To consider the Notice of Motion submitted by Councillor E Baines and seconded by Councillor A Brown in accordance with Procedure Rule 34.

“That Rutland County Council:

1)    Recognizes the valuable contributions that the Welland River Trust makes to the County’s objectives in relation to the environment and to wellbeing.

2)    Requests Cabinet to consider the request for short term financial assistance during this financial year for Welland River Trust and if possible  make a contribution.”

The Chief Executive has considered the below motion submitted by Councillor A Brown and seconded by Councillor M Jones. With the agreement of the mover and seconder the Chief Executive has reffered the motion to the Growth, Infrastructure and Resources Scrutiny Committee for consideration.

“Rutland County Council :

1)    Notes that new legislation may provide the Council with powers in relation to carbon management controls on the total amount of certain greenhouse gases that can be emitted by sectors covered by the legislation.

2)    Resolves that if legislation does provide such powers, then the Council would seek:

a.     That any subsidy directly or indirectly obtained for carbon management affecting the County is retained as carbon credit for the benefit of Rutland’s economy and people and

b.     that any third-party sale or lease of carbon credit outside Rutland cannot be activated unless Rutland is carbon neutral and where there is a 10% surplus of credit.”

3)    Agrees that the Council needs to become more proactive in looking after Rutland ‘s environment so that tomorrow’s generations inherit a cleaner, healthier world.”

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Councillor A MacCartney departed the meeting at 19:32pm having declared an interest in the following item.

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Council were asked to consider the Notice of Motion from Councillor E Baines which was seconded by Councillor A Brown in accordance with Procedure Rule 34. Councillor Baines presented the previously circulated motion, with the removal of the words ‘during this financial year”. Councillor A Brown confirmed his approval of the amendment as seconder.

Councillor Baines highlighted to Council some of the benefits to Rutland from the work of the Welland River Trust:

·     Improved habitat and bio diversity.

·     Flood defence.

·     There was an increased awareness that people were healthier and happier if they had access to a tranquil environment.

·     Rutland had already benefited from a £300,000 scheme for the Gwash from Anglian Water.

·     Access to the current academic research. A PhD student from Leicester university was undertaking works around how to measure green capital and zero carbon emissions was part of the research.

Members fully supported the first part of the motion regarding the work of the Welland Trust but given the current budget constraints that the Council was facing, Members raised concerns regarding the grant funding. Several Members also highlighted the lack of a business case being submitted as a concern.

Several Members raised general concerns regarding the Council’s lack of a grant making policy and it was suggested that agreement of the motion would set a precent as a method for organisations to secure funding in the future. It was suggested that if Rutland was going to grant financial aid to organisations that a policy should be created that defined how this would be undertaken and agreed at a more operational level rather than coming before Council, it was highlighted that parish councils often undertook this method. Clarification was also sought over the responsibility the Council had for the management of the waterways, and it was agreed this would be provided outside of the meeting.

A Member suggested that reference to Cabinet in the motion be amended to the Growth, Infrastructure and Resources Scrutiny Committee (GIR) and for the Committee in consultation with the Portfolio Holder could discuss the relevant environmental policies and whether there should be a scheme agreed for the payment of grants. The Chair of the GIR Scrutiny Committee outlined that she could not support such an amendment due to the already full agenda for the Committee over the upcoming months.

A written response would be provided to Councillor D Blanksby in relation to whether Rutland County Council or the Environment Agency were responsible for the waterways.

In response to Members concerns Councillor Baines proposed to remove recommendation two from the motion. This was agreed by Councillor A Brown as seconder. A vote was then taken on the revised motion and with 20 votes in favour, and 1 abstention, the motion was carried.

RESOLVED

That Council:

1)    Recognised the valuable contributions that the Welland River Trust makes to the County’s objectives in relation to the environment and to wellbeing.

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Councillor A MacCartney returned to the meeting at this point. 

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