Agenda item

Notices of Motion

(1)        Crustation Die-Off Events along the North Yorkshire and Cleveland Coast since October 2021

 

This Council notes with concern:

 

1.         the unexplained die-offs and wash-ups of crabs, lobsters, prawns, clams, scallops, mussels and some species of fish along the North Yorkshire and Cleveland coast since October 2021

2.         the significant reduction in the catches of edible crabs and other crustaceans, as reported by the North East fishing communities

3.         claims that recent capital dredging in the Tees estuary has resulted in the disposal of contaminated sediment at sea

4.         DEFRA’s failure to provide a conclusive scientific explanation for these die-off events or to set out a plan for research and action to avoid future recurrences.

 

Therefore, this Council calls on the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to convene a Public Enquiry with powers to compel testimony and the release of all forms of evidence in order to address public concern about this issue.

 

Proposer – Councillor Neil Swannick

Seconder – Councillor Bryn Griffiths

 

The Proposer and Seconder have requested that the matter be debated on the day of Council and not referred to the Executive or relevant committee.  The reason for this is that “the issue of crustacean die off is a serious issue with devastating consequences for the socio-economic and environmental future of the east coast. The need for a public enquiry is the obvious next step. The support of NYC will be pivotal in discovering the reason for the die off and subsequent recovery of the socio-economic vitality of the east coast”.

 

(2)        Call for Police Fire & Crime Commissioner to resign

 

North Yorkshire Council has serious concerns about the performance of the current Police, Fire, and Crime Commissioner, as evidenced by the two recent reports published by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services.

 

The council therefore calls for the Commissioner to resign with immediate effect.

 

Proposed by Cllr. Bryn Griffiths

Seconded by Cllr. Mike Schofield

 

The Proposer and Seconder have requested that the matter be debated on the day of Council and not referred to the Executive or relevant committee.  The reason for this is that: 

 

His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) published two reports on the performance on North Yorkshire’s Police.

 

The first was published on 17th March regarding the Police Effectiveness, Efficiency, Legitimacy: PEEL 2021/22 – An inspection of North Yorkshire Police.

It graded North Yorkshire Police’s performance across eight areas of policing and found the force was ‘inadequate’ in one area, ‘requires improvement’ in four areas, ‘adequate’ in two areas and ‘good’ in one area. The strapline was “North Yorkshire must make improvements to help keep people safe and reduce crime”.

The second report was published on 3rd May, entitled “North Yorkshire – National child protection inspection post-inspection review”. This inspection reviewed the progress made by North Yorkshire Police since the publication of the last report for North Yorkshire in 2021. HMICFR had audited 33 child protection cases - 11 cases were found to be good, 8 required improvement and 14 were inadequate. For so many cases to be found inadequate is a damning entitlement not only on the Police, but also on the overall management of the force by the Police & Fire Commissioner.

The police, fire and crime commissioner (PFCC) is elected to be responsible for generally overseeing both police forces and fire services. Clearly has failed and is continuing to fail to hold the North Yorkshire Police force to account and keep the public and in particular children safe. Urgent action is therefore needed to remove the existing commissioner immediately and replace with a far more effective manager.

It for this reason that I request that this motion is put forward for debate at the May council meeting.

 

Minutes:

The Chair, Councillor David Ireton, advised that two Notices of Motion had been submitted.  The Proposer and Seconder of each of the motions had requested that each of the matters be debated on the day of Council and not referred to the Executive or relevant Committee, for the reasons given on page 5 of the agenda pack.  The Chair confirmed that he had determined that the Motion relating to Crustacean Die-off be debated at the meeting.

 

Crustacean Die-Off Events along the North Yorkshire and Cleveland Coast since October 2021

 

The Notice of Motion was moved by Councillor Neil Swannick and seconded by Councillor Bryn Griffiths.

 

The motion was then debated.  An amendment to the motion was moved by Councillor George Jabbour and seconded by Councillor Paul Haslam.

 

The Chairman adjourned the meeting at 3:18 pm to enable the proposers and seconders of the motions to agree upon revised wording.

 

The meeting was re-convened at 3:36 pm.

 

The amendment was then debated and an amendment to the amendment was then moved by Councillor Bryn Griffiths and seconded by Councillor Neil Swannick and this was accepted by the mover of the amendment.

 

A named vote was requested and over 20 Members stood to request the named vote.  The motion was declared carried with 49 votes for, 27 against and 1 abstention.

 

For: Councillors Karl Arthur, Alyson Baker, Derek Bastiman, Nick Brown, David Chance, Mark Crane, Gareth Dadd, Caroline Dickinson, Michelle Donohue-Moncrieff, Keane Duncan, Richard Foster, Sam Gibbs, Caroline Goodrick, Tim Grogan, Paul Haslam, Robert Heseltine, Nathan Hull, David Ireton, George Jabbour, David Jeffels, Janet Jefferson, Tom Jones, Mike Jordan, Nigel Knapton, Andrew Lee, Carl Les, Cliff Lunn, John Mann, Heather Moorhouse, Simon Myers, Andy Paraskos, Stuart Parsons, Yvonne Peacock, Clive Pearson, Heather Phillips, Kirsty Poskitt, Janet Sanderson, Karin Sedgwick, David Staveley, Roberta Swiers, Malcolm Taylor, Angus Thompson, Phil Trumper, Steve Watson, David Webster, John Weighell OBE, Greg White, Annabel Wilkinson, and Robert Windass.

 

Against: Councillors Chris Aldred, Philip Broadbank, Eric Broadbent, Barbara Brodigan, Lindsay Burr MBE, Sam Cross, Felicity Cunliffe-Lister, Melanie Davis, Stephanie Duckett, Kevin Foster, Hannah Gostlow, Bryn Griffiths, Peter Lacey, Pat Marsh, Steve Mason, Rich Maw, Andrew Murday, David Noland, Bob Packham, Jack Proud, John Ritchie, Mike Schofield, Subash Sharma, Monika Slater, Neil Swannick, Matt Walker and Arnold Warneken.

 

Abstentions: Councillor Andy Brown.

 

On a vote being taken on the substantive motion the Chair declared the motion carried.

 

Resolved -

 

This Council notes with concern:

 

  1. the unexplained die-offs and wash-ups of crabs, lobsters, prawns, clams, scallops, mussels and some species of fish along the North Yorkshire and Cleveland coast since October 2021 and the long time that it could take to rebuild marine life and crustacean stocks

 

  1. the significant reduction in the catches of edible crabs and other crustaceans, as reported by the North East fishing communities and the impact that this has had on local people and businesses and on the wider local economy

 

  1. the circulation of inconclusive claims about dredging to the detriment of the local community

 

  1. the latest Independent Expert Assessment of Unusual Crustacean Mortality in the North-east of England in 2021 and 2022, which was compiled by a panel of independent experts convened by Defra’s Chief Scientific Adviser and dated 17 January 2023, being inconclusive as to the cause of the die-offs

 

Therefore, this Council calls on the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to:

 

  1. support the local economy and the local community at this difficult time, help in securing financial compensations for the fishing industry as a result of the loss in earnings incurred, and assist in arranging the necessary investment needed to rebuild marine life and crustacean stocks in the affected areas

 

  1. create and fund a dedicated task force of local and national stakeholders and experts to continually monitor and investigate the situation and its impact on the local economy and the local community, and to recommend and oversee the implementation of remedial action. Such a task force would include representatives from North Yorkshire Council and other local and combined authorities

 

  1. reconvene a panel of independent experts immediately after new evidence emerges

 

  1. use existing national tourism bodies to promote the North Yorkshire and Cleveland coast

 

  1. convene a Public Inquiry with powers to compel testimony and the release of all forms of evidence in order to address public concern about this issue

 

Furthermore, North Yorkshire Council will:

 

  1. work with and support other local and combined authorities in dealing with this unprecedented incident

 

  1. support North Yorkshire Council Leader's request to attend and engage with the Dead Crustaceans Collaborative Working Group that is managed by Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council

 

  1. continue to use existing regional tourism bodies to promote the North Yorkshire and Cleveland coast

 

Call for Police Fire & Crime Commissioner to resign

 

North Yorkshire Council has serious concerns about the performance of the current Police, Fire, and Crime Commissioner, as evidenced by the two recent reports published by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services.

 

The council therefore calls for the Commissioner to resign with immediate effect.

 

Proposer - Councillor Bryn Griffiths

Seconder - Councillor Mike Schofield

 

The motion was moved and seconded and referred to the Corporate and Partnerships Overview and Scrutiny Committee.