To consider the following Motions in accordance with Council Rules of Procedure No. 13
Motion M (2008/09)
Councillor Alexander has given notice that she will move in the following terms:
“This Council notes:
· that 16 and 17 year olds can leave school, get married, have a full-time job, must pay taxes on their income, and can join the armed forces, but are not allowed to vote in public elections;
· that 16 and 17 year olds have been calling for the right to vote for many years through the Votes at 16 coalition;
· that disconnection between young people and the political establishment is growing.
· the continuing good work by Haringey’s Youth Council and its members
This Council believes:
· that young people are interested in politics and have valid views on issues that affect them;
· that 16 and 17 year olds are old enough to have the right to vote in public elections;
· that refusing to allow 16 and 17 year olds to vote is likely to further depress turnout and encourage young people to give up on formal political structures.
This Council resolves:
· to support the moves to lower the voting age for all public elections to 16;
· to call on the Government to establish the Youth Citizenship Commission with a clear remit to develop the necessary framework for reducing the voting age to 16.
· that the leader of the Council write to Bridget Prentice MP, minister in charge of reform in electoral administration, to show the Council’s commitment to pushing for votes for 16 and 17 year old and requesting that the government seriously considers decreasing the voting age”.
Motion N (2008/09)
Councillor Scott has given notice that he will move in the following terms:
“This Council:
This Council therefore:
Additional documents:
Minutes:
Motion M (2009/10):
With the consent of the Council an alteration was made to Motion M in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 15.9 by the deletion of the second bullet point of the proposed resolution ‘to call on the Government to establish the Youth Citizenship Commission with a clear remit to develop the necessary framework for reducing the voting age to 16’.
Itwas then movedby Councillor Alexander andseconded byCllr Davies that:
This Council notes:
· that 16 and 17 year olds can leave school, get married, have a full-time job, must pay taxes on their income, and can join the armed forces, but are not allowed to vote in public elections;
· that 16 and 17 year olds have been calling for the right to vote for many years through the Votes at 16 coalition;
· that disconnection between young people and the political establishment is growing.
· the continuing good work by Haringey’s Youth Council and its members
This Council believes:
· that young people are interested in politics and have valid views on issues that affect them;
· that 16 and 17 year olds are old enough to have the right to vote in public elections;
· that refusing to allow 16 and 17 year olds to vote is likely to further depress turnout and encourage young people to give up on formal political structures.
This Council resolves:
· to support the moves to lower the voting age for all public elections to 16;
· that the Leader of the Council write to Bridget Prentice MP, Minister in charge of reform in electoral administration, to show the Council’s commitment to pushing for votes for 16 and 17 year old and requesting that the government seriously considers decreasing the voting age.
The substantive motion as altered was then put to the vote and declared CARRIED unanimously.
At this juncture there was a general disturbance and in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 24.2 the Mayor called for the public gallery to be cleared. The meeting was then adjourned.
Motion N (2008/09)
On re-convening itwas movedby Councillor Scott andseconded byCllr Rainger that:
This Council: