To consider the following Motion submitted by Councillor Dawson:
“This Council:
1. Recognises and respects the national majority viewpoint expressed in the recent national referendum on EU membership;
2. Notes that the voters resident within the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton expressed by majority a collective wish that Britain should remain in the EU;
3. Expresses concern at the lack of clarity in content and timetable as to what measures are going to be taken in respect of several key issues identified in the Referendum the coming months;
4. Recognising that EU funding is currently available for a range of projects, training and investments to support our local and regional economy, and recognising the present uncertainty as to how these funding streams might be replaced, believes that arrangements must be made to secure equivalent replacement funding;
5. Calls on the Government to clarify the funding situation in respect of all EU-funded projects, offer certainty to our region, and to continue programmes as previously-envisaged;
6. Seeks assurances from the UK Government and any successor government that it will match, pound for pound, any funding streams that appear to be now at risk;
7. Believes that it is in the interests of the residents of Sefton Metropolitan Borough, the North West of England and Britain as a whole that the United Kingdom should remain within the Single European Market; and
8. Requests the Leader of the Council inform the Government and the Local Government Association of the Council's views on this matter with the intention that Sefton MBC should work with other Local Authorities towards ensuring that the negotiating position of the United Kingdom with the EU has the single market at its core.”
Minutes:
It was moved by Councillor Dawson, seconded by Councillor McGuire:
“This Council:
1. Recognises and respects the national majority viewpoint expressed in the recent national referendum on EU membership;
2. Notes that the voters resident within the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton expressed by majority a collective wish that Britain should remain in the EU;
3. Expresses concern at the lack of clarity in content and timetable as to what measures are going to be taken in respect of several key issues identified in the Referendum the coming months;
4. Recognising that EU funding is currently available for a range of projects, training and investments to support our local and regional economy, and recognising the present uncertainty as to how these funding streams might be replaced, believes that arrangements must be made to secure equivalent replacement funding;
5. Calls on the Government to clarify the funding situation in respect of all EU-funded projects, offer certainty to our region, and to continue programmes as previously-envisaged;
6. Seeks assurances from the UK Government and any successor government that it will match, pound for pound, any funding streams that appear to be now at risk;
7. Believes that it is in the interests of the residents of Sefton Metropolitan Borough, the North West of England and Britain as a whole that the United Kingdom should remain within the Single European Market; and
8. Requests the Leader of the Council inform the Government and the Local Government Association of the Council's views on this matter with the intention that Sefton MBC should work with other Local Authorities towards ensuring that the negotiating position of the United Kingdom with the EU has the single market at its core.”
Following debate, on a show of hands, the Mayor declared that the Motion was carried by 51 votes to none with 4 abstentions and it was
RESOLVED:
This Council:
1. Recognises and respects the national majority viewpoint expressed in the recent national referendum on EU membership;
2. Notes that the voters resident within the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton expressed by majority a collective wish that Britain should remain in the EU;
3. Expresses concern at the lack of clarity in content and timetable as to what measures are going to be taken in respect of several key issues identified in the Referendum the coming months;
4. Recognising that EU funding is currently available for a range of projects, training and investments to support our local and regional economy, and recognising the present uncertainty as to how these funding streams might be replaced, believes that arrangements must be made to secure equivalent replacement funding;
5. Calls on the Government to clarify the funding situation in respect of all EU-funded projects, offer certainty to our region, and to continue programmes as previously-envisaged;
6. Seeks assurances from the UK Government and any successor government that it will match, pound for pound, any funding streams that appear to be now at risk;
7. Believes that it is in the interests of the residents of Sefton Metropolitan Borough, the North West of England and Britain as a whole that the United Kingdom should remain within the Single European Market; and
8. Requests the Leader of the Council inform the Government and the Local Government Association of the Council's views on this matter with the intention that Sefton MBC should work with other Local Authorities towards ensuring that the negotiating position of the United Kingdom with the EU has the single market at its core.