Agenda

Abbey – Naomi Bennett

Arbury – Patrick Sheil

Castle – Antoinette Nestor

Cherry Hinton – Mark Ashton

Coleridge – Tim Griffin

East Chesterton – Gerri Bird

King’s Hedges – Jenny Gawthrope Wood

Market – Tim Bick

Newnham – Hugh Clough

Petersfield – Mike Davey

Queen Edith’s – Immy Blackburn-Horgan

Romsey – Dave Baigent

Trumpington – Nadya Lokhmotova

West Chesterton – Sam Carling

 

 

The Council is required to appoint a Leader of the Council. Article 7.3 of the Constitution states:

 

The Leader will be a councillor elected to the position by the Council and will remain as Leader until the day of the Annual Meeting of the Council in the year their term of office ends or until:

 

1.      death or disqualification; or

2.      resignation from the office; or

3.      removal from office by resolution of the Council.

Group Leaders will each have the opportunity to speak for not more than 10 minutes on their Group’s priorities for action and objectives for the forthcoming municipal year.

COUNCIL BELIEVES that ‘good growth’ in and around Cambridge is possible, if planned with care for sustainability.  Evidence already gathered by local councils indicates that this should be provided for, in particular to alleviate poor housing conditions and rising costs, which are not only a source of division and inequality, but also jeopardise our vital public services and limit businesses which are directly or indirectly dependent on our unique concentration of research and innovation for advancement in the world.

 

WE POINT TO the records of parties which have recently led this council and South Cambridgeshire in delivering new communities meeting a wide spectrum of needs and means, and in nurturing the success of the local economy.

 

WE WELCOME a role for central government in addressing key factors beyond the scope of local councils, particularly in ensuring investment in water supply, transport infrastructure and social housing – the absence of which would result in unsustainable growth, which the city would not be able to support.

 

But WE ARE HUGELY CONCERNED by arbitrary government housing targets and unsubstantiated proposals for a development corporation and planning intervention, which cast locally elected representatives of residents as mere outside advisors or minority participants in the shaping of the future of our own area in an accountable way.

 

WE RESOLVE to challenge this ‘power grab’ by central government; to seek instead a genuine partnership, and to strengthen the local democratic component of this by pursuing the creation of a unitary council which brings together most local decision-making and service provision into one new body. 

 

And WE RECOMMIT to locally-led, evidence-based planning and to development that is above all sustainable, both socially and environmentally.

Humans have already caused irreversible climate change, the impacts of which are being felt in the UK, and across the world. The average global temperature has already increased by 1.2°C above pre-industrial levels and—alongside this—the natural world has reached crisis point, with 28% of plants and animals threatened with extinction. In addition, the UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world as more than one in seven of our plants and animals face extinction, and more than 40% are in decline.

The Climate & Ecology Bill, seeks to address the challenges that this situation poses by creating a whole-of-government approach to deliver a net zero and nature positive future.

The Bill aims to align current UK environmental policy with the need to halt and reverse nature loss by 2030, which was a goal agreed to at COP15,); and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in line with the UK’s fair share of the remaining global carbon budget to give the strongest chance of limiting global heating to 1.5°C, which was the goal agreed to at COP21.

By bridging the gap between the UK Government’s current delivery, and what has been agreed at international levels, Britain has a chance to be a world leader on climate and the environment; seizing the opportunities of the clean energy transition, including green jobs and skills; reduced energy bills; and boosting the UK’s food and energy security.

This council notes that:

·      This council declared a Climate Emergency in February 2019.

·      This council declared a bio-diversity emergency in May 2019

·      Cambridge is one of 119 Global Cities named Climate Action Leaders on the Carbon Disclosure Project 2023 A List. A-List cities are taking four times as many climate mitigation and adaptation measures as non-A Listers.

·      Cambridge City Council is ranked second amongst all UK District councils by Climate Action Scorecards (run by Climate Emergency UK) on actions we have taken to reach net zero in 2023.

·      In our Climate Change Strategy 2021-2026 we set a target for the Council to be net zero carbon in our direct emissions by 2030 and our Carbon Management Plan explains how we plan to achieve it.

·      Our Change Strategy 2021-2026 also sets out a vision for Cambridge City to be net zero carbon by 2030 but we need a more ambitious policy framework and increased investment from national government in order to achieve that.

The CE Bill would require the UK Government to develop and achieve a new environmental strategy, which would include:

1. Delivering a joined-up environmental plan, as the crises in climate and nature are deeply intertwined, and require a plan that considers both together;

2. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions in line with 1.5°C to ensure emissions are reduced in line with the best chance of meeting the UK’s Paris Agreement obligations;

3. Not only halting, but also reversing the decline in nature, setting nature measurably on the path to recovery by 2030;

4. Taking responsibility for our overseas footprint, both emissions and ecological;

5. Prioritising nature in  ...  view the full agenda text for item 14b

The purpose of this motion is to support the Climate and Nature Bill. A short description of the bill and the actions requested of the council follows: A history of the bill and links to further reading are provided for convenience.

 

Cambridge City Council notes that:

·      The Climate and Nature Bill would require the UK government to make a full plan to protect us from the climate emergency and threats to the natural world.

·      That such a plan is needed to reverse global warming and loss of plants, animals and people.

 

In particular, the Bill would require the government to commit to the following actions:

·      Delivering a joined-up environmental plan, as the crises in climate and nature are deeply intertwined, requiring a plan that considers both together;

i.               Reducing greenhouse gas emissions in line with 1.5°C in line with the best chance of meeting the UK’s Paris Agreement obligations;

ii.             Not only halting, but also reversing the decline in nature, setting nature measurably on the path to recovery by 2030; the existing Environment Act aims only to halt the decline of nature by 2030.

iii.            Taking responsibility for our overseas footprint, both emissions and ecological;

iv.           Prioritising nature in decision-making, and ending fossil fuel production and imports as rapidly as possible;

v.             Providing for retraining of people currently working in fossil fuel industries; and

vi.           Giving people a say in finding a fair way forward through an independent and temporary Climate & Nature Assembly, representative of the UK population, an essential tool for bringing public opinion along with the unprecedented pace of change required. Weaning ourselves off fossil fuels means big changes, which is why it’s important that everyone is on board with them.

 

Cambridge City Council therefore resolves to:

1.    Support the Climate and Nature Bill;

2.    Inform local residents, and local press/media of this decision;

3.    Write to Daniel Zeichner MP and Anthony Browne MP to inform them that this motion has been passed and urging them to sign up to support the Bill;

4.    Write to Zero Hour, the organisers of the cross-party campaign for the CAN Bill, expressing its support (campaign@zerohour.uk).

5.    Write to Sir Keir Starmer MP asking him to confirm his party’s support for the bill and requesting that the bill be upgraded from a private members’ bill to a government bill should there be a change of government.

 

Background Notes (not part of active motion):

 

History

1.    The 2024 version of the Climate and Nature Bill was introduced by Labour MP, Alex Sobel on 21 March 2024 and will receive a second reading on 17 May 2024.

2.    Previous versions were introduced by Green MP Caroline Lucas (twice) and Labour’s Olivia Blake (once)

3.    A petition requesting support for the Bill was submitted to Environment and Community Scrutiny Committee by local Green party officers with advice from the Zero Hour campaign group on 21 March 2024 and was approved by councillors including Cllrs Glasberg and Moore.

4.    The Bill is backed by  ...  view the full agenda text for item 14c

The purpose of this motion is to raise awareness and support the 2024 Disabled People’s Manifesto and to stand with disabled residents, their carers and their families in the face of the continuing national government’s attack on their lives and rights.

 

The 2024 Disability Rights UK Manifesto is a four point plan to create a society where everyone has equal life chances and is valued and treated equally. 

 

The four points are:

 

1.    Representation and Voice

 

Removal of barriers for disabled people to participate in political and public life.

 

2.    Rights

 

The full rights set out in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (“UNCRPD”)

 

3.    Independence

 

The right to live independently with choice and control over the support given.

 

4.    Inclusion

 

Plans for every aspect of life to address specific needs of disabled people from the outset.

 

Although Cambridge City Council is not a unitary authority and social services are provided by the county council, it is very much aware of the impact of the services that it does provide on the lives of disabled residents. Housing, the planning service and the public realm are critical to the life chances of disabled people. Even basic services such as contact with the public can present extra challenges to disabled people and carers.

 

The council accepts that it has an important part to play in supporting the lives of its disabled residents and indeed all the residents who are affected by their own or another person’s disability.

 

However, no council can do this work alone. Central government support is needed.

 

Accordingly, Cambridge City Council resolves to:

1.    Sign the Manifesto as an organisation;

2.    Raise awareness of the Local Government Association Disability Champions Network with both council officers and councillors.

3.    Write to Daniel Zeichner MP and Anthony Browne MP to inform them that this motion has been passed and urge them to sign the Manifesto;

4.    Write to Sir Keir Starmer MP asking him to confirm his party’s support for the Manifesto and opposition to the current government’s proposed attacks on the dignity and rights of Disabled People

 

Further Reading

 

Disability Rights UK

 

https://www.disabledpeoplesmanifesto.com/manifesto

 

Local Government Disability Champions Network (“LGDCN”)

 

https://www.local.gov.uk/our-support/equalities-hub/local-government-disability-champions-network-lgdcn

 

United Nations Convention On the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

 

https://social.desa.un.org/issues/disability/crpd/convention-on-the-rights-of-persons-with-disabilities-crpd

 

 

This Council notes:

a.    The City Council’s three previous statements (19th October, 15th February, 29th February) which condemned the attack by Hamas on the 7th October and called for ‘an immediate ceasefire, the return of hostages, unfettered access for humanitarian aid, peace in the Middle East, international support for a two-State solution and the upholding of international law.’

b.    That since October 7th, according to the Gaza health ministry, the present Israeli Government has killed over 34,000 Palestinians, with over 77,000 wounded and 10,000 feared buried under the rubble in Gaza.

c.    That the UN Secretary-General, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and others have said that Israel has committed grave violations of international law in its assault on Palestine. The International Court of Justice has ruled that there was a risk of irreparable harm to the Palestinian right to be protected from genocide.

d.    UN experts including Special Rapporteurs Ben Saul, Margaret Satterthwaite and Independent Expert Cecilia Bailliet have warned that ‘any transfer of weapons or ammunition to Israel that would be used in Gaza is likely to violate international humanitarian law and must cease immediately’.

e.    That the UK continues to sell arms to Israel which are being used in the ongoing conflict. They may be used in a way that creates further human suffering and prolong the conflict. By providing arms and military support to Israel, the UK Government could be complicit in this catastrophe.

f.     That since 2015, the UK has licensed at least £474 million worth of military exports to Israel, including components for combat aircrafts, missiles, tanks, technology, small arms and ammunition. The UK provides approximately 15% of the components in the F-35 stealth bomber aircraft currently being used in Gaza.

g.    In 2009, under a Labour government, the UK suspended arms licenses for naval guns due to their use against civilians in Gaza. In 2014, under a Conservative-led government, the UK said it would suspend licenses if hostilities resumed in Gaza.

h.    A cross-party group of 134 parliamentarians have signed a letter to Foreign Secretary David Cameron and Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch MP, asking for them to immediately suspend export licenses for arms transfers to Israel.

i.      On 8th May 2024, President Biden confirmed that the US had blocked an arms shipment of thousands of heavy bombs to Israel over fears that they could be used during Isrrael’s military operation in Rafah. Following this news, a former UK national security adviser has criticised Rishi Sunak for failing to suspend arms sales to Israel.

 

This Council calls on the current and any future UK Government to:

a.    Press for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, Israel and the rest of Palestine and to make every effort to resume the peace process.

b.    Work to ensure that international humanitarian law is upheld and that civilians are protected in accordance with those laws.

c.    Work to ensure that civilians have access to humanitarian support, including unfettered access of  ...  view the full agenda text for item 14e