Agenda item

ORIGINAL MOTIONS

Meeting of Council, Tuesday, 20 March 2018 10.00 am (Item 19/18)
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Item 8(i)

Mr Stephen Cooksey (Dorking South and the Holmwoods) to move under Standing Order 11 as follows:

This Council welcomes DEFRA's "A consultation on proposals to tackle crime and poor performance in the waste sector & introduce a new fixed penalty for the waste duty of care" document, published in January 2018.

This Council notes the Government's view, stated in the consultation, that "residents should be able to dispose of household DIY waste free of charge" and "The Government will consider clarifying the law if councils continue to charge for disposal of reasonable amounts of DIY waste".

Item 8(ii)

Mr Will Forster (Woking South) to move under Standing Order 11 as follows:

This Council notes that:

1. Last year 170 young people (aged 16 or over) left the care of Surrey County Council and began the difficult transition out of care and into adulthood.

2. Research from The Centre for Social Justice found that over half (57%) of young people leaving care have difficulty managing their money and avoiding debt when leaving care.

3. This Council has statutory corporate parenting responsibilities towards young people who have left care up until the age of 25.

4. The Children and Social Work Act 2017 places corporate parenting responsibilities on district and borough councils for the first time, requiring them to have regard to children in care and care leavers when carrying out their functions.

This Council believes that:

1. To ensure that the transition from care to adult life is as smooth as possible, and to mitigate the chances of care leavers falling into debt as they begin to manage their own finances, the burden of council tax should be relieved until they are 25.

2. Care leavers are a particularly vulnerable group for council tax debt.

Item 8 (iii)

Mr Jonathan Essex (Redhill East) to move under Standing Order 11 as follows:

Council notes that according to recent research, eight million metric tons of plastic waste ends up in the world’s oceans each year, endangering marine life, and that there is a growing understanding of the risks posed to human health by toxic chemicals present in plastics.

Council further notes that six months after the introduction of the 5p bag charge, use of single-use plastic bags had already dropped by 85%, while the TV programme Blue Planet II has raised public awareness of the problems of our throwaway culture. Norwich, Brighton and other councils in the UK have already passed motions committing to phase out the use of single-use plastic products where it is reasonable to do so and to encourage local businesses and other local public agencies to do the same

Council resolves to:

1. Develop a robust strategy to make Surrey County Council a ‘single-use-plastic-free’ authority by the end of 2018 and encourage the County’s institutions, businesses and citizens to adopt similar measures by the end of 2018;

2. End the sale and provision of single-use plastic products such as bottles, cups, cutlery and drinking straws in Council buildings;

3. Investigate the possibility of requiring pop-up food and drink vendors at large council events to avoid SUP's as a condition of their contract and work with tenants in commercial properties owned by Surrey County Council to encourage the phasing out of SUP cups, bottles, cutlery and straws.

4. Write to the Secretary of State for the Environment to request that the Government commits to phasing out single-use plastics across the UK.

Minutes:

Item 8(i)

Under Standing Order 12.3 the Council agreed to debate this motion.

Under Standing Order 12.1 Mr Stephen Cooksey moved the motion, which was:

‘This Council welcomes DEFRA's "A consultation on proposals to tackle crime and poor performance in the waste sector & introduce a new fixed penalty for the waste duty of care" document, published in January 2018.

Mr Cooksey made the following points:

In 2016 the Council conducted a consultation on the future of Community Recycling Centres (CRCs) where residents expressed opposition to charges for waste including DIY waste. Once charges were imposed the Council allowed a concession rate for residents, which was then withdrawn from 4 December 2017.
The Conservative Government took the view that charges should not be imposed on residents.
That the Liberal Democrats had launched a petition last month to urge the Council to withdraw charges, which received over 1400 signatures.
That it was clear from various organisations that fly-tipping had increased significantly.
That the County Council collects charges from legal waste disposal and leaves organisations such as the National Trust to deal with illegal tipping.
The Council’s conflict with Central Government is unnecessary and a burden on Surrey residents.

The motion was formally seconded by David Lee who reserved the right to speak.

Mr Goodman moved an amendment which was formally seconded by Mr O’Reilly.

The amendment was as follows (with additional words underlined and deletions crossed through):

This Council resolves to immediately implement the Conservative Government’s proposals to cease charging for DIY household waste and to avoid forcing the Government to enact legislation to compel charges to be withdrawn. will continue to work with the Government to find a sustainable solution to the disposal of DIY household waste.’

This amendment was not accepted by Mr Cooksey and therefore Mr Goodman spoke to his amendment, making the following points:

That there were only 55 words that mentioned DIY waste out of 61,000 words in the consultation report.
The consultation was about tackling waste crime and poor performance in the waste sector.
Although not required, the Council had submitted its views to the consultation regarding DIY waste. These documents would be sent to Members in the following week.
The service had reduced the cost of waste by £3.2m
Tonnage figures for fly-tipping in 2017/2018 were down and Surrey was the third best for least amount of fly-tipping in the country.
The term ‘DIY’ had no known legal meaning.
That it was clear the law would need to change to stop councils charging.
That he had met with the Secretary of State to discuss the Council’s views on charging for DIY waste.

Mr O’Reilly, as seconder to the amendment, made the following points:

That he was disappointed that the first motion after agreeing the budget involved increased spending.
That it was the wrong time for this motion
Central Government should restore funding for Adult Social Care and Education before discussing charges for DIY waste.
That the current policy was working.

Five Members spoke on the amendment and made the following comments:

That it was fair and reasonable that the cost of DIY waste should be on the household to pay.
Thanked the staff who work in the waste service.
That it would encourage residents to recycle.
Questioned how the Council would replace the £1.7m in revenue if charging for waste stopped.
That it was inappropriate to suggest that Surrey residents would resort to fly-tipping.
That the Council’s saving was at a cost to borough and district councils.
That the Council was planning an education programme for residents in order to clarify what waste could be taken to CRCs.

The amendment was put to the vote with 54 Members voting for, 9 voting against and 4 abstentions. The amendment was carried and thus became the substantive motion.

Three Members made the following points:

Disappointment that the amendment was not in the spirit of the original motion.
The amended motion was almost a direct negative to the original motion and did not help residents.
That Members who did not vote on the budget should not try and change it.

The substantive motion was put to a vote with 60 members voting for, 9 voting against and no abstentions.

Therefore, it was RESOLVED that:

This Council welcomes DEFRA's "A consultation on proposals to tackle crime and poor performance in the waste sector and introduce a new fixed penalty for the waste duty of care" document, published in January 2018.

This Council will continue to work with the Government to find a sustainable solution to the disposal of DIY household waste.

Item 8(ii)

Under Standing Order 12.3 the Council agreed to debate this motion.

Under Standing Order 12.1 Mr Will Forster moved the motion, which was:

‘This Council notes that:

Last year 170 young people (aged 16 or over) left the care of Surrey County Council and began the difficult transition out of care and into adulthood.
Research from The Centre for Social Justice found that over half (57%) of young people leaving care have difficulty managing their money and avoiding debt when leaving care.
This Council has statutory corporate parenting responsibilities towards young people who have left care up until the age of 25.
The Children and Social Work Act 2017 places corporate parenting responsibilities on district and borough councils for the first time, requiring them to have regard to children in care and care leavers when carrying out their functions.

This Council believes that:

To ensure that the transition from care to adult life is as smooth as possible, and to mitigate the chances of care leavers falling into debt as they begin to manage their own finances, the burden of council tax should be relieved until they are 25.
Care leavers are a particularly vulnerable group for council tax debt.

Mr Forster made the following comments:

Emphasised that many care leavers struggled with finances when leaving care.
Listed various statistics which highlighted the issues care leavers encounter.
As corporate parents, Members should support those leaving care the best they can.
Half of London’s local authorities had already relieved care leavers up to the age of 25 from paying council tax.

The motion was formally seconded by Mr Botten, who reserved the right to speak.

Mrs Curran moved an amendment, which was formally seconded by Mrs Lewis.

The amendment was as follows (with additional words underlined and deletions crossed through):

‘This Council notes that:

1.Last year 170 young people (aged 16 or over) left the care of Surrey County Council and began the difficult transition out of care and into adulthood.

~~2. Research from The Centre for Social Justice found that over half (57%) of young people leaving care have difficulty managing their money and avoiding debt when leaving care.~~

3.This Council has statutory corporate parenting responsibilities towards young people who have left care up until the age of 25.

4.The Children and Social Work Act 2017 places corporate parenting responsibilities on district and borough councils for the first time, requiring them to have regard to children in care and care leavers when carrying out their functions.

~~This Council believes that:~~

~~2. Care leavers are a particularly vulnerable group for council tax debt.~~

This Council, therefore, resolves to use the County Council’s convening powers and expertise in corporate parenting to work with all district and borough councils in Surrey to explore the options for relieving the council tax burden for all care leavers in the County up to the age of 25, sharing any arising costs proportionately. resolves to use its convening powers and expertise in corporate parenting to work with the district and borough councils and other statutory authorities in Surrey to improve support for children in care and care leavers and to produce a countywide "Charter" of available entitlements and support in preparation for independence and adulthood, to include continuing education and training, managing a household and looking after money, starting work and keeping safe and staying healthy.’

Both Mr Forster and Mr Botten agreed to accept the amendment to this motion and, therefore, it became the substantive motion.

Eight Members spoke on the motion and made the following comments:

It was said that Members should use their authority in other organisations to advocate that care leavers should not have to pay council tax before the age of 25.
Highlighted the current work of the Corporate Parenting Board and the commitment it had to improving the service.
That the Council should ensure that care leavers were in the appropriate high priority band when applying for social housing.
That more was needed to be done to ensure that those in care had access to college and university.
Members, as corporate parents, should try their best to be the most effective corporate parents they could be.
As well as supporting care leavers financially, Members should also support care leavers in becoming independent.
Creating a package to support care leavers should be a high priority for Members.
Few care leavers may be in the position to benefit from this motion so Members should look more into how they can support care leavers as a whole.

Mr Botten, as seconder to the motion, made the following points:

The Corporate Parenting Board had become a robust and challenging forum for Members to champion the cause for looked after children.
All those involved should be passionate about improving the lives of those in care.
That it was a pleasure to be able to support the motion.

Mr Forster concluded the discussion by making the following comments:

Hoped by next year all care leavers in Surrey could apply for an exemption.
Agreed this motion would be a big step forward for the Council.

The motion was put to a vote and received unanimous support.

Therefore, it was RESOLVED that:

This Council notes that:

Last year 170 young people (aged 16 or over) left the care of Surrey County Council and began the difficult transition out of care and into adulthood.
This Council has statutory corporate parenting responsibilities towards young people who have left care up until the age of 25.
The Children and Social Work Act 2017 placed corporate parenting responsibilities on district and borough councils for the first time, requiring them to have regard to children in care and care leavers when carrying out their functions.

This Council resolves to use its convening powers and expertise in corporate parenting to work with the district and borough councils and other statutory authorities in Surrey to improve support for children in care and care leavers and to produce a countywide "Charter" of available entitlements and support in preparation for independence and adulthood, to include continuing education and training, managing a household and looking after money, starting work and keeping safe and staying healthy.

Item 8(iii)

Under Standing Order 12.3 the Council agreed to debate this motion.

Under Standing Order 12.1 Mr Jonathan Essex moved the motion, which was:

‘Council notes that according to recent research, eight million metric tonnes of plastic waste ends up in the world’s oceans each year, endangering marine life, and that there is a growing understanding of the risks posed to human health by toxic chemicals present in plastics.

Council further notes that six months after the introduction of the 5p bag charge, use of single-use plastic bags had already dropped by 85%, while the TV programme Blue Planet II has raised public awareness of the problems of our throwaway culture. Norwich, Brighton and other councils in the UK have already passed motions committing to phase out the use of single-use plastic products where it is reasonable to do so and to encourage local businesses and other local public agencies to do the same

Council resolves to:

Develop a robust strategy to make Surrey County Council a ‘single-use-plastic-free (SUP)’ authority by the end of 2018 and encourage the County’s institutions, businesses and citizens to adopt similar measures by the end of 2018;
End the sale and provision of single-use plastic products such as bottles, cups, cutlery and drinking straws in Council buildings;
Investigate the possibility of requiring pop-up food and drink vendors at large council events to avoid SUP's as a condition of their contract and work with tenants in commercial properties owned by Surrey County Council to encourage the phasing out of SUP cups, bottles, cutlery and straws.
Write to the Secretary of State for the Environment to request that the Government commits to phasing out single-use plastics across the UK.’

The motion was formally seconded by Mr Evans, who reserved the right to speak.

Mr Essex made the following points:

That he hoped Members could reduce the use of single-use plastic in Council offices.
That the Blue Planet 2 series highlighted that waste could pollute beaches all around the world.
Unrecyclable waste would eventually be incinerated by Surrey County Council.
Residents needed more education on what could and couldn’t be recycled.
National policy should support the reduced use of single-use plastic.

Mr Goodman moved an amendment, which was formally seconded by Mr Ramsdale.

The amendment was as follows (with additional words underlined and deletions crossed through):

Continue todevelop its plastic use~~a robust~~ strategy to make Surrey ~~County Council~~ a single-use-plastic-free authority by~~the end of 2018~~ working with the Environment Agency, Districts and Boroughs, businesses, Environment and Infrastructure Select Committee and other partners and to bring back that strategy to Council in 2019.~~and encourage the County’s institutions, businesses and citizens to adopt similar measures by the end of 2018;~~
Immediately start the process to reduce~~End~~ the sale and provision of single-use plastic products such as bottles, cups, cutlery and drinking straws in Council buildings where it is reasonable to do so.
Investigate the feasibility~~possibility~~ of requiring pop-up food and drink vendors at large Council events to avoid ~~SUP's~~ single use plasticas a condition of their contract and work with tenants in commercial properties owned by Surrey County Council to encourage the phasing out of ~~SUP's~~ single use plasticcups, bottles, cutlery and straws where it is reasonable to do so.
Include the reduction of single use plastic items in the list of corporate priorities for Surrey County Council.
Write to the Secretary of State for the Environment asking for more information on how ~~to request that~~ the Government ~~commits to phasing out~~ is to eliminatesingle-use plastics ~~across the UK.~~ by 2042 and how this could be brought forward.’

Both Mr Essex and Mr Evans agreed to accept the amendment to this motion and, therefore, it became the substantive motion.

Seven Members spoke on the motion and made the following comments:

Thanked various Members for raising concerns on the issue.
Something needed to be done to prevent more single-use plastic from harming the environment.
The Blue Planet 2 programme graphically showed the effects on our oceans and rivers of the use of plastic.
Since 1950, 8.3 billion tonnes of plastic had been produced and, unless something was done, it will grow to 34 billion tonnes by 2050.
The Environmental Agency and the Department for Education would be working together to produce material to educate the public on the matter.
This was one of the most important debates to be held in the Council Chamber.
Single-use plastics must be phased out in the organisation.
There had been incidents of flooding in Surrey due to blockages caused by non-biodegradable single-use wipes.
Encouraged Members to join a campaign to collect and remove at least three pieces of plastic when visiting a beach.
Highlighted biodegradable alternatives to use of plastic containers.

Mr Evans, as seconder to the motion, made the following points:

Many American supermarkets used paper bags as an alternative to plastic.
Surrey could make this change and set a good example.
Encouraged Members to use a multi-use travel mug.

Mr Essex concluded the discussion by making the following comments:

Thanked Members for the support for the motion
Highlighted the issues caused when incinerating unrecyclable plastic.
Hoped the motion would bring a positive change.

The motion was put to a vote and received unanimous support.

Therefore, it was RESOLVED that:

Council notes that according to recent research, eight million metric tonnes of plastic waste ends up in the world’s oceans each year, endangering marine life, and that there is a growing understanding of the risks posed to human health by toxic chemicals present in plastics.

Council further notes that six months after the introduction of the 5p bag charge, use of single-use plastic bags had already dropped by 85%, while the TV programme Blue Planet II has raised public awareness of the problems of our throwaway culture. Norwich, Brighton and other councils in the UK have already passed motions committing to phase out the use of single-use plastic products where it is reasonable to do so and to encourage local businesses and other local public agencies to do the same. The Council also welcomes and supports the publishing of the Government Our 25 year plan to improve the Environment.

Council resolves to:

Continue to develop its plastic use strategy to make Surrey a single-use-plastic-free authority byworking with the Environment Agency, Districts and Boroughs, businesses, Environment and Infrastructure Select Committee and other partners and to bring back that strategy to Council in 2019.
Immediately start the process to reduce the sale and provision of single-use plastic products such as bottles, cups, cutlery and drinking straws in Council buildings where it is reasonable to do so.
Investigate the feasibility of requiring pop-up food and drink vendors at large Council events to avoid single use plastic as a condition of their contract and work with tenants in commercial properties owned by Surrey County Council to encourage the phasing out of single use plastic cups, bottles, cutlery and straws where it is reasonable to do so.
Include the reduction of single use plastic items in the list of corporate priorities for Surrey County Council.
Write to the Secretary of State for the Environment asking for more information on how the Government to eliminate single-use plasticsby 2042 and how this could be brought forward.