Issue - meetings

This Council, being concerned about the lack of political governance in relation to Dark Skies, the plan to switch off many of the county’s streetlights between 11pm - 6.30am, calls on the Cabinet to carry out a full consultation before bringing this back for decision making. Such consultation to include all county councillors alongside community groups and particularly those working with women and girls.

Note: The motion, if passed, would constitute the exercise of an executive function in which case it will be referred to the Cabinet together with any advice the Council may wish to give, in accordance with Rule 13.5.1 (i) of the Council Procedure Rules in the Constitution.

The amendment proposed by Councillor Reeves and seconded by Councillor Mallon was accepted by the proposer and seconder of the original motion and by Council.

The motion as amended was carried with 39 votes in favour, none against and no abstentions.

This Council, being extremely concerned about the lack of political governance in relation to ‘Dark Skies’, the administration’s plan to switch off many of the county’s streetlights between 11pm - 6.30am, which could have had significant adverse consequences for public safety across parts of our county, especially our urban centres, had it proceeded.

Recognising the need for the Council to safeguard public money, support our rural parishes in their aspirations to curtail unwanted light pollution and protect and local wildlife in our villages, this Council calls on the Cabinet to:

(i)              carry out a full consultation before bringing this back for delegated decision-making by the Cabinet Member,. Ssuch consultation to include all county councillors alongside community groups and particularly those working with women, and girls, and shift workers in our hospitality and other key sectors, who the Council’s own report recognises may have been disproportionately affected by this decision;

(ii)            ensure that all county councillors are fully briefed, whether through their locality meetings or by way of an all-member briefing, before any street lights are switched off; and

(iii)          ensure that a fuller Equalities Impact Assessment takes place in connection with future decision-making on such matters of public safety, the previous one in Annexe 5 being lacking.

In future, this Council asks that Cabinet consult elected members more fully on matters of public safety in future.

This Council further notes that pre-scrutiny of such important matters would be beneficial to ensure greater democratic oversight.

The motion was proposed by Councillor Brighouse and seconded by Councillor Phillips.

The amendment proposed by Councillor Reeves and seconded by Councillor Mallon was accepted by the proposer and seconder of the original motion and by Council.

Following debate, the motion as amended was carried with 39 votes in favour, none against and no abstentions.

RESOLVED:

This Council, being extremely concerned about the lack of political governance in relation to ‘Dark Skies’, the administration’s plan to switch off many of the county’s streetlights between 11pm - 6.30am, which could have had significant adverse consequences for public safety across parts of our county, especially our urban centres, had it proceeded.

Recognising the need for the Council to safeguard public money, support our rural parishes in their aspirations to curtail unwanted light pollution and protect and local wildlife in our villages, this Council calls on the Cabinet to:

(i)           carry out a full consultation before bringing this back for delegated decision-making by the Cabinet Member,. Ssuch consultation to include all county councillors alongside community groups and particularly those working with women, and girls, and shift workers in our hospitality and other key sectors, who the Council’s own report recognises may have been disproportionately affected by this decision;

(ii)          ensure that all county councillors are fully briefed, whether through their locality meetings or by way of an all-member briefing, before any street lights are switched off; and

(iii)        ensure that a fuller Equalities Impact Assessment takes place in connection with future decision-making on such matters of public safety, the previous one in Annexe 5 being lacking.

In future, this Council asks that Cabinet consult elected members more fully on matters of public safety in future.

This Council further notes that pre-scrutiny of such important matters would be beneficial to ensure greater democratic oversight.