Motion One
Introduction
There are currently 1.5 million 16 and 17 year olds
who are denied the right to vote.
We believe that lowering the voting age to 16, combined with strong citizenship education, would empower young people to better engage in society and influence decisions that will define their future.
16 and 17 year olds who can consent to medical treatment, work full-time, pay taxes, get married or enter a civil partnership, and join the armed forces should have the right to vote.
We recognise that the Gedling Youth Council supports the Votes at 16 Campaign by the British Youth Council and the UK Youth Parliament to lower the voting age to 16.
We note that:
We now believe that it is time for the extension of the voting franchise to 16 and 17 year olds for all parliamentary elections and referenda in the United Kingdom and local elections in England and Northern Ireland as a natural and just equalisation of voting rights to match personal responsibilities.
Gedling Borough Council therefore resolves to:
· Ask the Chief Executive and the Leader of the Council to write to
a.
The Prime Minister and the Minister for the Cabinet Office, stating
the Council’s support for the Votes at 16 Campaign, and
asking them to support legislation for lowering the voting age to
16 and 17 year olds for all parliamentary elections and referenda
in the United Kingdom and local elections in England and Northern
Ireland.
b. The Members of Parliament for Gedling and Sherwood stating the Council’s support for the Votes at 16 Campaign, and
c. the Gedling Youth Council, the British Youth Council, and the UK Youth Parliament, stating the Council’s support for the Votes at 16 Campaign.
Proposer: Councillor Wheeler
Seconder: Councillor Gregory
Motion Two
Gedling Borough Council resolves to:
· Oppose the Leader of Nottinghamshire County Council's plan to abolish Gedling Borough Council in order to replace it with a single unitary council for Nottinghamshire.
· Condemn the Conservative Leader of Nottinghamshire County Council for failing to consult the residents and businesses of Gedling and Nottinghamshire on their views about the future shape of local government in our area. This shows contempt for the residents and businesses we serve.
· Call on the Leader of Nottinghamshire County Council to re-engage with leaders of all councils in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, working constructively, transparently and in a manner of mutual respect through the Economic Prosperity Committee - so that we can work collectively on the issues facing the residents and businesses we serve.
· Call on the Leader of Nottinghamshire County Council to spend her time strongly lobbying the Conservative Government for sustainable and fair funding for Gedling and Nottinghamshire rather than wasting time on attempting to unilaterally redraw the boundaries of local government in Nottinghamshire.
· Agree to write to the Secretary of State for Local Government stating our opposition to the Leader of Nottinghamshire County Council's plan to abolish all districts and boroughs in Nottinghamshire and replace them with a single unitary council and to highlight the complete lack of any credible business case for such a move.
Proposed: Cllr. Michael Payne
Seconded: Cllr. John Clarke
Minutes:
Motion 1
Upon a notice of motion received in the name of Councillor Wheeler, a proposition was moved by Councillor Wheeler and seconded by Councillor Gregory in the following terms:
Background/context
There are currently 1.5 million 16 and 17 year olds who are denied the right to vote.
We believe that lowering the voting age to 16, combined with strong citizenship education, would empower young people to better engage in society and influence decisions that will define their future.
16 and 17 year olds who can consent to medical treatment, work full-time, pay taxes, get married or enter a civil partnership, and join the armed forces should have the right to vote.
We recognise that the Gedling Youth Council supports the Votes at 16 Campaign by the British Youth Council and the UK Youth Parliament to lower the voting age to 16.
We note that:
1. Responsibility for the administration of elections in Northern Ireland lies with the United Kingdom Government; and that
2. Responsibility for the administration of elections in Scotland and Wales is now devolved - in Scotland the voting age for Scottish Parliament and local elections has been lowered to 16. In Wales it is expected that the voting age will be lowered to 16 for the next Welsh Assembly and local elections.
We now believe that it is time for the extension of the voting franchise to 16 and 17 year olds for all parliamentary elections and referenda in the United Kingdom and local elections in England and Northern Ireland as a natural and just equalisation of voting rights to match personal responsibilities.
Motion
Gedling Borough Council therefore resolves to:
· Ask the Chief Executive and the Leader of the Council to write to
a.
The Prime Minister and the Minister for
the Cabinet Office, stating the Council’s support for the
Votes at 16 Campaign, and asking them to support legislation for
lowering the voting age to 16 and 17 year olds for all
parliamentary elections and referenda in the United Kingdom and
local elections in England and Northern Ireland.
b. The Members of Parliament for Gedling and Sherwood stating the Council’s support for the Votes at 16 Campaign, and
c. the Gedling Youth Council, the British Youth Council, and the UK Youth Parliament, stating the Council’s support for the Votes at 16 Campaign.
In accordance with Standing Order 17.03, the proposition was put to a named vote as follows:
For the Motion:
Councillors Allan, Bailey Jay, P Barnes, S Barnes, Brooks, Clarke, Collis, Creamer, D Ellis, R Ellis, Ellwood, Feeney, Fox, Gregory, Hollingsworth, McCrossen, Miller, Paling, Payne, Scroggie, Wheeler and Wilkinson.
Against the motion:
Councillors Adams, Andrews, Barnfather, Bexon, Bisset, Elliott, Greensmith, Hewson, Parr, Pepper, Poole, Stirland and Walker.
The Mayor declared the motion carried and it was
RESOLVED to
· Ask the Chief Executive and the Leader of the Council to write to:
a.
The Prime Minister and the Minister for
the Cabinet Office, stating the Council’s support for the
Votes at 16 Campaign, and asking them to support legislation for
lowering the voting age to 16 and 17 year olds for all
parliamentary elections and referenda in the United Kingdom and
local elections in England and Northern Ireland.
b. The Members of Parliament for Gedling and Sherwood stating the Council’s support for the Votes at 16 Campaign, and
c. the Gedling Youth Council, the British Youth Council, and the UK Youth Parliament, stating the Council’s support for the Votes at 16 Campaign.
Motion 2
Upon a notice of motion received in the name of Councillor Payne, a proposition was moved by Councillor Payne and seconded by Councillor Clarke in the following terms:
Gedling Borough Council resolves to:
In accordance with Standing Order 17.03, the proposition was put to a named vote as follows:
For the Motion:
Councillors Allan, Bailey Jay, P Barnes, S Barnes, Brooks, Clarke, Collis, Creamer, D Ellis, R Ellis, Ellwood, Feeney, Fox, Gregory, Hollingsworth, McCrossen, Miller, Paling, Payne, Scroggie, Wheeler and Wilkinson
Against the motion:
Councillors Adams, Andrews, Barnfather, Bexon, Bisset, Elliott, Greensmith, Parr, Pepper, Poole, Stirland and Walker
Abstentions:
Councillor Hewson
The Mayor declared the motion carried and it was
RESOLVED to:
1) Oppose the Leader of Nottinghamshire County Council's plan to abolish Gedling Borough Council in order to replace it with a single unitary council for Nottinghamshire.
2) Condemn the Conservative Leader of Nottinghamshire County Council for failing to consult the residents and businesses of Gedling and Nottinghamshire on their views about the future shape of local government in our area. This shows contempt for the residents and businesses we serve.
3) Call on the Leader of Nottinghamshire County Council to re-engage with leaders of all councils in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, working constructively, transparently and in a manner of mutual respect through the Economic Prosperity Committee - so that we can work collectively on the issues facing the residents and businesses we serve.
4) Call on the Leader of Nottinghamshire County Council to spend her time strongly lobbying the Conservative Government for sustainable and fair funding for Gedling and Nottinghamshire rather than wasting time on attempting to unilaterally redraw the boundaries of local government in Nottinghamshire.
5) Agree to write to the Secretary of State for Local Government stating our opposition to the Leader of Nottinghamshire County Council's plan to abolish all districts and boroughs in Nottinghamshire and replace them with a single unitary council and to highlight the complete lack of any credible business case for such a move.