Notices of Motions in accordance with Procedure Rule 10
Bournemouth Women’s Refuge
The following motion submitted in accordance with Procedure Rule 10 of the Meeting Procedure Rules has been proposed by Councillor D Farr and seconded by Councillor H Allen: -
There has been no scrutiny of the decision to close Bournemouth's only Women’s Refuge for those fleeing abusive relationships.
We ask the decision be reversed and the council's policy on social care for vulnerable individuals escaping domestic violence must be fully scrutinised before committee.
Council Elections Voting System
The following motion submitted in accordance with Procedure Rule 10 of the Meeting Procedure Rules has been proposed by Councillor J Salmon and seconded by Councillor Oliver Walters.
This Council believes that the current First-Past-the-Post (FPTP) electoral system used for local elections does not fully reflect the diverse political preferences of our electorate. We propose that the Leader of the Council contacts the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government and requests that BCP Councils 2027 local elections are used as an opportunity to trial an alternative Single Transferable Vote (STV) system.
Background:
Proposal:
Changes to the Winter Fuel Allowance and protecting pensioners from fuel poverty
The following motion submitted in accordance with Procedure Rule 10 of the Meeting Procedure Rules has been proposed by Councillor P Broadhead and seconded by Councillor B Dove: -
Council Notes:
• The Labour Government’s recent decision to restrict the Winter Fuel Payment to only pensioners in receipt of means-tested benefits like Pension Credit, as announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves.
• The estimated impact of this decision, which in the BCP Council area alone could see 75,627 pensioners lose their fuel allowance, and which Age ... view the full agenda text for item 6.
Notices of Motions in accordance with Procedure Rule 10
Bournemouth Women’s Refuge
The following motion submitted in accordance with Procedure Rule 10 of the Meeting Procedure Rules has been proposed by Councillor D Farr and seconded by Councillor H Allen: -
There has been no scrutiny of the decision to close Bournemouth's only Women’s Refuge for those fleeing abusive relationships.
We ask the decision be reversed and the council's policy on social care for vulnerable individuals escaping domestic violence must be fully scrutinised before committee.
Council Elections Voting System
The following motion submitted in accordance with Procedure Rule 10 of the Meeting Procedure Rules has been proposed by Councillor J Salmon and seconded by Councillor Oliver Walters.
This Council believes that the current First-Past-the-Post (FPTP) electoral system used for local elections does not fully reflect the diverse political preferences of our electorate. We propose that the Leader of the Council contacts the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government and requests that BCP Councils 2027 local elections are used as an opportunity to trial an alternative Single Transferable Vote (STV) system.
Background:
Proposal:
Changes to the Winter Fuel Allowance and protecting pensioners from fuel poverty
The following motion submitted in accordance with Procedure Rule 10 of the Meeting Procedure Rules has been proposed by Councillor P Broadhead and seconded by Councillor B Dove: -
Council Notes:
• The Labour Government’s recent decision to restrict the Winter Fuel Payment to only pensioners in receipt of means-tested benefits like Pension Credit, as announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves.
• The estimated impact of this decision, which in the BCP Council area alone could see 75,627 pensioners lose their fuel allowance, and which Age ... view the full agenda text for item 38
Minutes:
Council was advised that three motions had been received on this occasion.
The following motion was submitted in accordance with Procedure Rule 9 of the Meeting Procedure Rules and was moved by Councillor Duane Farr and seconded by Councillor Hazel Allen.
In moving the motion Councillor Farr referred to amended wording to the motion which had been submitted by Councillor Patrick Canavan which amended the motion to read as follows: -
‘There has been no scrutiny of the decision to close Bournemouth’s only Women’s Refuge for those fleeing abusive relationships.
We ask that the decision be reversed and the
council’s policy on social care for vulnerable individuals
escaping domestic violence must be fully scrutinised before
committee examined as part of a
cross-party working group to be established to oversee the
finalisation of the Safe Accommodation and Commissioning Strategy,
reporting to the Environment & Place Overview & Scrutiny
Committee in Spring 2025.’
Councillor Farr advised that the wording had been accepted by himself as the proposer and the seconder of the motion. Council agreement was sought to confirm the amendment as the substantive motion which was subsequently carried without dissent.
Comprehensive discussion took place on the item following which it was:
RESOLVED that there has been no scrutiny of the decision to close Bournemouth’s only Women’s Refuge for those fleeing abusive relationships: -
the decision be examined as part of a cross-party working group to be established to oversee the finalisation of the Safe Accommodation and Commissioning Strategy, reporting to the Environment & Place Overview & Scrutiny Committee in Spring 2025.’
Voting: For: Unanimous
The following motion was submitted in accordance with Procedure Rule 9 of the Meeting Procedure Rules and was moved by Councillor Joe Salmon and seconded by Councillor Oliver Walters.
This Council believes that the current First-Past-the-Post (FPTP) electoral system used for local elections does not fully reflect the diverse political preferences of our electorate. We propose that the Leader of the Council contacts the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government and requests that BCP Councils 2027 local elections are used as an opportunity to trial an alternative Single Transferable Vote (STV) system.
Background:
1. Electoral Fairness:
o The FPTP system often results in disproportionate representation, where the distribution of seats does not accurately reflect the share of votes each party receives.
o STV is a proportional representation system that aims to allocate seats more fairly, ensuring that the majority of votes contribute to the election outcome.
2. Voter Empowerment:
o Under FPTP electors are frequently pressured to vote for candidates they do not favour out of fear of one they dislike even more being successful.
o Under FPTP any votes cast for the candidate who is not successful are simply ignored.
o STV allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference, reducing wasted votes and empowering voters to express nuanced preferences.
3. Encouraging Positive Campaigning:
o FPTP can encourage negative campaigning as parties focus on winning narrow pluralities.
o STV incentivizes positive campaigning, as candidates must seek ... view the full minutes text for item 38