Proposed by Councillor Jeff Green

Seconded by Councillor Lesley Rennie

(1)  Council supports the bottom up process in the Sustainable Communities Act that enables councils and their communities to drive the action and assistance that central government gives in promoting thriving local economies and sustainable communities;

(2)  Council notes that the Act gives councils the power to

·  make proposals to government for action and assistance from government to promote sustainable communities, and that

·  those proposals can be for, but are not restricted to, new powers or a transfer of powers or public money and function from central control to local control;

(3)  Council notes that the Act defines sustainable communities broadly, that definition having the 4 aspects of:

·  the improvement of the local economy,

·  protection of the environment,

·  promotion of social inclusion, and

·  participation in civic, political and democratic activity;

(4)  Council notes that new regulations for the Act made in June 2012 improve the process and make it more favourable for councils in the following ways

·  councils’ proposals are submitted directly to the government, there will no longer be short listing

·  councils can submit proposals whenever they are ready as the process is now ongoing

·  there will be a time limit of six months on the government to consult and try to reach agreement with the Selector (currently the Local Government Association) regarding councils’ proposals and to then respond to those proposals

·  councils that choose to submit proposals may now decide how to consult and try to reach agreement with representatives of communities in their areas on what proposals to submit;

(5)  Council notes that the government has formally invited all Local Authorities to use the Act by submitting proposals;

(6)  Therefore Council resolves to use the Act by responding to this invite and submitting proposals for action and assistance from central government each year for the next three years and to then review the outcome of this activity and consider whether to continue to use the Act; and

(7)  Council further resolves to

·  to inform the local media of this decision;

·  to write to local MPs, informing them of this decision; and

·  to write to Local Works (at Local Works, c/o Unlock Democracy, 37 Gray’s Inn Road, London, WC1X 8PQ or info@localworks.org) informing them of this resolution to use the Act.

Amendment submitted in accordance with Standing Order 7(2)

Proposed by Councillor Phil Davies

Seconded by Councillor Ann McLachlan

Delete everything after paragraph (5) and insert the following:

(6)  Therefore Council resolves to consult with all members and Neighbourhood Forums on ideas which could be put forward under the Act. The Chief Executive is asked to collate any proposals and bring a report to Cabinet which recommends which ideas will be submitted to government.

(7)  Council agrees to publicise any proposals once we know what they are.

Having applied the guillotine in accordance with Standing Order 7(8) the Council did not debate this matter.

The amendment was put and carried (61:0) (One abstention).

The substantive motion was put and carried (61:0) (One abstention).

Resolved (61:0) (One abstention) –

(1)  Council supports the bottom up process in the Sustainable Communities Act that enables councils and their communities to drive the action and assistance that central government gives in promoting thriving local economies and sustainable communities;

(2)  Council notes that the Act gives councils the power to

·  make proposals to government for action and assistance from government to promote sustainable communities, and that

·  those proposals can be for, but are not restricted to, new powers or a transfer of powers or public money and function from central control to local control;

(3)  Council notes that the Act defines sustainable communities broadly, that definition having the 4 aspects of:

·  the improvement of the local economy,

·  protection of the environment,

·  promotion of social inclusion, and

·  participation in civic, political and democratic activity;

(4)  Council notes that new regulations for the Act made in June 2012 improve the process and make it more favourable for councils in the following ways

·  councils’ proposals are submitted directly to the government, there will no longer be short listing

·  councils can submit proposals whenever they are ready as the process is now ongoing

·  there will be a time limit of six months on the government to consult and try to reach agreement with the Selector (currently the Local Government Association) regarding councils’ proposals and to then respond to those proposals

·  councils that choose to submit proposals may now decide how to consult and try to reach agreement with representatives of communities in their areas on what proposals to submit;

(5)  Council notes that the government has formally invited all Local Authorities to use the Act by submitting proposals;

(6)  Therefore Council resolves to consult with all members and Neighbourhood Forums on ideas which could be put forward under the Act. The Chief Executive is asked to collate any proposals and bring a report to Cabinet which recommends which ideas will be submitted to government.

(7)  Council agrees to publicise any proposals once we know what they are.