Agenda item

Motions

A.  Councillor R Williams to move:

 

Southampton City Council is committed to supporting the Electoral Registration Officer in discharging his legal duty to maintain a register of electors. The electoral register is the foundation stone of our democracy and we have a duty to ensure that it is both accurate and complete - helping to empower citizens and increase public engagement in the democratic process.

This Council will continue to fully support the Electoral Registration Officer in making every effort to ensure that the 2010 electoral register in Southampton City Council is as complete and accurate as possible, so as to provide a proper basis for any revision to electoral boundaries. In addition this Council notes that the Electoral Commission currently believe that approx 3.5 million people are missing for register in England and Wales alone and that this trend is especially stark amongst many specific social groups.

Full Council therefore :

1) supports the Electoral Registration Officer and his staff in continuing to conduct door-to-door inquiries at all households where no-one responds to a letter requiring registration, with at least two personal calls on all non-responding households;

2) resolves that an effective advertising campaign is launched now to encourage people to register, targeted at social groups among whom under-registration is known to be a problem and targeted at residents in those neighbourhoods where the electoral register is believed to have the lowest levels of completeness; and

3) requests that the Chief Executive ensures a joined-up approach across all parts of the Council working alongside the Electoral Registration Officer to encourage residents to register to vote

 

B.  Councillor Slade to move:

 

Council welcomes the announcement of the Coalition Government that Local Authorities are to have the freedom to sell energy to the National Grid.

 

Council notes:

  1. Micro-generation of electricity is a proven technique and has already benefited businesses and communities across the UK.
  2. Environmentally-friendly energy production methods such as solar and wind power have been trialled successfully on this scale.
  3. Southampton has many resources that are ideal for harnessing micro-generation technologies.
  4. By adding to our portfolio of green infrastructure, the Council could enhance the city’s green credentials.
  5. The scale of micro-generation technologies means that they can be rolled out gradually over time, rather than having to rely on large up-front investment.

 

 

 

 

Council believes that:

  1. Micro-generation would allow the council to generate its own power, and potentially sell surplus back to the National Grid, thereby saving money.
  2. Profits generated can be reinvested in environmental schemes, including further roll-out of the technologies.

 

Council therefore calls for:

  1. The installation of appropriate micro-generation technologies in all civic buildings where possible.
  2. Subsidising the cost of installing appropriate micro-generation technologies to communities that wish to take advantage of these technologies.

 

C.  Councillor Burke to move:

 

Southampton City Council calls on the Executive to drop its current proposals to use volunteer staff in the library service in place of members of staff.

 

Minutes:

(a) Register of Electors.

 

Councillor Dr R Williams moved and Councillor Barnes-Andrews seconded:

 

“Southampton City Council is committed to supporting the Electoral Registration Officer in discharging his legal duty to maintain a register of electors. The electoral register is the foundation stone of our democracy and we have a duty to ensure that it is both accurate and complete - helping to empower citizens and increase public engagement in the democratic process.

This Council will continue to fully support the Electoral Registration Officer in making every effort to ensure that the 2010 electoral register in Southampton City Council is as complete and accurate as possible, so as to provide a proper basis for any revision to electoral boundaries. In addition this Council notes that the Electoral Commission currently believe that approx 3.5 million people are missing for register in England and Wales alone and that this trend is especially stark amongst many specific social groups.

Full Council therefore :

1) supports the Electoral Registration Officer and his staff in continuing to conduct door-to-door inquiries at all households where no-one responds to a letter requiring registration, with at least two personal calls on all non-responding households;

2) resolves that an effective advertising campaign is launched now to encourage people to register, targeted at social groups among whom under-registration is known to be a problem and targeted at residents in those neighbourhoods where the electoral register is believed to have the lowest levels of completeness; and

3) requests that the Chief Executive ensures a joined-up approach across all parts of the Council working alongside the Electoral Registration Officer to encourage residents to register to vote”

 

Amendment moved by Councillor Dick and seconded by Councillor Mead:

 

AMENDMENT

 

In the second paragraph, 4th line, after the words “electoral boundaries” start a new paragraph.

 

In the second paragraph, 4th line, after the words “In addition this Council notes that” add the words “after 13 years of a labour government”

 

At the end of the second paragraph add the sentence, “The Council supports the move by government to an equalisation of constituencies.”

 

In the third paragraph, bullet point (1), second line, delete all the words after “inquiries at all households”

 

In the third paragraph, bullet point (2), first line, delete the words “effective campaign”

 

In the third paragraph, bullet point (2), first line, delete the word “now”

 

In the third paragraph, bullet point (2), first line, after the words “people to register” delete the rest of the sentence

 

AMENDED MOTION TO READ:

 

“Southampton City Council is committed to supporting the Electoral Registration Officer in discharging his legal duty to maintain a register of electors. The electoral register is the foundation stone of our democracy and we have a duty to ensure that it is both accurate and complete - helping to empower citizens and increase public engagement in the democratic process.

 

This Council will continue to fully support the Electoral Registration Officer in making every effort to ensure that the 2010 electoral register in Southampton City Council is as complete and accurate as possible, so as to provide a proper basis for any revision to electoral boundaries.

 

In addition this Council notes that after 13 years of a labour government the Electoral Commission currently believe that approx 3.5 million people are missing from the register in England and Wales alone and that this trend is especially stark amongst many specific social groups. The Council supports the move by government to an equalisation of constituencies.  

 

 

Full Council therefore:

 

1) Supports the Electoral Registration Officer and his staff in continuing to conduct door-to-door inquiries at all households

2) resolves that a campaign is launched to encourage people to register,

3) requests that the Chief Executive ensures a joined-up approach across all parts of the Council working alongside the Electoral Registration Officer to encourage residents to register to vote”

 

UPON BEING PUT TO THE VOTE THE AMENDMENT WAS DECLARED CARRIED

 

UPON BEING PUT TO THE VOTE THE MOTION AS AMENDED WAS DECLARED CARRIED

 

RESOLVED that the motion as amended be approved.

 

(b) Micro-generation technologies

 

Councillor Slade moved and Councillor Drake seconded:

 

“Council welcomes the announcement of the Coalition Government that Local Authorities are to have the freedom to sell energy to the National Grid.

 

Council notes:

  1. Micro-generation of electricity is a proven technique and has already benefited businesses and communities across the UK.
  2. Environmentally-friendly energy production methods such as solar and wind power have been trialled successfully on this scale.
  3. Southampton has many resources that are ideal for harnessing micro-generation technologies.
  4. By adding to our portfolio of green infrastructure, the Council could enhance the City’s green credentials.
  5. The scale of micro-generation technologies means that they can be rolled out gradually over time, rather than having to rely on large up-front investment.

 

Council believes that:

  1. Micro-generation would allow the Council to generate its own power, and potentially sell surplus back to the National Grid, thereby saving money.
  2. Profits generated can be reinvested in environmental schemes, including further roll-out of the technologies.

 

Council therefore calls for:

  1. The installation of appropriate micro-generation technologies in all civic buildings where possible.
  2. Subsidising the cost of installing appropriate micro-generation technologies to communities that wish to take advantage of these technologies”.

 

Amendment moved by Councillor Dick and seconded by Councillor Dean:

 

AMENDMENT

 

In the second paragraph, bullet point (2), first line, delete the word “solar” and replace with “photovoltaic’s”

 

In the second paragraph, bullet point (5), second line, delete the rest of the sentence after the words “rolled out gradually over time”

 

In the third paragraph, bullet point (1), first line, delete the word “electricity” and replace with “power”

 

In the fourth paragraph, bullet point (2), first line, delete the words “Subsidising the cost of installing appropriate micro-generation technologies to communities” and replace with “The council to work where possible with local communities”

 

In the fourth paragraph, bullet point (2), second line, delete the words “of these techologies” and replace with “the installation of appropriate micro-generation technologies”

 

AMENDED MOTION TO READ:

 

“Council welcomes the announcement of the Coalition Government that Local Authorities are to have the freedom to sell energy to the National Grid.

 

Council notes:

  1. Micro-generation of electricity is a proven technique and has already benefited businesses and communities across the UK.
  2. Environmentally-friendly energy production methods such as Photovoltaic’s and wind power have been trialled successfully on this scale.
  3. Southampton has many resources that are ideal for harnessing micro-generation technologies.
  4. By adding to our portfolio of green infrastructure, the Council could enhance the City’s green credentials.
  5. The scale of micro-generation technologies means that they can be rolled out gradually over time, 

 

Council believes that:

  1. Micro-generation would allow the Council to generate its own electricity, and potentially sell surplus back to the National Grid, thereby saving money.
  2. Profits generated can be reinvested in environmental schemes, including further roll-out of the technologies.

 

Council therefore calls for:

  1. The installation of appropriate micro-generation technologies in all civic buildings where possible.
  2. The Council to work where possible with local communities that wish to take advantage of the installation of appropriate micro-generation technologies

UPON BEING PUT TO THE VOTE THE AMENDMENT WAS DECLARED CARRIED

UPON BEING PUT TO THE VOTE THE MOTION AS AMENDED WAS DECLARED CARRIED

 

RESOLVED that the motion as amended be approved.

 

 

(c)  Library Service and use of Volunteers

 

Councillor Burke moved and Councillor Bogle seconded:

 

“Southampton City Council calls on the Executive to drop its current proposals to use volunteer staff in the library service in place of members of staff”.

 

UPON BEING PUT TO THE VOTE THE MOTION WAS DECLARED LOST

 

RESOLVED that the motion be not approved.