Agenda item

To deal with anymotions received in accordance with Standing Order 5.0.  Any motions received before the deadline has passed for the receipt of motions will be published in advance of the meeting.

Councillor W Forster

Councillor Forster moved and Councillor Nicholson seconded the following motion, proposing that the Motion should be determined on the night rather than referred to the next meeting of the Executive in accordance with Standing Order 5.7.

“Woking Borough Council notes that the Prime Minister has misled Parliament and lied to the residents of our Borough.

This Council notes that while the Prime Minister attended Downing Street parties, residents of Woking Borough obeyed the lockdown rules, often at huge personal cost or sacrifice.

This Council notes the significant financial impact upon local businesses who have been closed due to the lockdown or tier regulations.

This Council calls upon the Leader of the Council to write to the Prime Minister stating that the Council has no confidence in his leadership and calls for him to resign.

This Council also calls upon the Leader of the Council to write to Woking’s Member of Parliament requesting that they represent this Council’s view in Parliament and call for the Prime Minister to resign.”

Councillor Forster spoke in support of his Motion, stating that the Prime Minister was under a Police investigation, had broken the law and had failed to uphold the law.  The Motion was debated by the Council before a vote was held.  In accordance with Standing Order 10.8 the names of Members voting for and against the motion were recorded.

In favour:                           Councillors A-M Barker, A Boote, M Bridgeman, W Forster, D Hughes, I Johnson, A Kirby, R Leach, L Morales, E Nicholson, M I Raja, D Roberts and J Sanderson. 

Total in favour:                  13

Against:                             None.

Total against:                     None.

Present not voting:            The Mayor, Councillor Lyons, and Councillors S Ashall, A Azad, J Brown, K Davis, S Dorsett, G Elson, K Howard, D Harlow, S Hussain, C Kemp, N Martin, C Rana and Whitehand

Total present not voting:   14

The Motion was therefore carried by 13 votes in favour to none against.

RESOLVED

That the Motion be supported.

Councillor A Kirby

The following motion was moved by Councillor Kirby and seconded by Councillor Hughes and referred to the Executive on 24 March 2022 in accordance with Standing Order 5.7.

“Easy access to Council recordings

This Council resolves that all video recordings of public meetings of Council and its Committees will henceforth be made available for public viewing on demand, in perpetuity.

Archive recordings of all previously public meetings of Council and Council Committees will also be made available for public viewing on the same platform, wherever this is legally and technically possible.”

Councillor S Dorsett

The following motion was moved by Councillor Dorsett and seconded by Councillor Ashall for consideration by the Executive at its meeting on 24 March 2022 in accordance with Standing Order 5.7. 

“This council recognises the importance of democratic choice at the ballot box, of fair representation of our communities and that every person should have the greatest possible opportunity to vote positively for a party that represents their values and viewpoint.

Parties deciding to not field candidates on ballot papers in essence robs supporters of the choice of parties who truly reflects their views.  This practice undermines voters and democracy overall.

This council urges all parties to stand in the maximum number of wards in all forthcoming elections for which they are able to find candidates so that elections in Woking result in a true reflection of the different views of voters.”

Councillor Barker asked forthe Motion to be determined on the night rather than referred to the next meeting of the Executive.  The Council was advised that, in accordance with Standing Orders, the Mayor could determine whether a motion should be determined on the night if it could be convenient and conducive to the despatch of business. 

The Mayor chose to ask Members to indicate in an unnamed vote whether they wished to refer the motion to the Executive or determine it on the night.  A total of 14 Councillors voted in favour of determining the motion on the night, against 5 Councillors who wished to refer it to the Executive before being brought back to the Council.  In view of the results of the vote, the Mayor took the decision to determine the motion on the night and invited Councillor Dorsett to speak in support of the Motion.

Councillor Dorsett explained that the Motion sought to encourage the Political Parties to put forward candidates in the available wards where possible to provide the electors with the widest choice of candidates.  Councillor Barker moved and Councillor Forster seconded the following amendment to the Motion (changes highlighted in bold):

“This council recognises the importance of democratic choice at the ballot box, of fair representation of our communities and that every person should have the greatest possible opportunity to vote positively for a PERSON OR party that represents their values and viewpoint.

Parties deciding to not field candidates on ballot papers in essence robs supporters of the choice of parties who truly reflects their views.  This practice undermines voters and democracy overall.

This council urges all parties to stand in the maximum number of wards in all forthcoming elections for which they are able to find candidates so that elections in Woking result in a true reflection of the different views of voters.

This council notes that only 2 countries in Europe use the first past the post system.

Council believes a proportional voting system would offer local voters greater choice and produce a Council that represents the widest range of views across the borough.”

The Council was advised, however, that an amendment could not seek to substantially change the meaning of a Motion, and accordingly the amendment was not accepted.  The Council proceeded to debate the Motion as submitted, with a number of Councillors speaking against it.  Councillor Nicholson subsequently moved and Councillor Barker seconded an amendment which had the effect of changing the motion to read (changes highlighted in bold):

“This council recognises the importance of democratic choice at the ballot box, of fair representation of our communities and that every person should have the greatest possible opportunity to vote positively for a person or a party that represents their values and viewpoint.

Parties deciding to not field candidates on ballot papers in essence robs supporters of the choice of parties who truly reflects their views.  This practice undermines voters and democracy overall.

This council urges all parties to stand in the maximum number of wards in all forthcoming elections for which they are able to find candidates so that elections in Woking result in a true reflection of the different views of voters.”

The amendment was debated before the Mayor invited the Elected Members to indicate whether they supported the Motion as amended.  The amendment was supported unanimously and it was

RESOLVED

That the motion, as amended and as set out below, be supported.

“This council recognises the importance of democratic choice at the ballot box, of fair representation of our communities and that every person should have the greatest possible opportunity to vote positively for a person or a party that represents their values and viewpoint so that elections in Woking result in a true reflection of the different views of voters.”