Agenda item

Motion 1

To consider a notice of motion proposed by Councillor Daniel Williamson and seconded by Councillor Lee Waters, as follows:-

“The roads and footways throughout Ashfield are in a state of disrepair.

If not all District Councillors, the majority have received complaints about pot holes, crumbling road and footway surfaces along with uneven and sloping footpaths which are particularly dangerous for our disabled residents.

It is a fact that Nottinghamshire County Council is fully responsible for the maintenance of the highways throughout Nottinghamshire after the Conservatives abolished the MOPS contract. 

The Conservative led County Council has allocated more highway’s money to areas with more roads. This however is flawed due to the fact that many of Nottinghamshire’s roads are country roads and receive little use. It is time that a more realistic approach was taken to accurately reflect the situation on the ground and as such, addresses what is one of the biggest turnover of complaints made by our residents.

For the years 2018-19 and 2019-20 Ashfield had a total of £5,462,000 spent on Ashfield’s roads, whilst Rushcliffe had £8,412,991 for their roads. This includes a decrease for Ashfield’s busy roads and footways of £468,004 yet an increase of £320,053 for the country lanes of Rushcliffe.

I move that this Council writes to the Leader of Nottinghamshire County Council outlining our concerns in regard to this unfair distribution of funding and urge her to put in place a more relevant policy that prioritises road usage, and as such, brings up to standard the roads and footways in Ashfield something that Ashfield residents pay for as well as Rushcliffe residents.”

Motion 2

To consider a notice of motion proposed by Councillor Sarah Madigan and seconded by Councillor Christian Chapman, as follows:-

“Fireworks are used by people throughout the year to mark different events. And with this year being so depressing Bonfire Night with fireworks brought a brief moment of excitement and happiness.

However, fireworks do bring fear and distress for many animals including pets, farm livestock and wildlife. Animals affected not only suffer psychological distress but can also cause themselves injuries, sometimes very serious ones as they attempt to run away or hide from the loud and high intensity noises that many fireworks make.

To quote from the British Veterinary Association.

Around 1 in 14 vets across the country reported seeing animals with firework-related injuries over 2018 with most reports coming from equine vets. By far the most commonly reported cases were self-injuries caused by fireworks-related anxiety, for example, a dog who tried to escape from its kennel and in the process pulled out all of its front teeth, and a horse that suffered a fractured splint bone as it bolted from its field.

Further, the latest PDSA Animal Wellbeing report revealed that 3.6 million dogs could have suffered this Bonfire Night.  During 2018, PDSA's Pet Hospitals treated 1,400 animals for firework related issues such as phobias and injuries, an increase from 1,200 the previous year, a clear indication that not only do fireworks adversely affect many animals but more and more are suffering.

There is no doubt it is particularly the loud noise from fireworks that causes anxiety and harm to animals, but it doesn’t have to be this way because fireworks don’t have to be noisy to be spectacular. There are wide ranges of quiet fireworks throughout the country that give all the colours without the bangs, these are easily available so therefore consumers do have a choice when making their firework purchases.

We are not killjoys and don’t want to stop firework displays we do however want to stop animal suffering, and as such we propose the following.

1.    All future Ashfield District Council firework displays will use low noise fireworks and will encourage all residents of Ashfield to do the same.

2.    This Council resolves, to require all public firework displays within the local authority boundaries to be advertised in advance of the event, allowing residents to take precautions for their animals.

3.    To write to the UK Government urging them to introduce legislation to limit the maximum noise level of fireworks to 90dB for those sold to the public for private displays.

4.    To actively promote a public awareness campaign about the impact of fireworks on animal welfare including the precautions that can be taken to mitigate risks.”

Motion 3

To consider a notice of motion proposed by Councillor David Hennigan and seconded by Councillor Jim Blagden, as follows:-

“Ashfield District Council notes that from 1st May to 31st October – Value Added Tax (VAT) was set at a zero rate on supplies of PPE as defined by Public Health England’s coronavirus (COVID-19) PPE guidance on 24 April 2020.

This Council notes that from November 1st, face masks and gloves now cost more after the government said a waiver of VAT on personal protective equipment (PPE) would not be extended.

The Treasury has confirmed that the 20% sales tax would once more apply to protective equipment bought by firms and consumers after the six-month exemption.

This is a tax on safety and leaves the poorest vulnerable and is having an adverse impact on businesses and ordinary people, who are legally bound to use masks in shops and on public transport.

We note that food and convenience store owners and other businesses that are obliged to use PPE are now facing increased costs just when they are struggling most.  An increase of 20% is a significant amount and has led to increases in price for PPE equipment, it has slowed demand and is acting as a barrier to buying PPE for some, at a time when many people’s income has been reduced due to the pandemic.

This Council therefore resolves to write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak MP and Treasury Minister Jesse Norman MP to call for this decision to be reversed and a zero rate on VAT on supplies of PPE is reintroduced for the foreseeable future.”

The Council received a notice of motion moved by Councillor Daniel Williamson and seconded by Councillor Lee Waters as follows:-

“The roads and footways throughout Ashfield are in a state of disrepair.

If not all District Councillors, the majority have received complaints about pot holes, crumbling road and footway surfaces along with uneven and sloping footpaths which are particularly dangerous for our disabled residents.

It is a fact that Nottinghamshire County Council is fully responsible for the maintenance of the highways throughout Nottinghamshire after the Conservatives abolished the MOPS contract.

The Conservative led County Council has allocated more highway’s money to areas with more roads. This however is flawed due to the fact that many of Nottinghamshire’s roads are country roads and receive little use. It is time that a more realistic approach was taken to accurately reflect the situation on the ground and as such, addresses what is one of the biggest turnover of complaints made by our residents.

For the years 2018-19 and 2019-20 Ashfield had a total of £5,462,000 spent on Ashfield’s roads, whilst Rushcliffe had £8,412,991 for their roads. This includes a decrease for Ashfield’s busy roads and footways of £468,004 yet an increase of £320,053 for the country lanes of Rushcliffe.

I move that this Council writes to the Leader of Nottinghamshire County Council outlining our concerns in regard to this unfair distribution of funding and urge her to put in place a more relevant policy that prioritises road usage, and as such, brings up to standard the roads and footways in Ashfield something that Ashfield residents pay for as well as Rushcliffe residents.”

Having been fully considered, the motion was put to the vote and it was

RESOLVED

that this Council writes to the Leader of Nottinghamshire County Council outlining the Council’s concerns in regard to the unfair distribution of funding and to urge the Leader of Nottinghamshire County Council to put in place a more relevant policy that prioritises road usage, and as such, brings up to standard the roads and footways in Ashfield, something that Ashfield residents pay for as well as Rushcliffe residents.

(At this point in the proceedings and in accordance with Council Procedure

Rule 30, it was moved by Councillor Jason Zadrozny and seconded by

Councillor Rachel Madden that Procedure Rules 10 (Duration of Meeting) and 23 (Conclusion of Proceedings) be suspended, for the duration of the meeting, to enable all matters on the agenda to be satisfactorily concluded.

Having been put to the vote, the Council agreed with this course of action.)