Minutes:
The Council received a notice of motion moved by Councillor Tom Hollis and seconded by Councillor Jason Zadrozny as follows:-
“This Council is committed to regenerating our Town Centres. This Council recognises the problems caused by crime and anti-social social behaviour and its effect on trade.
This Council notes the decisive action taken after complaints about serious anti-social behaviour in the centre of Sutton, congratulates Ashfield District Council on its multi-agency approach to tackle the issues raised and welcomes the difference that our action has made to resident’s lives.
This Council further notes the adverse effect that drug taking is having on our Town Centres with a rise in the use of dangerous drugs like ‘Black Mamba’ or ‘Spice’ with parts of our District resembling horror films.
This Council acknowledges that the main way we can call for extra police resources via Nottinghamshire Police is through the Police and Crime Panel. This Council regrets that the former Labour Leader of this Council failed to attend a single meeting for 8 months.
This Council resolves to:
1) Write to the Home Secretary backing the call for drugs like ‘Black Mamba’ or ‘Spice’ to be reclassified as Class A drugs to give the Police more power to act.
2) To fully co-operate with the ‘Black Mamba/Spice Summit’ that the leader of Ashfield District Council called for at a recent meeting of Nottinghamshire County Council.
3) To write to Police and Crime Commissioner Paddy Tipping calling for more police resources across the Ashfield District.”
Councillor Cheryl Butler moved an amendment to the motion, seconded by Councillor Paul Roberts, in the following terms:-
“This Council is committed to regenerating our Town Centres. This Council recognises the problems caused by crime and anti-social social behaviour and its effect on trade.
This Council notes the decisive action taken after complaints about serious anti-social behaviour in the centre of Sutton, congratulates Ashfield District Council on its multi-agency approach to tackle the issues raised and welcomes the difference that our action has made to resident’s lives.
This Council further notes the adverse effect that drug taking is having on our Town Centres with a rise in the use of dangerous drugs like ‘Black Mamba’ or ‘Spice’ with parts of our District.
This Council acknowledges that the main way we can call for extra police resources via Nottinghamshire Police is through the Police and Crime Panel.
This Council resolves to:
1) Write to the Home Secretary backing the call for drugs like ‘Black Mamba’ or ‘Spice’ to be reclassified as Class A drugs to give the Police more power to act.
2) To fully co-operate with the ‘Black Mamba/Spice Summit’ that the leader of Ashfield District Council called for at a recent meeting of Nottinghamshire County Council.
3) To write to Police and Crime Commissioner Paddy Tipping calling for more police resources across the Ashfield District.”
The meeting was adjourned at 7.55 p.m. to enable Members to consider the amendment. The meeting reconvened at 8.05 p.m.
Having considered the suggested amendment, Councillors Tom Hollis and Jason Zadrozny, as the mover and seconder of the motion, duly agreed to the change of wording.
Having been fully considered, the substantive motion was then put to the vote and it was
RESOLVED
that this Council agrees to:
a) write to the Home Secretary backing the call for drugs like ‘Black Mamba’ or ‘Spice’ to be reclassified as Class A drugs to give the Police more power to act;
b) fully co-operate with the ‘Black Mamba/Spice Summit’ that the Leader of Ashfield District Council called for at a recent meeting of Nottinghamshire County Council;
c) write to Police and Crime Commissioner Paddy Tipping calling for more police resources across the Ashfield District.
(During consideration of this motion, Councillor Rachel Madden left the room at 7.44 p.m. and returned to the meeting at 7.46 p.m.)