To consider Notices of Motion.

Motion – Cabinet posts – Children’s Services and Adult Social Care

Councillor Jim Kenyon moved the motion.

Council debated the motion. In summary, the value of cross-party representation on the cabinet was recognised however the change that was proposed in the motion should be considered through the re-thinking governance process.

Councillor Terry James seconded the motion.

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

(Councillor Christy Bolderson left the meeting room)

Motion – Belmont

Councillor Bowes moved the motion.

A recorded vote was requested which was supported by eight members of the Council.

Council debated the motion. In summary there was support for the appraisal of the Belmont area for designation as a conservation area however such appraisals should be considered for all sites of significant historic interest.

Councillor Jeremy Milln seconded the motion.

An alteration to the motion was proposed to include the following wording: This council calls upon the executive to appraise all sites of significant historic interest that are not currently conservation areas with a view to reviewing whether more conservation areas should be approved. The alteration was accepted by the proposer and seconder of the motion.

The motion, subject to the alteration outlined above, was put to the recorded vote and was carried by a simple majority. 

For (39): Councillors Graham Andrews, Paul Andrews, Polly Andrews, Bartlett, Bartrum, Bowen, Bowes, Chowns, Davies, Durkin, Fagan, Guthrie, Hardwick, Harrington, Harvey, Hewitt, Hey, Hitchiner, Howells, James, Jinman, Graham Jones, Mike Jones, Kenyon, Lester, Marsh, Matthews, Milln, Norman, Price, Stark, Summers, Swinglehurst, Symonds, Tillett, Toynbee, Tyler, Watson and Wilding.

Against (1): Councillor Rone

Abstain (1): Councillor Probert

RESOLVED – that:

In the light of the Herefordshire County Plan objectives for heritage and well-being, this Council recognises:

·          the special importance of the cultural landscape at Belmont to the City and        County of Herefordshire

·          the potential for Belmont to enrich the lives and sustain the health of the        people of Herefordshire (and especially for residents of the South Wye area)

That in recognising the importance and potential of Belmont, this Council calls on the Executive to appraise Belmont for designation as a new Conservation Area to include the House, Abbey and Park on the south side of the River and the adjacent hamlets of Warham and Breinton on the north side, seeking funding to support this work; and

This council calls upon the executive to appraise all sites of significant historic interest that are not currently conservation areas with a view to reviewing whether more conservation areas should be approved.

(Councillor Christy Bolderson returned to the meeting room)

Motion – Wye and Lugg bathing water

Councillor Louis Stark moved the motion.

Councillor Jeremy Milln seconded the motion

Council debated the motion. In summary the improvement to water quality from the proposal was supported but there was concern that the proposal would encourage swimming in dangerous and environmentally sensitive rivers.

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

RESOLVED – that:

This Council notes:

1.     The rapid deterioration in the water quality of the Rivers Wye and Lugg, which is evident from citizen science testing and visual observation.  The rivers are important natural assets and the council is extremely concerned at their current state.  As well as an importance as natural habitats, they are also a recreational resource for many, including use for swimming and other water-borne activities;

2.     The recent success in Ilkley in designating parts of the River Wharfe as bathing waters, and the increased regulatory protection that has resulted;

3.     The historically low level of funding which the Environment Agency has available to enforce existing regulatory controls.

This Council therefore resolves to call upon the executive to:

4.     Investigate seeking designation of appropriate stretches of the Wye and Lugg to be officially identified as bathing water. 

5.     Urge concerned residents to support the River Action petition, which asks the English and Welsh governments to double the Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales’s regulatory budgets so that they can more effectively enforce the existing legal protections for the Wye and Lugg;

6.   Forward this resolution to the Members of Parliament in Herefordshire, to ask them to support the campaign by River Action for increased funding for the Environment Agency.

7.   Forward this resolution to other English and Welsh councils in the Wye Valley to ask them to support the campaigns for bathing water status and for increases in regulatory budgets.