Agenda item - Petitions for Council Debate

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Agenda item

Petitions for Council Debate

Petitions to be debated at Council.  Reports of the Monitoring Officer.

 

(1)   A Basic Income Trial for Brighton and Hove. Lead petitioner Maggie Gordon-Walker.

 

(2)   Open a New Homeless Shelter in Morley Street, Brighton. Lead petitioner Barry Hughes.

 

(3)   Close Brighton and Hove Greyhound Stadium. Lead petitioner Sarah Whitehead.

Minutes:

(1)   A  BASIC INCOME TRIAL FOR BRIGHTON AND HOVE

 

43.1      The Mayor stated that where a petition secured 1,250 or more signatures it could be debated at the council meeting.  He had been made aware of three such petitions and would take each in turn. However, he also noted that since the publication of the agenda the third petition, concerning the Brighton & Hove Greyhound Stadium had been withdrawn.

 

43.2      He noted that there was amendment to the cover reports’ recommendation for the first petition which would be taken as part of the debate on the matter in question.

 

43.3      The Mayor then invited Ms. Gordon-Walker to present the petition concerning the introduction of a basic income trial in Brighton and Hove.

 

43.4      Ms. Gordon-Walker thanked the Mayor and stated that the petition which had been signed by 2,308 people was the first in the country to trigger a debate by a council on the matter. She noted that other councils had considered notice of motion that were seeking the ability for those authorities to be able to pilot a scheme and she hoped that Brighton & Hove would join them in requesting the Government to give them the ability to have a basic income trail in the city.

 

43.5      Councillor Druitt thanked Ms. Gordon-Walker for presenting the petition and noted that Universal Basic Income systems had been trialled in a number of countries and may offer some potential advantages over the current welfare benefits system. He felt that it would be interesting to understand how such a scheme could be designed to help to avoid current benefit poverty traps and help to address the growing inequality of earnings across the country. However, in supporting any trial, the council would wish to be assured that no-one would end up receiving less financial support than through the current benefit system, particularly disabled people. The system was also likely to require additional staffing resources and new systems in order to implement the scheme and process payments. Keeping the system simple for both people and administrators would be important to minimise costs. However, given the council’s challenging financial situation, the council would wish to be assured that any government trial provides funding for the additional administrative burden placed on the council or partner authorities involved in any pilot.

 

43.6      Councillor Osborne moved an amendment on behalf of the Green Group which sought to enable a letter to be sent from the Chief Executive to the government registering the council’s desire to be able to undertake a pilot scheme.

 

43.7      Councillor Gibson formally seconded the amendment.

 

43.8      Councillors Williams, McNair, Knight, Janio and Littman spoke on the petition and the amendment.

 

43.9      Councillor Gibson noted the comments and welcomed the amendment.

 

43.10   The Mayor thanked Ms. Gordon-Walker for joining the meeting and presenting the petition and noted that the amendment had been moved. 

 

43.11   The Mayor then sought the Council’s agreement to put the recommendations as amended to the vote which was agreed and he therefore called on each of the Group Leaders to confirm their position as well as the Groups in turn and each of the Independent Members:

 

Councillor Mac Cafferty stated that the Green Group were in favour of the recommendations as amended and this was confirmed by the Green Group Members;

 

Councillor Platts stated that the Labour Group were in favour of the recommendations as amended and this was confirmed by the Labour Group Members;

 

Councillor Bell stated that the Conservative were in against the recommendations as amended and this was confirmed by the Conservative Group Members;

 

Councillor Brennan confirmed that she was in favour of the recommendations as amended;

 

Councillor Fishleigh confirmed that she wished to abstain from voting on the recommendations as amended;

 

Councillor Janio confirmed that he was voting against the recommendations as amended;

 

Councillor Knight confirmed that she was voting in favour of the recommendations as amended.

 

43.12   The Mayor confirmed that the recommendations as amended had been carried.

 

43.13   RESOLVED:

 

(1)      That the petition is noted and referred to the Policy & Resources Committee for consideration;

 

(2)      That the Chief Executive be requested to write to the Chancellor expressing the council’s support for a basic income pilot in the area and calling on the government to undertake a feasibility study to detail how best to implement a local basic income trial for the city; and

 

(3)      That in addition, to request that the Chief Executive includes the reply from the government in the Full Council papers after the reply is received.

 

(2)      OPEN A NEW HOMELESS SHELTER IN MORLEY STREET, BRIGHTON

 

43.14   The Mayor then invited Mr. Barry Hughes to present the petition which called on the council to purchase an empty property in Morley Street so that it could become a new homeless shelter.

 

43.15   Mr. Hughes thanked the Mayor and stated that the petition which had been signed by 4,519 and started by Mr. John Hadman was seeking the council’s support to provide a homeless shelter in the city. The property identified had been vacant for a period of time and rather than continuing to remain vacant it was hoped that the council could purchase it and redevelop it as a shelter for the homeless.

 

43.16   Councillor Gibson thanked Mr. Hughes for joining the meeting and presenting the petition.

 

43.17   Councillor Mears stated that she could not support the petition’s request in regard to the property in Morley Street as she understood that the owners were not prepared to sell and had plans for the property which were being taken forward.

 

43.18   Councillor Gibson noted the comments and suggested that the Policy & Resources Committee could consider the general need for the provision of a homeless shelter whilst acknowledging that the property in question was unlikely to be available.

 

43.19   The Mayor thanked Mr. Hughes for joining the meeting and presenting the petition. 

 

43.20   The Mayor then put the recommendation to the vote and called on each of the Group Leaders to confirm their position as well as the Groups in turn and each of the Independent Members:

 

Councillor Mac Cafferty stated that the Green Group were in favour of the recommendation and this was confirmed by the Green Group Members;

 

Councillor Platts stated that the Labour Group were in favour of the recommendation this was confirmed by the Labour Group Members;

 

Councillor Bell stated that the Conservative Group were against the recommendation and this was confirmed by the Conservative Group Members;

 

Councillor Brennan confirmed that she was voting in favour of the recommendation;

 

Councillor Fishleigh confirmed that she was voting in favour of the recommendation;

 

Councillor Janio confirmed that he wished to abstain from voting on the recommendation;

 

Councillor Knight confirmed that she was voting in favour of the recommendation.

 

43.21   The Mayor confirmed that the recommendation to note the petition and refer it to the Policy & Resources Committee had been carried.

 

43.22   RESOLVED: That the petition be noted and referred to the Policy & Resources Committee for consideration.

 

(3)   CLOSE BRIGHTON & HOVE GREYHOUND STADIUM

 

43.23   The Mayor noted that the third petition had been withdrawn.

Supporting documents:

 


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