Council and democracy
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Venue: Council Chamber, The Guildhall, Market Square, Cambridge, CB2 3QJ
Contact: Democratic Services Committee Manager
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To Note the Returning Officer's Report that the following has been elected to the Office of Councillor Queen Edith’s ward |
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Mayor's announcements |
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Public questions time |
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To consider the recommendations of the Executive for adoption |
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Additional documents: |
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Additional documents: |
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General Fund Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) 2023/24 to 2032/33 Additional documents: |
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To deal with oral questions |
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To consider the following notices of motion, notice of which has been given by: |
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Councillor Anna Smith - Debate not Hate This council notes the intimidation and abuse of councillors, in person
or otherwise, undermines democracy; preventing elected members from
representing the communities they serve, deterring individuals from standing
for election, and undermining public life in democratic processes. This council further notes that increasing levels of toxicity in public
and political discourse is having a detrimental impact on local democracy and
that prevention, support and responses to abuse and intimidation of local
politicians must improve to ensure councillors feel safe and able to continue
representing their residents. This council therefore commits to challenge the normalisation of abuse
against councillors and uphold exemplary standards of public and political
debate in all it does. The council further agrees to sign up to the Local Government
Association’s (LGA) Debate Not Hate campaign. The campaign aims to raise public
awareness of the role of councillors in local communities, encourage healthy
debate and improve the response to and support for local politicians facing
abuse and intimidation. In addition, the council resolves to: · Write
to our local Members of Parliament to ask them to support the campaign · Write
to the Government to ask them to work with the LGA to develop and implement a
plan to address abuse and intimidation of politicians · Regularly
review the support available to councillors in relation to abuse and
intimidation and councillor safety · Work
with the local police to ensure there is a clear and joined-up mechanism for
reporting threats and other concerns about the safety of councillors and their
families · Take a
zero-tolerance approach to abuse of councillors and officers. · Express
our support for the Jo Cox Foundation[1]’s
Civility in Public Life Campaign, which we commit to adhering to in all of our
political discourse[2]. Notes: · Except
for the last bullet point, this motion follows the wording, with only very
minor edits for local context, of the Local Government Association’s Debate
not Hate motion which has been passed at councils across the country. More details of the LGA
debate not hate campaign can be found here: https://www.local.gov.uk/about/campaigns/debate-not-hate. · The Jo
Cox Foundation is a registered charity set up in memory of murdered MP, Jo Cox,
who studied at Cambridge University. It works to promote stronger communities,
respectful politics, and a fairer world. (https://www.jocoxfoundation.org/about/
) · The
2023 Civility Pledge, which is the core of the Civility in Public Life campaign
is as follows: o
Set a respectful tone when campaigning o
Lead by example to foster constructive
democratic debate o
Demonstrate compassion by defending and
promoting the dignity of others, especially my opponents. · More
details about the Jo Cox Foundation’s campaign to promote civility in public
life can be found here: https://www.jocoxfoundation.org/our-work/respectful-politics/
[1]
A charity set up in memory of
murdered MP, Jo Cox, who studied at Cambridge University. It works to promote
stronger communities, respectful politics, and a fairer world. https://www.jocoxfoundation.org/about/ |
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Written questions No discussion will take place on this
item. Members will be asked to note the written questions and answers document as
circulated around the Chamber.
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