Agenda item - MOTIONS

Agenda item

MOTIONS

12.1    In the name of Councillor Goddard

 

“This Council believes that the recent report, No Stone Unturned - In pursuit of Growth - by the Right Honourable Lord Heseltine, provides a possible framework for sustainable growth not only in the UK but in Enfield and our region and sub region.

 

This Council endorses the general principle within the report that Local Government (Local and Regional) has the capability to generate growth.

 

Whilst there may be issues regarding some of the 89 recommendations which may be open to debate, Council calls upon the Government, the Mayor of London and the London LEP to begin substantial discussions with London Councils and the sub regions of London regarding the announced implementation of the report.”

 

12.2In the name of Councillor Hamilton

 

“We ask this Council to note the One Billion Rising Campaign, and the call to end violence against women and girls; and we call on Enfield Council to support the call to introduce statutory provisions to make personal, social and health education, include a zero tolerance approach to violence and abuse in relationships.

 

We call on this Council to invite a speaker from the national campaign to address the Council meeting in November to mark White Ribbon Day, in recognition that Enfield Council was the first London Authority to be awarded white ribbon status for its work on raising awareness and tackling violence against women and girls.”

 

12.3    In the name of Councillor Rye

 

“Enfield Council congratulates the Chancellor of the Exchequer The Rt Hon George Osborne on his recent Budget – as the Conservative led Government reduces the huge deficit left by the last Labour Government, this will help promote growth and benefit Enfield residents.”

 

12.4    In the name of Councillor Neville

 

“The Council is concerned to retain and improve the appearance of the borough’s street scene and instructs the Environment Cabinet Member to ensure that repairs to footways are carried out on a like for like basis i.e. replacing broken pavings with paving/blocks unless a change to tarmac is favoured by the majority of residents of a road in a consultation exercise.”

 

12.5         In the name of Councillor Levy

 

“Contrary to popular belief, the number of licensed betting shops currently operating in Enfield is approximately the same as it was in 2007.

 

But even were there to have been the kind of proliferation locally that is perceived to be the case, local authorities such as Enfield Borough Council are almost powerless to exert effective controls of the spread of such premises under current legislation and guidance. In the case of the Gambling Act 2005, councils are explicitly prevented from even considering cumulative impact as a policy option.

 

In a political climate where the concept of localism is given primacy, and where local government is continually being told to assume more responsibilities and keep its house in order, it is a major anomaly that national law places unworkable constraints on councils and other authorities in addressing the concerns of a wide constituency of local public opinion as to the trend towards increasing numbers of licensed betting shops.

 

Central Government is clearly more influenced by the powerful lobbying force of the Association of British Bookmakers and the extensive tax revenues generated through the betting industry than responding to the ever more vocal opposition from local residents, local businesses, their representatives and advocates, concerned by issues such as community safety, public protection, and imbalanced high street offerings.

 

Council is therefore asked to agree it that it is essential to be given the opportunity to restrict and limit betting shops, where appropriate, by:-

 

a)           Supporting intensified efforts by the Administration in its lobbying of the Department of Culture Media and Sport for reform of the Gambling Act 2005 such that cumulative impact may be written into local licensing policy and the scope for making representations is widened.

 

b)           Supporting similar pressure upon the Department for Communities and Local Government, and working with the Local Government Association and others, in seeking to achieve a distinctive usage classification for betting shops under the planning regime.

 

c)            Uniting with London Councils to explore parallel ways of securing more powers of control of betting shops through the provisions of the London Local Authorities Act 2012.”

Minutes:

The following motions listed on the agenda, lapsed due to lack of time:

 

1.1    In the name of Councillor Goddard

 

“This Council believes that the recent report, No Stone Unturned - In pursuit of Growth - by the Right Honourable Lord Heseltine, provides a possible framework for sustainable growth not only in the UK but in Enfield and our region and sub region.

 

This Council endorses the general principle within the report that Local Government (Local and Regional) has the capability to generate growth.

 

Whilst there may be issues regarding some of the 89 recommendations which may be open to debate, Council calls upon the Government, the Mayor of London and the London LEP to begin substantial discussions with London Councils and the sub regions of London regarding the announced implementation of the report.”

 

1.2       In the name of Councillor Hamilton

 

“We ask this Council to note the One Billion Rising Campaign, and the call to end violence against women and girls; and we call on Enfield Council to support the call to introduce statutory provisions to make personal, social and health education, include a zero tolerance approach to violence and abuse in relationships.

 

We call on this Council to invite a speaker from the national campaign to address the Council meeting in November to mark White Ribbon Day, in recognition that Enfield Council was the first London Authority to be awarded white ribbon status for its work on raising awareness and tackling violence against women and girls.”

 

1.3    In the name of Councillor Rye

 

“Enfield Council congratulates the Chancellor of the Exchequer The Rt Hon George Osborne on his recent Budget – as the Conservative led Government reduces the huge deficit left by the last Labour Government, this will help promote growth and benefit Enfield residents.”

 

1.4    In the name of Councillor Neville

 

“The Council is concerned to retain and improve the appearance of the borough’s street scene and instructs the Environment Cabinet Member to ensure that repairs to footways are carried out on a like for like basis i.e. replacing broken pavings with paving/blocks unless a change to tarmac is favoured by the majority of residents of a road in a consultation exercise.”

 

1.5       In the name of Councillor Levy

 

“Contrary to popular belief, the number of licensed betting shops currently operating in Enfield is approximately the same as it was in 2007.

 

But even were there to have been the kind of proliferation locally that is perceived to be the case, local authorities such as Enfield Borough Council are almost powerless to exert effective controls of the spread of such premises under current legislation and guidance. In the case of the Gambling Act 2005, councils are explicitly prevented from even considering cumulative impact as a policy option.

 

In a political climate where the concept of localism is given primacy, and where local government is continually being told to assume more responsibilities and keep its house in order, it is a major anomaly that national law places unworkable constraints on councils and other authorities in addressing the concerns of a wide constituency of local public opinion as to the trend towards increasing numbers of licensed betting shops.

 

Central Government is clearly more influenced by the powerful lobbying force of the Association of British Bookmakers and the extensive tax revenues generated through the betting industry than responding to the ever more vocal opposition from local residents, local businesses, their representatives and advocates, concerned by issues such as community safety, public protection, and imbalanced high street offerings.

 

Council is therefore asked to agree it that it is essential to be given the opportunity to restrict and limit betting shops, where appropriate, by:-

 

a)           Supporting intensified efforts by the Administration in its lobbying of the Department of Culture Media and Sport for reform of the Gambling Act 2005 such that cumulative impact may be written into local licensing policy and the scope for making representations is widened.

 

b)           Supporting similar pressure upon the Department for Communities and Local Government, and working with the Local Government Association and others, in seeking to achieve a distinctive usage classification for betting shops under the planning regime.

 

c)            Uniting with London Councils to explore parallel ways of securing more powers of control of betting shops through the provisions of the London Local Authorities Act 2012.”