Agenda item

To consider two Motions which have been submitted.

First Motion from Cllr Gibbin:

“On the 15 July 2021 Robert Cleverley sadly died as a result of a road traffic collision on the Warwick Road in Olton, Solihull.

At the time of the accident Robert was driving a quad bike legally on the road, but unfortunately was not wearing a helmet. He suffered catastrophic head injuries and as a result of those injuries died at the scene.

It is estimated that approximately 4 people a year die as a result of head injuries on roads in England whilst driving a quad bike and being involved in a road traffic accident. This obviously does not take into account those who suffer a head injury but survive.

Currently it is legal within England to drive on a public road on a quad bike without an approved helmet, although the Highway Code recommends that you do.

As such this Council formally Resolves the following:

“Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council formally resolves to petition the Secretary of State for Transport to introduce legislation pertaining to England and Wales that requires the driver of a quad bike on a public road/place within England to wear an approved helmet with an appropriate penalty for those who do not do so.””

Second Motion from Cllr Laura McCarthy:

“Council Resolves to:

(i)  Recognises the vital role that police officers play in reducing crime, the impact of technology on types of crime, as well as prevention and detection and the need for the police to be accessible to the public.

(ii)  Acknowledges the need for a properly staffed police station in Solihull Town Centre.

(iii)  Recognises the impact that insufficient central government funding has had on Solihull, leading to our current police station being 80% vacant and a decision to close it by the WMPCC.

(iv)   Affirms its intention to work cooperatively with the WMPCC to agree a police station which can serve Solihull well into the future in Solihull Town Centre with modern facilities to enable the continuation of a customer facing police service in Solihull town centre and to add this new police facility/station to the Town Centre Master plan.”

Two motions were submitted for consideration.

The first motion was from Cllr Gibbin which was seconded by Cllr Bob Grinsell and read:

“On the 15 July 2021 Robert Cleverley sadly died as a result of a road traffic collision on the Warwick Road in Olton, Solihull.

At the time of the accident Robert was driving a quad bike legally on the road, but unfortunately was not wearing a helmet. He suffered catastrophic head injuries and as a result of those injuries died at the scene.

It is estimated that approximately 4 people a year die as a result of head injuries on roads in England whilst driving a quad bike and being involved in a road traffic accident. This obviously does not take into account those who suffer a head injury but survive.

Currently it is legal within England to drive on a public road on a quad bike without an approved helmet, although the Highway Code recommends that you do.

As such this Council formally Resolves the following:

“Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council formally resolves to petition the Secretary of State for Transport to introduce legislation pertaining to England and Wales that requires the driver of a quad bike on a public road/place within England to wear an approved helmet with an appropriate penalty for those who do not do so.”

Cllr McLoughlin subsequently submitted an amendment, which following a short adjournment in the meeting, it was agreed that the following words be added to the end of the motion:-

 “and the Minister of State for Policing and the Fire Service and Home Secretary to give the Police the resources to prosecute the illegal use of off-road vehicles”

Following a debate the proposed amendment was put and carried.

The substantive motion was then put and carried so Council RESOLVED:

That Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council formally petition theSecretary of State for Transport to introduce legislation pertaining to England and Wales that requires the driver of a quad bike on a public road/place within England to wear an approved helmet with an appropriate penalty for those who do not do so and the Minister of State for Policing and the Fire Service and Home Secretary to give the Police the resources to prosecute the illegal use of off-road vehicles.

The Second Motion was from Cllr Laura McCarthy and seconded by Cllr K Thomas and read:

“Council Resolves to:

(i)  Recognises the vital role that police officers play in reducing crime, the impact of technology on types of crime, as well as prevention and detection and the need for the police to be accessible to the public.

(ii)  Acknowledges the need for a properly staffed police station in Solihull Town Centre.

(iii)  Recognises the impact that insufficient central government funding has had on Solihull, leading to our current police station being 80% vacant and a decision to close it by the WMPCC.

(iv)   Affirms its intention to work cooperatively with the WMPCC to agree a police station which can serve Solihull well into the future in Solihull Town Centre with modern facilities to enable the continuation of a customer facing police service in Solihull town centre and to add this new police facility/station to the Town Centre Master plan.”

The following amendment (additional words in italics/bold) was proposed by Cllr Courts and seconded by Cllr Sleigh:

"Council Resolves to:

(i) Recognises the vital role that police officers play in reducing crime, the impact of technology on types of crime, as well as prevention and detection and the need for the police to be accessible to the public.

(ii) Acknowledges the need for a properly staffed police station in Solihull Town Centre.

(iii) Recognises the impact that insufficient central government funding by successive governments and allocation decisions by the West MidlandsPolice & Crime Commissioners has had on Solihull policing, leading to our current police station being 80% vacant and a decision to close it by the WMPCC.

(iv) Affirms its intention to continue to work cooperatively with the WMPCC to agree a police station which can serve Solihull well into the future in Solihull Town Centre with modern facilities to enable include the continuation of a customer facing police service in Solihull town centre and to press the PCC to provide sufficient information to enable the Council to add this new police facility/station to the Town Centre Master plan.”

(v) Acknowledge the work done over a number of years by the Leaders and Cabinet of the Council and the Borough’s two MPs to persuade the PCC to change his decision to close Solihull Police Station

A debate then  followed and it was requested if (v) could be removed from the proposed amendment. Councillor Courts and Sleigh agreed and the amendment minus (v) was put and carried.

The substantive motion was then put and carried so Council RESOLVED to:

(i) Recognises the vital role that police officers play in reducing crime, the impact of technology on types of crime, as well as prevention and detection and the need for the police to be accessible to the public.

(ii) Acknowledge the need for a properly staffed police station in Solihull Town Centre.

(iii) Recognises the impact that insufficient  funding by successive governments and allocation decisions by the West Midlands Police & Crime Commissioners has had on Solihull policing, leading to our current police station being 80% vacant and a decision to close it by the WMPCC.

(iv) Affirm its intention to continue to work cooperatively with the WMPCC to agree a police station which can serve Solihull well into the future in Solihull Town Centre with modern facilities toinclude the continuation of a customer facing police service in Solihull town centre and to press the PCC to provide sufficient information to enable the Council to add this new police station to the Town Centre Master plan.”