Issue - meetings

To consider any Notices of Motion that have been received in accordance with paragraph 1.34 of the Council Procedure Rules

Consideration was given to the following Notices of Motion, which had been submitted in accordance with paragraph 1.34 of the Council Procedural Rules:-

Council Tax Protocol

Proposed by Councillor K Flavell and seconded by Councillor B Puddicombe

The Citizens’ Advice Bureau, in partnership with the LGA, has developed a ‘Council Tax Protocol’ which sets out 27 recommendations for dealing with Council Tax collection and debt recovery. Its aim is to offer a fairer system that ensures that residents struggling with payments are not pushed further into debt by poor collection practices. Over 60 Local Authorities have so far signed up to the scheme, including Wolverhampton, whose Cabinet member Cllr Andrew Johnson states:

“There are all sorts of reasons why people might struggle to pay their council tax bills and this protocol is all about how we can work with people to support them so that they can pay their bills without getting into greater financial difficulties.

We have a duty to collect the money owed, but we want to do so in a fair way and only go down the enforcement route when other avenues are exhausted.”

I would like Cheshire East to follow this example and commit to being a more caring Council.

Motion:

That Cheshire East Council adopt the Council Tax Protocol, as recommended by the LGA and Citizens’ Advice Bureau. 

RESOLVED:

That the Motion be referred to Cabinet.

2        Mitigation of Climate Change in Developments

Proposed by Councillor Q Abel and Seconded by Councillor
S Akers Smith

Cheshire East Council as part of our commitment to the environment and mitigation of climate change require development of whatever size to incorporate best practice (e.g. passive house) to reduce energy requirements and provide a non-carbon footprint for heating and cooking. Ideally ground source heat pump or equivalents and induction hobs.

Further, the Council to lobby Government to bring the legal requirement forward to the earliest possible date to achieve zero carbon for all new development and conversions.

RESOLVED:

That the Motion be referred to Cabinet.