Issue - meetings

Motion

Meeting: 21/02/2018 - Council (Item 93)

A period of up to one hour is allocated to consider the motions on notice. This may only be extended with the agreement of the Council.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Single Use Plastics and Recycling

Members considered the following notice of motion, submitted by Councillor P. McDonald:

"That this Council joins others in the battle against single-use plastics by agreeing to stop providing plastic cups, bottles, cutlery and straws at all its buildings, cafes and public events by the end of the year.

In addition this Council agrees to explore ways in which it can positively promote and/or influence alternatives to single-use plastics at events within the District and positively encourage the use of recyclable alternatives.”

The motion was proposed by Councillor P. McDonald and seconded by Councillor M. Glass.

In proposing the motion Councillor McDonald agreed to amend the timescale given within it, to within 18 months. Councillor Glass commented that what was being requested could be achieved within a relatively short period of time and that a target of 18 months gave a better opportunity for the Council to be able to achieve this.

In proposing the motion Councillor McDonald made particular reference to the damage done to sea and sea life through the disposal of plastics and the amount of time taken for plastics to biodegrade.

Councillor Glass highlighted the need to raise awareness with residents and to encourage them to recycle wherever possible. The introduction of waste collection points within the Bromsgrove main centre and for the Council to encourage further investment from Worcestershire County Council was paramount to the Council being able to make a difference.

Following presentation of the motions, Members discussed a number of areas in more detail, including:

· A previous motion which had been raised in respect of the Council only using environmentally friendly products and an update in respect whether this had been progressed.

· Councillor Shannon highlighted a scheme used at a local university where students were able to purchase a reusable cup and it was suggested that this type of scheme could be instigated through the Council and have the Council logo on the cups.

· It was confirmed that the motions, which had initially been individual, had been combined.

· The potential for non-recyclable plastics to be banned within the District/County.

· The cost of recycling plastics – it was understood that most were recyclable, but that the cost of this process was prohibitive.

On being put to the vote the Chairman declared the motion to be carried.

WASPI

Members considered the following notice of motion submitted by Councillor C. Bloore:

Council notes:

· Hundreds of thousands of women had significant pension changes imposed on them by the Pensions Acts of 1995 and 2011 with little/no/personal notification of the changes. Some women had only two years notice of a six-year increase to their state pension age.

· Many women born in the 1950's are living in hardship. Retirement plans have been shattered with devastating consequences. Many of these women are already out of the labour market, caring for elderly relatives, providing childcare for grandchildren, or suffer discrimination in the workplace so struggle to find employment.

· Women born in this decade are suffering financially. ... view the full minutes text for item 93