Minutes:
a) Councillor R A Overton moved, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 7, the following Motion:
“This Council is deeply concerned about the cost of living crisis, which is having a devastating impact on household budgets across Telford and Wrekin – with every sign that things will only get worse.
This Council condemns the Conservative government’s lack of action to support families and households across our Borough, instead, being focused on defending the alleged law breaking in Downing Street.
This Council believes that this government have continued to fail our residents by:
• Scrapping the £20 uplift for those on universal credit
• Increasing National Insurance by 10%
• Freezing personal tax allowances – which will see more people pay more income tax than ever before
• Introducing a forced loan to every household energy bill rather than provide real support via an energy windfall tax
Whilst energy and tax bills will increase for the typical family to over £1,000 per annum, a £150 ‘rebate’ is simply just a ‘drop in the ocean’ whilst this government writes off £4bn of fraud.
We therefore call on the Government and our Telford and The Wrekin MPs to do more to help households rather than letting off fraudsters and defending rule breaking in Downing Street” The Motion will be seconded by Councillor G C W Reynolds”
Councillor G C W Reynolds seconded the Motion.
Following a robust debate, it was:-.
RESOLVED - that the motion be approved.
b) Councillor S Davies moved, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 7, the following Motion:
““Telford and Wrekin Council reaffirms its strong objection to any merger with Shropshire Council and opposes the Government’s proposal of an elected Mayor for Shropshire. There are no circumstances where a merger or an elected Mayor of Shropshire is in the best interests of our residents of Telford and Wrekin. On behalf of our residents we will not consent to such a move. A Telford and Wrekin Council, under a Labour administration, is on the side of our residents and there are no circumstances where such a merger or an elected Mayor of Shropshire is acceptable for our residents. Telford and Wrekin Council will continue to put Telford and Wrekin first."
Councillor E Callear seconded the Motion.
Following a debate a recorded vote was requested by the requisite number of councillors and that vote was as follows:
For (50)
Councillors S Bentley, K T Blundell, M Boylan, A J Burford, S P Burrell, E M Callear, L D Carter, G H Cook, S Davies, N A Dugmore, A J Eade, A R H England, R C Evans, I T W Fletcher, V Fletcher, J Gough, E J Greenaway, C Healy, V J Holt, M B Hosken, T L B Janke, A S Jhawar, J Jones, J E Lavery, A Lawrence, A D McClements, R Mehta, K Middleton, L A Murray, T J Nelson, G Offland, R A Overton, I Preece, G C W Reynolds, S J Reynolds, S A W Reynolds, H Rhodes, K S Sahota, P J Scott, J M Seymour, C F Smith, M Smith, B J Thompson, K T Tomlinson, W L Tomlinson, C R Turley, P Watling, B Wennington, D R W White and D Wright
Against (0)
Abstain (1)
Councillor E J Carter,
RESOLVED - that the motion be approved.
c) Councillor A Eade proposed the following Motion:
“This Council notes with concern the inadequate policies within Telford and Wrekin Councils' local Plan to control the construction of solar farms in the Borough and resolves to correct this deficiency within the current local plan review.”
The Motion was seconded by Councillor J M Seymour.
Councillor R Overton then moved an amendment, with additional words shown in bold and underlined and removed words shown struck through.
This Council notes that with concern the inadequate policies within
Telford and Wrekin Council’s local Plan are
used to control determine planning
applications for the construction of solar farms in the
Borough and resolves to strengthen the policy position,
and continue support, for low carbon energy generation
correct this deficiency within the current local plan
review.
The amendment was seconded by Councillor C Healy.
At the end of the debate regarding the amendment, a vote was taken and it was:-
RESOLVED – that the amendment be carried and become the substantive motion.
There being no further debate, the amended motion was put to the vote and it was unanimously:-
RESOLVED - that the amended Motion be approved.