Thursday 27th July will see the next meeting of the Full Forest of Dean District Council . Here we post the questions and motions that our Councillors will be putting to that meeting. We always welcome your views and requests for future questions or motions and you can contact us throught this website or via email. Remember thanks to Progressive Independents you can watch a live stream of the full council meeting via the council web page.
| 7. | Member questions |
| 7.1 | Councillor Tim Gwilliam Many Councillors will recall attending youth clubs 2 or three times a week, playing sport, talking, dancing and being young. While not a cure all , youth clubs gave many of us an outlet, youth clubs were was a truly valuable community asset. Many of us believe that a generation of young people are being failed by unprecedented cuts to youth services across the country. Cuts made to youth services for several reasons, have devastated the lives of young people by damaging community cohesion, making it harder to stay in formal education, and having a negative impact on their health and wellbeing. Many youth workers say the cuts have influenced crime and anti-social behaviour. Youth work is a distinct educational process offering young people safe spaces to explore their identity, experience decision-making, increase their confidence, develop interpersonal skills, and think through the consequences of their actions. This leads to better informed choices, changes in activity and improved outcomes for young people. All Councillors will be aware of young people becoming disillusioned, losing hope, and falling prey to drugs, crime, and violence. We get called so often with reports of anti-social behaviour by young people who simply are left with nothing else to do. They deserve better.and while as a council we provide leisure services and sporting opportunities these are considered discretionary ; these facilities must never be at risk of being taken away from the young people of the Forest of Dean. Therefore, does the Leader agree with the Progressive Independent group that 1. Leisure services should be considered as important a service in the Forest of Dean Council as recognised statutory services recognising the important role such facilities play in supporting young people to realise their potential. 2. Will he ask his relevant Cabinet Member to engage with and lobby Gloucestershire County Council to ensure that Youth Clubs open at least twice a week in each of the Forest of Deans main towns and that such clubs should be funded through Council Tax as a statutory and regulatory service while any Existing services should be funded to expand and increase the service to levels in line with this motion. Also will he engage with Forest of Dean County Councillors to support and promote the provision of youth clubs in the Forest of Dean Towns in all debates and votes within Gloucestershire County Council. |
| 7.2 | Councillor Jamie Elsmore Can the public finally receive assurances from the newly elected Council Cabinet including its Green Party Councillors to uphold the commitment made by the former Cabinet and its full council, to fully endorse the efforts to retain Cannop Ponds in their current state and for the necessary works to be carried out to the Dams to secure the long term future of the ponds with the objective of minimising the risk to both wildlife and uphold the preservation of our Forest of Dean heritage? |
| 16. | Notice of motions |
| 16.1 | Councillor Tim Gwilliam On Saturday May 27th at 1045 am a litre of diesel at a Texaco linked petrol station in the Forest of Dean was priced at £1.58.9p per litre. A difference of 15p per litreAt the very same time at Westgate Bridge petrol station on the outskirts of Gloucester, another Texaco linked petrol station a litre of diesel cost £1.43.9p per litre. A difference of 15p per litre.A similar difference was found for petrol and also among all other Fuel Companies. We in the Forest of Dean are used to paying a premium for delivery on goods , being as we are, clearly in the eyes of city dwelling organisations and businesses considered, in the back of beyond. It would however seem fair to suggest that the cost difference in delivering fuel from refineries in either the middle east or from the southern United States is somewhat minimal whether that fuel be delivered to Westgate Bridge or 20 miles down the road to Coleford. The FODDC Council asks the Leader of the Council a to write to the MP on behalf of the Council and ask the MP, in his role as Transport secretary , to request fuel companies consider Rural area pricing policies that ,while allowing the vendor to earn a decent living , ensures that petrol and diesel pricing does not discriminate against rural communities such as the Forest of Dean. |
| 16.4 | Councillor Julia Gooch I am becoming increasingly aware the effect bullying has on children & young people and the anguish it creates. No child deserves to be someone else's target physically or emotionally.Bullying causes trauma and can have a lasting effect on a child's ability to learn, cause depression and anxiety leading to serious mental health issues or worse.Safeguarding Children is everyone's responsibility and as civic leaders we can and should highlight our concerns. We can help others understand the harm bullying has on the lives of children & young people by making a pledge to sign up to Anti Bullying week 2023 Make some noise and wear odd socks. I call upon council to make a pledge by signing up to Anti Bullying week 2023 Make some noise and wear odd socks promoting the pledge through the council's social media platforms & website. https://anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk/anti-bullying-week-2023-make-noise-about-bullying/anti-bullying-week-2023-make-noise-about-bullying |