Issue - meetings

On a motion from Councillor Paul Myers, seconded by Councillor Tim Warren, it was

RESOLVED that this Council

1.  Welcomes the fact that, following David Cameron’s renegotiation, the Government has fulfilled its manifesto commitment to hold an ‘in/out’ referendum on the UK’s membership of the European Union, thereby giving the B&NES and British electorate their first chance to have a decisive say on this matter in forty years.

2.  Notes that it is for each and every resident of Bath and North East Somerset to make up their own minds on Britain’s membership of the European Union based upon the information and arguments presented by both the ‘Leave’ and ‘Remain’ campaigns.

3.  Believes that it would not therefore be appropriate for the Council to take a corporate view on this matter, which should rightly be left to voters to decide.

4.  Urges all those eligible in Bath and North East Somerset to vote in this referendum to do so, recognising the importance of the decision to the future of the country, and to ask that the Council takes steps to encourage those eligible to vote in the referendum ensure they are registered to vote.

[Notes:

1.  A motion from the Liberal Democrat group had been moved by Councillor Paul Crossley, and seconded by Councillor Liz Hardman, as set out in the agenda papers.  This motion was replaced by the successful amendment.

2.  The successful resolution above was carried as an amendment with 36 Councillors voting in favour, 20 Councillors voting against and 2 abstentions and then as the substantive motion with 47 Councillors voting in favour, 7 Councillors voting against and 4 abstentions.]