i) To consider the following Notice of Motion ( 3/24 ), submitted by Councillor B Jones:
Youth Council
The borough Council believes that it is vital to engage young people in decisions that affect their lives and services that they receive. They are a huge part of our communities, but they are often left out of discussions about how to make things better now and for the future. Our future belongs to them and it is essential that their voice is heard and, that they feel included in the democratic process. Our local democracy will be stronger for it. It has been noted that Youth Advisory Board have a youth Council and that the QEH also are making strides for youth provision but we would like a joined up approach to avoid duplication of work.
In support of this, council resolves:
To acknowledge the work already been done by various youth agencies;
To commit to establishing a cross-party working group - led by the council youth champion and by the cabinet member for people and places - to meet with partner youth agencies to explore if setting up a borough youth council would provide the right vehicle for youth ideas to be fed into the council's policies.
ii) To consider the following Notice of Motion ( 4/24 ), submitted by Councillor A Ware:
White Ribbon Motion
Violence and cruelty to women, whether mental, verbal or physical, and whether occurring within the workplace or outside of an organisation, is a serious, prevalent and preventable issue.
The Government has pledged to halve violence against women and girls in the next decade and has recently announced new police and justice system initiatives to achieve this. Working towards the same goals, White Ribbon UK is a charity which focuses on interventions in this area. It issues Accreditation to organisations which work towards transformational change within their staff culture, systems and communities.
Achieving White Ribbon Accreditation would demonstrate this Council’s commitment to its residents in preventing and combating the harmful culture, attitudes and behaviours around toxic masculinity that perpetuate gender inequality and violence against women and girls.
This Council will therefore actively seek to gain White Ribbon Accreditation, and it will adopt policies, instigate projects and activities and work with partners to achieve this.
iii) To consider the following Notice of Motion (5/24) submitted by Councillor A Kemp:
Wisbech Incinerator
This Council maintains its opposition to the Wisbech Incinerator. Not only is there no need for this facility due to overcapacity in the East of England, but the facility would lead to a breach of the Proximity Principle impacting on West Norfolk. The latest research confirms the anti Climate Change effects of incineration. The previous Conservative Government had said it would halt new incinerators. Council asks the Leader to write to the Labour Government and ask for the consents to be reviewed and withdrawn.
Minutes:
i) Councillor B Jones proposed the following Notice of Motion ( 3/24 ), seconded by Councillor Ring.
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Youth Council
“The borough council believes that it is vital to engage young people in decisions that affect their lives and services that they receive. They are a huge part of our communities, but they are often left out of discussions about how to make things better now and for the future. Our future belongs to them and it is essential that their voice is heard and, that they feel included in the democratic process. Our local democracy will be stronger for it. It has been noted that Youth Advisory Board have a youth Council and that the QEH also are making strides for youth provision but we would like a joined up approach to avoid duplication of work.
In support of this, council resolves:
To acknowledge the work already been done by various youth agencies;
To commit to establishing a cross-party working group - led by the council youth champion and by the cabinet member for people and places - to meet with partner youth agencies to explore if setting up a borough youth council would provide the right vehicle for youth ideas to be fed into the council's policies”.
Councillor Kemp spoke in support of the motion.
Councillor Beales proposed the following amendment to final section of the Motion, seconded by Councillor Sayers :
To acknowledge the work already been done by various youth agencies and to commit the Council’s Youth Champion and the Cabinet Member for People and Communities to meeting with officers and with partner youth agencies to explore if setting up a Borough youth council would provide the right vehicle for youth ideas to be fed into the council's policies.
Councillor Jones accepted the amendment which then became the substantive motion. Council debated the substantive with Councillors supporting the Motion drawing attention to the Youth Advisory Board which already existed and the hospital Youth Council which was being set up. A comment was made that all wards should be involved, High Schools and members of the Youth Parliament covering west Norfolk and Breckland.
Councillor Kemp declared a non pecuniary interest as a member of the Youth Advisory Board and a Governor at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
RESOLVED: “The borough council believes that it is vital to engage young people in decisions that affect their lives and services that they receive. They are a huge part of our communities, but they are often left out of discussions about how to make things better now and for the future. Our future belongs to them and it is essential that their voice is heard and, that they feel included in the democratic process. Our local democracy will be stronger for it. It has been noted that Youth Advisory Board have a youth Council and that the QEH also are making strides for youth provision but we would like a joined up approach to avoid duplication of work.
To acknowledge the work already been done by various youth agencies and to commit the Council’s Youth Champion and the Cabinet Member for People and Communities to meeting with officers and with partner youth agencies to explore if setting up a Borough youth council would provide the right vehicle for youth ideas to be fed into the council's policies.
ii) Councillor A Ware proposed and spoke in support of the following Notice of Motion ( 4/24 ), seconded by Councillor Sayers who spoke in support of it:
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“White Ribbon Motion
Violence and cruelty to women, whether mental, verbal or physical, and whether occurring within the workplace or outside of an organisation, is a serious, prevalent and preventable issue.
The Government has pledged to halve violence against women and girls in the next decade and has recently announced new police and justice system initiatives to achieve this. Working towards the same goals, White Ribbon UK is a charity which focuses on interventions in this area. It issues Accreditation to organisations which work towards transformational change within their staff culture, systems and communities.
Achieving White Ribbon Accreditation would demonstrate this Council’s commitment to its residents in preventing and combating the harmful culture, attitudes and behaviours around toxic masculinity that perpetuate gender inequality and violence against women and girls.
This Council will therefore actively seek to gain White Ribbon Accreditation, and it will adopt policies, instigate projects and activities and work with partners to achieve this.”
Council debated the Motion with members supporting it and confirming their understanding of the language used which could also be attributed to females as well as males. Questions were also raised about the evidence that the campaign showed a decrease in domestic violence to women and children, and what accreditation actually meant and what were the practical steps to be taken. Members were urged to support the motion to show not all men were the same, and to not remain silent on domestic violence.
In summing up Councillor Ware urged Council to support the Motion.
RESOLVED: That the Motion be adopted.
Council adjourned at 6.20pm, and reconvened at 6.31pm.
iii) Councillor A Kemp proposed the following Notice of Motion (5/24), and spoke in support of it seconded by Councillor de Whalley:
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“Wisbech Incinerator
This Council maintains its opposition to the Wisbech Incinerator. Not only is there no need for this facility due to overcapacity in the East of England, but the facility would lead to a breach of the Proximity Principle impacting on West Norfolk. The latest research confirms the anti Climate Change effects of incineration. The previous Conservative Government had said it would halt new incinerators. Council asks the Leader to write to the Labour Government and ask for the consents to be reviewed and withdrawn.”
Councillor Long drew attention to the fact that the Council already had a policy decision on incineration and the Wisbech incinerator so it was not necessary for it to have been re-submitted to Council, the Leader could have written a letter.
Members were reminded what happened to the borough’s waste, and encouraged to increase re-cycling.
The seconder of the motion spoke in support and gave detailed statistics.
RESOLVED: This Council maintains its opposition to the Wisbech Incinerator. Not only is there no need for this facility due to overcapacity in the East of England, but the facility would lead to a breach of the Proximity Principle impacting on West Norfolk. The latest research confirms the anti Climate Change effects of incineration. The previous Conservative Government had said it would halt new incinerators. Council asks the Leader to write to the Labour Government and ask for the consents to be reviewed and withdrawn.