Agenda item

The Chairman left the meeting and the Vice-Chairman took the Chair.

 

Motion for Time Limited Debate 1 – Preventing violence against women and girls

 

1)        Mr Hood proposed, and Mr Jeffery seconded the motion that:

 

“This Council resolves the following:

 

1.         Call on the Executive to develop a broader and comprehensive VAWG Strategy which should include the introduction of public awareness campaigns and bystander training to challenge problematic behaviours, attitudes, and beliefs. This strategy should outline concrete steps to increase the safety of women and girls, with a particular focus on vulnerable populations.

2.         Promote a Women's Night-Time Safety Charter through effective working with District and Borough Councils and Kent Police. This activity should support engagement with local businesses, especially bars, pubs, and taxi services, encouraging them to commit to safer practices, including better training for staff and drivers to ensure women's safety.

3.         Call on the Executive to work with the District and Borough Councils, via mechanisms such as the Kent Community Safety Partnership, to encourage the use of Licensing Tools to enhance the safety of women and girls across the whole of Kent. This includes implementing additional measures such as improved driver safety checks, the introduction of clear driver identification signage in taxis, and ensuring safe transportation options are readily available for women at night.

4.         Call on the Executive and responsible Senior Officers to make women's safety central to our responses to planning applications as a statutory consultee. This should include ensuring that the safety of women and girls will be a key consideration in Kent Highways responses to planning applications, ensuring that public spaces are designed with safety in mind. This includes improved lighting, more accessible public transport routes, and the creation of safe public spaces that encourage women to feel comfortable and secure in all parts of Kent.

5.         Agree an ongoing commitment to be a White Ribbon Accredited Organisation and agree to promote the opportunities for any Members to serve as a White Ribbon Champion.

6.         Note a key White Ribbon UK message; that it is vital to promote the concept of men and boys working to end violence against women.

7.         Recognise that this ongoing accreditation will demonstrate our commitment to tackling violence and abuse and fostering an inclusive culture of respect and equality in the community.”

 

2)        Mrs Dean proposed and Mr Hook seconded the following amendment:

 

“This Council resolves the following:

 

1.         Call on the Executive to develop a broader and comprehensive VAWG Strategy which should include the introduction of public awareness campaigns and bystander training to challenge problematic behaviours, attitudes, and beliefs. This strategy should outline concrete steps to increase the safety of women and girls, with a particular focus on vulnerable populations.

2.         Promote a Women's Night-Time Safety Charter through effective working with District and Borough Councils and Kent Police. This activity should support engagement with local businesses, especially bars, pubs, and taxi services, encouraging them to commit to safer practices, including better training for staff and drivers to ensure women's safety.

3.         Call on the Executive to work with the District and Borough Councils, via mechanisms such as the Kent Community Safety Partnership, to encourage the use of Licensing Tools to enhance the safety of women and girls across the whole of Kent. This includes implementing additional measures such as improved driver safety checks, the introduction of clear driver identification signage in taxis, and ensuring safe transportation options are readily available for women at night.

4.         Call on the Executive and responsible Senior Officers to make women's safety central to our responses to planning applications as a statutory consultee. This should include ensuring that the safety of women and girls will be a key consideration in Kent Highways responses to planning applications, ensuring that public spaces are designed with safety in mind. This includes improved lighting, more accessible public transport routes, and the creation of safe public spaces that encourage women to feel comfortable and secure in all parts of Kent.

5.         Agree an ongoing commitment to be a White Ribbon Accredited Organisation and agree to promote the opportunities for any Members to serve as a White Ribbon Champion.

6.         Note a key White Ribbon UK message; that it is vital to promote the concept of men and boys working to end violence against women.

7.         Recognise that this ongoing accreditation will demonstrate our commitment to tackling violence and abuse and fostering an inclusive culture of respect and equality in the community.

8.         Investigate the process and setting up of a programme for school targeting boys and their attitudes to relationships and abuse.”

 

 

3)        The proposer and seconder of the original motion agreed to the amendment, which became the substantive motion: 

 

“This Council resolves the following:

 

1.         Call on the Executive to develop a broader and comprehensive VAWG Strategy which should include the introduction of public awareness campaigns and bystander training to challenge problematic behaviours, attitudes, and beliefs. This strategy should outline concrete steps to increase the safety of women and girls, with a particular focus on vulnerable populations.

2.         Promote a Women's Night-Time Safety Charter through effective working with District and Borough Councils and Kent Police. This activity should support engagement with local businesses, especially bars, pubs, and taxi services, encouraging them to commit to safer practices, including better training for staff and drivers to ensure women's safety.

3.         Call on the Executive to work with the District and Borough Councils, via mechanisms such as the Kent Community Safety Partnership, to encourage the use of Licensing Tools to enhance the safety of women and girls across the whole of Kent. This includes implementing additional measures such as improved driver safety checks, the introduction of clear driver identification signage in taxis, and ensuring safe transportation options are readily available for women at night.

4.         Call on the Executive and responsible Senior Officers to make women's safety central to our responses to planning applications as a statutory consultee. This should include ensuring that the safety of women and girls will be a key consideration in Kent Highways responses to planning applications, ensuring that public spaces are designed with safety in mind. This includes improved lighting, more accessible public transport routes, and the creation of safe public spaces that encourage women to feel comfortable and secure in all parts of Kent.

5.         Agree an ongoing commitment to be a White Ribbon Accredited Organisation and agree to promote the opportunities for any Members to serve as a White Ribbon Champion.

6.         Note a key White Ribbon UK message; that it is vital to promote the concept of men and boys working to end violence against women.

7.         Recognise that this ongoing accreditation will demonstrate our commitment to tackling violence and abuse and fostering an inclusive culture of respect and equality in the community.

8.         Investigate the process and setting up of a programme for school targeting boys and their attitudes to relationships and abuse.”

 

4)        Following the debate, the Vice-Chairman put the substantive motion (as amended) in paragraph 3 to the vote and the voting was as follows.

 

For (22)

 

Mr A Brady, Mr M Brice, Mrs T Dean, MBE, Mr M Ellis, Mr M A J Hood, Mr A J Hook, Mr S Jeffery, Miss I Kemp, Mr A Kibble, Ms C Nolan, Mr J Moreland, Mr M Munday, Mr T Prater, Mr H Rayner, Mr A Ricketts, Ms C Russell, Mr G R Samme, Mr C Sefton, Mr M J Sole, Mr P Stepto, Mr R G Streatfeild, MBE, Mr N Wibberley

 

Against (41)

 

Mr J Baker, Mr M Brown, Mr D Burns, Mr C Burwash, Mr A Cecil, Mr P Chamberlain, Mr B Collins, Mr S Dixon, Ms S Emberson, Mr L Evans, Mr P Evans, Mr J Finch, Mr R Ford, Mrs B Fordham, Mrs G Foster, Mrs M Fothergill, Mr M Fraser Moat, Mr B Fryer, Mr M Harrison, M J Henderson, Mr C Hespe, Ms L Kemkaran, Mr P King, Mrs M Lawes, Mr M Logen, Mr R Mayall, Mr T Mole, Miss D Morton, Mr M Mulvihill, Mr P Osborne, Mr M Paul, Mrs B Porter, Ms A Randall, Mr D Sian, Mr G Sturley, Mr P Thomas, Mr A Thorp, Mr R Waters, Mr N Williams, Mrs P Williams and Mr D Wimble

 

Abstain (3)

 

Mr O Bradshaw, Mr J Defriend, Mr J Eustace

Motion Lost.

 

 

Motion for Time Limited Debate 2 – Improving KCC’s Blue Badge System

 

5)        Mr Hook proposed, and Mr Streatfeild seconded the motion that:

 

“Council resolves to:

 

a)        Express its appreciation for the busy, hardworking team who deal with Blue Badge applications.

b)        Request that the application of the Blue Badge rules and the determination of Blue Badge applications should be as generous as possible to residents making Blue Badge applications, so far as the law permits.

c)         Request that a comprehensive report on the waiting times for Blue Badge applications and how this can be improved be provided to the appropriate Committee.

d)        Request that the Executive write on behalf of the Council to government asking for necessary changes to be made to legislation governing Blue Badges so that the three-year rule is abolished and, in particular, that cancer patients and other residents suffering from short-term compromised mobility may be supported with a Blue Badge.”

 

6)        Mrs Morton proposed, and Mr Mulvihill seconded the following amendment:

 

“Council resolves to:

a)      Express its appreciation for the busy, hardworking team who deal with Blue Badge applications.

b)      Request that the application of the Blue Badge rules and the determination of Blue Badge applications continues to be carried out in full accordance with the specifications set down in law.  should be as generous as possible to residents making Blue Badge applications, so far as the law permits.

c)      Request that a comprehensive report on the waiting times for Blue Badge applications and how this can be improved be provided to the appropriate Committee.

d)      Request that the Leader and her Executive consider writinge  on behalf of the Council to the Department for Transport asking that the Equality Impact Assessment of the legislation governing Blue Badges be refreshed, and that if any amendments are made to include short-term use of a Blue Badge, a new ring-fenced grant be provided by the Department for Transport to support its implementation.

government asking for necessary changes to be made to legislation governing Blue Badges so that the three-year rule is abolished and, in particular, that cancer patients and other residents suffering from short-term compromised mobility may be supported with a Blue Badge.

 

7)        Following the debate, the Vice-Chairman put the amendment in paragraph 6 to the vote and the voting was as follows.

 

For (44)

 

Mr J Baker, Mr M Brown, Mr D Burns, Mr A Cecil, Mr P Chamberlain, Mr B Collins, Mr J Defriend, Mr S Dixon, Ms S Emberson, Mr J Eustace, Mr L Evans, Mr J Finch, Mr R Ford, Mrs B Fordham, Mrs G Foster, Mrs M Fothergill, Mr M Fraser Moat, Mr B Fryer, Mr M Harrison, Mr J Henderson, Mr C Hespe, Ms L Kemkaran, Miss I Kemp, Mr A Kibble, Mr P King, Mrs M Lawes, Mr M Logen, Mr R Mayall, Mr T Mole, Miss D Morton, Mr M Mulvihill, Mr P Osborne, Mr M Paul, Mrs B Porter, Ms A Randall, Mr H Rayner, Mr D Sian, Mr P Thomas, Mr A Thorp, Mr R Waters, Mr N Wibberley, Mr N Williams, Mrs P Williams and Mr D Wimble

 

Against (16)

 

Mr M Brice, Mrs T Dean, MBE, Mr M Ellis, Mr P Evans, Mr M A J Hood, Mr A J Hook, Mr S Jeffery, Mr J Moreland, Mr M Munday, Mr T Prater, Mr A Ricketts, Ms C Russell, Mr G R Samme, Mr C Sefton, Mr M J Sole, Mr R G Streatfeild, MBE

 

Abstain (5)

 

Mr A Brady, Mr O Bradshaw, Mr C Burwash, Ms C Nolan, Mr G Sturley

 

Motion carried.

 

8)        The amended motion in paragraph 6 became the substantive motion:

 

“Council resolves to:

a)      Express its appreciation for the busy, hardworking team who deal with Blue Badge applications.

b)      Request that the application of the Blue Badge rules and the determination of Blue Badge applications continues to be carried out in full accordance with the specifications set down in law. 

c)      Request that a comprehensive report on the waiting times for Blue Badge applications and how this can be improved be provided to the appropriate Committee.

d)      Request that the Leader and her Executive consider writing on behalf of the Council to the Department for Transport asking that the Equality Impact Assessment of the legislation governing Blue Badges be refreshed, and that if any amendments are made to include short-term use of a Blue Badge, a new ring-fenced grant be provided by the Department for Transport to support its implementation.”

 

9)        The Vice-Chairman put the substantive motion (as amended) in paragraph 8 to the vote and the voting was as follows.

 

For (65)

 

Mr J Baker, Mr O Bradshaw, Mr A Brady, Mr M Brice, Mr M Brown, Mr D Burns, Mr C Burwash, Mr A Cecil, Mr P Chamberlain, Mr B Collins, Mrs T Dean, MBE, Mr J Defriend, Mr S Dixon, Mr M Ellis, Ms S Emberson, Mr J Eustace, Mr L Evans, Mr P Evans, Mr J Finch, Mr R Ford, Mrs B Fordham, Mrs G Foster, Mrs M Fothergill, Mr M Fraser Moat, Mr B Fryer, Mr M Harrison, Mr J Henderson, Mr C Hespe, Mr M A J Hood, Mr A J Hook, Mr S Jeffery, Ms L Kemkaran, Miss I Kemp, Mr A Kibble, Mr P King, Mrs M Lawes, Mr M Logen, Mr R Mayall, Mr T Mole, Mr J Moreland, Miss D Morton, Mr M Mulvihill, Mr M Munday, Ms C Nolan, Mr P Osborne, Mr M Paul, Mrs B Porter, Mr T Prater, Ms A Randall, Mr H Rayner, Mr A Ricketts, Ms C Russell, Mr G R Samme, Mr D Sian, Mr C Sefton, Mr M J Sole, Mr R G Streatfeild, MBE, Mr G Sturley, Mr P Thomas, Mr A Thorp, Mr R Waters, Mr N Wibberley, Mr N Williams, Mrs P Williams and Mr D Wimble

 

Against (0)

 

Abstain (0)

 

Motion carried.

 

10)     RESOLVED that:

 

Council resolves to:

a)      Express its appreciation for the busy, hardworking team who deal with Blue Badge applications.

b)      Request that the application of the Blue Badge rules and the determination of Blue Badge applications continues to be carried out in full accordance with the specifications set down in law. 

c)      Request that a comprehensive report on the waiting times for Blue Badge applications and how this can be improved be provided to the appropriate Committee.

d)      Request that the Leader and her Executive consider writing on behalf of the Council to the Department for Transport asking that the Equality Impact Assessment of the legislation governing Blue Badges be refreshed, and that if any amendments are made to include short-term use of a Blue Badge, a new ring-fenced grant be provided by the Department for Transport to support its implementation.