plan).

 

2.     Since the closure of Brighton Rape Crisis Project in 2002 survivors and victims of rape and serious sexual assault in the city have been able to access only limited specialist support services for a few hours a week, including those funded by this council and provided by the Survivors Network. There is no round-the-clock support available for victims of sexual crimes beyond that operated by Sussex Police. While Sussex Police provide a good service in dealing with reports of rape and supporting victims, many sexual crimes go unreported, and many victims do not choose to go to the authorities.

          This council therefore resolves:

To ask the Environment & Community Safety Overview & Scrutiny Committee to consider carrying out a review into the issues raised in this motion (including the outcomes for men and women, the extent of support available to residents and the possible benefits of a 24-hour hotline) and to use their new powers to invite external statutory and voluntary organisations to give evidence to the review.”

24.44    The motion was carried.