Motion on travellers

Proposed by Cllr Julian Ware-Lane and seconded by Cllr Margaret Borton

MOTION

The traveller community often visits the borough, and the local authority’s immediate reaction is to seek police assistance to have them moved on.

Little attempt has been made to find somewhere where the travellers can stay within the borough.

Finding travellers a place to temporarily stay would stop the problem of them pitching up in public parks and other unsuitable open spaces. This may entail, of course, dialogue with our neighbouring local authorities and residents.

We condemn all bad behaviour and law-breaking and this should be punished as appropriate. However, we should not pre-judge.

The traveller community has also been the subject of some very unsavoury comments by some councillors.

This Council

1, Condemns any language that stigmatises or labels the traveller community.

2, Condemns every instance of race hate language, or support for race hate language.

3, Should encourage greater understanding and tolerance of all minority groups.

4, Welcomes all visitors to the borough. This borough aim is increase visitor numbers, to be a bigger tourist magnet. This local authority should not discriminate at all, nor should it pre-judge the motives of any visitor.

5, Should attempt to find somewhere for travellers to temporarily de-camp when they visit, thus ending the sight of caravans in our parks and open spaces.

(The traveller community includes a variety of peoples who prefer a nomadic lifestyle.)

Cheryl Nevin re-selected to contest Milton ward

Cheryl, with Julian

Cllr Cheryl Nevin has been re-selected to contest Milton ward for Labour in next year’s local

elections.

Cllr Nevin was first elected in 2014. She works as a human resource manager in the National Health Service.

Cheryl chairs People Scrutiny. She also serves on Children’s Services Improvement Scrutiny, Conservation Working Party, and the joint Health Overview Scrutiny Committee.

Cheryl said: “It’s an honour to have been selected to serve the residents of Milton, which is a great community.”

Fellow Milton ward councillor, Julian Ware-Lane, said: “Cheryl has been a great advocate for Milton since being elected to the council chamber. I am delighted that she has been selected to fight to retain her seat, and I know she will work tirelessly for Milton if successful next May.”

Margaret Borton re-selected to contest Victoria ward

Cllr Margaret Borton has been re-selected to contest Victoria ward for Labour.

Margaret was first elected in 2006, and has represented Victoria ward ever since.

Margaret works for the Department of Work and Pensions. She is married with two children.

Cllr Borton sits on Development Control Committee, People Scrutiny Committee, Traffic and Parking Working Party, and Licensing Committee. She is a former deputy leader of the Labour Group.

Margaret said: “I am very pleased to have been selected as the Victoria candidate.”

She added: “It has been an honour to represent Victoria ward.”