Street lights switch off – how to have your say on Thursday 23rd June

You have until next 12 Noon, Tuesday 21 June to book your place.

The Liberal Democrat, as the Official Opposition at Northamptonshire County Council, have put a motion on the agenda for the Full Council meeting on Thursday 23^rd June. As a result there is an opportunity for anyone concerned about this issue to address all 73 Councillors.

There is a democratic right for Citizens affected by the lights switch off or who could be affected by the switch off to come the full meeting of Northamptonshire County Council at County Hall, Northampton, NN1 1ED, on Thursday 23 June 2011, and speak to the Councillors assembled there.  Map and directions can be found here

http://www.northamptonshire.gov.uk/en/contact/Pages/CountyHall.aspx

A downloadable map of where to park in Northampton can be found here

http://www.northampton.gov.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?documentID=538

Anyone can come and address/speak at full council if they are interested, and as I understand it as many people can speak as want to. You will only be able to speak for three minutes. We are particularly concerned that the decision made by the Conservatives at County Hall failed to act on advice contained in the councils own report that there should be proper consultation with councillors and communities before lights are switched off.

 If you, or any of your members, wish to speak at Council then you can find the procedure in the constitution, the link to which is here (Art 9, p7 onwards)

http://cmis.northamptonshire.gov.uk/CmisWebPublic/Binary.ashx?Document=7675

You have to register with the council to speak, there is no limit to the number of people who can speak, so encourage others to register and make there voices heard on this important issue.  The deadline for notice of questions/ notice for  members of the public wishing to address/speak at council, is 12 noon Tuesday 21 June Sept, notice can be sent by email to JRendall@northamptonshire.gov.uk  or by contacting  Jenny Rendall by phone at County Hall, saying you wish to speak to council on the street lighting motion, her phone number  01604 237560.

Here is the text of the Lib Dem motion as it currently stands:

“This Council notes the outcry in Northamptonshire over the street lighting switch off.

This Council believes that switching off so many lights in built up areas could lead to problems of anti-social behaviour and to an increase in crime and the fear of crime.

This Council believes that the switch off should not have been implemented without proper consultation with local communities and businesses.

This Council believes that the Conservative administration should reverse its decision to switch off so many lights and that it should identify the back office savings needed to enable the council to scale back the programme so that street lights in built up areas can be switched on again.”