Agenda item

In accordance with the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 12, the Council will consider a Motion to Council submitted by Councillor Maria Fowler.

Minutes:

Council had before it the following motion, notice of which had been given by Councillor Fowler pursuant to Council Procedure Rule 12:-

 

“That this Council recognises the anger, concern and inconvenience caused to the residents of the Tendring District as a result of the introduction of the new refuse collection arrangements.

 

That this Council instigates a review of the issues arising from the new system and the manner of its introduction by the appropriate overview and scrutiny committee with the instruction that the committee reports its findings to the next ordinary meeting of the Council.”

 

Councillor Fowler formally moved the motion, and Councillor M E Stephenson formally seconded the motion.

 

Councillor Fowler then explained the purpose of the motion and gave her reasons why she felt that it would be appropriate for the motion to be dealt with at the meeting. They included that many Members had received complaints and concerns from residents about the implementation of the new refuse collection contract which was a subject that had never been debated at Full Council. She felt that Members deserved an opportunity to air their residents’ complaints and their own concerns on this matter with a view of helping to inform the scope of the Resources and Services Overview and Scrutiny’s review of the implementation of the contract.

 

Councillor Stephenson then also gave his reasons why the motion should be dealt with at the meeting. They included that it would help Members meet their obligations under Article 2.03 of the Council’s Constitution (Key roles of Councillors) i.e. 

 

“(ii)       Represent their communities and bring their views into the Council’s decision-making process, i.e. become an advocate for their communities;

 

(iii)       Effectively represent the interests of their ward and of individual residents;

 

(iv)       Respond to residents’ enquiries and representations, fairly and impartially and assist in the resolution of concerns and grievances;”

 

The Leader of the Council (Councillor Stock OBE) then responded and agreed that the motion should be dealt with at the meeting notwithstanding that in his opinion Councillor Fowler’s motion was contrary to Council Procedure Rule 14(f) (i.e. it was included within the work programme of an overview and scrutiny committee and specifically that of the Resources and Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting for its meeting to be held in February 2020) and should therefore not have been permitted to be included on the agenda for this Council meeting.

 

The Chairman of the Council (Councillor Land) then made his ruling on whether the motion should be dealt with at the meeting or stand referred. He decided that the motion would be dealt with at the meeting.

 

Councillor Miles addressed the Council on the subject matter of Councillor Fowler’s motion.

 

Councillor Talbot then moved and Councillor Stock seconded that Councillor Fowler’s motion be amended to read as follows:-

 

“That this Council notes that a review of the issues arising from the new Waste and Recycling collection system and the manner of its introduction is to be conducted by the Resources and Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee at their meeting on 17th February 2020, as part of that Committee’s work programme.

 

The detailed results of such review will be reported to the following Council meeting as part of that Overview and Scrutiny Committee’s minutes.”

 

Councillors I J Henderson, P B Honeywood, Davidson, Clifton, Calver, Porter, M E Stephenson, Griffiths, Scott, Allen, Barry, Miles, Bush, J Henderson, Fairley, Steady, G V Guglielmi, Stock OBE and Fowler all addressed the Council on the subject matter of Councillor Talbot’s amendment.

 

In accordance with the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 19.4, Councillor Fowler asked that a record of the vote on Councillor Talbot’s amendment be taken. The request was supported by the requisite number of Councillors.

 

Accordingly, the result of that recorded vote was as follows:

 

 

Councillors For

Councillors Against

Councillors Abstaining

Councillors Not Present

 

Alexander

Amos

Bray

Broderick

Chittock

Codling

Coley

Fairley

Griffiths

G V Guglielmi

V E Guglielmi

P B Honeywood

S A Honeywood

King

Land

McWilliams

Newton

Overton

Porter

Skeels

Stock

Talbot

Winfield

 

Allen

Barry

Bush

Calver

Casey

Chapman

Clifton

Davidson

Davis

Fowler

Harris

I J Henderson

J Henderson

Knowles

Miles

Placey

Scott

Steady

G L Stephenson

M E Stephenson

 

 

None

 

Cawthron

Morrison

Turner

White

Wiggins

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Councillor Talbot’s amendment was thereupon declared CARRIED.

 

Councillor M E Stephenson then moved and Councillor Bush seconded that Councillor Talbot’s motion be amended to read as follows:-

 

“That this Council notes that a review of the issues arising from the new Waste and Recycling collection system and the manner of its introduction is to be conducted by the Resources and Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee at their meeting on 17th February 2020, as part of that Committee’s work programme.

 

The detailed results of such review will be reported to the following Council meeting.”

 

Councillor Stephenson’s amendment, on being put to the vote, was declared CARRIED.

 

The motion, as further amended, on being put to the vote as the substantive motion was declared CARRIED.

 

Supporting documents: