1) To consider the following Notice of Motion (12/22), submitted by Councillor C Morley:
“This Council recognises the support being given by the Government, to all householders, to help combat inflationary pressures and in particular, energy prices this winter.
However, and in accordance with its intention, as described in its Corporate Plan, to support the Health and Well-being of the people of West Norfolk, this Council intends to provide a Hardship Fund for householders in need over the next 2 years.
It will therefore withdraw £1m from its General Reserves for financial year 2023/4 to propagate the Fund and earmark £1m in its budget for 2024/5.
The Fund will open on 1 April 2023 and close 31 March 2025.
It will be available to all households that meet a defined hardship criterion. This criterion will be formulated by an Informal Working Group and agreed by Council. It will be published in sufficient time for applications to commence and be vetted by the opening date."
2) To consider the following Notice of Motion (13/22) submitted by Councillor S Squire:
“In light of recent concerns over the Government's growth plans and the effect they may have on the environment, this council confirms its continued commitment to the improvement, preservation and protection of the environment, habitat and biodiversity of West Norfolk.”
3) To consider the following Notice of Motion (14/22) submitted by Councillor T Parish:
This Council deplores recent announcements by Prime Minister Truss which, if carried through, will severely damage the environment and measures to protect and enhance bio diversity.
These include, diminishing Habitats Regulation rules; changes to current legislation protecting water quality; potentially scrapping the Environmental Land Management Proposals, and allowing fracking.
Given the abhorrence shown to the proposals by all notable environmental organisations, including the RSPB, which represent some millions of people including both residents of and visitors to West Norfolk, this Council will make its concerns known to the Prime Minister.
4) To consider the following Notice of Motion (15/22) submitted by Councillor C Morley:
"This Council resolves that, in view of its second failure to secure funds from the Heritage Lottery Fund for renovating the Guildhall complex and in recognition of paragraphs 3.26-3.28 of the Government's Town Fund Guidance Paper which confirm the objective of securing matching or contributory funds from business, to seek fiscal support from those companies which operate within the Town.
The extra revenues expected to be secured through this part of the Town Improvement Programme will bring opportunities for additional Town business and in particular to the retail sector"
Minutes:
Click here to view the recording of this item on You Tube
1) Councillor C Morley proposed Notice of Motion (12/22), this was seconded by Councillor Ryves.
“This Council recognises the support being given by the Government, to all householders, to help combat inflationary pressures and in particular, energy prices this winter.
However, and in accordance with its intention, as described in its Corporate Plan, to support the Health and Well-being of the people of West Norfolk, this Council intends to provide a Hardship Fund for householders in need over the next 2 years.
It will therefore withdraw £1m from its General Reserves for financial year 2023/4 to propagate the Fund and earmark £1m in its budget for 2024/5.
The Fund will open on 1 April 2023 and close 31 March 2025.
It will be available to all households that meet a defined hardship criterion. This criterion will be formulated by an Informal Working Group and agreed by Council. It will be published in sufficient time for applications to commence and be vetted by the opening date."
Councillor de Whalley proposed an amendment to the second paragraph to
Councillor de Whalley proposed an amendment to the second paragraph of the Motion to read “… Hardship Fund for householders, residents and communities in need….”
Councillor Morley accepted this amendment which then became the substantive motion.
Councillor Lowe proposed a further amendment to the third paragraph which would then read:
“It will therefore withdraw £1m from its General Reserves for the present financial year. The fund will open on 10 December 2022.” Deleting the remainder of the paragraph.
This amendment was seconded by Councillor Hudson. The amendment was not supported by Councillor Morley.
Councillor Lowe spoke in support of the amendment, as did Councillors Hudson, Rust Parish, Jones, A Tyler, Bone, Ryves and Nash.
Councillor Long spoke against the amendment as it wasn’t known if such a scheme could be delivered in such a time frame, and the Government were putting in place other measures.
Councillor Ratcliff spoke of the need to deal with issues in a budgeted way.
Councillor Moriarty sought clarification on the timing of the amendment. Councillor Joyce suggested that if it was set up quickly, it could be looked at again at budget time.
Councillor Morley summed up explaining he was trying to propose a framework for a two year chest of finances for the community.
With the required number of supporters a recorded vote was requested on the amendment.
|
For |
Against |
Abstain |
|
Bhondi |
Ayres |
Lawton |
|
Bone |
Bambridge |
Moriarty |
|
Collop |
Blunt |
Morley |
|
Holmes |
Bower |
Parish |
|
Howland |
Bubb |
Squire |
|
Hudson |
Collingham |
|
|
Jones |
Crofts |
|
|
Joyce |
Devereux |
|
|
Lowe |
Dickinson |
|
|
Nash |
Hipperson |
|
|
Rust |
Howard |
|
|
Ryves |
Kunes |
|
|
A Tyler |
Lawrence |
|
|
De Whalley |
Long |
|
|
Wilkinson |
Manning |
|
|
|
Middleton |
|
|
|
Nockolds |
|
|
|
Patel |
|
|
|
Ratcliff |
|
|
|
Rose |
|
|
|
Sampson |
|
|
|
Sandell |
|
|
|
Spikings |
|
|
|
Storey |
|
|
|
D Tyler |
|
|
|
Whitby |
|
|
15 |
26 |
5 |
The amendment was lost.
Council then debated the substantive motion. Councillor Rust spoke in support of the substantive. Councillors Joyce, Ryves, Hudson, Parish, Squire, Ratcliff, Lawton Lowe and Bone spoke in support of the substantive. Councillors Middleton listed the measures in place to support the community. Councillor Dickinson spoke against the motion explaining that the funds were allocated in the coming years to continue to provide services with the rising costs.
In summing up Councillor Morley acknowledged the issues with the longer term budget but stressed he was trying to introduce the fund in a constructive manner in order to assist people now. With the required number of supporters a recorded vote was taken on the substantive motion.
|
For |
Against |
Abstain |
|
Bhondi |
Ayres |
|
|
Bone |
Bambridge |
|
|
Collop |
Blunt |
|
|
Holmes |
Bower |
|
|
Howland |
Bubb |
|
|
Hudson |
Collingham |
|
|
Jones |
Crofts |
|
|
Joyce |
Devereux |
|
|
Lawton |
Dickinson |
|
|
Lowe |
Hipperson |
|
|
Moriarty |
Howard |
|
|
Morley |
Kunes |
|
|
Nash |
Lawrence |
|
|
Parish |
Long |
|
|
Ratcliff |
Manning |
|
|
Rust |
Middleton |
|
|
Ryves |
Nockolds |
|
|
Squire |
Patel |
|
|
A Tyler |
Rose |
|
|
De Whalley |
Sampson |
|
|
Wilkinson |
Sandell |
|
|
|
Spikings |
|
|
|
Storey |
|
|
|
D Tyler |
|
|
|
D Whitby |
|
|
21A |
25 |
0 |
RESOLVED: That the Motion is lost.
Click here to view the recording of this item on You Tube
2) Councillor Squire proposed her Motion 13/22. This was seconded by Councillor Kunes who spoke in support of it. Councillor de Whalley also spoke in support of the motion.
“In light of recent concerns over the Government's growth plans and the effect they may have on the environment, this council confirms its continued commitment to the improvement, preservation and protection of the environment, habitat and biodiversity of West Norfolk.”
The motion was put to the vote.
RESOLVED: That the motion be adopted.
Click here to view the recording of this item on You Tube
3) Councillor Parish proposed his Motion 14/22 and spoke in support of it. Councillor Joyce seconded the Motion and spoke in support of it
“This Council deplores recent announcements by Prime Minister Truss which, if carried through, will severely damage the environment and measures to protect and enhance bio diversity.
These include, diminishing Habitats Regulation rules; changes to current legislation protecting water quality; potentially scrapping the Environmental Land Management Proposals, and allowing fracking.
Given the abhorrence shown to the proposals by all notable environmental organisations, including the RSPB, which represent some millions of people including both residents of and visitors to West Norfolk, this Council will make its concerns known to the Prime Minister.”
Councillors de Whalley, Ratcliff, Rust and Ryves spoke in support of the motion. Councillors Kunes and Hipperson spoke against it. Councillor Parish summed up. At the request of the required number of Members a recorded vote was taken on the item.
|
For |
Against |
Abstain |
|
Bhondi |
Ayres |
Lawton |
|
Bone |
Bambridge |
|
|
Collop |
Blunt |
|
|
Holmes |
Bower |
|
|
Howland |
Bubb |
|
|
Hudson |
Collingham |
|
|
Jones |
Crofts |
|
|
Joyce |
Devereux |
|
|
Lowe |
Dickinson |
|
|
Moriarty |
Hipperson |
|
|
Morley |
Howard |
|
|
Nash |
Kunes |
|
|
Parish |
Lawrence |
|
|
Ratcliff |
Long |
|
|
Rust |
Manning |
|
|
Ryves |
Middleton |
|
|
Squire |
Nockolds |
|
|
A Tyler |
Patel |
|
|
De Whalley |
Rose |
|
|
Wilkinson |
Sampson |
|
|
|
Sandell |
|
|
|
Spikings |
|
|
|
Storey |
|
|
|
D Tyler |
|
|
|
Whitby |
|
|
20 |
25 |
1 |
RESOLVED: The Motion was lost.
At 18.23 Council adjourned to 18.30.
Click here to view the recording of this item on You Tube
4) Councillor Morley proposed Notice of Motion 15/22 and spoke in support of the Motion. This was seconded by Councillor Moriarty.
"This Council resolves that, in view of its second failure to secure funds from the Heritage Lottery Fund for renovating the Guildhall complex and in recognition of paragraphs 3.26-3.28 of the Government's Town Fund Guidance Paper which confirm the objective of securing matching or contributory funds from business, to seek fiscal support from those companies which operate within the Town.
The extra revenues expected to be secured through this part of the Town Improvement Programme will bring opportunities for additional Town business and in particular to the retail sector"
Councillor Middleton spoke against the Motion reminding members of the amount of funding already received. He did not consider it the right time to go out to businesses for funding when many of them were still recovering from covid times.
He considered there was time to make other funding applications, and it may be appropriate that the CIO as a charitable organisation if businesses wished to contribute to the pot they could do so. He also confirmed the explanatory letter from the Heritage Lottery Fund refusal was awaited.
Councillor Ryves spoke for the motion and against the recommendations from Councillor Middleton. Councillors Joyce, Bone, Rust, Moriarty and de Whalley spoke in favour of the Motion. Councillor A Tyler offered to be a conduit to two experienced individuals who would assist. Councillor Long spoke against the motion, and Councillor Collingham informed members that it would not be appropriate to approach any businesses until the CIO was formed.
Councillor Morley summed up that the Government wanted the local businesses to be approached and he felt the CIO was a red herring, but felt comforted that the funding would not necessarily be found from Reserves, but that the costs should be cut according to the funding available in a sustainable way.
With the required number of members a recorded vote was taken.
|
For |
Against |
Abstain |
|
Bhondi |
Ayres |
Hudson |
|
Bone |
Bambridge |
Lawton |
|
Collop |
Blunt |
|
|
Holmes |
Bower |
|
|
Howland |
Bubb |
|
|
Jones |
Collingham |
|
|
Joyce |
Crofts |
|
|
Lowe |
Devereux |
|
|
Moriarty |
Dickinson |
|
|
Morley |
Hipperson |
|
|
Nash |
Howard |
|
|
Parish |
Humphrey |
|
|
Ratcliff |
Kunes |
|
|
Rust |
Lawrence |
|
|
Ryves |
Long |
|
|
Squire |
Manning |
|
|
A Tyler |
Middleton |
|
|
De Whalley |
Nockolds |
|
|
Wilkinson |
Patel |
|
|
|
Rose |
|
|
|
Sampson |
|
|
|
Sandell |
|
|
|
Spikings |
|
|
|
Storey |
|
|
|
D Tyler |
|
|
|
Whitby |
|
|
19 |
26 |
2 |
RESOLVED: The Motion was lost.