Issue - meetings

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.

The Chairman reported that 7 Motions on Notice had been submitted for this meeting. In advance of the meeting, the proposer of the last Motion, Councillor Hunter, had discussed his Motion with the Leader, and had agreed to withdraw it, on the basis that work was already ongoing and it had been agreed it would be prioritised going forwards.

Candy and Vape Stores

Council considered the following Motion on Notice submitted by Councillor E. Gray:

This Council calls upon the Bromsgrove MP to lobby Government to call a halt to American-style candy and vape stores opening up on high streets. These entice young people to take up dangerous habits which cause significant risk to young people/children’s health and well-being.

Councillor P. McDonald seconded the motion.  He referred to the emergence of shops selling sweets and e-cigarettes on local high streets and promoting their wares to children of all ages.  The lack of legislation about advertising vapes and powers of enforcement meant that local regulatory services had not been able to take action.

Councillor J. Robinson proposed an amendment as follows:

To remove the wording ‘call a halt to American style candy and vape stores opening up on high streets’ and replace with ‘limit the sale of disposable vapes’.

At the end of the Motion to add ‘Furthermore this Council agrees with the cross party LGA view that disposable vapes should be banned and the Leader of the Council agrees to write to Worcestershire County Council to ensure the Trading Standards Team that polices activity has a full complement of officers in place in Bromsgrove to ensure that we crack down on any illegal sales of vapes in our District’.

The Council was adjourned between 8.43 and 8.48pm whilst the Chairman sought procedural advice and subsequently advised that the Motion on Notice was very specific and as such the amendment was not accepted.

During debate on the Motion on Notice the following points were raised:

·       That the motion related to the risks associated with the sale of disposable vapes and sweets.  Some shops such as supermarkets sold vapes and sweets.  5 million vapes were sold each week across the country.  Whilst members agreed there was an impact on children from their availability and sale and understood the sentiment behind the Motion, some considered that it was impractical.

·       The motion addressed a specific issue in a councillor’s ward and also concerned other wards and sought to support members in their ward role.

·       The action proposed by the motion did not address the issue sufficiently and approaching the MP was not likely to have an impact in practical terms.

·       The limitations of the planning system in addressing the concerns raised in the Motion.  There was no route in the planning regime to prevent vapes being sold in shops. 

·       The Government was currently consulting on changes to the controls on vapes as part of its policy to create a smoke free generation.  The Council could consider the issue of vaping in a Cabinet Working  ...  view the full minutes text for item 57