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) Oswaldtwistle Civic Theatre
The following motion was proposed by Councillor Danny Cassidy and seconded by Councillor Marlene Haworth, with support from signatories Councillors Zak Khan, Loraine Cox and Kath Pratt, under Council Procedure Rule A9:
“The Civic Theatre is a hub of activity that has welcomed residents of all ages into an amazing space of creativity and arts. Sat in the heart of Oswaldtwistle, it provides a highly valuable community service to those in Hyndburn.
To ensure that the building is restored and reopened to a new glory, this Council commits to creating a new cross-party working group, to be chaired by Cllr Josh Allen, Deputy Mayor and local Ward Cllr for Immanuel.”
Councillors Kate Walsh and Stewart Eaves sought to move an amendment to the motion and a brief debate ensued about the issue of cross-party working. Councillor Khan indicated that this had been the subject of an earlier discussion between Councillor Whitehead and himself. However, in the absence of Councillor Whitehead it was not possible to clarify what had previously been agreed.
The Chief Executive sought to clarify the precise wording of the amendment, to enable officers to consider whether the proposed amendment was valid. Before that could be actioned, a suggestion was put that the Mover and Seconder of the Motion might consider withdrawing it to enable further discussions to take place outside of the meeting. Accordingly, Councillors Cassidy and Haworth sought to withdraw the motion and this received the consent of the meeting.
Councillors Alexander, Dad and Gilbert all spoke to affirm the Council’s commitment to returning the Civic Theatre to use and to working cross-party to achieve this outcome. Councillor Allen thanked Councillor Whitehead, in her absence, for having invited him to participate in the recent meeting about the Theatre.
2) Change to Council Procedure Rules
The following motion was proposed by Councillor Zak Khan and seconded by Councillor Danny Cassidy, with support from signatories Councillors Kath Pratt, Judith Addison, Loraine Cox, Josh Allen, Marlene Haworth, Mohammed Younis, Steven Smithson and Tina Walker, under Council Procedure Rule A9:
“This Council approves a change to Council Procedure Rules that reverts to allowing motions and notices to be signed by at least two members.”
Councillor Khan indicated that he had sent a letter to the Chief Executivesetting out the rationale for the proposal, which had subsequently been forwarded to the controlling group. In effect, democracy should be seen to be transparent. He acknowledged that when the change had been proposed initially, the Opposition had not noticed it. The original report had referred to changes highlighted in red, which were not apparent in the published Appendix.
Hyndburn was the only local authority in Lancashire, which had adopted this procedure. It was felt that this would unfairly affect minority political parties. Councillors Fazal, Allen and Haworth spoke in favour of the motion. Councillors Aziz, Walsh, Dad and Fisher spoke against the motion, noting that the original change had been fully supported at the Annual Council meeting.
On being put to the VOTE the motion was LOST.
3) Accrington Victoria Hospital
A motion in connection with Accrington Victoria Hospital was set out in the report provided for this Agenda Item. In moving the motion, Councillor Paul Cox made a minor alteration to the wording of paragraph (4) to clarify that the role of the working group would be to act as a consultative body.
The motion was seconded by Councillor Andrew Clegg, with support from signatories Councillors Munsif Dad, Bernard Dawson and Melissa Fisher, under Council Procedure Rule A9:
“This Council is hugely disappointed in the East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust decision to close Accrington Victoria Hospital. As such a short timetable was released by the Trust, we feel it failed to allow residents and the community to have their voices heard. We feel as a Council this action has disproportionately affected Hyndburn residents and particularly those of Accrington.
This Council asks the ELHT to pause this action and rather than close it, invest in the building and vital services it delivers.
The Council resolves to:
(1) Write to ELHT and ask them to pause this closure.
(2) Contact the Right Hon Wes Streeting, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, to ask him to formally ask the NHS Trust to stop this closure.
(3) Create a working group with key stakeholders including the NHS Trust, social housing providers and developers to look at forming a plan which will offer a solution to ongoing building issues and look to access funding that will ensure Hyndburn residents are given fair and proportional health care based in the heart of our town.
(4) Within the working group the Council would establish a residents, patients and local GP’s community panel to consider matters about the site.”
Councillor Paul Cox spoke about the history of the hospital, which was over 100 years old and had been built by public subscription to serve the community. He commented that ELHT appeared to have had an agenda to close the building for at least a decade. He expressed disappointment that the Trust had not approached the Council about options for the future of the hospital, that the building had been allowed to decline and that services had been eroded. He commented that investment had gone into hospital facilities in Blackburn and Burnley, but that these were under enormous pressure.
Councillors Clegg, Khan, Aziz, Dad, Fisher, Eaves, Haworth, Walsh, Clements, Anderson and Fazal spoke in support of the motion.
Councillor Paul Cox summed up by noting the need for more local healthcare services, particularly as additional housing was planned at Huncoat Garden Village. He considered that now was the time to act.
Resolved - That the Council agrees to:
(1) Write to ELHT and ask them to pause this closure.
(2) Contact the Right Hon Wes Streeting, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, to ask him to formally ask the NHS Trust to stop this closure.
(3) Create a working group with key stakeholders including the NHS Trust, social housing providers and developers to look at forming a plan which will offer a solution to ongoing building issues and look to access funding that will ensure Hyndburn residents are given fair and proportional health care based in the heart of our town.
(4) Within the working group, establish a residents, patients and local GP’s community panel to consider matters about the site.
4) Request for an Orgreave Inquiry
The following motion was proposed by Councillor Paul Cox and seconded by Councillor Andrew Clegg, with support from signatories Councillors Munsif Dad, Bernard Dawson and Melissa Fisher, under Council Procedure Rule A9:
“This Council is concerned and disappointed by consecutive Home Secretaries’ refusals to hold an inquiry into policing of events at Orgreave during the 1984/85 Miner’s Strike.
Many Hyndburn residents were involved in the dispute and were themselves members of the National Union of Mineworkers and as such have suffered injustice during the strike.
This Council congratulates the Scottish Parliament who in 2018 ordered an independent review to investigate and report on the impact of policing on affected communities in Scotland during the period of the miners’ strike from March 1984 – March 1985. As a consequence of this review the Miners’ Strike (Pardons) (Scotland) Act 2022 came into force on the 27th July 2022.
This Council is pleased that in 2018 the Bishop of Sheffield wrote to then Home Secretary, proposing that an Orgreave independent panel be established. This proposal was disappointingly rejected and more recently consecutive Home Secretaries have refused to meet with the Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign to discuss a way forward.
This Council is also pleased about the decision of the Welsh Assembly in 2018 to write to the then Home Secretary, Sajid Javid, to ask for an independent review into policing in England and Wales during the miners’ strike.
This Council praises the many Members of Parliament who have tried to use various parliamentary procedures to encourage the Government to hold an Orgreave inquiry.
This Council also praises the many other councils who have passed resolutions and contacted the Home Secretary to set up an Orgreave inquiry.
This Council resolves to:
(1) Ask, in light of such actions from the Scottish and Welsh Governments, the Bishop of Sheffield, Members of Parliament and Councils, that the current Labour Home Secretary holds an Orgreave inquiry, as soon as possible.
(2) Write to the Home Secretary to say that the opinion of this Council is that there is widespread public concern about events and policing throughout the miners’ strike and calls for the Home Secretary to order an Orgreave inquiry as soon as possible.”
Councillor Cox outlined the background to the motion and reiterated that many councils had passed similar motions on this matter. Councillor Stewart Eaves recounted his personal experiences outside the Orgreave Coking Plant, near Sheffield.
Resolved - That the Council agrees to:
(1) Ask, in light of such actions from the Scottish and Welsh Governments, the Bishop of Sheffield, Members of Parliament and Councils, that the current Labour Home Secretary holds an Orgreave inquiry as soon as possible.
(2) Write to the Home Secretary to say that the opinion of this Council is that there is widespread public concern about events and policing throughout the miners’ strike and calls for the Home Secretary to order an Orgreave inquiry as soon as possible.
5) M65 Review
The following motion was proposed by Councillor Noordad Aziz and seconded by Councillor Kate Walsh, with support from signatories Councillors Heather Anderson, Melissa Fisher, Vanessa Alexander and Munsif Dad, under Council Procedure Rule A9:
“This Council resolves to write to Highways England and Lancashire County Council to request an urgent review of the general safety of the M65 motorway. Given the frequency of recent accidents, including those occurring in daylight and at night, it is essential to assess this stretch for potential safety improvements, including but not limited to lighting. This review should aim to enhance overall road safety, reduce accident risks, and ensure the well-being of all road users.”
Councillor Aziz spoke about the concerns of residents and road users about safety issues along the M65. There had been a number of tragic accidents particularly at night and during bad weather on the motorway in Hyndburn. This had prompted him to review the number of fatalities on this stretch of road in the Borough and then to extend the review to encompass the whole length of the M65. One letter received from a resident had identified safety concerns following the switching off of the lighted section of motorway. A possible reduction in the speed limit at night was also suggested.
The Chief Executive reminded members that the responsible body for England's motorways and major A roads was now known as National Highways.
Councillors Andrew Clegg and Zak Khan spoke in favour of the motion.
Resolved - This Council agrees to write to National Highways and Lancashire County Council to request an urgent review of the general safety of the M65 motorway. Given the frequency of recent accidents, including those occurring in daylight and at night, it is essential to assess this stretch for potential safety improvements, including but not limited to lighting. This review should aim to enhance overall road safety, reduce accident risks and ensure the well-being of all road users.
The Mayor indicated that Agenda items 12 and 13 had been withdrawn.
Supporting documents: