Peterborough City council votes on mass Covid testing, hunting, a marathon and cycle race plans

A summary of Motions of Notice from councillors voted on at the Full Council meeting last night (December 9).

Motion from Cllr John Fox:
The council resolves to Undertake a feasibility study regarding an upgrade of Carr Dyke to be used as a cycle path, linking up Peakirk, Werrington, Gunthorpe & Eye, with the results of this feasibility study to be considered by the Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Commercial Strategy and Investments.
This motion was AGREED by majority (For 57, Against 1).


Motion from Cllr Ansar Ali:
The council resolves that it will not permit trail hunting, exempt hunting, hound exercise and hunt meets on its land.

This motion was AGREED by majority (For 30, Against 26, Abstain 1).


Motion from Cllr John Howard:
Council resolves for Officers to conduct a feasibility study on hosting a City Marathon including the option of enabling The Great Eastern Run to come back even stronger as a full running festival, and report to Cabinet on their findings about the feasibility of holding this event.
This motion was AGREED.

Motion from Cllr Ray Bisby:

Council resolves to request the Cabinet Member for Housing, Culture and Recreation to investigate the possibility of re-establishing a cycle race and associated events in Peterborough City Centre.
This motion was AGREED.

Motion from Cllr Ikra Yasin:
Council resolves to:

Call upon the government to fully fund the Bill [Domestic Abuse Bill 2019/21]. This is vital piece of legislation which could change the lives of the estimated 2 million people a year who are subjected to forms of Domestic Abuse. Whilst the Bill is welcomed as an initial step, the safety of Domestic Abuse must be made an economic priority.
- Call upon both Peterborough MPs to lobby for funding to ensure we are in the best position to support our residents and to respond to the increasing demand in Domestic Abuse services in light of the current pandemic.
- Ensure that we promote awareness and raise the profile of Domestic Abuse across the Council and all partner organisations.
- Ensure elected members have training available to them so that members are able to offer support and guidance to residents if/when needed, this will include both basic e-learning and bespoke training.
- Recognise the work currently being done around Domestic Abuse services and congratulates the team for all their efforts.
- Encourage ALL employers within the Council’s area to implement a Domestic Abuse policy in the workplace to ensure support is available for ALL employees in the event of a Domestic Abuse and/or Violence situation.
This motion was AGREED.

Motion from Cllr Sam Hemraj:

This Council resolves to:
Ask the Director of Public Health to investigate the risk posed by the number of self-isolating children within the city, and whether mass testing of all teaching staff and children with their families would be an appropriate intervention. If so whether this would be feasible using the resources already available within the Local Authority. The urgency and need for this has been suggested by Education Trade Unions.
- To revisit the potential and need for the city to become a pilot project for mass testing as originally proposed by the Labour Group at the Joint Scrutiny Committee meeting in April 2020 in view of the rising cases. To work with Director of Public Health Dr Liz Robin to assess whether this would be an appropriate intervention for the city, and the feasibility of this being carried out within current resources. If not, to consider a modification in approach by utilising current mobile testing facilities to actively test populations within the “hot spot” areas in the city, through mobile outreach operations rather than stationary operations.
- To call upon the city’s two MPs to make representations on behalf of the local authority if this is required, to support the need for more funding towards further testing resource or for further testing capacity to be made available.
This motion was AGREED.

Motion from Cllr Darren Fower:
Council resolves:
That the leader of the City Council to write a letter of thanks and gratitude to Royal Mail and the CWU Eastern No5 Branch, Papyrus Road, Peterborough PE4 5PE as soon as possible.
To urge councillors to take a solidarity photo in the next week, to be shared on their social media using the tags @cwunews @RoyalMail and #PboroPostiesMatter.
This motion was AGREED by majority (For 42, Against 10, Abstain 6).

Motion from Cllr Shaz Nawaz:

Council resolves to request the Cabinet Member for Housing, Culture and Recreation to investigate the possibility of re-establishing a cycle race and associated events in Peterborough City Centre.
This motion was AGREED.

Motion from Cllr Graham Casey:

The Council resolves: To task the Cabinet Member for Culture to work with officers, all partners, and stakeholders, to develop an ambitious Culture Strategy for Peterborough; recognising the outstanding assets in place, and the potential for further development of the arts, heritage and theatre scene in our City. Additionally, as part of our aspirations, we provide a commitment that a bid for City of Culture status will be refreshed and prioritised as a short to medium term project.

This motion was AGREED.

Motion from Cllr Christian Hogg:
This Council resolves to:
Encourage public firework displays within the Peterborough area to be advertised in advance of the event, with appropriate advertising for the size of the display, allowing residents to take precautions for people in their care and pets. To include a webpage on the council’s own website giving details of public firework displays.
Actively promote a public awareness campaign about the impact of fireworks on animal welfare and vulnerable people – including the precautions that can be taken to mitigate risks. To be included on the fireworks webpage.
Encourage local suppliers of fireworks to separate ‘quieter’ fireworks from the loud ones so people can choose which ones they prefer with animal and people safety in mind. Provide large labels to sticker the products with green for quiet, red for loud. · Encourage local suppliers to apply Challenge 25 policies in the same way alcohol sales are conducted.
To write to the UK Government urging them to introduce legislation to limit the maximum noise level of fireworks to 90dB for those sold to the public for private displays.
This motion was AGREED by majority (For 33, Against 17, Abstain 7)