Issue - meetings

(a) To consider the following notice of motion from Councillor Mack:

“Full council notes that:

1. The electoral system used for local elections in England and Wales, First Past the Post (FPTP), is not a fair system, because it means that votes do not have equal weight and many votes are wasted. This leads to voter apathy and a feeling of disconnection from local democracy. 
2. The alternative to FPTP is a system of proportional representation (PR), where votes cast for parties translates more or less directly into seats won. There are many variants of PR. The Single Transferable Vote system (STV) variant of PR is already in use for local elections in Scotland and Northern Ireland. With this system, voters rank candidates and those who receive the most backing (including second and subsequent choices) are elected to serve in multi-member wards.
3. The Welsh Assembly has just agreed legislation to allow local authorities to choose to change their voting system to the proportional Single Transferable Vote system, which is already used for local elections in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
4. The introduction of PR for local elections in Scotland has led to an increase in turnout, which was 47% at the last elections, held in 2017. In contrast, turnout for North Devon was 37% in the 2019 local District elections.
5. Barnstaple Town Council unanimously supported a move to proportional representation in North Devon on February 22^nd.

Full council believes that a move to the use of proportional representation for local elections would boost turn-out, make the council more representative of the political make-up of its residents, and improve the quality of its decision-making processes, thereby benefiting all North Devon residents.

Therefore, this Council resolves to:

1.     Welcome the new legislation allowing Welsh councils to choose the fairest and most appropriate voting system for their local elections.

2.     Request that the Government bring forward legislation to allow local elections in England to be run by a proportionally representative voting system (PR). 

3.     Work with the Electoral Commission to agree upon and choose the most appropriate electoral system for North Devon.”

(b) To consider the following notice of motion from Councillor Luggar:

“North Devon Council notes with concern and alarm the number of times that environmental damage is caused to the natural environment during development despite the imposition of planning conditions on planning permissions that are meant to protect the same. Too often trees, hedgerows and important habitats are damaged or destroyed when they should be protected for the amenity benefit of the public at large and local residents in particular. North Devon council calls on officers to ensure that planning conditions designed to achieve environmental protection and enhancement are speedily enforced, including by the service of a breach of condition notice if necessary and/or tree protection orders.”

(a) To consider the following notice of motion received by Councillor Mack:

Councillor Mack presented his notice of motion to Council.

It was moved by Councillor Mack and seconded by Councillor Worden “that the notice of motion be referred to the Policy Development Committee for consideration and to produce a full report”.

RESOLVED that the notice of motion be referred to the Policy Development Committee for consideration and to produce a full report.

(b) To consider the following notice of motion received by Councillor Luggar

It was moved by Councillor Luggar and seconded by Councillor Bushell that “North Devon Council notes with concern and alarm the number of times that environmental damage is caused to the natural environment during development despite the imposition of planning conditions on planning permissions that are meant to protect the same. Too often trees, hedgerows and important habitats are damaged or destroyed when they should be protected for the amenity benefit of the public at large and local residents in particular. North Devon council calls on officers to ensure that planning conditions designed to achieve environmental protection and enhancement are speedily enforced, including by the service of a breach of condition notice if necessary and/or tree protection orders.”

In response to the notice of motion, the Chief Executive advised that the Council already had a planning enforcement team in place to enforce planning conditions. Hedgerows were protected through planning conditions, planning policies and enforcement concordats.  The Council employed specialist officers such as an arboriculturalist and a conservation officer.  He suggested that a report providing an update on enforcement procedures be presented to the Policy Development Committee.

An amendment was moved by Councillor Prowse that “a report on the issue of enforcement procedures and practices be presented to the Policy Development Committee.”

Councillors Luggar and Bushell as the mover and seconder of the motion took the amendment on board.

RESOLVED that a report on the issue of enforcement procedures and practices be presented to the Policy Development Committee.