Agenda item
Motion(s) submitted on Notice
Report attached.
Rules of Debate
· Each motion shall be debated for no more than 20 minutes before being put to the vote.
· No more than one and a half hours in totality shall be allowed at each meeting for the debate of all motions.
Minutes:
1) Israel/Palestine Conflict
The following motion, supported by the background information recorded below, was proposed by Councillor Paddy Short and seconded by Councillor Caroline Montague under Council Procedure Rule A9:
“Council notes:
- The continuing rising death toll, starvation of Gaza citizens, displacement and devastation to homes, infrastructure and environment in Gaza and the continuing threat of escalation beyond Israel, Gaza and the occupied territories.
- That the International Court of Justice interim ruling in January stated that Israel must ‘take all measures within its power’ to prevent all acts contravening the genocide convention and must immediately improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza. That the court also called for the immediate, unconditional release of all hostages.
- That the UN General Assembly gave overwhelming backing to calls for a ceasefire and for parties' compliance with international law and the release of all hostages.
- To date, around 70 percent of those killed have been women and children.
Council believes:
- Residents in our district/area are rightly concerned about the situation in the Middle East, its impact directly on people in our communities and upon community relations, and the rising tide of incidents of both anti-semitism and islamophobia.
- That the UK, and communities within the UK have the right and the duty to speak out and to take steps that can bring pressure to bear towards a ceasefire, the release of all hostages, the free flow of humanitarian aid and creation of space for dialogue towards a lasting settlement. That by refusing to call for an immediate ceasefire, and by continuing to allow the export of military hardware essential to the Israeli offensive the UK government and Labour Party have made itself complicit in the killing.
Council resolves to write to the UK Prime Minister and Leader of the UK Labour Party:
- Calling on the UK government and Labour Party to demand that Israel stop the killing and implement an immediate ceasefire and that Hamas must also agree to this ceasefire and release all hostages. Call on the UK government to suspend all arms export licences to Israel until the killing stops, and to cease all military collaboration with Israel, including allowing Israeli use of British bases and RAF intelligence flights over Gaza. Similarly to the measures rightly taken against Russia following its invasion of Ukraine, we further call on the UK government and Labour Party to back calls for Israel to be suspended from international sporting and music events, and to withdraw all public money from funds with investments in Israel; and end beneficial trade arrangements with Israel.
- We believe we can increase the pressure on Israeli leaders by introducing targeted sanctions against key individuals. This would include travel bans and asset freezes on Israel's leadership and cabinet members, in particular those calling for new settlements in Gaza and the annexation of the West Bank. Finally, we would encourage UK authorities including the Metropolitan Police and Director of Public Prosecutions to pursue perpetrators of war crimes committed where UK citizens are the victims or where UK citizens are potential perpetrators.”
During the debate and with the consent of the meeting, the Mayor agreed that the 20 minutes limit on the time allowed for the debate on an individual Motion, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule A9.6, should be waived.
Councillors Sajid Mahmood, Josh Allen, Paul Cox, Dave Parkins, Mike Booth, Mohammed Younis and Peter Britcliffe spoke in favour of the Motion. Councillor Kate Walsh reminded councillors that the Opposition Group had expressed its deep concerns about the situation in Gaza on numerous earlier occasions, but felt unable to support the Motion as currently worded and was recommending to its members that they should abstain. Councillor Munsif Dad reiterated these points, whilst emphasizing that the Hyndburn Labour group did support a ceasefire.
Councillor Short summed up and called upon Members to support the Motion on humanitarian grounds.
Resolved - That the Council resolves to write to the UK Prime Minister and Leader of the UK Labour Party:
(1) Calling on the UK government and Labour Party to demand that Israel stop the killing and implement an immediate ceasefire and that Hamas must also agree to this ceasefire and release all hostages. Call on the UK government to suspend all arms export licences to Israel until the killing stops, and to cease all military collaboration with Israel, including allowing Israeli use of British bases and RAF intelligence flights over Gaza. Similarly to the measures rightly taken against Russia following its invasion of Ukraine, we further call on the UK government and Labour Party to back calls for Israel to be suspended from international sporting and music events, and to withdraw all public money from funds with investments in Israel; and end beneficial trade arrangements with Israel.
(2) We believe we can increase the pressure on Israeli leaders by introducing targeted sanctions against key individuals. This would include travel bans and asset freezes on Israel's leadership and cabinet members, in particular those calling for new settlements in Gaza and the annexation of the West Bank. Finally, we would encourage UK authorities including the Metropolitan Police and Director of Public Prosecutions to pursue perpetrators of war crimes committed where UK citizens are the victims or where UK citizens are potential perpetrators
With the consent of the meeting, the Mayor called for a brief adjournment to allow the public gallery to clear.
The meeting then agreed that the one and a half hours total time limit for all Motions on the Agenda, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule A9.6, should be waived, with the debate closing no later than 9.30pm.
2) Motion on Potential Link Road
The following motion, supported by the background information recorded below, was proposed by Councillor Noordad Aziz and seconded by Councillor Melissa Fisher under Council Procedure Rule A9:
“That this Council resolves to write to the Government and Lancashire County Council to make the case for a link road potentially connecting the M65 to Great Harwood, aimed at alleviating congestion on Whalley Road in Clayton-le-Moors.
The congestion on Whalley Road in Clayton-le-Moors poses significant challenges for the borough, and this will only increase as additional development takes place.”
Councillors Josh Allen, Steven Smithson, Zak Khan, Kath Pratt, Munsif Dad and Melissa Fisher spoke in favour of the motion.
Resolved - That this Council resolves to write to the Government and Lancashire County Council to make the case for a link road potentially connecting the M65 to Great Harwood, aimed at alleviating congestion on Whalley Road in Clayton-le-Moors.
3) Whinney Hill Waste Transfer Site
The following motion was proposed by Councillor Steven Smithson and seconded by Councillor Loraine Cox under Council Procedure Rule A9:
“This Council recognises the threat to borough councils in East Lancashire that the potential closure of Whinney Hill Tip poses in 2026. Such a closure would mean that non-recyclable waste would need to be transferred to Leyland, at significant increased cost.
This Council understands that East Lancashire Members of Parliament have written to Lancashire County Council requesting a meeting on this subject.
Hyndburn Borough Council resolves to support any solution that would see Lancashire County Council invest in waste transfer in East Lancashire and will additionally write to Lancashire County Council seeking a solution.”
Councillors Munsif Dad, Zak Khan, Paul Cox and Noordad Aziz spoke in favour of the motion. Councillor Dave Parkins spoke to highlight his concerns about increased traffic in Huncoat, if a waste transfer station were to be constructed in the vicinity
Resolved (1) That the Council recognises the threat to borough councils in East Lancashire that the potential closure of Whinney Hill Tip poses in 2026. Such a closure would mean that non-recyclable waste would need to be transferred to Leyland, at significant increased cost.
(2) That the Council understands that East Lancashire Members of Parliament have written to Lancashire County Council requesting a meeting on this subject.
(3) That the Council resolves to support any solution that would see Lancashire County Council invest in waste transfer in East Lancashire and will additionally write to Lancashire County Council seeking a solution.
4) An Option Engineering Study at the Hare & Hounds Junction
The following motion was proposed by Councillor Carole Haythornthwaite and seconded by Councillor Peter Edwards under Council Procedure Rule A9:
“This Council welcomes the £494 million investment in Lancashire’s transport infrastructure thanks to savings from the northern leg of HS2.
The Council resolves to support the efforts of Hyndburn’s Member of Parliament in seeking to secure some of this funding for an option engineering study to look at the options for solving the congestion problems at the Hare & Hounds Junction in Clayton-le-Moors.
The Council recognises that this traffic situation at the junction cannot continue, the status quo being undesirable for both drivers and residents, and will support Hyndburn’s Member of Parliament in her effort to obtain funding from Lancashire County Council for an option engineering study.”
Councillor Haythornthwaite spoke to introduce the main elements of the motion.
Resolved (1) That the Council welcomes the £494 million investment in Lancashire’s transport infrastructure thanks to savings from the northern leg of HS2.
(2) That the Council resolves to support the efforts of Hyndburn’s Member of Parliament in seeking to secure some of this funding for an option engineering study to look at the options for solving the congestion problems at the Hare & Hounds Junction in Clayton-le-Moors.
(3) That the Council recognises that this traffic situation at the junction cannot continue, the status quo being undesirable for both drivers and residents, and will support Hyndburn’s Member of Parliament in her effort to obtain funding from Lancashire County Council for an option engineering study.
5) Economic Strategy
The following motion was proposed by Councillor Zak Khan and seconded by Councillor Peter Britcliffe under Council Procedure Rule A9:
“This Council welcomes proposals for an economic investment strategy to provide a basis to attract and retain business in Hyndburn.”
Councillors Paddy Short, Noordad Aziz, Josh Allen, Mohammed Younis and Carole Haythornthwaite spoke in favour of the motion.
Councillor Mike Booth spoke to extol the benefits of local authorities investing in schemes which would provide cheaper energy for local businesses. Councillor Munsif Dad highlighted the opportunity for links to Accrington and Rossendale College’s Business Centre.
Resolved - That this Council welcomes proposals for an economic investment strategy to provide a basis to attract and retain business in Hyndburn.
With the agreement of the Mayor, Councillor Noordad Aziz read aloud a message from Councillor Abdul Khan.
Councillor Abdul Khan wished to announce that he would not stand for re-election in 2024 after 12 years on the Council. He could not be present tonight due to illness and this would have been his final Council meeting. He was pleased that the date had been changed to accommodate those observing Ramadan. He had thoroughly enjoyed his time on the Council, serving the people of Hyndburn. He mentioned a number of friends and colleagues who had passed away during his tenure, of whom he had fond memories. He hoped that all would continue to work to promote community cohesion in the Borough and he thanked numerous individuals for their support over the years. Finally, he wished everyone all the very best for the future.
The Chief Executive commented that public service could be difficult at times. He expressed his thanks to all those councillors whose term of office was coming to an end, and wished them well whether they chose to retire or to stand again at the local election in May.
The Mayor thanked all for their attendance and closed the meeting.
Supporting documents: