Decision Details

Motion I

Proposer: Councillor Scordis

This Council notes the sad news that Colchester's historic Paxman factory is due to close as MAN Energy Solutions look to uproot to Stockport.  This will lead to the end of the manufacture of Colchester's historic diesel engine, which has previously been used by the Ministry of Defence and British train stock, until contracts were cancelled for cheaper models outside Britain. 

This Council also calls on Will Quince MP to lobby the Ministry of Defence and train companies to look at providing contracts to Paxmans to keep this historic factory running and protect local jobs and manufacturing in Colchester. 

As the motion relates to a non-executive matter it will be debated and determined at the meeting.

Main Amendment

Proposer: Councillor Dundas

In the second sentence of the first paragraph, the deletion of the words “, until contracts were cancelled for cheaper models outside Britain.“

The addition of the following words at the end of the first paragraph: “As we move towards a carbon neutral economy and more trainlines are electrified the demand for these diesel engines is inevitably declining but it is regrettable that investment was not made in Colchester by MAN to enable a move to manufacture renewables and other modern power plants “

The addition of the following words at the start of the second paragraph: “As preference for UK manufacturers is currently not possible under EU public procurement law outside of security critical areas, “

The deletion of the following words in the second paragraph “train companies to look at providing contracts to Paxmans” and their replacement with the following words: “Department of Transport to take advantage of any new rules which may apply after the end of the transition period on December 31 2020 and look at giving preference to UK manufacturers, and to MAN Energy Colchester in particular, in procurement matters”


Should the amendment be approved the revised wording of the motion would be as follows:-

This Council notes the sad news that Colchester's historic Paxman factory is due to close as MAN Energy Solutions look to uproot to Stockport.  This will lead to the end of the manufacture of Colchester's historic diesel engine, which has previously been used by the Ministry of Defence and British train stock. As we move towards a carbon neutral economy and more trainlines are electrified the demand for these diesel engines is inevitably declining but it is regrettable that investment was not made in Colchester by MAN to enable a move to manufacture renewables and other modern power plants.  
  
As preference for UK manufacturers is currently not possible under EU public procurement law outside of security critical areas, this Council also calls on Will Quince MP to lobby the Ministry of Defence and Department of Transport to take advantage of any new rules which may apply after the end of the transition period on December 31 2020 and look at giving preference to UK manufacturers, and to MAN Energy Colchester in particular, in procurement matters to keep this historic factory running and protect local jobs and manufacturing in Colchester.