Agenda item

Motion F (2007/8)

Councillor Hare has given notice that he will move in the following terms:

This Council congratulates the success of Crouch End residents and independent traders in the introduction of a Crouch End bag for life.

This Council seeks to support similar initiatives throughout Haringey and to encourage retailers, businesses and commercial manufacturers to reduce excessive packaging, in particular the widespread use of throwaway plastic carrier bags.

This Council notes:

1.      Annually an estimated total of around 17.5 billion throwaway plastic carrier bags are handed out by supermarkets in the UK and recognises the damage caused to the environment by throwaway plastic carrier bags

2.      A plastic bag can take between 400 to 1,000 years to break down in the environment, and in the UK alone at least 200 million plastic bags end up as waste on our streets and parks every year.

This Council therefore resolves to:

1.      Publicly encourage retailers to find ways of reducing the number of throwaway plastic bags they give out and to work with retailers to promote bags for life and promote ‘plastic bags free zones’.

2.      Endeavour to make Haringey a throwaway plastic bag free zone by 2010.

3.      Actively encourage consumers to use bags for life, especially those made of natural materials, instead of disposable bags.

4.      Set an example by only using biodegradable and reusable bags in Council promotions.

5.      Write to Haringey’s MPs, the Local Government Association and the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, informing them of this motion and urging them to use their respective influence to encourage the government to go further on their policy and find ways to encourage a reduction in throwaway plastic carrier bag usage on a national level.

6.      Provide a progress report in 12 months time to Full Council on these initiatives.

Councillor Gorrie left the meeting having declared a personal and prejudicial interest in Item 15.

MOTION G (2007/08):

Itwas movedby CouncillorHare andseconded byCouncillor Weberthat:

“This Council congratulates the success of Crouch End residents and independent traders in the introduction of a Crouch End bag for life.

This Council seeks to support similar initiatives throughout Haringey and to encourage retailers, businesses and commercial manufacturers to reduce excessive packaging, in particular the widespread use of throwaway plastic carrier bags.

This Council notes:

1.      Annually an estimated total of around 17.5 billion throwaway plastic carrier bags are handed out by supermarkets in the UK and recognises the damage caused to the environment by throwaway plastic carrier bags

2.      A plastic bag can take between 400 to 1,000 years to break down in the environment, and in the UK alone at least 200 million plastic bags end up as waste on our streets and parks every year.

This Council therefore resolves to:

1.      Publicly encourage retailers to find ways of reducing the number of throwaway plastic bags they give out and to work with retailers to promote bags for life and promote ‘plastic bags free zones’.

2.      Endeavour to make Haringey a throwaway plastic bag free zone by 2010.

3.      Actively encourage consumers to use bags for life, especially those made of natural materials, instead of disposable bags.

4.      Set an example by only using biodegradable and reusable bags in Council promotions.

5.      Write to Haringey’s MPs, the Local Government Association and the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, informing them of this motion and urging them to use their respective influence to encourage the government to go further on their policy and find ways to encourage a reduction in throwaway plastic carrier bag usage on a national level.

6.      Provide a progress report in 12 months time to Full Council on these initiatives. “

An amendment to MOTION G was moved by Councillor Haley and seconded by Councillor Bevan that:

Delete all after “…introduction of a Crouch End bag for life” and replace with:

“This Council notes the motion which was passed at the meeting of 15^th October 2007 committing the council to supporting the London Local Authorities Bill or Bills, which contain provisions for the prohibition of the provision of disposable shopping bags.

Council further notes the item on the agenda for the meeting of 21st January 2008 ‘To confirm participation in the three London Local Authorities' Bills recently deposited in Parliament’, one of which is “A Bill to introduce in London a prohibition on the supply of certain bags by retailers”.

This Council believes that undertaking a separate scheme to make Haringey a throwaway plastic bag free zone by 2010 would be duplicative and unenforceable, and will not be in the best interests of the residents of Haringey.

This Council therefore commits itself to fully supporting The London Local Authorities (Shopping Bags) Bill on its passage through parliament, and to lobby our two local MPs to do the same.”

On a vote there being 30 in favour of the amendment to the motion and 22against, the amendment to the motion was declared CARRIED.

The substantive motion was then put to the vote and declared CARRIED, there being 30 for, nil against and 22 abstentions.