(i) In accordance with Rule No 13.1, Councillor P. Peacock will move and Councillor N. Mitchell will second a motion to the following effect:
“This Council
1. Notes the conclusion of the Home Affairs Select Committee report (Policing for the future, published on the 25th of October 2018) that “Policing is struggling to cope in the face of changing and rising crimes” and its recommendation that policing funding should be prioritised in the Budget and forthcoming spending review.
2. Notes that since 2010, police numbers have fallen significantly both nationally and locally as a result of Government cuts.
3. Notes that cuts to other services through austerity increases the demand on the police which often acts as the “public service of last resort”.
4. Recognises that many residents in Newark and Sherwood are concerned that the cuts mean that Nottinghamshire Police is no longer visible in our communities, no longer has the capacity to respond on community safety, and that consequently the fear of crime is rising.
5. Endorses the Council’s policy of working in partnership with the police to respond to community safety concerns.
6. Condemns the Government’s continuing policy of reducing the resources available to the police and transferring the cost to the Council taxpayers through the Police Authority precept.
7. Will write a letter to the Home Secretary calling on the Government to use the police grant announcement for 2019/20 to begin to reverse the damaging cuts to Policing in Nottinghamshire and make an immediate investment in making our communities safer.”
(ii) In accordance with Rule No 13.1, Councillor D. Staples will move and Councillor Mrs L. Tift will second a motion to the following effect:
“This Council notes the recent report of the UN Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights, Philip Alston, on the UK, which said that levels of child poverty are “not just a disgrace but a social calamity and an economic disaster.” We are aware that already high levels of child poverty in our District, which in some wards is well over 30%, are very likely to increase significantly as Universal Credit is rolled out here. As Councillors with a responsibility for the health and welfare of our citizens we urge the Government to;
1. stop the roll out of the discredited Universal Credit system;
2. increase support for families dependent on benefits; and
3. abandon further cuts to local government funding.
The Council instructs its Chief Executive to write to the newly appointed Work and Pensions Secretary, Amber Rudd, to inform her of these concerns in the hope that she will not follow her predecessor in denying the realities that the Rapporteur made clear.”
Minutes:
(i) Policing
In accordance with Council Procedure Rule No 13.1 Councillor P. Peacock moved and Councillor N. Mitchell seconded a motion to the following effect:
“This Council
1. Notes the conclusion of the Home Affairs Select Committee report (Policing for the future, published on the 25th of October 2018) that “Policing is struggling to cope in the face of changing and rising crimes” and its recommendation that policing funding should be prioritised in the Budget and forthcoming spending review.
2. Notes that since 2010, police numbers have fallen significantly both nationally and locally as a result of Government cuts.
3. Notes that cuts to other services through austerity increases the demand on the police which often acts as the “public service of last resort”.
4. Recognises that many residents in Newark and Sherwood are concerned that the cuts mean that Nottinghamshire Police is no longer visible in our communities, no longer has the capacity to respond on community safety, and that consequently the fear of crime is rising.
5. Endorses the Council’s policy of working in partnership with the police to respond to community safety concerns.
6. Condemns the Government’s continuing policy of reducing the resources available to the police and transferring the cost to the Council taxpayers through the Police Authority precept.
7. Will write a letter to the Home Secretary calling on the Government to use the police grant announcement for 2019/20 to begin to reverse the damaging cuts to Policing in Nottinghamshire and make an immediate investment in making our communities safer.”
In accordance with Council Procedure Rule No 26.4, Councillor D. Lloyd moved and Councillor B. Laughton seconded an amendment to the motion to change the wording as follows:
“Newark and Sherwood District Council properly recognises its role in both crime and disorder reduction and in promoting community safety. This is reflected in its priorities to be ‘Cleaner, Safer and Greener’ and is made apparent through recent service changes and increasingly effective partnership working. Recent announcements by the Chief Constable, Chief Inspector and Area Commander for the District give the Council cause to believe that there is the potential for a step-change in joint-working and policing in our District.
This Council does however note the conclusions of the Home Affairs Select Committee Report (Policing for the future, published on the 25th October 2018).
It is noted that there is a rising demand to investigate and prosecute online fraud, child sexual abuse and safeguarding vulnerable people which may require some change in structures and focus across all Constabularies. It is also noted that, “after a long period of decline”, ‘traditional’ volume crimes are increasing in 2018.
The Council recognises that issues of criminality and community safety are a priority concern for residents with variations in the type, extent and geography of those concerns. It is noted that the report properly refers to “policing” within multi-agency partnerships specifically around areas of neighbourhood policing and crime reduction. To this extent, the Council iterates its intent to work closely with all agencies, most especially the Police Constabulary, to reduce, detect and prosecute crime in our District.
The findings of the Select Committee report demonstrate an increasing variance in priorities and deployment in different geographies, most probably reflecting local priorities and/or policy decisions by Police & Crime Commissioners. They recommend a review of the funding formula and the potential to pool resources with other public agencies. This Council endorses both conclusions and welcome the additional funding that has been available in the meantime.
The Council formally welcomes and endorses recent discussions and partnership activities with the Police that cover our District. It calls upon the Police and Crime Commissioner to sustain the focus that is now apparent and to secure the necessary local resources for personnel, equipment and initiatives.”
In accordance with Council Procedure Rule No. 24.1 Councillor P. Peacock requested a short adjournment. This was agreed.
(Meeting adjourned at 6.57pm. Meeting reconvened at 7:13pm.)
The amendment to the motion on being put to the vote was declared carried with 21 votes for and 13 against. The amended motion then became the substantive motion which, on being put to the vote, was declared carried with 21 votes for, 10 against and 3 abstentions.
(ii) Poverty
In accordance with Council Procedure Rule No 13.1 Councillor D. Staples moved and Councillor Mrs L. Tift seconded a motion to the following effect:
“This Council notes the recent report of the UN Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights, Philip Alston, on the UK, which said that levels of child poverty are “not just a disgrace but a social calamity and an economic disaster.” We are aware that already high levels of child poverty in our District, which in some wards is well over 30%, are very likely to increase significantly as Universal Credit is rolled out here. As Councillors with a responsibility for the health and welfare of our citizens we urge the Government to:
1. stop the roll out of the discredited Universal Credit system;
2. increase support for families dependent on benefits; and
3. abandon further cuts to local government funding.
The Council instructs its Chief Executive to write to the newly appointed Work and Pensions Secretary, Amber Rudd, to inform her of these concerns in the hope that she will not follow her predecessor in denying the realities that the Rapporteur made clear.”
The motion on being put to the vote was declared lost with 13 votes for and 21 against.