Agenda

Any correspondence, communication or other business brought forward by the direction of the Chairman of the Council.

Members of the public may ask questions or make statements at this meeting if they have given notice and provided the text to Barry Khan, Assistant Chief Executive (Legal and Democratic Services) – email: barry.khan@northyorks.gov.uk or in writing to Barry Khan, Assistant Chief Executive (Legal and Democratic Services), County Hall, Northallerton DL7 8AD by midday on Friday, 11 November 2022.  Each speaker should limit themselves to 3 minutes on any item.

If you are exercising your right to speak at this meeting, but do not wish to be recorded, please inform the Chairman who will instruct anyone who may be taking a recording to cease while you speak.

·                     Q1 Budget Report

·                     North Yorkshire Council Flood Risk Management Strategy

·                     Council Tax Premiums on Second Homes and Empty Properties

·                     Consideration of proposed amendments to the Council’s Constitution

·                     Council Tax Reduction Scheme

·                     Council Tax Harmonisation

·                     Discretionary Council Tax Relief - Section 13A Policy

·                     Annual Report

·                     Annual Report

1)         Proportional representation

Proposer – Cllr Chris Aldred

Seconder – Cllr Andy Brown

“Council resolves to write to H.M. Government calling for a change in our outdated electoral laws to enable Proportional Representation to be used for General, Local and Mayoral elections

First Past the Post (FPTP) originated when land-owning aristocrats dominated parliament and voting was restricted to property-owning men.

In Europe, only the UK and authoritarian Belarus still use archaic single round FPTP for general elections. Meanwhile, internationally, Proportional Representation (PR) is used to elect parliaments in more than 80 countries. Those countries tend to be more equal, freer and greener.

PR ensures all votes count, have equal value, and those seats won, match votes cast. Under PR, MPs and Parliaments better reflect the age, gender and protected characteristics of local communities and the nation. MPs & Councillors better reflecting their communities leads to improved decision-making, wider participation and increased levels of ownership of decisions taken.

PR would also end minority rule. In 2019, 43.6% of the vote produced a government with 56.2% of the seats and 100% of the power. PR also prevents ‘wrong winner’ elections such as occurred in 1951 and February 1974.

PR is already used to elect the parliaments and assemblies of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. So why not Westminster & Local Government here in North Yorkshire.”

2)         Fracking

Proposer Cllr.Bryn Griffiths

Seconder Cllr Joy Andrews

“That this Council:

1.         Agrees that fracking activities in North Yorkshire are inappropriate for an area where the Council has declared a Climate Emergency and

2.         In light of the Government’s statement that it will only frack where there is support, Council therefore wishes to ensure the Prime Minister, the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and the Minister for State (Minister for Climate) are fully aware of the opposition to fracking in North Yorkshire and letters are sent to them to reinforce this Council’s opposition to fracking.”

3)         Fracking

Proposer Cllr Arnold Warneken

Seconder Cllr Kevin Foster

“This council believes that there is firm scientific evidence that fracking for oil and gas is incompatible with the need to achieve net zero carbon emissions sufficiently rapidly to avoid climate breakdown, furthermore it is in direct conflict with the Councils Carbon Reduction Plan and the emerging Climate Change Strategy, therefore North Yorkshire County Council in line with the current Governments policy is opposed to Fracking in North Yorkshire.”

Note the reasons for the matter being considered at the Council meeting itself have been given as:

1.         It is bad practice to delay decision making unnecessarily and members will have had more than adequate time to form a judgement on the motion

2.         North Yorkshire County Council has declared that it recognises there is a climate emergency and so issues relating to climate change need addressing with urgency

3.         Since the last full council meeting there have been national government policy changes which brought the possibility of fracking back onto the agenda and it is important for the Council  ...  view the full agenda text for item 14.

·                     Annual Report