Agenda item

Three motions were received.

 

Motion A

Proposed by: Councillor Martin Horwood

Seconded by:  Councillor Richard Pineger

 

The Nature Emergency

 

This council:                              

 

Declares that there is a nature emergency, recognising:

a.     That nature is in long term decline and urgent action must be taken to reverse this, that the UK is one of the world's most nature-depleted countries - in the bottom 10% globally and the worst in the G7 - and with only about half its biodiversity left that it is far below the global average;

b.    That a thriving natural environment underpins a healthy, prosperous society, that it benefits our physical and mental health, feeds us, cleans our air, moderates urban heat, absorbs carbon, makes towns like Cheltenham beautiful and that its survival and diversity is essential to human life;

c.     That the nature crisis and the climate emergency are intrinsically linked and that the impacts of the climate crisis drive nature’s decline, while restoring nature can help to tackle the climate crisis.

 

2. Notes the positive work already begun and planned by this council including:

d.    Policy SD9 of the current Joint Core strategy with Gloucester and Tewkesbury which commits us to protect and enhance biodiversity and to establish and reinforce resilient ecological networks

e.     The Parks, People & Wildlife green space strategy and the work already undertaken to promote biodiversity in the council’s own parks, gardens and cemeteries, watercourses, local Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), woodland, three Local Nature Reserves and other natural areas.

f.      The 16 Local Green Spaces already designated in the 2020 Cheltenham Plan safeguarding access to nature and ecosystem services for communities in the urban area^[1]

g.    The example set by development plans like the Golden Valley supplementary planning document (SPD) which won the Building with Nature Policy Award

h.    The establishment, with partners, of the Gloucestershire Nature & Climate Fund to help restore and enhance nature when business and developers cannot meet Biodiversity Net Gain goals entirely on site

i.      The imminent recruitment of the town’s first borough ecologist

j.      The planned development this year of an Ecology, Nature Recovery & Biodiversity SPD for the whole town

 

3. Commits to embed nature’s recovery at the heart of all strategic plans, policy areas and decision-making processes, including the forthcoming Cheltenham, Gloucester & Tewkesbury Strategic & Local Plan

 

4. Having declared a climate emergency in 2019, commits to tackling the climate and nature emergencies together and investing in nature-based solutions to the challenges posed by climate change including mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to increased climate risk such as flooding and extreme summer heat.

 

5. Develop and agree on an evidence-based strategy and action plan for nature’s recovery and report on the progress made, building on the 2007 Cheltenham biodiversity audit and work already begun by the Gloucestershire Nature Partnership including the Gloucestershire Natural Capital Mapping Project, Gloucestershire’s Local Nature Recovery Network, identified Nature Improvement Area and local Strategic Nature Areas.

 

6. Set clear strategic and measurable goals for nature’s recovery by 2030, for example, covering the following areas:

a.    Contributing to the national commitment to protect 30% of land for nature by 2030, in line with the UK’s international commitment to biodiversity.

b.    Increasing space for wildlife and long-term maintenance and expansion of the Nature Recovery Network.

c.    Reducing pressure on wildlife.

d.    Improving doorstep access to nature, particularly for those from disadvantaged backgrounds and those wards already identified as having the worst access to nature.

e.    Supporting communities and businesses to make better decisions and take action to support nature’s recovery.

 

7. Work with local communities and organisations, including with schools, colleges and young people, to achieve the strategic goals, particularly engaging with disadvantaged and underrepresented sections of society.

 

8. Work with local communities and organisations to achieve the strategic goals, particularlyengaging with disadvantaged and underrepresented sections of society.

 

In proposing the motion, Councillor Horwood acknowledged the encouragement of Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust and LibDem colleagues to bring it forward, and welcomed the support of the Green Party.

He saidscientists are clear that global loss of nature and biodiversity poses an existential threat to humankind’s future, but there has been less focus of countries like ours that have trashed nature over many centuries.  He noted that the council is already taking action to preserve and restore nature in many ways, including work to increase biodiversity, the Gloucestershire Nature and Climate Fund, the Golden Valley SPD, the emerging Ecology, Nature Recovery and Biodiversity SPD, the appointment of a borough ecologist, and the Gloucestershire Natural Capital Mapping survey. He said all of this will help us to set the clear and measurable targets to put nature recovery even more firmly at the heart of all our policy making.

Councillor Pineger, seconding the motion, reserved the right to speak.

In debate, Members welcomed the motion and made the following comments:

-          green space is essential for wildlife to thrive, especially in urban settings; despite the need for more homes, we have an obligation to invest, because once lost, these sites, including small pockets in more urban areas, will be gone forever;

-          the six local wildlife sites - formerly key wildlife sites – should be included;

-          it would be good to know in two or three years’ time if the motion has succeeded and fulfilled its aims;

-          county councillors can use the Build Back Better fund to support wildlife in their wards;

-          more transparency about what the council is already doing around biodiversity would be helpful for residents who want to engage;

-          the organiser of Nextdoor Nature, part of the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust, has expressed a keen interest in working with planning committees to inform them about wildlife provision.

 

The Cabinet Member for Waste, Recycling and Street Services highlighted what the council is already doing to protect and promote biodiversity, including sustainable planting, harvesting local wildflower seeds, minimising the use of chemical weedkiller, and planting more trees. He paid tribute to volunteers who undertake much of this work.

Councillor Nelson proposed an amendment to Paragraph 2A, adding the words: ‘…ecological networks,  including local wildlife sites’.  Councillors Horwood and Pineger were happy to accept the amendment.

In seconding the motion, Councillor Pineger thanked everyone who spoke, and welcomed all that the council is doing already to increase biodiversity in green spaces all around the town. He said the motion is not only for Cheltenham, but will also send a signal to other councils throughout the UK,  and contribute as the movement builds across Europe and the rest of the world.  

MOTION A CARRIED, with Councillor Nelson’s amendment to Paragraph 2A, adding the words: ‘…ecological networks,  including local wildlife sites’

Unanimous

 

Motion B

Proposed by: Councillor Flo Clucas

Seconded by:  Councillor Paul Baker

 

Special needs in schools

 

Our schools in Cheltenham are not receiving the full entitlement of assistance from County for children with special needs. Those children, staff and other pupils are suffering as a result.

 

This Council:

 

Calls for the Leader to contact the Cabinet Member at GCC for information and response to children’s needs in schools, as set out below:

1. Council is concerned that in some of our schools in Cheltenham, those children with special educational needs, and those children with particular issues in relation to the speaking and understanding of English, are not receiving the help and support they need.

 

2. Our children with special educational needs – an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) - are entitled to such help.

 

As the County Council itself states:

 

3. ´An Education, Health and Care Plan is a statutory plan that has replaced a Statement of SEN.  An EHC Plan may be needed when a child or young person's educational needs cannot be met with the existing additional resource already delegated to the school.  The Local Authority assess this need based on the evidence provided. '

 

4.Too many of our children who have such needs are being failed by a system, which is grossly underfunded by central government. As a consequence, additional stress and workload is being placed on teachers and teaching assistants and their desire to remain in the service and is adversely impacting those children who are already disadvantaged, their parents and carers. 

 

5. In addition, in some schools, young children are being asked to act as translators, as assistance is not being provided by the County to those whose first language is not English and who have little or no English language ability.

 

6. Council requests that the Leader writes to the Cabinet Member responsible at Gloucestershire County Council to ask them to state:

 

a)  How many children in Gloucestershire have an EHCP? 

 

b) How many of those are not receiving the care they should through the EHCP?

 

c) When will that assistance, so needed by children, young people and schools, in relation to EHCP and language translation needs, be made available? 

 

d) How many decisions for ECHP applications take longer than 20 weeks to be completed?

 

e) What is the financial shortfall for schools both primary and secondary of needed assistance?

 

f) What is the impact of such delay and cost on schools?

 

In proposing the motion, Councillor Clucas said she had been prompted to do so on hearing from head teachers about the increasing number of children excluded from school, long waits for educational certificates and care plans, children staying away from school without any challenge, and the £44m shortfall in government funding for health and education across the county, all of which is having a  negative impact on the children involved, their classmates, and teaching professionals. 

 

The motion asks for data and information about what can be done to improve the situation, as a matter of great concern and urgency, so that we can look at impact and potentially come together to help children and young people who need extra assistance.

 

The seconder, Councillor Baker, reserved the right to speak.

Members welcomed the motion, and shared some observations and comments:

-          we must find solutions to look after children and people who need special help, as well as supporting parents, carers, teachers, teaching assistants, and other children;

-          any member of the public can ask a question about this of the county council, and county councillors can raise the issue through any political route, including motions and questions;

-          the relevant county Cabinet Member and perhaps the Director of Children’s Services and Director of Education could be invited to attend a meeting of Overview and Scrutiny to provide information on the county’s precise position.  This could be added to the motion as an amendment.

 

In seconding the motion, Councillor Baker said it was not an understatement to say there is a crisis in schools for children with special educational needs and disabilities, and the impact on teachers, on morale, workloads, stress loads, health, absences, and other children in school could not be underestimated.  The recent inspection at county demonstrates that the system is not working; despite small improvements, a lot more work and considerable investment is needed to address the situation, which is the result of chronic underinvestment and lack of foresight. The motion is a start, raising awareness, and he thanked Councillor Clucas for bringing it forward.

In summing up, Councillor Clucas thanked everyone for their support.  She said nothing is more important than caring for children and the situation cannot be ignored.  Asking questions is the first step towards making improvements.

VOTE ON MOTION B with additional paragraph as bullet point 7:

7.    following receipt of the information requested in point 6, the Cabinet Members and relevant officers from the County will be invited to meeting of Overview and Scrutiny.

 

Carried

[1 abstention]

 

 

Motion C

Proposer: Cllr Max Wilkinson

Seconder: Cllr Adrian Bamford

 

GP capacity in Cheltenham

 

GP capacity in Cheltenham

 

Council notes:

 

-          Concerns about the capacity of the primary care sector in Cheltenham, including evidence that demand for routine GP appointments regularly exceeds supply.

 

-          Primary Care is delivering a record number of appointments, but Gloucestershire has the worst figures in the country for patients waiting over 28 days for an appointment, based on the latest figures available (October 2023, as reported at HOSC).  Clearly existing capacity is insufficient to meet current need and all estimates indicate that need will continue to increase at pace.

 

-          The ongoing impact of national policies that have encouraged doctors trained in the UK to move abroad for better terms and conditions.

 

-          That the government has acknowledged the shortage of doctors and seeks to address this as part of its NHS workforce plan.

 

-          That there are many examples of local best practice in primary care and that GPs are working hard under significant pressure.

 

-          The challenges presented by the level of investment in Primary Care and the financial complexities of delivering new surgeries.

 

-          That long waiting lists for hospital treatment, combined with difficulties in social care and A&E, are placing additional pressures on GPs.

 

Council welcomes:

 

-          The inclusion of a new GP surgery as part of the CIL projects list included in the Cheltenham Gloucester and Tewkesbury Strategic Local Plan and approved by this council.

 

-          The local petition of more than 1600 names calling for a new GP surgery in Cheltenham.

 

-          The potential availability of council-owned land for delivering such a project in partnership with others, as part of this authority’s prudent approach to use of its assets.

 

-          The desire to include a new surgery as part of new commercial and residential developments at West and North West Cheltenham.

 

Council resolves:

 

-          To reiterate support, first expressed as part of the paper on the CIL schedule, for a new GP surgery for Cheltenham.

 

-          To request that officers further explore with the health care commissioners and current GP provider service, possibilities for delivering new surgery premises:

 

a)     Via the provision of new premises for existing surgeries seeking to move and/or expand into more appropriate, accessible buildings

b)     At strategic sites, as part of the growth of Cheltenham

 

 

-          To report back with progress and options to a full meeting of council on, or before, the scheduled full council meeting on 14 October.

 

The proposer, Councillor Wilkinson, began by saying that there is a crisis in primary healthcare, with GP practices under huge pressure and cruelly underfunded, resulting in long waits for appointments and many doctors leaving the profession.  The motion is not a criticism of hardworking GPs in and around Cheltenham, and there is little CBC can do about the crisis, but we can build on the CIL proposal in the Strategic and Local Plan to work with Gloucester and Tewkesbury to prioritise building a new GP surgery in Cheltenham. The council can also investigate using its assets to assist existing surgeries seeking a new home.  It is our responsibility to work with our neighbours to address key concerns, and ensure we are providing the services residents need for their healthcare.

 

In seconding the motion, Councillor Bamford said that the NHS used to be the envy of the world, with a full range of medical services, excellent coverage, and ready access for the majority of people, but after 14 years of woefully adequate government investment, the situation is very different, including long waits for non-urgent surgery; excessive waiting times for ambulances and deplorable waits in A and E; struggles to find hospital beds; people discharged too early; and practice nurses, physios and pharmacists treating patients in primary care who would normally have seen a GP. With demand through the roof, practice budgets overstretched and staff frazzled, requesting one additional medical practice in Cheltenham is the least we can do.

In debate, Members shared their own experiences, including long waits in A and E, people having to travel long distances for care, and not knowing their GPs.  One Member commented that doctors are leaving general practice to work in a medical capacity elsewhere and providing a service that treats patients in a timely fashion is essential to avoid making the situation worse - it isn’t just about lack of money, but also about how the money is spent – this is where we need to concentrate.

 

Summing up,  Councillor Wilkinson thanked Members, saying that the NHS and the people have been let down, and the problem of investment falling in real terms is key. He said record amounts of money may be being spent, but with inflation, expensive treatments, and more people with more problems, additional funding is needed to catch up.  Members’ comments and experiences highlight some of the issues, and although the motion won’t solve them all, as the local authority we must do anything we can to make things better for the local population, to at least take the edge off some of the problems. 

 

VOTE on MOTION C as proposed

Carried

[5 abstentions]