At the next full Council meeting of Rochford District Council on the 18th February 2020 these are the motions that we’ve put forward
From Cllrs Mrs C M Mason, M Hoy and J E Newport:-
‘That this Council, having received the observations of the Corporate Peer
Challenge and the identified need to strengthen the scrutiny function and the inclusion in the report that the minority political groups do not feel sufficiently engaged, address both these points by altering the Constitution as follows:
To alter the Constitution prior to Annual Council so that the Chair of the overview and scrutiny committee, Review Committee, be nominated by the minority political groups and independent Members only. If no Member of the minority political groups accepts a nomination then, and only then, will
nominations be accepted from any other Member.
This would encourage minority political groups and Independent Member
engagement and facilitate greater scrutiny if minority political groups and
Independent Members felt that their views had some impact rather than the current impression that their views are being ignored by the majority political group.’
Cllrs C C Cannell and J E Newport
‘The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland left the European Union at 2300 on January 31st, 2020.
In July 2017 the then Prime Minister, Theresa May, announced the outline for a ‘EU Settled Status’ scheme that would enable EU nationals the right to
continue living, working, and studying in the UK after we leave.
In January 2019 the same Prime Minister announced that, following a pilot,
the EU Settlement Scheme, as it had become formally known, was to launch
in March 2019 and that a £65 fee that was charged in that pilot would be
removed.
The current Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, has continued the scheme, and
used Prime Minister’s Questions as recently as January 2020 to vocalise his
support for it.
The scheme outlined two forms of status:
‘Settled status’ is for those that have lived in the UK for five years or more and means that they can reside in the UK forever without re-applying, unless they leave the UK for a period of five consecutive years.
‘Pre-settled status’ for those citizens who started living in the UK by 31st
December 2020 but will not have five years’ continuous residence at this
point. It will allow people to reside in the UK for five years, at which point they can apply for settled status.
This Council notes:
• The invaluable contribution of EU citizens, living and/or working in
Rochford District, to the local economy and public service provision
This Council therefore resolves to:
• Advertise the government’s EU Settlement Scheme and support any
resident with their application for ‘settled status’ or ‘pre-settled status’
under the scheme.
• Support any resident who applied to the EU Settlement Scheme before
March 2019 receive a refund.
• Confirm that it believes that all EU citizens in the District should retain their right to vote in and be candidates in local elections.
• Pledge to support and protect all EU citizens who live or work in the
District, throughout the transition period.
Cllrs C C Cannell and J E Newport
‘Motion to increase support for RSPCA firework campaigning.’
‘Well organised, considerate, public fireworks displays, such as the annual
displays at King George V’s Playing Fields and Belchamps, bring enjoyment
to many people in the District.
Unfortunately however, residents have been contacting their local Councillors due to irresponsible private use of fireworks in residential areas.
There are four categories of fireworks in the UK and the first three categories are available to buy, carry, or use (on private property) by any member of the public aged 18 or over.
Fireworks can be legally used on any day between the hours of 7am and
11pm, with extensions in place on Bonfire Night (12am), New Year’s Eve,
Diwali and Chinese New Year (all 1am).
This Council notes:
• The unpredictable occurrence of loud noise, that most fireworks produce,
can cause fear and anxieties, both to people and animals.
• Used irresponsibly, fireworks can cause damage to property, pose a fire
risk, and do significant harm to people and animals.
• The RSPCA run a public awareness campaign, aimed at ensuring people
can enjoy fireworks responsibly whilst reducing risk to animals, and
residents.
• Rochford District Council support this public awareness campaign on its
website and provides residents with links to the RSPCAs website to find
out more about it
This Council resolves to:
Support the RSPCA’s Bang Out of Order campaign by:
• Writing to the UK Government urging them to introduce legislation that
reduces the maximum noise level of P2 & P3 fireworks from 120db to
90dB for those sold to the public for private displays
• Taking measures to ensure public firework displays within Rochford
District can be advertised in advance, with appropriate references to the
size of the display, allowing residents to take precautions for people and
animals in their care.
Cllrs James Newport and Chris Stanley
This Council notes:
1) The Council has a working group to understand the implications and recommend initial actions this Council can take to reduce its carbon footprint, ahead of becoming carbon neutral by 2030;
2) That the biggest single contributor to climate change is the emission of carbon from fossil fuels;
3) That trees have the ability to soak up carbon emissions and therefore tree planting can offset some of the carbon dioxide which is contributing to climate change;
4) Forest Research, Britain’s principal organisation for forestry and tree-related research, says that the average tree canopy cover figure in England is 16%, measured from 283 towns and cities.
The Rochford District has less than 10% tree cover and Friends of the Earth recommends that this should be, at least, doubled
This Council, therefore, calls on the Managing Director, Strategic Director, and Assistant Director for Place & Environment, to produce a tree planting strategy which:
1) Aims to increase considerably the tree cover within the District by identifying council-owned land that could be used for tree planting;
2) Sets out to create community orchards to help improve the supply of fresh, local produce and boost the health of residents;
3) Works with the voluntary sector to deliver tree planting plans;
4) Involves schools, colleges and their pupils and students in carrying out tree planting and woodland maintenance;
5) Identifies sources of funding available to the council and voluntary organisations to reduce the cost to the taxpayer
There are several other motions put forward for debate on the 18th which can be accessed here
When the council compulsory purchased part of my garden to build Brook Rd they promised to plant trees. This was never done. They should make Weir Gardens a priority for tree planting as The Weir is the most polluted area of Rayleigh .