To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Bolderson, Lester, Rone, Symonds and Watson.

To receive declarations of interest in respect of Schedule 1, Schedule 2 or Other Interests from members in respect of items on the agenda.

Councillor Gemma Davies declared a schedule 1, disclosable pecuniary interest, in agenda item no. 11, motions on notice, motion – multi-storey car park (bus station) as an employee of the Wye Valley Trust.

To approve and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 21 October 2022.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the ordinary meeting of Council held on 21 October 2022 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 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 2022 - 2027.

Council considered a report by the Cabinet Member Housing, Regulatory Services and Community to approve the Taxi and Private Hire Policy 2022 – 2027. The Cabinet Member Housing, Regulatory Services and Community moved and introduced the report and the recommendations.

Councillor John Harrington seconded the report and recommendations. Councillor Harrington introduced the additional recommendations below:

(e) Cllr Tyler will continue to see what funding or match funding can be acquired to help operators bring in the new improved CCTV systems which they will be required to do over the next 12-14 months and which will cost approx. £500 and this is to include writing to the Police and Crime Commissioner to see if public safety funding might be available.

(f) Cabinet members will attend a follow-up meeting with officers and trade representatives, as those representatives requested, and officers to go through the penalty point scheme point by point, offence by offence to make sure we have clarity and accuracy on all points. And we will clarify the issue on moving seats in larger vehicles. And that this is done before the end of January - which will be before the new policy comes in. 

Councillor Nigel Shaw proposed a motion without notice, under section 4.1.92 (d) of the constitution, to refer the Taxi and Private Hire Policy 2022 – 2027 to the Cabinet Member Housing, Regulatory Services and Community to reconsider the matter; the Policy was not in a form that could be considered by Council at this time.

Councillor Barry Durkin seconded the motion to refer the Policy to the Cabinet Member for reconsideration.

Council debated the motion to refer the Policy to the Cabinet Member for reconsideration.

The motion to refer the Policy to the Cabinet Member for reconsideration was put to the vote and was carried by a simple majority of members.

RESOLVED: that Council agrees the referral of the Taxi and Private Hire Policy 2022 – 2027 to the Cabinet Member Housing, Regulatory Services and Community for reconsideration under section 4.1.92 (d) of the constitution; the Policy is not in a form that could be considered by Council at this time.

To approve the addition of new polling stations.

Council considered a report by the Returning Officer to approve the addition of three new polling stations.

Councillor Sebastian Bowen proposed the recommendations in the report. Councillor David Hitchiner seconded the recommendations in the report.

The recommendations in the report were put to the vote and were carried by a simple majority.

RESOLVED: That Council agrees that the following new polling stations be approved:

·       The Point 4, Royal National College for the Blind, Venns Lane, Hereford, HR1 1DT

·       St Barnabus Church Centre, 45 Venns Lane, Hereford, HR1 1DT

·       Kinnersley Castle, Kinnersley Hereford, HR3 6QF

To approve and introduce new byelaws in relation to skins.

Council considered a report by the Cabinet Member Housing, Regulatory Services and Community to approve and introduce new byelaws in relation to skins. The Cabinet Member Housing, Regulatory Services and Community moved and introduced the report and the recommendations.

Councillor Gemma Davies seconded the recommendations in the report.

Council debated the report and byelaws relating to skins procedures. During the course of the debate the following actions were raised:

·       To feed back to Licensing, concern regarding the use of the wording so far as appropriate in the policy with regard to cleansing of instruments, materials and equipment. The wording was felt to be ambiguous and insufficiently explicit to enable the byelaws to achieve effective enforcement; and

·       To ask the Corporate Director to consider what policy documents existed to guide Skins practitioners with regard to informing clients, in advance of treatments, of the likely health implications.

The recommendations in the report were put to the vote and were carried by a simple majority.

RESOLVED:

That:

a)    The new byelaws contained in appendix 1 to be adopted under Section 14(7) and 15(7) of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982,  subject to approval of the Secretary of State.

b)    The existing byelaws made under the Hereford City Act 1985 are revoked.

To receive a report from the leader on the activities of the executive (cabinet) since the meeting of Council on 21 October 2022.

Council received and noted the Leader’s Report which provided an update on the work of the cabinet since the previous ordinary meeting of Council on 21 October.

Council questioned the Leader and the following actions were raised:

·         To produce a written response to an outstanding action from the previous meeting of Council (21 October) to provide a statement on the outcome of the review of the number of cases of fabricated or induced illness (FII) in Herefordshire.

·         To produce a written response in response to a question regarding: progress to return Children’s Services staff to Plough Lane; processes to improve data collection and the reliability of data; an update on agency staff; and an update on the appointment of administrative staff.

·         The Leader to discuss with the Chief Executive a potential meeting with the former Chairperson of the children’s scrutiny committee regarding the outcomes of the external investigation into the failure to disclose reports to the scrutiny committee.

·         To produce a written response to a request for an update on the establishment of forums to engage with children, families and partners of the Council.

·         To produce a written response to a request for a briefing on recent announcements and impacts upon the current validity of the wetlands scheme and its integrity going forward.

·         To produce a written response to a question regarding the implementation of Biodiversity net gain in Herefordshire.

·         To produce a written response in reply to a query regarding the pooling of water on the St Owen’s Street cycle lane.

·         To produce a written response to a question to consider the inclusion of Home Share in the sustainable, cost-effect and versatile market envisaged under the recent Commissioned Home Care decision.

There was an adjournment at 1:30 p.m.; the meeting reconvened at 2:05 p.m.

To consider Notices of Motion.

Motion 1 – Proportional representation

Councillor Felicity Norman proposed the motion.

Councillor Phillip Howells seconded the motion.

Council debated the motion.

In summary, there was division across the Council concerning support for the introduction of proportional representation to be used at general elections. Arguments for and against the introduction of proportional representation were raised by members of the Council.

Councillor Felicity Norman closed the debate.

The motion was put to the vote and was carried by a simple majority.

RESOLVED – that:

First Past the Post (FPTP) originated when land-owning aristocrats dominated parliament and voting was restricted to property-owning men.

In Europe, only the UK and authoritarian Belarus still use archaic single-round FPTP for general elections. Meanwhile, internationally, Proportional Representation (PR) is used to elect parliaments in more than 80 countries. Those countries tend to be more equal, freer and greener.

PR ensures all votes count, have equal value, and those seats won match votes cast. Under PR, MPs and Parliaments better reflect the age, gender and protected characteristics of local communities and the nation.

MPs better reflecting their communities leads to improved decision-making, wider participation and increased levels of ownership of decisions taken.

PR would also end minority rule. In 2019, 43.6% of the vote produced a government with 56.2% of the seats and 100% of the power. PR also prevents ‘wrong winner’ elections such as occurred in 1951 and February 1974.

PR is already used to elect the parliaments and assemblies of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. So why not Westminster?

Council therefore resolves to write to H.M. Government calling for a change in our outdated electoral laws to enable Proportional Representation to be used for general elections.

Councillor Gemma Davies left the meeting at 2:35 p.m.

Motion 2 – Multi-storey car park (bus station)

Councillor Bob Matthews proposed the motion.

Councillor Terry James seconded the motion.

Council debated the motion.

In summary, there was widespread support for an investigation of a multi-storey car park on the site of the bus station to help alleviate congestion from traffic accessing Hereford from the North East and to provide additional car parking provision near to the hospital. There was opposition from some members who queried the safety of multi-storey car parks; the contribution of such a scheme to initiatives to reduce car use in Hereford; and the impact on existing heritage assets.

Councillor Bob Matthew closed the debate.

The motion was put to the vote and was carried by a simple majority.

RESOLVED – that:

Subject to a satisfactory scheme being approved for a new Transport Hub at the railway station, Council urgently considers the construction of a multi-storey car park on the present bus station site.

There is a general shortage of car parking spaces in that area and one of our main concerns is that medical staff coming off shifts, late at night, have to walk along poorly lit streets to the Garrick House car park. Sadly, we will all be aware of a number of very serious  ...  view the full minutes text for item 47.