To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Durkin, Mason, Ivan Powell, Spencer and Allan Williams.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 28 July 2023.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 28 July 2023 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive the Chairman and Chief Executive’s announcements.

Council noted the Chairman’s and Chief Executive’s announcements as printed in the agenda papers.

To receive questions from members of the public.

A copy of the public questions and written answers, together with supplementary questions asked at the meeting and their answers, is attached to the Minutes at Appendix 1.

To receive any written questions from members of the Council.

A copy of the Member questions and written answers, together with supplementary questions asked at the meeting and their answers, is attached to the Minutes at Appendix 2.

To approve the reviewed and amended Taxi and Private Hire Policy 2023 - 2028.

Council considered a report by the Cabinet Member Roads and Regulatory Services to approved the reviewed and amended Taxi and Private Hire Policy 2023 – 2028.

The Deputy Leader proposed the recommendations and introduced the report.

The Leader seconded the recommendations for approval.

Council debated the report and was supportive of the reviewed and amended Policy. During the course of the debate the following action was raised:

·         To provide a written response with detail as to how the requirements of the Policy on taxi and private hire drivers would be enforced.

The recommendations in the report were put to the vote and were carried unanimously.

RESOLVED – that:

a)    the policy be approved;

b)    the implementation date be 1st January 2024 to allow time for trade compliance;

c)    authority be delegated to officers as specified in the licensing decision making process appended to this report;

d)    authority be delegated to officers to make legal or statutory guidance changes and, administrative error corrections to the policy.

To receive a report from the leader on the activities of the executive (cabinet) since the meeting of Council on 28 July 2023.

Council received and noted the Leader’s Report which provided an update on the work of Cabinet since the previous ordinary meeting of Council on 28 July 2023.

Council questioned the Leader and the following actions were raised:

·         to investigate the resumption of periodic meetings between members and Highways England.

·         to provide a response to a question concerning the treatment of the all ages social care revenue budget in the Q1 Budget and Performance Report.

There was an adjournment at 11:45 a.m.; the meeting reconvened at 11:59 a.m.

To consider Notices of Motion.

Council debated the motion contained in the report by the Director of Law and Governance.

Motion – Net Zero Targets

Councillor Proctor proposed the motion.

Councillor Stark seconded the motion.

Proposed amendment:

This council calls upon the CEO to write to the Prime Minister to express the concern of elected members following his speech on net zero.  Whilst the letter will acknowledge the positive steps outlined in the speech it will also express concern about the apparent rowing back on net zero ambition and call upon the PM to redouble his efforts to:

1) Ensure the UK meets its climate change and environmental obligations as expressed in international treaties.

2) That he ensure that the government provides the ‘clarity, consistency and continuity’ called for in the Mission Zero review to give sectors the confidence to develop green skills and drive change.

3) That the government will ensure that there are sufficient measures in place to support a just transition.

Councillor Swinglehurst proposed the amendment above to the original motion.

Councillor Hurcomb seconded the amendment.

Council debated the proposed amendment. There was division among the membership. It was the contention of some members that the amendment was not sufficiently robust in its messaging to central government. The amendment was supported by other sections of the membership who referred to the challenges posed by current net zero targets including the replacement of gas and oil boilers in rural areas.

The proposed amendment was put to the recorded vote and was lost by a simple majority.

FOR (20): Councillors Baker, Biggs, Bramer, Cole, Cornthwaite, Dave Davies, Foxton, Gandy, Hamblin, Highfield, Hurcomb, Kenyon, Lester, Matthews, Price, Stoddart, Stone, Swinglehurst, Thomas and Robert Williams.

AGAINST (25): Councillors Andrews, Bartlett, Bartrum, Boulter, Carwardine, Chowns, Crockett, Clare Davies, Dykes, Gennard, Harvey, Heathfield, Hitchiner, James, O’Driscoll, Oliver, Owens, Peberdy, Dan Powell, Proctor, Simmons, Stark, Tillett, Toynbee and Woodall.

ABSTAIN (1): Councillor Phillips

Council debated the original motion. There was widespread support for the motion.

An alteration was proposed, as below, to the original motion to include correspondence to the prime minister regarding funding of net zero measures. The alteration was accepted by the proposer and seconded and incorporated into the motion.

The prime minister to ask him to allocate adequate government funding to implement these measures fairly.

The motion as altered above was put to the recorded vote and was carried by a simple majority.

FOR (45): Councillors Andrews, Baker, Bartlett, Bartrum, Biggs, Boulter, Bramer, Carwardine, Chowns, Cole, Cornthwaite, Crockett, Clare Davies, Dave Davies, Dykes, Foxton, Gandy, Gennard, Hamblin, Harvey, Heathfield, Highfield, Hitchiner, Hurcomb, James, Kenyon, Lester, Matthews, O’Driscoll, Oliver, Owens, Peberdy, Phillips, Dan Powell, Proctor, Simmons, Stark, Stoddart, Stone, Swinglehurst, Thomas, Tillett, Toynbee, Robert Williams and Woodall.

AGAINST (1): Councillor Price

ABSTAIN (0):

Resolved – that:

At its meeting on 28th July 2023 Council unanimously resolved to reaffirm its earlier declaration of a climate and ecological emergency. Underpinning this is our ambitious target to achieve net zero across the County by 2030. To  ...  view the full minutes text for item 27.