Agenda item - The following Notices of Motion have been submitted by Members for consideration:

(1)      Fur Free City.  Proposed by Councillor Fowler on behalf of the Labour Group.

 

(2)      Housing Benefit.  Proposed by Councillor Williams on behalf of the Labour Group.

 

(3)      School Transport Policy Panel.  Proposed by Councillor Mears on behalf of the Conservative Group.

 

(4)      Valley Gardens.  Proposed by Councillor Miller on behalf of the Conservative Group.

 

(5)      Green New Deal.  Proposed by Councillor Heley on behalf of the Green Group.

 

(6)      Safe School Walking Zones.  Proposed by Councillor Nield on behalf of the Green Group.

              (1) Fur Free City

 

45.1         The Notice of Motion as listed in the agenda was proposed by Councillor Fowler on behalf of the Labour Group.  Councillor Fowler noted that fur farming had been banned by the Parliament Act 2000 and yet the fashion continued as the practice was allowed to operate in other countries and imports of goods meant it was difficult for consumers to differentiate between real and fake fur products.  She was aware that many cities around the world had taken action to ban fur and councils has amended street trading licences to prevent the sale of fur.  She hoped that councillors would support the motion and enable the council to take a lead on this issue and hopefully achieve a total ban.

 

45.2         The Mayor noted that it was Councillor Fowler’s maiden speech and congratulated her on behalf of the council.

 

45.3         Councillor Evans formally seconded the motion and stated that the use of fur had become an important consideration for people and they wanted clearer labelling and for retailers to stop miss-selling goods.  It was an important issue and Brighton and Hove should be a fur free city.

 

45.4         Councillor O’Quinn supported the motion and noted that the EU had the largest fur farms producing 50% of the global trade. She believed that fur looked better on live animals and hoped that the motion would be supported.

 

45.5         Councillor Druitt welcomed the motion and questioned why the importing of fur was still permitted as it made no sense.  He believed it was important for the council to support the principle and ensure that it controlled what was available on its own land and in its properties and any change of policy to enable that should be supported.

 

45.6         Councillor Miller stated that he supported the intention to protect animals but questioned how the objective of the motion could be achieved and enforced.  It would be difficult to take action against local businesses and to ensure that products were not being mislabelled.

 

45.7         Councillor Fowler thanked everyone for their comments and the support for the aims of the motion and hoped that animal welfare standards could be improved by taking action and making a positive stand against this trade.

 

45.8         The Mayor then put the following motion to the vote:

 

This Council resolves to request the Policy & Resources Committee:

 

·           To consider the introduction of a policy to prohibit the sale of any product wholly or partially made with real animal fur on Council owned land and at Council run or Council leased markets. This ban to cover such items as fur coats, vintage fur, fur shawls, garments with fur trim, fur pompom hats, and fur accessories and trinkets.

·           To explore the viability of extending said policy to the sale of leather.

·           To support the Fur Free Markets campaign of the animal welfare charity, Respect for Animals, the UK’s leading anti-fur organisation, by:

a)     Becoming a signatory to the initiative; and

b)     Seeking the advice and assistance of the charity in the enforcement of this ban.

 

45.9         The Mayor confirmed that the motion had been carried unanimously.

 

(2) Housing Benefit

 

45.10      The Notice of Motion as listed in the agenda was proposed by Councillor Williams on behalf of the Labour Group.  She stated that housing benefit failed to keep in touch with the increases in private rents which meant that people either had to cut back on other essentials or get into debt.  She hoped that the motion would be supported.

 

45.11      Councillor Evans formally seconded the motion and stated that the situation was only the top of the ice-berg.  People were faced with living in sub-standard accommodation with increasing rent levels and other factors such as the gig-economy and zero-hour contracts having an impact on their ability to afford the rents.  There was a need to find ways to support people and she hoped that the motion would be supported.

 

45.12      Councillor Gibson moved an amendment on behalf of the Green Group and stated that it sought to strengthen the motion and to look at what could be done locally to assist people by finding the means to provide housing for them and to support low income households.

 

45.13      Councillor Hugh-Jones formally seconded the amendment and noted that there was a reliance on the Government to make changes but felt that things could be done locally to improve the situation.

 

45.14      Councillor Platts stated that the Administration intended to have a report on how to support low income households and those facing increasing pressures of debt and hoped that this could be built into the budget process and supported by all Members.

 

45.15      Councillor Grimshaw stated that she fully supported the motion and the amendment and noted that she had experienced the situation and was faced with decisions about how to meet her living costs. Thankfully, she had been able to access her pension recently which meant she was able to meet her rent bills for another year.

 

45.16      Councillor Mears stated that the Conservative Group would not support the motion but were happy to support the amendment.  She also noted that where there was an increase in housing benefit, private landlords tended to then increase the rent levels.  There was also a lack of affordable council housing which needed to be addressed so that those on housing benefit could afford the rent.

 

45.17      Councillor Williams noted the comments and confirmed she was happy to accept the amendment.

 

45.18      The Mayor noted that the amendment had been accepted and put the following motion as amended to the vote:

 

This council resolves to:

(1)   Request the Policy & Resources Committee to take into account the need to reduce the burden on the poorest households in the city by making the council tax reduction scheme more generous and/or increasing funds available for discretionary support as part of this year’s budget process, thereby easing pressure on low-income households facing high housing costs; and

 

(2)   Ask the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State for Communities;

·      Expressing the council’s concern about local people being priced out of private sector housing at a time where there is insufficient social housing available; and

·      Demanding that Housing Benefit levels are increased to an appropriate level.

 

45.19      The Mayor confirmed that the motion had been agreed unanimously.

 

(3)   School Transport Policy Panel

 

45.20      Note: The item was taken as part of the consideration of Item No. 37(1) Deputation concerning Home to School Transport and is detailed under that item (paragraphs 37.6-37.20).

 

(4)   Valley Gardens

 

45.21      Note: The item was taken as part of the consideration of Item No. 37(3) Deputation concerning Valley Gardens and is detailed under that item (paragraphs 37.21-37.38).

 

Closure Motion

 

45.22      The Mayor noted that the meeting had been in session for 4 hours and in accordance with council procedural rules, she was required to move a closure motion.  She therefore moved that the meeting should be concluded and put the motion to the vote was unanimously opposed.

 

45.23      The Mayor noted that the motion had been lost and therefore invited Councillor Heley to move the next motion.

 

(5) Green New Deal

 

45.24      The Notice of Motion as listed in the agenda was proposed by Councillor Heley on behalf of the Green Group.  She stated that the country was facing a climate emergency and the council was not acting quickly enough.  There was a need to restructure the economy and society to address the issue and enable the creation of new jobs in the low carbon industry if the target of being a net zero city by 2030 was to be achieved.  The importance of the Green New Deal was now recognised and had to be supported and taken forward with partner agencies to prevent the catastrophe that would result if no action was taken.

 

45.25      Councillor Hills formally seconded the motion and stated that there was a clear need to put the climate first and take necessary actions to protect it and to deliver environmental change.

 

45.26      Councillor Platts moved an amendment on behalf of the Labour Group and stated that she hoped all the Groups could work together to ensure that action could be implemented locally to make a change.  She believed the amendment strengthened the motion and that it could be supported.

 

45.27      Councillor Evans formally seconded the amendment and stated that it was an issue that was close to her heart and she hoped that a way forward could be achieved to address the issue.

 

45.28      Councillor Nemeth stated that he shared the concerns raised over climate change but was not as clear about the Green New Deal as there appeared to be a number of different interpretations.  However, he hoped that there could be constructive discussions locally and an action plan agreed that could be taken forward.

 

45.29      Councillor Miller welcomed the motion and stated that there was a need to consider what actions could be taken forward and how the ambitions of the Green New Deal could be achieved.

 

45.30      Councillor Heley noted the comments and confirmed that she was happy to accept the amendment.

 

45.31      The Mayor noted that the amendment had been accepted and therefore put the following motion as amended to the vote:

 

This council resolves to declare:

-      support for a ‘Green New Deal,’ as a policy framework that seeks to address climate change in ways that also: boost jobs, address poverty and inequality, and restructure our economic system;

This Council asks:

-    For the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State and the Chancellor seeking their support for a Green New Deal and requesting an allocation of funding and resources to implement this locally

-    For the Chief Executive to write to the Shadow Secretary of State and Shadow Chancellor, expressing our support for a Green New Deal.

This Council further requests that Policy & Resources Committee commission a report detailing how, alongside existing work: [1]

-      poverty, inequality and accessibility can be addressed through the council’s plan to become net carbon neutral (‘net zero’) by 2030;

-      the council can work with partners (e.g.: Greater Brighton Economic Board, Chamber of Commerce) and specifically through the Local Enterprise Partnership, Coast2Capital, with particular reference to the Local Industrial Strategy and regional collaboration to lobby government for a stimulus package for low-carbon, ‘green’ jobs and decarbonisation projects; [2]

-      the council can demonstrate good practice as a major employer by developing net-zero initiatives and employment opportunities;

-      council can optimise the green credentials of council-owned buildings and public transport.

 

45.32      The Mayor confirmed that the motion had been carried unanimously.

 

45.33      (6) Safe School Walking Zones

 

45.34      Note: The item was taken as part of the consideration of Item No. 38(2) Petition for debate concerning School Walking Zones and is detailed under that item (paragraphs 38.13-38.30).