Agenda item

Agenda item

Motions submitted under Council Procedure Rule 13.0

1.      The following motion has been proposed by Councillor Bell and seconded by Councillor Smith –

 

         “Watford Council condemns the proposals in the Government’s planning bill that will take away our local democratic oversight and scrutiny of planning applications.

         Planning will be taken away from locally elected representatives and handed over to development boards appointed by Ministers in Whitehall.

         The boards will zone areas for future development. Residents living in areas designated for growth or renewal will find that they no longer have the right to object to tower blocks at the end of the Road, to the concreting over of green space or to oversized developments that will overburden local infrastructure here in Watford such as roads, GP surgeries and public transport.

         Watford Council believes that regeneration works best for all our residents if we have a strong local partnership between the Council, local community groups and developers.

         The best developers understand this and its in their interests to work positively with the council and our communities in this collaborative way.

         This Council resolves that the Mayor writes to the secretary of state for Housing, communities and Local Government expressing our strong objections to the new planning bill and we want to keep the right of communities to object to individual planning applications.”

 

2.      The following motion was proposed by Councillor Turmaine and seconded by Councillor Watling –

 

         TITLE: INFORMING MEMBERS OF WARD ACTIVITY

 

         This council notes that all members work towards responding to residents needs and delivering the best service they can as an elected councillor for the area that they represent.

 

         In order to effectively achieve this, members need to know about activity that the council is planning or undertakes in their ward ahead of it happening, so that they have the opportunity to be involved and can represent their residents’ interests.

 

         Therefore, this council resolves to:

 

       Ensure that all relevant staff are aware of the requirement to keep local ward members informed and that the timing of such information allows members to contribute to those discussions.

       Local ward members should also be kept informed about matters affecting their wards during the formative stages of policy development. It is important in an effective democratic process that they know early on if they are to deal with their constituents’ concerns or to exert influence on their behalf.

       If local ward members do not attend such a meeting for whatever reason, they should be advised by the convenor of the meeting (provided the meeting is convened by the Council or its officers) of any significant outcome.

       Whenever the Council undertakes any form of consultation exercise, the local ward members will be notified at the outset of the exercise.

       Local ward members will be advised of all planning applications relating to their wards (and be able to view them within the Council as the Planning Authority). Licensing applications are available for viewing on the website, which is routinely updated.

       Where any public meeting to be held in a member’s ward is arranged by the Council the local ward members for the ward in which the public meeting takes place will be informed of the event and invited to attend by the Chief Executive or relevant Director.

       Local ward members will be invited to the opening of any Council buildings/projects or launches of services in their wards.

       A copy of the Mayoral Engagement List shall be sent by electronic means to all members in order that they are kept informed of the Mayor/Deputy Mayor’s attendance at any occasion in their ward.

       Where a local liaison or local consultation group is established by the Council, local ward members should be invited to attend to observe if not appointed as a member of the group.

       Any publicity activity organised by officers in a member’s ward whether of a local nature or borough wide nature will seek to involve the relevant local ward members.

Minutes:

Council was informed that two motions had been received.

 

Motion 1

 

The following motion was proposed by Councillor Bell, seconded by Councillor Smith:

            

“Watford Council condemns the proposals in the Government’s planning bill that will take away our local democratic oversight and scrutiny of planning applications.

 

Planning will be taken away from locally elected representatives and handed over to development boards appointed by Ministers in Whitehall. 

 

The boards will zone areas for future development. Residents living in areas designated for growth or renewal will find that they no longer have the right to object to tower blocks at the end of the Road, to the concreting over of green space or to oversized developments that will overburden local infrastructure here in Watford such as roads, GP surgeries and public transport.

 

Watford Council believes that regeneration works best for all our residents if we have a strong local partnership between the Council, local community groups and developers.

 

The best developers understand this and its in their interests to work positively with the council and our communities in this collaborative way.

 

This Council resolves that the Mayor writes to the secretary of state for Housing, communities and Local Government expressing our strong objections to the new planning bill and we want to keep the right of communities to object to individual planning applications.”

 

Members debated the motion.

 

On being put to Council the motion was agreed.

 

RESOLVED –

 

Watford Council condemns the proposals in the Government’s planning bill that will take away our local democratic oversight and scrutiny of planning applications.

 

Planning will be taken away from locally elected representatives and handed over to development boards appointed by Ministers in Whitehall. 

 

The boards will zone areas for future development. Residents living in areas designated for growth or renewal will find that they no longer have the right to object to tower blocks at the end of the Road, to the concreting over of green space or to oversized developments that will overburden local infrastructure here in Watford such as roads, GP surgeries and public transport.

 

Watford Council believes that regeneration works best for all our residents if we have a strong local partnership between the Council, local community groups and developers.

 

The best developers understand this and its in their interests to work positively with the council and our communities in this collaborative way.

 

This Council resolves that the Mayor writes to the secretary of state for Housing, communities and Local Government expressing our strong objections to the new planning bill and we want to keep the right of communities to object to individual planning applications.

 

Motion 2

 

The following motion was proposed by Councillor Turmaine and seconded by

Councillor Watling:

 

Title: Informing members of ward activity

 

This council notes that all members work towards responding to residents needs and delivering the best service they can as an elected councillor for the area that they represent.

 

In order to effectively achieve this, members need to know about activity that the council is planning or undertakes in their ward ahead of it happening, so that they have the opportunity to be involved and can represent their residents’ interests.

 

Therefore, this council resolves to:

 

         Ensure that all relevant staff are aware of the requirement to keep local ward members informed and that the timing of such information allows members to contribute to those discussions.

         Local ward members should also be kept informed about matters affecting their wards during the formative stages of policy development. It is important in an effective democratic process that they know early on if they are to deal with their constituents’ concerns or to exert influence on their behalf.

         If local ward members do not attend such a meeting for whatever reason, they should be advised by the convenor of the meeting (provided the meeting is convened by the Council or its officers) of any significant outcome.

         Whenever the Council undertakes any form of consultation exercise, the local ward members will be notified at the outset of the exercise.

         Local ward members will be advised of all planning applications relating to their wards (and be able to view them within the Council as the Planning Authority). Licensing applications are available for viewing on the website, which is routinely updated.

         Where any public meeting to be held in a member’s ward is arranged by the Council the local ward members for the ward in which the public meeting takes place will be informed of the event and invited to attend by the Chief Executive or relevant Director.

         Local ward members will be invited to the opening of any Council buildings/projects or launches of services in their wards.

         A copy of the Mayoral Engagement List shall be sent by electronic means to all members in order that they are kept informed of the Mayor/Deputy Mayor’s attendance at any occasion in their ward.

         Where a local liaison or local consultation group is established by the Council, local ward members should be invited to attend to observe if not appointed as a member of the group.

         Any publicity activity organised by officers in a member’s ward whether of a local nature or borough wide nature will seek to involve the relevant local ward members.”

 

Members debated the motion.

 

On being put to Council the motion was LOST.

 

 

 

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