Agenda item

This item is to receive any Notices of Motion: two were received by the deadline:

Councillor David Healey - Reform of the Council Tax system

Councillor Bernie Attridge - Lucy’s Law national campaign

(a)       That the Notice of Motion from Councillor David Healey on the reform of the Council Tax system be supported, with the addition that a formal letter be written to the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) and Welsh Government working group on local government reform; and

(b)       That the Notice of Motion from Councillor Attridge on Lucy’s Law be supported.

Two Notice of Motion were received:

(i)         Reform of the Council Tax system - Councillor David Healey

‘Flintshire County Council urges Welsh Government (WG) to seize the opportunity provided by the devolution of new powers to undertake a radical reform of the Council Tax system so that a more fair and progressive system can be used for the raising of revenue for local government in Wales.’

The Motion was seconded by Councillor Bernie Attridge.

In support of his Motion, Councillor Healey said that the current system took no account of household income, that it divided communities and was the main reason for a disconnect between residents and local councils in Wales.  The assumption by WG for councils to increase Council Tax levels by 6.5% before even considering their individual requirements meant that the burden of austerity was being passed to residents.  Whilst a recent WG report on Welsh Tax Policy recognised the possibility of reform, it failed to acknowledge the unfairness of the current system and the need to administer a national system of income tax which could be passported to local level.

As Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance, Councillor Aaron Shotton welcomed the Motion which was about identifying a more progressive and fairer system for residents across Wales.  The plea for local tax reform in Wales would accompany representations on the retention of business rates to support local services.  He referred to the budget debate at the previous meeting and the position on national funding which had led to the increase in Council Tax for 2019/20.  He said that the Council Tax system was particularly unfair to the younger generation many of whom did not own their own homes.  If agreed by the Council, he proposed that a formal letter be written to the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) and WG working group on local government reform to ask that they consider the Motion.

A number of Members spoke in support such as Councillor Peers who said that the WG Minister was already aware that the system was broken and that the impact was different between North and South Wales.  Councillor Chris Bithell said that residents across Wales were equally affected and Councillor Billy Mullin described reform as long overdue.  Whilst Councillor Gladys Healey pointed out that the current system did not contribute to the WG’s own tax principles, Councillor Carver raised concerns that a different system could be even worse and Councillor Heesom said that Council Tax should be used to address the issues with the funding formula.  Councillor Carol Ellis said that the inconsistency of property bandings should be evidenced in the proposed letter and Councillor Tudor Jones called for the Council to build on the Motion to identify a fairer solution across Wales.

In responding to comments from some Members about the Council Tax increase for 2019/20, Councillor Carolyn Thomas said that the amendment put forward at the previous meeting would have put Council services in jeopardy and that the issue was about the UK Government cutting funding to public services.

Councillor Richard Jones supported the Motion and agreed that the funding formula was the real issue but questioned whether WG would act.  Councillor Chris Dolphin spoke about mismanagement of funding by WG.

In response to the points raised, the Chief Executive said that WG was one of the statutory bodies who were required to work together to achieve the objectives of the Well-being and Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015.  He said that the Motion would build on the Council’s official representations over the past three years on the insufficient funding given to Local Government in Wales and the funding formula per capita which impacted negatively on Flintshire and other Councils across Wales.  He said that the Council had a duty to respond to Julie James AM, Minister for Local Government, following the cross-party delegation visit to WG, and that the work being undertaken by the cross-party working group should incorporate the Motion to make the funding case in totality.

Councillor Healey welcomed the proposal by Councillor Shotton.  He referred to the Council’s projected budget gap for next year despite the achievements on efficiencies and said that the Council could do no more and should provide feedback to WG on the funding formula.

On being put to the vote, the Motion as amended was carried.  It was confirmed that a copy of the letter would be shared with all Members and that Group Leaders would shortly be meeting to agree Terms of Reference for the cross-party working group as the next stage of engagement with WG.

(ii)          Lucy’s Law national campaign - Councillor Bernie Attridge

‘This Council supports the Lucy’s Law National Campaign to ban the selling of puppies by third parties, and the Council is requested to add its name to the growing list of supporting organisations and will proactively highlight the campaign to our residents across the County.

Removing puppies for sale from their mum often creates sick, traumatised, dysfunctional dogs. Puppies should be seen with their mum in the place they were born. Transporting them to a different place for sale harms their welfare.

Breeding dogs kept in puppy farms are hidden from public view and often suffer from years of physical and psychological trauma. Regulating commercial third-party puppy selling is ineffective in preventing harm to breeding dogs and a third-party ban on puppy selling is therefore necessary for the welfare of breeding dogs.

Puppy farming impacts on the residents of Flintshire with the cost and emotional distress of buying a puppy that may turn out to need expensive vet treatment or which may unfortunately not survive at all.

A ban on the third-party sale of puppies will have a positive impact on breeding dogs, ensuring their visibility and enabling the public to act on best practice advice to view the puppy with the mum where the puppy was born.

Furthermore the Leader will write in support of the campaign to both the First Minister and Prime Minister highlighting Flintshire’s support for the introduction of this law in both Wales and England.’

The Motion was seconded by Councillor Andy Dunbobbin who said that although such a ban would not entirely eradicate puppy farming, it was an effective strategy to reduce the scale of the problem.

Speaking in support of the Motion, Councillor Colin Legg commented that there were also a number of very reliable and responsible dog breeders.

On being put to the vote, the Motion was carried.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the Notice of Motion from Councillor David Healey on the reform of the Council Tax system be supported, with the addition that a formal letter be written to the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) and Welsh Government working group on local government reform; and

(b)       That the Notice of Motion from Councillor Attridge on Lucy’s Law be supported.