Issue - meetings

This report sets out notices of motions ruled in order by the Mayor in consultation with the Chief Legal Officer.

Council received one Motion submitted under FCR 14 of Part 4 of the Council’s Constitution.

Motion1: “Digital Inclusion for the Borough of Epsom and Ewell”

The Council resolved by a majority vote to consider this Motion at the meeting. In pursuance of the Council’s Rules of Procedure, Councillor Debbie Monksfield MOVED and Councillor Rob Geleit SECONDED the following Motion:

“The Labour Group believes that greater digital inclusion will assist the borough in its economic recovery from the Coronavirus pandemic, which has had a devastating impact throughout the borough, particularly for the most disadvantaged residents.  We ask that the council develop a Digital Inclusion Strategy and accompanying Action Plan which sets out how the Council, other organisations and partners intend to tackle digital exclusion in the Borough.”

An amendment to the motion was MOVED by Councillor Eber Kington and SECONDED by Councillor Clive Smitheram:

The proposed amendment was as follows:

“This Council believes that greater digital inclusion will assist the borough in its economic recovery from the Coronavirus pandemic, which has had a devastating impact throughout the borough, particularly for the most disadvantaged residents.  This Council further notes the steps already taken by the Council to support digital inclusion, including the provision of IT Training Sessions at the Community & Wellbeing Centre and the work currently being undertaken with Epsom BID to introduce free WIFI to the town centre. The Council therefore agrees to develop a Digital Inclusion Strategy and take action as part of the Council’s Build Back Better recovery plan for the Borough.”

Upon being put the amendment was CARRIED with a majority vote for it, and became the substantive motion.

Following the resolution of the amendment, the substantive motion was debated and put to a vote.

Upon being put the motion was CARRIED with a majority vote for it.

Accordingly, the Council resolved:

This Council believes that greater digital inclusion will assist the borough in its economic recovery from the Coronavirus pandemic, which has had a devastating impact throughout the borough, particularly for the most disadvantaged residents.  This Council further notes the steps already taken by the Council to support digital inclusion, including the provision of IT Training Sessions at the Community & Wellbeing Centre and the work currently being undertaken with Epsom BID to introduce free WIFI to the town centre. The Council therefore agrees to develop a Digital Inclusion Strategy and take action as part of the Council’s Build Back Better recovery plan for the Borough.