Agenda item

In accordance with Standing Order 21, Cllr Rackham will move the following motion:-

“This Council recognises the nature of any decisions it makes in relation to finance, crime and the environment in how it impacts the current residents of the district but does not consider the impact on the future generation of residents or the youth of today of these or any other factors.

This Council notes the youth of today are the electors of tomorrows, whose views on how the Council manages the district are vitally important so it is essential that policies and plans take into account additional generational factors such as social, environmental and wellbeing changes as well in relation to the next generations of council tax payers.

The Council recognises other local and regional governments take this into account already, including the Welsh Sennydd and encourage young people to be part of the democratic processes which will shape their world, encouraging active participation and contribution.

Therefore I propose every decision taken by New Forest District Council is considered in terms of the impact on future generations, in the same way that decisions are considered in terms of impact regarding environment, finance and crime.

In many ways we are caretakers of our district, hoping to improve life for our residents but leave our district a better place for future generations. But questions regarding the impact of decisions we make now on future residents are not asked. We are not usually told about any impact on future generations as part of our discussions unless there is a particular relevance.  Portfolio Holders currently do not need to record that impact on the decision outlines.

I would suggest that our decisions should be specifically considered in terms of their impact on generations into the future, to ensure we are not leaving our future residents with poor decisions made for short-term purposes.  Other local and regional governments take this into account already, including the Welsh Sennydd and if we are to encourage young people to be part of the democratic processes which will shape their world, we surely need to start by considering how our own decisions will impact on future generations.”

Cllr J Davies will second the motion.

Notes:-

Under the provisions of Standing Order 42, the above motion, after being proposed and seconded (without speeches), should stand referred to the body within whose terms of reference the subject matter of the motions comes, or the Cabinet or such Committees or Panels that the Council may determine.

The Chairman may allow the motion to be dealt with at this meeting if they consider it urgent, convenient or conducive to the despatch of business.

The Chairman confirmed that he would allow the motion to be dealt with at the meeting, as he considered it convenient to the despatch of business.

In accordance with Standing Order 21, Cllr Rackham then moved the following motion:-

“This Council recognises the nature of any decisions it makes in relation to finance, crime and the environment in how it impacts the current residents of the district but does not consider the impact on the future generation of residents or the youth of today of these or any other factors.

This Council notes the youth of today are the electors of tomorrows, whose views on how the Council manages the district are vitally important so it is essential that policies and plans take into account additional generational factors such as social, environmental and wellbeing changes as well in relation to the next generations of council tax payers.

The Council recognises other local and regional governments take this into account already, including the Welsh Sennydd and encourage young people to be part of the democratic processes which will shape their world, encouraging active participation and contribution.

Therefore I propose every decision taken by New Forest District Council is considered in terms of the impact on future generations, in the same way that decisions are considered in terms of impact regarding environment, finance and crime.

In many ways we are caretakers of our district, hoping to improve life for our residents but leave our district a better place for future generations. But questions regarding the impact of decisions we make now on future residents are not asked. We are not usually told about any impact on future generations as part of our discussions unless there is a particular relevance.  Portfolio Holders currently do not need to record that impact on the decision outlines.

I would suggest that our decisions should be specifically considered in terms of their impact on generations into the future, to ensure we are not leaving our future residents with poor decisions made for short-term purposes.  Other local and regional governments take this into account already, including the Welsh Sennydd and if we are to encourage young people to be part of the democratic processes which will shape their world, we surely need to start by considering how our own decisions will impact on future generations.”

Cllr J Davies seconded the motion.  In doing so, he highlighted the need to safeguard future generations through decision making by ensuring that all policies and decisions were considered in the context of their impact on younger people.

The Council debated the motion.

The Leader highlighted the opportunity to consider how the new Corporate Plan might address the needs of future generations in the District and that this was subject to Member involvement and decision making in due course.

Those speaking in favour of the motion considered that a specific requirement to consider these issues could only serve as a useful additional prompt, in areas such as planning and HR, with particular reference to the Council’s ageing workforce.

A number of Members spoke on the work already taking place across the Council, in support of future generations, from the work on the Climate and Nature Action Plan and its long term view, to the Local Plan and its 20 year timeframe, reviewed every five years.  Initiatives in housing were also noted such as Greener Housing, Starter Homes and Shared Ownership, as was the Council’s Medium Term Financial Plan.

Those speaking against the motion expressed concern that it implied that the Council did not already take into account these issues, and indeed the wider community impact of all decisions.  Some councillors highlighted the importance of taking into account all issues connected with a decision, and this need not be expressly highlighted in separate assessments, but implicit in the overall evidence base and reasons for taking any decision.

Cllr Rackham responded to the debate and welcomed the work underway across the Council in support of future generations. However, it was suggested that the step requested by the motion would only serve as an additional opportunity to promote this work taking place, and prompt further consideration of the impact of the Council’s work on future generations.

Put to the vote, the motion was lost.