Agenda item

[That Council consider the motions received by Councillor Phil Bateman MBE, Councillor Simon Bennett, Councillor Ellis Turrell and Councillor Wendy Thompson]

1.    That the motion on West Midlands Police – Data be agreed.

2.    That the amended motion on Ukraine be agreed.

3.    That the motion on Draft Black Country Plan be lost.

4.    That the motion on Fallow Year be agreed.

Having declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in the motion on West Midlands Police – Data, Councillor Bhupinder Gakhal left the Council Chamber and took no part in the consideration of this item.

Councillor Phillip Bateman moved the following motion on West Midlands Police – Data: 

“This City Council is concerned and dismayed over the poor public information arrangements that West Midlands Police are currently operating. Police UK, which informs the public upon the actions and performances and local crime and the detection, is still deficient and does not carry West Midlands performance rates.

West Midlands Police also do not update their electronic information on the changes in ward cover and the teams performing crime fighting duties in the city’s wards.

Added to that, there are no up to date crime level statistics for wards across the city which the public can read, digest and then support. There are concerns across our city that crime is rising and that is compounded by the fact that there are no detection rates or other important statistics on show to benchmark, prove or measure criminal effects on our communities.

There is no current up to date public information on police strength by city wards that the public can rely upon. Wulfrunians will be growing away from the police if their requirements to know what is happening in their communities are not heeded, or their need for information on crime and its solutions continue to be ignored.

The ‘Thin Blue Line’ still has less police in service in Wolverhampton than it had in 2010, yet our population has soared in that same period. It could appear to some that West Midlands Police are appearing to ignore the public in our city.

This City Council therefore calls on West Midlands Police to greatly improve its communications and create better links between elected members and community leaders in the wards they serve.”

Councillor Phillip Bateman outlined the rationale for the motion. Councillor Greg Brackenridge seconded the motion and outlined the rationale for supporting the motion.

Councillor Philip Bateman outlined the rationale for the motion. Councillor Greg Brackenridge seconded the motion and outlined the rationale for supporting the motion.

The motion was debated by Council.

Resolved: That the motion on West Midlands Police- Data be agreed.

Councillor Simon Bennet moved the motion on Ukraine:

“In support of Ukraine, Council agrees to explore twinning opportunities with a Ukrainian town or city.”

Councillor Simon Bennett outlined the rationale for the motion. Councillor Andrew McNeil seconded the motion and outlined the rationale for supporting the motion.

Councillor Ian Brookfield moved an amendment to the motion as follows:

‘In support of Ukraine, Council agrees to utilise its partners in the European Association for Local Democracy (ALDA), as a way to contact people with feet on the ground in Ukraine, especially Dnipro, as well as our local Ukrainian community and bodies like the Refugee and Migrant Council (RMC) and University. This would enable us to provide a package of co-ordinated support that will offer more than traditional municipal twinning.’

Councillor Ian Brookfield outlined the rationale for the amended motion. Councillor Stephen Simkins seconded the amended motion and outlined the rationale for supporting the motion.

The motion was  debated by Council.

The amended motion was carried.

Resolved: That the amended motion on Ukraine be agreed.

Councillor Ellis Turrell moved the motion Draft Black Country Plan:

“The long-awaited Brownfield Land Study, commissioned by West Midlands Mayor Andy Street, has been published. Contrary to the claims from the Leader of the Council that "every inch" of brownfield land in the city has been included in the draft Black Country Plan, the Study outlines that there is a significant amount of additional brownfield capacity in Wolverhampton for 4,458 homes. The Study also includes a number of recommendations for local authorities to further evaluate and prioritise existing brownfield sites.

Specifically, the Study proposes releasing employment land in the city for the creation of nearly 500 new homes and identifies almost 2,500 new homes from windfall sites. This includes 812 new dwellings in the city centre from converted upper storey floorspace.

This Council therefore agrees to:

i)               Accept and begin implementing the recommendations of the Brownfield Land Study.

ii)              Immediately include new brownfield and windfall sites in the Black Country Plan through Regulation 18 consultations, where the necessary evidence exists to do so.

iii)             Retract the Council's original statement that "every inch" of brownfield land in the city has been included in the Black Country Plan.”

Councillor Ellis Turrell outlined the rationale for the motion. Councillor Sohail Khan seconded the motion and outlined the rationale for supporting the motion.

The motion was debated by Council.

Resolved:

That the motion on Draft Black Country Plan be lost.

Councillor Wendy Thompson moved the motion on Fallow Year:

“Council agrees that following the all-out local elections on 4 May 2023 its preference is for the planned fallow year of 2025 to be brought forward to 2024 and that the Chief Executive, on Council’s behalf, writes to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to request this.”

Councillor Wendy Thompson outlined the rationale for the motion. Councillor Paula Brookfield seconded the motion and outlined the rationale for supporting the motion.

The motion was debated by Council.

Resolved:

That the motion on Fallow Year be agreed.