Venue: Central Hall, Dolphin Centre, Horsemarket, Darlington, DL1 5RP
Contact: Paul Dalton, Democratic and Elections Officer, Operations Group Email: [email protected] or Telephone 01325 405805
No. | Item |
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Introductions / Attendance at Meeting. |
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Minutes - To approve the Minutes of the Meeting of this Council held on 26 September 2024 PDF 423 KB |
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Declarations of Interest. |
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Sealing. |
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Announcements. |
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Questions - To answer questions (where appropriate notice has been given from):- PDF 401 KB |
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The Public; |
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Members to Cabinet/Chairs; |
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Council Reports. |
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Gambling Act Policy Review PDF 522 KB Report of the Chief Executive Additional documents:
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Constitution Update PDF 402 KB Report of the Executive Director of Resources and Governance Additional documents: |
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Review of Political Balance - Changes to Committee Membership PDF 435 KB Report of the Executive Director of Resources and Governance |
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Cabinet Reports. |
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Council Tax Support - Scheme Approval 2025-26 PDF 375 KB Report of the Executive Director of Resources and Governance Additional documents: |
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Overview Report of the Children and Young People Portfolio; PDF 600 KB |
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Overview Report of the Health and Housing Portfolio; PDF 382 KB |
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Overview Report of the Stronger Communities Portfolio; and PDF 380 KB |
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Cabinet Urgent Decisions PDF 366 KB Report of the Chief Officers Executive |
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Scrutiny Reports - To consider Scrutiny Overview Reports |
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Communities and Local Services Scrutiny Committee; PDF 368 KB |
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Notice of Motion |
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To consider a Motion submitted by Councillor Harker and seconded by Councillor Dulston Promoting Civility in Politics This Council notes:
a)
That over recent years, political discourse in the
UK has become increasingly uncivil, between politicians of
different parties and between the public and
politicians.
b)
There have been instances within the Borough of
Darlington, both in meetings and online, where language and social
media exchanges have become excessively uncivil. c) That in 2020, Darlington Borough Council adopted the United Darlington Charter, proposed by Cllr Harker and seconded by Cllr Mrs. Scott. This Council believes:
a)
The majority of the public expects local Councillors
to engage civilly with one another, in order to work together for
the benefit of the whole Borough.
b)
Officers of Darlington Borough Council should be
treated with respect in meetings, without fear of personal remarks
or inappropriate questioning.
c)
Careless language and personal attacks can have
serious consequences, as highlighted by the tragic murders of Sir
David Amess and Jo Cox in recent years. d) Councillors and the public have the right to challenge policies and decisions in a civil and respectful manner. That this Council resolves:
a)
To reaffirm the adoption of the United Darlington
Charter.
b)
That all Darlington Borough Councillors should adopt
the following Civility Pledge, put together by the Jo Cox
Foundation, and hold each other accountable to keep
it: 1. Use a civil and constructive tone in political debate. 2. Act with integrity, honesty and compassion 3. Behave respectfully towards others, including those I disagree with”
c)
To promote civility in politics amongst Councillors,
candidates and the public. |
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To consider a Motion submitted by Councillor Dulston and seconded by Councillor Bartch Failure to Support Local Businesses Over Christmas This Council notes: a)
the critical role small businesses play
in sustaining the local economy and the need to commit to policies
that prioritise their survival and growth; b)
that this Labour-controlled Council has
failed to consider introducing free parking during the Christmas
period, a time when local businesses rely heavily on increased
footfall to boost their sales and secure their
livelihoods; c)
that small businesses, already struggling
under the national Labour Government’s punitive National
Insurance tax hikes, are further disadvantaged by this
Council’s failure to consider alleviating parking costs for
potential shoppers; d)
that other councils across the UK have
recognised the importance of supporting their local economies
during this festive season by implementing free or reduced parking,
making this Council’s inaction even more glaring;
and e) the harmful effects of the Labour Government’s National Insurance tax hike. This Council believes: a)
that the needs of the community and the
businesses that form its backbone, particularly during the festive
season when the cost of living crisis and government-imposed
financial burdens already weigh heavily on everyone, should not be
ignored; b)
that free parking during the Christmas
period would provide a much-needed lifeline to small businesses,
encouraging greater footfall and boosting the local economy at a
critical time; c)
that the combination of increased
operational costs, higher taxes, and this Council’s
indifference, places an undue burden on local entrepreneurs, many
of whom are on the brink of closure; d)
that its inaction demonstrates a complete
lack of understanding of, or care for, the struggles faced by small
business owners and residents in the borough; e) that this failure also discourages residents from shopping locally, driving them to online retailers or larger shopping centres with more affordable or subsidised parking options. Council therefore resolves to: a)
acknowledge the detrimental impact on
local businesses of its failure to consider offering free parking
during the Christmas period and agrees to introduce free parking
within the Town Centre during the months of December 2024 and
January 2025; and b) undertake a marketing campaign promoting the above offer with a view to increasing footfall and boosting the local economy at a critical time. |
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To consider a Motion submitted by Councillor Snedker and seconded by Councillor Henderson Ending local government austerity and investing in local public services
This Council notes that:
a)
Government grants to local authorities were cut by
40% in real terms between 2009/10 and 2019/20, from £46.5bn
to £28.0bn;
b)
as a result, between 2010 and 2019, more than
£30 billion in spending reductions (often termed austerity
measures) were made to welfare payments, housing subsidies and
social services in the UK;
c)
research shows these austerity measures have
contributed to 335,000 excess deaths, resulted in a fall in the UK
life expectancy, and culminated in UK workers being £11,000
worse off a year after years of wage stagnation;
d)
at the same time, there has been a huge surge in
demand for vital services provided by local authorities, such as
adult social care, which takes up about three-quarters of Local
Authority budgets. While the cost of
delivering these services per capita has seen above inflation cost
rises;
e)
spending on social care grew by an average of 2.6% a
year in real terms between 2014/15 and 2021/22;
f)
this is less than the 3.4% a year increase in
spending that the Health Foundation has calculated will be needed
between 2024/25 and 2032/33 to meet future demand. This is equal to
£8.3 billion overall;
g)
The National Audit Office has recognised that the
pressure on local authority finances “impacts on the funding
available for adult social care”;
h)
as a result of decreased funding and increased
demand for services, since 2021 six local authorities have declared
themselves effectively bankrupt, with many half of all councils
warning they may have to do the same in the next five years;
and i) The Labour Party has not committed to increasing funding for local authorities, leaving the estimated £6bn black hole in council budgets unaddressed. This Council believes that:
a)
cuts to the government grants provided to local
authorities must be reversed by the new government, in order to
sufficiently fund growing demand for key services such as adult
social care;
b)
without adequate funding, the increased financial
pressure from increased demand for these services is likely to have
serious negative financial implications for local authorities and
Darlington Borough Council; and c) as well as increased funding, the UK government and local authorities must commit to improving the working conditions of social workers. This Council resolves to:
a)
Write to the Prime Minister, the Chancellor, and
relevant Ministers of State to call for an end to local government
austerity, and a significant and substantial investment in local
government and public services. This will include a call for a
sustained uplift to local authority funding to cover shortfalls in
adult social care, education, homelessness, and other key services.
It will also include an ask to provide multi-year funding
settlements. b) Work with providers, local NHS, and UNISON reps to explore the Ethical Care Charter within the term of current contracts, and report back to this council within six months on the practicalities of adopting stage 1 of the charter ... view the full agenda text for item 10c |
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Membership Changes - To consider any membership changes to Committees, Subsidiary Bodies and Other Bodies. |