That Council resolves from the conclusion of this meeting that Councillors do not attend any further physical or hybrid meetings at Bolsover District Council premises, but instead for all Councillors to attend all meetings virtually until a day that all Councillors can attend a physical meeting of Council at Bolsover District Council premises.
Minutes:
b) Motion submitted by Councillor James Watson:
That Council resolves from the conclusion of this meeting that Councillors do not attend any further physical or hybrid meetings at Bolsover District Council premises, but instead for all Councillors to attend all meetings virtually until a day that all Councillors can attend a physical meeting of Council at Bolsover District Council premises.
Councillor James Watson moved the motion and explained that one particular aspect this motion was considering was the risk created by people attending meetings in person during the pandemic. He was also concerned that Members attending in person was unlawful because it went against the advice given to them by the Monitoring Officer.
Councillor Ross Walker seconded the motion and reserved the right to speak.
Councillor Duncan McGregor spoke on the motion and said the Monitoring Officer had advised him that the hybrid style of meetings was not only in line with Government guidance, but was similar to the way Government meetings were operating in the pandemic. He added that Members’ Internet connections at their homes were not always reliable, and some Members felt Zoom meetings did not encourage debate, so he believed it was democratic to offer Members a choice.
Councillor Duncan McGregor continued that some Parish Councils already used The Arc for hybrid meetings themselves, and the arrangements for Members sitting in the Council Chamber had been agreed in consultation with Health & Safety officers.
AMENDMENT
In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 12.6, Councillor Duncan McGregor moved an amendment to motion b) proposing that it instead reads:
“That Council resolves from the conclusion of this meeting that Councillors can choose to use Zoom or hybrid.”
Councillor Derek Adams seconded the amendment and reserved the right to speak.
Councillor Sandra Peake spoke on the amendment and stated she would support it because she felt it was good to offer Members a choice.
Councillor Ross Walker spoke as seconder to the original motion and believed that allowing people to attend meetings in person was a moral issue because of the risks it was causing. He added his belief that Members should lead by example by not coming to The Arc.
Councillor Natalie Hoy spoke on the amendment and stated she would support it because it would suit the wide ranging needs of all Members.
Councillor Liz Smyth spoke on the amendment and stated she would support it because it was inclusive to all Members.
Councillor Rose Bowler spoke on the amendment and stated she would support it because despite trying to use Zoom, she had sometimes had connection issues and been forced to come into The Arc.
Councillor Nick Clarke spoke on the amendment and stated he would not support it because nobody should be pressured to come into the Arc during such a dangerous time. He added that people working from home all over the country had drastically reduced the carbon footprint. With these points in mind, he felt all meetings should be fully virtual.
The Chair sought advice from the Monitoring Officer on whether or not the amendment was constitutionally acceptable. The Monitoring Officer stated that the amendment negated the original motion and could therefore not be put forward.
Councillor Duncan McGregor agreed to withdraw his moved amendment based on this advice, because he felt Members had been given an adequate amount of information on the subject to vote on the original motion instead.
Councillor Derek Adams agreed to withdraw the amendment as seconder.
Councillor Derek Adams spoke on the original motion by making reference to Councillor Ross Walker saying Members should “lead by example”, because he felt this was exactly what Members were doing by coming into The Arc – offering solidarity with frontline workers having no choice but to go out to work.
Councillor Ross Walker spoke on the original motion and stated he supported the contribution made by Councillor Nick Clarke.
The Chair handed back to Councillor James Watson as mover of the original motion.
Councillor James Watson thanked Members for their discussions. He felt that Members choosing to come into The Arc were putting their own interests before those of others, because they were forcing more staff to be on hand at The Arc and were risking further COVID transmission to their Ward residents. He reiterated his belief that the hybrid arrangements had not fully taken on board legal advice, which could risk voiding decisions made by the Council during the pandemic.
The Chair confirmed he had received three requests to hold a recorded vote on the original motion from Councillors Duncan McGregor, Sandra Peake and Liz Smyth. The Chair stated that a recorded vote would be taken on the original motion.
For the motion – 9
(Councillors Anne Clarke, Nick Clarke, Tricia Clough, Tom Kirkham, Graham Parkin, Peter Roberts, Janet Tait, Ross Walker and James Watson.)
Against the motion – 24
(Councillors Derek Adams, Rose Bowler, Jane Bryson, Dexter Bullock, Jim Clifton, Paul Cooper, David Dixon, Maxine Dixon, Mary Dooley, David Downes, Steve Fritchley, Ray Heffer, Natalie Hoy, Andrew Joesbury, Chris Kane, Duncan McGregor, Clive Moesby, Tom Munro, Evonne Parkin, Sandra Peake, Liz Smyth, Rita Turner, Deborah Watson and Jen Wilson.)
Abstentions – 0
The Chair indicated that the motion had not been carried.