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The amendment proposed by Councillor Reeves
and seconded by Councillor Mallon was accepted by the proposer and
seconder of the original motion and by Council.
 
The motion as amended was carried with 39
votes in favour, none against and no abstentions.
 
This Council, being
extremely concerned about the lack of political governance
in relation to ‘Dark Skies’, the
administration’s plan to switch off many of the
county’s streetlights between 11pm - 6.30am, which could
have had significant adverse consequences for public safety across
parts of our county, especially our urban centres, had it
proceeded.
 
Recognising the need for the
Council to safeguard public money, support our rural parishes in
their aspirations to curtail unwanted light pollution and protect
and local wildlife in our villages, this Council
calls on the Cabinet to:
 
(i)             
carry out a full consultation before bringing this
back for delegated decision-making by the Cabinet
Member,. Ssuch consultation to include all
county councillors alongside community groups and particularly
those working with women, and girls, and shift workers in
our hospitality and other key sectors, who the Council’s own
report recognises may have been disproportionately affected by this
decision;
 

(ii)           
ensure that all county councillors are fully
briefed, whether through their locality meetings or by way of an
all-member briefing, before any street
lights are switched off; and
 

(iii)         
ensure that a fuller Equalities Impact Assessment
takes place in connection with future decision-making on such
matters of public safety, the previous one in Annexe 5 being
lacking.
 
In future,
this Council asks that Cabinet consult elected members more fully
on matters of public safety in future.
 
This
Council further notes that pre-scrutiny of such important matters
would be beneficial to ensure greater democratic
oversight.