Content

Code of Conduct
 
Councillor Phil Bibby moved a
motion concerning the Code of Conduct.
 
The motion was not seconded and
therefore was not debated.
 
New Labour
Government
 
Councillor Richard Henry moved
and Councillor Sandra Barr seconded the following motion
 
“On 4th July,
2024, after 14 years of disastrous, draconian and divisive
Conservative government, the country chose change.  It chose hope.  It
chose Labour.

The people of Stevenage also
chose Labour and, for the first time in 14 years, the Stevenage
constituency will have an MP worthy of the title.  Kevin Bonavia will
reset the expectations of what a good local MP should be: one who
works full time for Stevenage; one who works with the local
authorities in his constituency, not against them; one who is
accessible and accountable to local people.

We congratulate Kevin
Bonavia on his election.  He is one of 411 Labour MPs in the House of
Commons who, with Sir Keir Starmer as Prime Minister, a talented
front bench team and a clear mandate, will bring the change and
stability that the people of this country want and need.
 
We also congratulate the former
Leader of the Council, Baroness Taylor of Stevenage, on her
appointment as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the
Department of Housing, Community & Local Government.

The new Government has hit the
ground running.  In the King’s
Speech on 17th July, the Government set out its
priorities.  They are ambitious and
diverse priorities.  In particular,
those that affect Stevenage Borough Council directly
include:

·        
A Renters’ Rights Bill that will
abolish Section 21 “no-fault evictions” and empower
tenants to challenge rent increases “designed to force them
out by the back door”.

·        
 Respect
orders – a revamped form of Asbos
– will give police powers to place restrictions on adults to
tackle anti-social behaviour.

·        
A Planning
and Infrastructure Bill to speed up the planning process and
planning committees will be modernised, with resources to do their
jobs.

·        
A commitment
to housing – including social and affordable
housing.

·        
A devolution
bill for England,

·        
An
Employment Rights bill, recognising that Labour values
workers’ rights.

·        
Nationalisation of our
railways.
The Labour Manifesto, published
prior to the general election, gave commitments that a Labour
Government would work collaboratively with local government. The
manifesto emphasises the importance of stable funding,
decision-making flexibility, and partnership with local leaders and
communities to drive growth and provide essential
services.  The King’s Speech has
opened the door to that collaboration, and, in Stevenage, we warmly
welcome it.
 
This Council resolves
that:

1.   
We look forward to a collaborative relationship with
the newly elected Labour MP and Government to meet the Council
ambitions for housing, growth and regeneration, and for the benefit
of the people of Stevenage.

2.   
The Leader of the Council writes to Kevin
Bonavia, MP for Stevenage,
congratulating him on his election to Parliament and that SBC looks
forward to a close working relationship.

3.   
The Leader of the Council writes to Baroness Taylor
of Stevenage upon becoming Parliamentary Under Secretary of State
in the Department of Housing, Community & Local Government and
wishes her every success with her new role.
Following debate,
and upon being put to the vote, the motion was carried.