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.