1.     The following motion has been proposed by Councillor Stotesbury and seconded by Councillor Hofman

“This council notes that currently stations in Watford Borough sit in Zone 7 in the case of Watford Metropolitan Line Station, Zone 8 in the case of Watford High Street and Bushey, or in Zone ‘W’ in the case of Watford Junction station.

 

This council notes that commuters in Watford, which is 16.5 miles from their main central London terminus, pay around £1000 a year more than a commuter from Epping, which is also 16.5 miles from its central London terminus but in Zone 6.

 

This council notes that this is deeply unfair on Watford commuters who travel from all Watford stations, who currently have to pay more to travel the same distance into central London.

 

This council resolves to ask the Elected Mayor to write to TfL and the Mayor of London to ask on behalf of the council for all stations in Watford Borough to be moved into Zone 6.”

 

2.     The following motion has been proposed by Councillor Williams and is seconded by Councillor Bell

“The Council opposes Hertfordshire's Police and Crime Commissioner's proposal to become the Fire and Rescue Authority for Hertfordshire and that the Fire and Rescue Service should remain under the control and democratic accountability of Hertfordshire County Council.

 

The Council therefore fully supports the view taken by Hertfordshire County Council in this regard, and its Leader's submission to the Home Office dated 22nd June, 2018 (attached).

 

The Council therefore instructs the Elected Mayor to write to the Minister of State for Policing and the Fire Service in similar vein as the Leader of Hertfordshire County Council, highlighting that this Council opposes Hertfordshire's Police and Crime Commissioner's proposal to become the Fire and Rescue Authority for Hertfordshire.”

3.     The following motion has been proposed by Councillor Khan and seconded by Councillor Bell

“70 Year of the NHS

The council notes that;

This July sees the 70th anniversary of the creation of our National Health Service. It is one of this country’s proudest and greatest achievements.

We cherish the way it puts people first and supports us at every stage of our lives, but we need to guarantee that it serves us for generations to come.

Over the past 8 years the Tories have starved the NHS of the resources it needs, they have allowed more and more local services to be privatised and undermined staff doing their best to care for the sick.

We note that the government has pledged to increase funding by £20billion, however we need more funding to transform our NHS to make it even better.

Our A&E is overstretched, The Hospital Trust is in financial crisis as well as the Herts Valley Clinical Commissioning Group. Cuts are being made to our local NHS services, including the inspirational Nascot Lawn centre.

One in four people now wait a week or more to see a GP. Despite all this, our NHS front line staff do a fantastic job.

 

The council calls on the Mayor to write to the Health Secretary and Chancellor demanding that they

-       Fully fund the NHS nationally and locally so that the cuts to our services are reversed.

-       Finance the building of a new hospital in Watford at its current site without further delay.

-       Protect patients and staff, ensuring the long-term sustainability of our health service.

This council will set up a Watford NHS covenant, open to all residents, councillors and organisations to sign, pledging their support of the ideals of the NHS and ensuring that those who work in the NHS are treated fairly and with respect.

·         that it meet the needs of everyone

·         that it be free at the point of delivery

·         that it be based on clinical need, not ability to pay”

 

Council was informed that three motions had been received.

 

Motion 1

 

The following motion was proposed by Councillor Ian Stotesbury and originally seconded by Councillor Mark Hofman; at the meeting councillors were informed that it was now seconded by Councillor Stephen Bolton

 

“This Council notes that currently stations in Watford Borough sit in Zone 7 in the case of Watford Metropolitan Line Station, Zone 8 in the case of Watford High Street and Bushey, or in Zone ‘W’ in the case of Watford Junction station.

 

This Council notes that commuters in Watford, which is 16.5 miles from their main central London terminus, pay around £1000 a year more than a commuter from Epping, which is also 16.5 miles from its central London terminus but in Zone 6. 

 

This Council notes that this is deeply unfair on Watford commuters who travel from all Watford stations, who currently have to pay more to travel the same distance into central London.

 

This Council resolves to ask the Elected Mayor to write to TfL and the Mayor of London to ask on behalf of the Council for all stations in Watford Borough to be moved into Zone 6.”

 

Members debated the motion.

 

On being put to council the motion was AGREED.

 

RESOLVED –

 

This Council notes that currently stations in Watford Borough sit in Zone 7 in the case of Watford Metropolitan Line Station, Zone 8 in the case of Watford High Street and Bushey, or in Zone ‘W’ in the case of Watford Junction station.

 

This Council notes that commuters in Watford, which is 16.5 miles from their main central London terminus, pay around £1000 a year more than a commuter from Epping, which is also 16.5 miles from its central London terminus but in Zone 6. 

 

This Council notes that this is deeply unfair on Watford commuters who travel from all Watford stations, who currently have to pay more to travel the same distance into central London.

 

This Council resolves to ask the Elected Mayor to write to TfL and the Mayor of London to ask on behalf of the Council for all stations in Watford Borough to be moved into Zone 6.

 

 

Motion 2

 

The following motion was moved by Councillor Williams and seconded by Councillor Bell

 

“The Council opposes Hertfordshire's Police and Crime Commissioner's proposal to become the Fire and Rescue Authority for Hertfordshire and that the Fire and Rescue Service should remain under the control and democratic accountability of Hertfordshire County Council. 

 

The Council therefore fully supports the view taken by Hertfordshire County Council in this regard, and its Leader's submission to the Home Office dated 22nd June, 2018 (attached). 

 

The Council therefore instructs the Elected Mayor to write to the Minister of State for Policing and the Fire Service in similar vein as the Leader of Hertfordshire County Council, highlighting that this Council opposes Hertfordshire's Police and Crime Commissioner's proposal to become the Fire and Rescue Authority for Hertfordshire.”

 

Members debated the motion.

 

On being put to council the motion was AGREED.

                   

RESOLVED –

      

The Council opposes Hertfordshire's Police and Crime Commissioner's proposal to become the Fire and Rescue Authority for Hertfordshire and that the Fire and Rescue Service should remain under the control and democratic accountability of Hertfordshire County Council. 

 

The Council therefore fully supports the view taken by Hertfordshire County Council in this regard, and its Leader's submission to the Home Office dated 22nd June, 2018 (attached). 

 

The Council therefore instructs the Elected Mayor to write to the Minister of State for Policing and the Fire Service in similar vein as the Leader of Hertfordshire County Council, highlighting that this Council opposes Hertfordshire's Police and Crime Commissioner's proposal to become the Fire and Rescue Authority for Hertfordshire.

 

 

Motion 3

 

The following motion was proposed by Councillor Khan and seconded by Councillor Bell

 

“70 Year of the NHS

The Council notes that;

This July sees the 70th anniversary of the creation of our National Health Service. It is one of this country’s proudest and greatest achievements.

 

We cherish the way it puts people first and supports us at every stage of our lives, but we need to guarantee that it serves us for generations to come.

 

Over the past 8 years the Tories have starved the NHS of the resources it needs, they have allowed more and more local services to be privatised and undermined staff doing their best to care for the sick.

 

We note that the government has pledged to increase funding by £20billion, however we need more funding to transform our NHS to make it even better.

 

Our A&E is overstretched, The Hospital Trust is in financial crisis as well as the Herts Valley Clinical Commissioning Group. Cuts are being made to our local NHS services, including the inspirational Nascot Lawn centre.

 

One in four people now wait a week or more to see a GP. Despite all this, our NHS front line staff do a fantastic job.

 

The Council calls on the Mayor to write to the Health Secretary and Chancellor demanding that they

-          Fully fund the NHS nationally and locally so that the cuts to our services are reversed.

-          Finance the building of a new hospital in Watford at its current site without further delay.

-          Protect patients and staff, ensuring the long-term sustainability of our health service.

 

This Council will set up a Watford NHS covenant, open to all residents, councillors and organisations to sign, pledging their support of the ideals of the NHS and ensuring that those who work in the NHS are treated fairly and with respect.

 

·       that it meet the needs of everyone

·       that it be free at the point of delivery

·       that it be based on clinical need, not ability to pay”

 

Councillor Collett moved the following amendment, which was seconded by Councillor Sharpe

 

“Delete ‘Over the past 8 years’ (paragraph 3)

 

Insert after ‘The Council calls on the Mayor to:…’

 

‘1.       Continue to work in partnership with West Hertfordshire Hospitals Trust towards the goal of providing improved healthcare facilities at Watford General Hospital, ensuring that Council land can be used to meet the hospital’s needs, as has been done with Thomas Sawyer Way.’

 

Insert numeral ‘2.’ Before ‘Write to the…’

 

After ‘long-term sustainability of our health service’

Insert

 

‘•        Introduce a 1p rise in the basic, higher and additional rates of income tax to raise an extra £7 billion of additional revenue ringfenced for the NHS and social care.

•          Direct this investment to the following priority areas, which will have the greatest impact on quality of care: social care, primary care (and other out-of-hospital care), mental health and public health.

•          Bring together NHS and social care into one seamless service – pooling budgets in every area and developing integrated care organisations.

•          Ensure that Brexit does not adversely affect recruitment and retention of NHS staff from the EU.’”

           

Councillor Turmaine proposed that the amendment be amended further

 

“The last bullet point be amended to start ‘Make every effort’ instead of ‘Ensure’.”

 

Councillor Collett was happy for the amendment to be changed to reflect Councillor Turmaine’s proposal and Councillor Khan accepted the changes to his original motion.

 

Members debated the amended motion.

 

On being put to council the amended motion was AGREED.

 

RESOLVED –

 

70 Year of the NHS

The Council notes that;

This July sees the 70th anniversary of the creation of our National Health Service. It is one of this country’s proudest and greatest achievements.

 

We cherish the way it puts people first and supports us at every stage of our lives, but we need to guarantee that it serves us for generations to come.

 

The Tories have starved the NHS of the resources it needs, they have allowed more and more local services to be privatised and undermined staff doing their best to care for the sick.

 

We note that the government has pledged to increase funding by £20billion, however we need more funding to transform our NHS to make it even better.

 

Our A&E is overstretched, The Hospital Trust is in financial crisis as well as the Herts Valley Clinical Commissioning Group. Cuts are being made to our local NHS services, including the inspirational Nascot Lawn centre.

 

One in four people now wait a week or more to see a GP. Despite all this, our NHS front line staff do a fantastic job.

 

The Council calls on the Mayor to

 

1.         Continue to work in partnership with West Hertfordshire Hospitals Trust towards the goal of providing improved healthcare facilities at Watford General Hospital, ensuring that council land can be used to meet the hospital’s needs, as has been done with Thomas Sawyer Way.

 

2.         Write to the Health Secretary and Chancellor demanding that they

 

·                 Fully fund the NHS nationally and locally so that the cuts to our services are reversed.

·                 Finance the building of a new hospital in Watford at its current site without further delay.

·                 Protect patients and staff, ensuring the long-term sustainability of our health service.

·                 Introduce a 1p rise in the basic, higher and additional rates of income tax to raise an extra £7 billion of additional revenue ringfenced for the NHS and social care.

·                 Direct this investment to the following priority areas, which will have the greatest impact on quality of care: social care, primary care (and other out-of-hospital care), mental health and public health.

·                 Bring together NHS and social care into one seamless service – pooling budgets in every area and developing integrated care organisations.

·                 Make every effort that Brexit does not adversely affect recruitment and retention of NHS staff from the EU.

 

This Council will set up a Watford NHS covenant, open to all residents, councillors and organisations to sign, pledging their support of the ideals of the NHS and ensuring that those who work in the NHS are treated fairly and with respect.

 

·       that it meet the needs of everyone

·       that it be free at the point of delivery

·       that it be based on clinical need, not ability to pay