Agenda item

A)  Local Rivers and Waterways 

It was moved by Councillor O’Kelly

Seconded by Councillor Smith,

 

“According to data from the environment agency Slough Waste Water Treatment Works released untreated sewage 32 times in 2023 - lasting a total of 363 hours. 2024 is on track to have the same or worse levels of sewage discharges. In 2020 there were no recorded discharges in Slough.

 

This motion is designed to help protect our local rivers and waterways by considering and addressing the cumulative impact of sewage discharge.

 

This Council resolves to:

 

1. Recognise this Council’s wish to protect its residents, rivers and waterways from harm caused by the cumulative effects of excessive sewage discharge.

 

2. Recognise that deterioration of water quality occurs due to the cumulative impact of multiple sewage discharge events, or "sewage overload". 

 

3. The Local Planning Authority will engage with the Local Water Company as part of the development of the Local Plan to ensure they are made aware of the potential scale of development they will need to mitigate for in the future.

 

4. Request the Chair of the Corporate Improvement Scrutiny Committee to invite a senior representative of Thames Water, the Environment Agency, and volunteer waterways representatives to attend a meeting to explore the current state of sewage discharge and its impact on the environment.”

 

The motion was put to the vote and agreed with 37 votes for and 1 abstention.

 

Resolved  -

 

According to data from the environment agency Slough Waste Water Treatment Works released untreated sewage 32 times in 2023 - lasting a total of 363 hours. 2024 is on track to have the same or worse levels of sewage discharges. In 2020 there were no recorded discharges in Slough.

 

This motion is designed to help protect our local rivers and waterways by considering and addressing the cumulative impact of sewage discharge.

 

This Council resolves to:

 

1. Recognise this Council’s wish to protect its residents, rivers and waterways from harm caused by the cumulative effects of excessive sewage discharge.

 

2. Recognise that deterioration of water quality occurs due to the cumulative impact of multiple sewage discharge events, or "sewage overload". 

 

3. The Local Planning Authority will engage with the Local Water Company as part of the development of the Local Plan to ensure they are made aware of the potential scale of development they will need to mitigate for in the future.

 

4. Request the Chair of the Corporate Improvement Scrutiny Committee to invite a senior representative of Thames Water, the Environment Agency, and volunteer waterways representatives to attend a meeting to explore the current state of sewage discharge and its impact on the environment.

 

B)   Arms Sales and Councils Ethical Investment Policy

 

It was moved by Councillor Mann,

Seconded by Councillor Hulme,

 

“The Council notes;

 

a)  The ongoing devastation and humanitarian crisis resulting from the ongoing war in Gaza;

b)  The ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on 26 January 2024, which found that it is ‘plausible’ that Israel’s ongoing attacks in Gaza are in breach of the Genocide Convention;

c)  The appalling attack on a registered aid convoy, operated by World Central Kitchen, which caused the death of seven aid workers, including three British civilians;

d)  That whilst other governments have banned the sale of weaponry to Israel, the Conservative Government continues to permit such exports and has repeatedly failed to stop selling arms to rule breaking regimes;

e)  UK law provides for the suspension and halting of arms sales where there is a risk of breaking international law over a plausible risk of genocide;

f)  That over half a billion pounds of council pension funds across the country have been invested in companies involved in the arms trade.

 

As such, the Council resolves to;

 

a)  Instruct the Leader of the Council to write to the Foreign Secretary making it clear that the will of Slough’s residents is behind an immediate ceasefire;

b)  Lobby the foreign secretary demanding full transparency in respect to the legal advice received over the legality of ongoing arms exports to Israel;

c)  Should the legal advice show that the UK is risking its international obligations by continuing to export weaponry to Israel, to immediately halt doing so;

d)  Call on the Conservative Government to support the ICJ’s provisional findings;

e)  Continue calling for an immediate return of all hostages;

f)  Take steps to ensure that none of Slough’s pension investments are made in UK defence manufacturers, by reviewing and adopting a new responsible investment policy that meets a high ethical framework and dis-invests in any company that derives more that 20% of their revenue from weaponry.”

The motion was put to the vote and agreed unanimously.

 

Resolved  -

 

The Council notes;

 

a)  The ongoing devastation and humanitarian crisis resulting from the ongoing war in Gaza;

b)  The ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on 26 January 2024, which found that it is ‘plausible’ that Israel’s ongoing attacks in Gaza are in breach of the Genocide Convention;

c)  The appalling attack on a registered aid convoy, operated by World Central Kitchen, which caused the death of seven aid workers, including three British civilians;

d)  That whilst other governments have banned the sale of weaponry to Israel, the Conservative Government continues to permit such exports and has repeatedly failed to stop selling arms to rule breaking regimes;

e)  UK law provides for the suspension and halting of arms sales where there is a risk of breaking international law over a plausible risk of genocide;

f)  That over half a billion pounds of council pension funds across the country have been invested in companies involved in the arms trade.

 

As such, the Council resolves to;

 

a)  Instruct the Leader of the Council to write to the Foreign Secretary making it clear that the will of Slough’s residents is behind an immediate ceasefire;

b)  Lobby the foreign secretary demanding full transparency in respect to the legal advice received over the legality of ongoing arms exports to Israel;

c)  Should the legal advice show that the UK is risking its international obligations by continuing to export weaponry to Israel, to immediately halt doing so;

d)  Call on the Conservative Government to support the ICJ’s provisional findings;

e)  Continue calling for an immediate return of all hostages;

f)  Take steps to ensure that none of Slough’s pension investments are made in UK defence manufacturers, by reviewing and adopting a new responsible investment policy that meets a high ethical framework and dis-invests in any company that derives more that 20% of their revenue from weaponry.