Agenda item

To consider motions;

 

1.    From Cllr Ron Tindall to consider recent IPCC report urging action on climate-change

2.    From Cllr Lara Pringle to consider impact of Brexit on EU27 citizens

A motion was proposed by Cllr Tindall and seconded by Cllr England;

Cllr Tindall advised that an amendment had been proposed by Cllr Williams, which has been agreed.  The agreed motion therefore reads;

“This Council notes the recent IPCC report urging action on climate change and requires that the new local plan currently under consideration should have within it environmental protection and sustainability consideration which should where possible aim to exceed national policy requirements.

 

Therefore, council requests that the local plan task and finish group give full consideration to these matters when considering the new local plan which should include sections on;

 

1 Modern construction methods and technologies and that all developments should provide were practical the following:

1.    Energy conservation specification in insulation, smart controls and lighting

2.    Energy generation including solar panels, ground source heat pumps and other renewable energy systems  to reduce fossil fuel usage and carbon emissions.

3.    Other considerations including plug-in electric vehicle charging, rain water harvesting and waste minimisation.

High sped fibre should be provided for all new developments to enable connection to the network where or when available.”

 

Vote

Unanimously agreed.

 

 

A motion was proposed by Cllr Pringle and seconded by Cllr England;

 

“A recent Freedom of Information request revealed that 321 EU27 citizens employed by West Herts NHS Trust have left nursing and health care posts. This has been due to a combination of Brexit uncertainty over their rights to remain in the UK and the rise of unacceptable hostility within our communities towards those from other countries, evidenced by the appalling rise in hate crime.

This has left West Herts Hospitals with a current total of 325 staff vacancies which we can little afford in view of the unacceptable A&E waiting times.

In view of this Dacorum Borough Council could be considered at risk itself of undesired vacancies and needs to keep aware of the situation.

Therefore, this Council

(a) recognises the immense value of EU27 citizens to our local area - not only working in vital roles helping our most vulnerable, but contributing in taxes, the voluntary sector and as valued friends and neighbours

and, in these uncertain times

(b) pledges to our EU27 residents, tenants and employees that regardless of the outcomes of any Brexit agreement, DBC will treat them with dignity, respect and humanity and will endeavour to implement all government policies with a view to avoiding the inadvertent creation of a hostile environment for our valued colleagues, friends and closest neighbours from the European Union”

Vote

For                   6

Against            30

Abstain            0

 

The motion was lost.

 

Councillor Tindall proposed a motion, seconded by Cllr England;

 

Cllr Tindall advised that he was pleased to report that an amendment has been put forward by the Conservative group which we are pleased to accept, noting that it is good to see we are able to agree and work together.

 

Cllr Tindall moved the amended motion.

 

The Mayor asked Cllr Tindall to read out the amended motion, which read as follows;

 

This Council notes the recent IPCC report urging action on climate change and requires that the new local plan currently under consideration should have within it environmental protection and sustainability consideration which should where possible aim to exceed national policy requirements.

Therefore, council requests that the local plan task and finish group give full consideration to these matters when considering the new local plan which should include sections on;

1 Modern construction methods and technologies and that all developments should provide were practical the following:

1.    Energy conservation specification in insulation, smart controls and lighting

2.    Energy generation including solar panels, ground source heat pumps and other renewable energy systems  to reduce fossil fuel usage and carbon emissions.

3.    Other considerations including plug-in electric vehicle charging, rain water harvesting and waste minimisation.

High sped fibre should be provided for all new developments to enable connection to the network where or when available.

Cllr Williams expressed his gratitude to Cllr Tindall for accepting the amended motion. 

 

Motion agreed.

 

Councillor Pringle proposed the motion, seconded by Cllr England;

 

Councillor Pringle addressed the room and set out why she feels this motion is important. The proposed motion reads;

 

A recent Freedom of Information request revealed that 321 EU27 citizens employed by West Herts NHS Trust have left nursing and health care posts. This has been due to a combination of Brexit uncertainty over their rights to remain in the UK and the rise of unacceptable hostility within our communities towards those from other countries, evidenced by the appalling rise in hate crime.

 

This has left West Herts Hospitals with a current total of 325 staff vacancies which we can little afford in view of the unacceptable A&E waiting times.

 

In view of this Dacorum Borough Council could be considered at risk itself of undesired vacancies and needs to keep aware of the situation.

 

Therefore, this Council

 

(a) recognises the immense value of EU27 citizens to our local area - not only working in vital roles helping our most vulnerable, but contributing in taxes, the voluntary sector and as valued friends and neighbours

 

and, in these uncertain times

 

(b) pledges to our EU27 residents, tenants and employees that regardless of the outcomes of any Brexit agreement, DBC will treat them with dignity, respect and humanity and will endeavour to implement all government policies with a view to avoiding the inadvertent creation of a hostile environment for our valued colleagues, friends and closest neighbours from the European Union

 

Cllr Birnie responded and referred to the limits of the Council’s responsibilities and powers, stating that what is being proposed is not within our power; it is at a higher authority.  He also advised that he sits on the County Health Scrutiny and on 20^th March a senior member of the local health trust said the high majority of their staff were not from EU but other nationalities.  Further, senior NHS staff have commented that the staff that are leaving are not going back to Europe at all but are going to London where the London weighting allowance and training hospitals are an incentive.  He added that they also report to have found that those staff are returning after a couple of years with better qualifications.  He concluded that he does not accept the purpose this motion.

 

Cllr Anderson referred to the motion and reiterated this has little to do with the business of the Council, commenting that he believes citizenship is being used by pro EU campaigners as a political football to prevent the will of the people coming to pass.  He concluded that it is for that reason that he will not voting for this motion.

 

Cllr Guest referred to a whole world outside EU, stating that in NHS hospitals she has encountered medical personnel from across the world; the majority of countries not within the EU.  The Councillor expressed strongly that her colleagues from all over the world deserve respect; not just those from the EU.   The Councillor confirmed her view that this motion is too narrow and as such she cannot vote for it, expressing that she would vote for a motion that was inclusive of everyone despite nationality.

 

Cllr Imarni endorsed the comments made by Cllr Guest and shared her view, adding that she too would challenge this motion is far too narrow, stating that Dacorum is far more diverse that just EU citizens and that all communities should be treated fairly, not just a focus on EU.  The Councillor concluded that is for that reason she is not happy to support the motion.

 

Cllr Williams advised that he had looked to see if this motion could be amended, explaining that he did not feel the motion could be amended to something he and his colleagues could support.  He acknowledged that there will be a whole range of views in this chamber, as there will be across the country, regarding Brexit and expressed his view that this motion is not about Brexit, more about a political agenda and draws some very general conclusions. 

 

Cllr Williams went on to state that as a member of this Council he would hope that we would treat all nationalities with the respect they deserve; there is no reason to bring a motion to this council that citizens of EU should be treated any differently to citizens from anywhere else.  He added that there is very little evidence that issues around Brexit have increased hate crime and expressed his view that we need to tackle all areas of hate crime and unacceptable behaviour toward any group.  He concluded by saying that this motion is not about that; it is about the Liberal Democrats getting a Brexit item on the agenda and for that reason he advised that he will not be supporting it.

 

Cllr Tindall observed that the commenters do not appear to have read the motion, advising that the first paragraph relates to West Herts Hospital and stating that this is an issue to this council, if affects us all. 

 

Cllr Marshall echo’d the comments made by her colleagues, particularly Cllrs Guest and Imarni.  She added that this motion is based on the wrong presumption; it is too narrow and therefore she does not feel it is worthy of consideration.

 

Cllr D Collins commented that he is saddened that the Councillor brining this motion thinks it is necessary that our residents in the Borough need to be reminded of their duties.

 

Cllr Elliot echoed Cllrs Guest & Imarni views.

 

Cllr Chapman commented that he had listened very carefully and is very disappointed by what has been put forward, stating that we are a democracy; we have always worked as a partnership with everybody. 

 

Cllr Ransley expressed her disappointed that it has been chosen to use this motion to bring up Brexit, stating the motion was not about Brexit, but about reminding all of us that there are people within our community that are feeling threatened at the moment and bringing it to the front of our minds.  She added that we have members of staff, tenants, neighbours, and friends who are included in that. 

 

Cllr Harden commented on hate crime and reiterated the comments of colleagues that this motion is too narrow. 

 

Cllr Griffiths commented that the motion is not in context and echoed Cllr Harden’s comments that there is no quantification of the stats and agreeing with all comments made by colleagues, concluding with her view that all our residents are valuable and everybody should be treated with respect.

 

Cllr Hicks agreed and stated that he does not support motion.

 

Cllr C Wyatt-Lowe referred to hate crime and commented that domestic violence etc are increasing across the board; that we are providing mechanisms for people to report these things far more widely than they ever did before and that has given rise to an increase level of reporting.  The Councillor added that she does not accept that the people of Dacorum are inherently racist; she does not believe that is not the case and concluded by saying that she will not be voting.

 

Cllr England commented on his disappointment to see ‘so many closed minds in this room’; in this whole debate about Brexit and remain there is a problem, we are not listening to each other.  He added that he wanted to second this motion as see it as a local and relevant issue, stating that as Ward Councillors we are supposed to speak on the concerns of our residents, which is what he believes the Liberal Democrats are doing.  Cllr England went on to read out a statement about his views on Brexit.

 

Cllr Pringle responded to the reaction of the chamber to the motion and expressed her disappointment.  The Councillor advised that this motion was carefully drafted; it was kept narrow to try to stop the pro Brexit debate.  She concluded by saying that she would fully endorse a widening of debate to condemnation of any sort of discrimination against anyone. 

 

The Mayor put the motion the vote;

 

For                   6

Against            30

Abstain            0

 

Mayor declared the motion lost.