Council and Democracy

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, Town Hall, Rose Hill, Chesterfield S40 1LP

Contact: Brian Offiler 

Items
No. Item

27.

Amendment of Order of Business

Minutes:

28.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 219 KB

Minutes:

29.

Mayor's Communications

Minutes:

30.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

31.

Declarations of Members' and Officers' Interests relating to items on the Agenda.

Minutes:

32.

Public Questions to the Council

To receive questions from members of the public in accordance with Standing Order No. 12.

 

Question submitted by David Widdowson:

 

“Cuts to benefits and services have disproportionately hit disabled people. 

 

We are a group of disabled people called ‘Disability Campaigners’ running a campaign titled 'Give it Back!' Stop people on benefits paying council tax.

 

Until April 2013, people on benefits did not have to pay council tax. Since then, the disabled and/or unemployed are required to pay a measure of council Tax, typically £10 - £15 per month, money that they can ill afford to pay. Councils had some discretion about charging people on benefits, but 276 out of 326 councils in England chose to apply the levy. This takes disabled people below the basic living assessment on which benefits are based.

 

Local councils levy and collect the council tax, but we are aware the County Council gets the lion's share. We appreciate it is a big ask, but this levy is condemning disabled people to living below the basic living allowance and becoming more isolated, feeling persecuted, and having to cut down on food and heating, risking serious health problems. 

 

Could we please have a statement of your support and how you would help disabled people by giving them their basic benefit entitlement back for them to at least have a chance to participate in the community and have access to basic needs? Please lobby your national parties to help change this unjust system.”

 

 

Question submitted by Laura Bagley:

 

"Will Chesterfield Borough Council follow other councils in supporting the 'votes at 16' campaign?

 

There are currently 1.5 million 16 and 17 year olds that are denied the vote in public elections in the UK.  Lowering the voting age to 16 would empower young people to better engage in society and influence decisions that will define their future. People who can consent to medical treatment, work full time, pay taxes, get married or enter a civil partnership, and join the armed forces should also have the right to vote.

 

The Scottish Government took more positive steps towards a more inclusive political system when they passed the Scottish Elections (Reduction of Voting Age) Bill, which allows all 16 and 17 year olds to vote in all Scottish elections from May 2016. Young people's participation in the Scottish Referendum demonstrates that they are eager to engage. 75% of 16 and 17 year olds turned out to vote in a once in a lifetime opportunity to have their say in shaping the future of their country. Other young people across the UK should have the same democratic right.

 

A number of other councils have already supported this campaign and have passed motions in support.  These include: Oldham, Bristol, Halton, Rotherham, Wolverhampton and Leeds City Council.

 

Will Chesterfield Borough council follow suit and support the campaign by passing a motion at tonight's council meeting?We must remember that democracy includes young people too.”

Minutes:

33.

Notice of Motion under Standing Order No. 21

To consider the motion submitted by Councillor Serjeant in accordance with Standing Order No. 21:

 

“That Chesterfield Borough Council supports the ‘votes at 16’ campaign.”

Minutes:

34.

Petitions to Council

To receive petitions submitted under Standing Order No. 13.

 

To debate the following petition received from Miss Anastasia Antill, National Citizen Service (NCS) on 25 September, 2017: -

 

“Accessibility issues in Chesterfield town centre.

 

We are aiming to improve our community by helping people with disabilities to get around the busy town centre.

 

As a group, we decided to base our NCS project on tackling the disabled access into the town centre as the research we had carried out, including speaking with members of the public, had shown that many people felt that this was an issue, particularly around the market area. Most of the people we spoke to who had disabilities admitted that they struggled on a regular basis and often avoided going into town.

 

To improve access, we propose introducing wheelchair ramps at the side of the market to provide better surfaces for wheelchair users and widening the gaps between market stalls to enable wheelchair users to access the market more easily especially on market days.”

 

The petition contains in excess of 1,000 signatures; therefore it is referred to Council to be debated in accordance with the Council’s petition scheme and Standing Order No. 13.

 

Miss Antill will attend Council to present the petition and answer questions.

Minutes:

35.

Questions to the Leader

To receive questions submitted to the Leader under Standing Order No.14

Minutes:

36.

Election to The Borough Council - 21 September, 2017 pdf icon PDF 108 KB

Minutes:

37.

Changes to Allocation of Seats and Committee Appointments 2017/18 pdf icon PDF 152 KB

Minutes:

38.

Quarter 1 Budget Monitoring 2017/18 & Updated Medium Term Financial Forecast pdf icon PDF 211 KB

Minutes:

39.

Treasury Management Annual Report 2016/17 & Monitoring Report 2017/18 pdf icon PDF 269 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

40.

Minutes of Committee Meetings pdf icon PDF 110 KB

To receive for information the Minutes of the following meetings:-

 

·        Appeals and Regulatory Committee

·        Employment and General Committee

·        Licensing Committee

·        Planning Committee

·        Standards and Audit Committee

Minutes:

41.

Minutes of the Cabinet pdf icon PDF 206 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

42.

Minutes of the Joint Cabinet and Employment and General Committee pdf icon PDF 175 KB

Minutes:

43.

Minutes of the Overview and Performance Scrutiny Forum pdf icon PDF 209 KB

Minutes:

44.

Minutes of the Community, Customer and Organisational Scrutiny Committee pdf icon PDF 205 KB

Minutes:

45.

Minutes of the Enterprise and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee pdf icon PDF 226 KB

Minutes:

46.

Questions under Standing Order No. 19

To receive questions from Councillors in accordance with Standing Order No.19.

Minutes: