Agenda item

(1)       The Vice-Chairman invited Miss Tina Brooker, the petitioner organiser, to address the Council on the above petition.  Miss Brooker spoke to the petition.

(2)       Mr Carter moved and Mr Pearman seconded the following motion:

“This Council understands the concerns of the petitioners and recommends that the Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport, having been fully informed by Kent Police and having sought the advice of the Environment and Transport Cabinet Committee, should establish the criteria for deciding on a case by case basis whether all night street lighting should be returned to a particular place.”

(3)          Dr Eddy proposed and Mr Caller seconded the following amendment to the above motion:

“This Council recommends to the Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport to accede to the petitioners’ request for the reinstatement of street lighting between midnight and 5.30am with immediate effect.”

(4)          Following a debate the Vice-Chairman put the amendment set out in paragraph (3) above to the vote and the votes cast were as follows:

For (29)

Mr M Baldock, Mr R Bird, Mr H Birkby, Mr N Bond, Mrs P Brivio, Mr C Caller, Mr I Chittenden, Mr B Clark, Ms J Cribbon, Mr G Cowan, Mr D Daley, Mrs T Dean, Dr M Eddy, Mr P Harman, Ms A Harrison, Mr C Hoare, Ms S Howes, Mr G Koowaree, Mr R Latchford, Mr T Maddison, Mr F McKenna, Mr B Neaves, Mrs E Rowbotham, Mr W Scobie, Mr T Shonk, Mr D Smyth, Mr N Thandi, Mr A Terry, Mr M Vye

Against (43)

Mrs A Allen, Mr M Balfour, Mr A Bowles, Mr D Brazier, Mr R Brookbank, Miss S Carey, Mr P Carter, Mr N Chard, Mrs P Cole, Mr G Cooke, Mrs M Crabtree, Mrs V Dagger, Mr M Dance, Mr J Davies, Mr J Elenor, Mr T Gates, Mr G Gibbens, Mr R Gough, Mr M Hill, Mrs S Hohler, Mr S Holden, Mr E Hotson, Mr J Kite, Mr A King, Mr G Lymer, Mr S Manion, Mr A Marsh, Mr M Northey, Mr P Oakford, Mr J Ozog, Mr R Parry, Mr C Pearman, Mr L Ridings, Mr J Scholes, Mr C Simkins, Mr J Simmonds, Mr C Smith, Mrs P Stockell, Mr B Sweetland, Mr J Wedgbury, Mrs J Whittle, Mr M Whybrow, Mr A Wickham

Abstain (1)

Mrs M Elenor

Amendment lost

(5)          Following a debate the Vice-Chairman put the motion set out in paragraph (2) above to the vote and the votes cast were as follows:

For (44)

Mrs A Allen, Mr M Balfour, Mr D Brazier, Mr R Brookbank, Miss S Carey, Mr P Carter, Mr N Chard, Mrs P Cole, Mr G Cooke, Mrs M Crabtree, Mrs V Dagger, Mr M Dance, Mr J Davies, Mrs M Elenor, Mr T Gates, Mr G Gibbens, Mr R Gough, Mr P Harman, Mr M Hill, Mrs S Hohler, Mr S Holden, Mr E Hotson, Mr A King, Mr J Kite, Mr R Long, Mr G Lymer, Mr S Manion, Mr A Marsh, Mr M Northey, Mr P Oakford, Mr J Ozog, Mr R Parry, Mr C Pearman, Mr L Ridings, Mr J Scholes, Mr C Simkins, Mr J Simmonds, Mr C Smith, Mrs P Stockell, Mr B Sweetland, Mr J Wedgbury, Mrs J Whittle, Mr M Whybrow, Mr A Wickham

Against (30)

Mr M Baldock, Mr R Bird, Mr H Birkby, Mrs P Brivio, Mr N Bond, Mr C Caller, Mr I Chittenden, Mr B Clark, Mr G Cowan, Ms J Cribbon, Mr D Daley,  Mrs T Dean, Dr M Eddy, Mr J Elenor, Ms A Harrison, Mr C Hoare,  Ms S Howes, Mr G Koowaree, Mr R Latchford, Mr T Maddison, Mr F McKenna, Mr B Neaves, Mrs E Rowbotham, Mr W Scobie, Mr T Shonk, Mr D Smyth, Mr N Thandi, Mr A Terry, Mr M Vye, Mrs Z Wiltshire

Abstain (0)

Motion carried

(6)       The Vice-Chairman then invited the Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment, Mr Balfour, to respond to the debate and describe how he intended to take the petitioner’s concerns forward. 

(7)       Mr Balfour referred to the district by district review, which was currently being carried out by the Police in relation to crime figures for areas where the lights had been turned off over night.  He mentioned that the proposed LED lights would provide greater flexibility in the adjustment of street lights for individual areas. The Environment and Transport Cabinet Committee in July would be considering the criteria for all night street lighting to be returned but in the meantime he welcomed any suggestions that Members may wish to submit to him for the proposed criteria.  

(7)       RESOLVED that this Council understands the concerns of the petitioners and recommends that the Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport, having been fully informed by Kent Police and having sought the advice of the Environment and Transport Cabinet Committee, should establish the criteria for deciding on a case by case basis whether all night street lighting should be returned to a particular place.