Agenda item
TO CONSIDER MOTIONS SUBMITTED BY MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL
The motions submitted by Members of the Council for debate at this meeting are attached at agenda item 11.
Decision:
11.3 Motion proposed by Councillor Marc Francis regarding Olympic legacy and affordable housing
The motion as published in the agenda was agreed as follows.
DECISION
This Council notes:
- The commitment of the Government, Mayor of London and Olympic Delivery Organisation (ODA) to delivering a lasting legacy to the people of London resulting from the 2012 Games.
- The creation of the Olympic Legacy Company to deliver this pledge.
- The use of £1 billion of public money by the London Development Agency (LDA) to purchase land for the Olympic sites.
- That there are almost 100,000 households on council housing waiting lists in the five ‘Olympic boroughs’.
Given this level of housing need, this Council believes:
· That the current policy of 35 per cent ‘affordable’ housing (split 50/50 between social rented and ‘intermediate’) is inadequate and unacceptable as only 17 per cent of the homes built are likely to be of benefit to those on housing waiting lists.
This Council therefore resolves to:
· Call on the Government and Mayor of London to instruct the ODA and Olympic Legacy Company to require that 50 per cent of all new homes built on the Olympic site should be affordable (split 70/30 social rented, including council housing, and intermediate), in order to ensure a real housing legacy for Londoners.
(Action by: Aman Dalvi, Corporate Director, Development and Renewal)
11.4 Motion proposed by Councillor Tim Archer regarding East End Homes Leaseholders and Freeholders Association
Councillor Marc Francis moved, and Councillor Lutfur Rahman seconded, an amendment to the motion to delete text after “This Council notes” and replace with text as tabled at the meeting. This was agreed and the substantive motion as amended was then agreed as follows.
DECISION
This Council notes:
- East End Homes is a resident-led housing association, with six tenants and two leaseholders on its Board;
- East End Homes took on some of those council estates suffering most from the historic under-investment in council housing;
- East End Homes has been assessed as being a Two-Star “Good” organisation by the independent Audit Commission;
- The dissatisfaction expressed by some leaseholders and freeholders of East End Homes;
- The formation of the borough-wide East End Homes Leaseholders and Freeholders Association (EEHLFA);
- That East End Homes is committed to working to establish a constructive relationship with EEHLFA and has invited representatives to its Board meeting on 28th January.
This Council believes that:
- Genuine engagement, transparency and accountability are the key to achieving a high quality housing management service and improving Value for Money for leaseholders and tenants alike;
- Democratically-elected local Estate Management Boards are an essential component of the governance arrangements at East End Homes;
- A good working relationship with other groups set up to represent residents of East End Homes would be a positive step forward;
- Increased involvement with EEHLFA would help address the concerns of some of East End Home’s freeholders and leaseholders.
This Council therefore resolves to:
Encourage the Board of East End Homes to recognise the EEHLFA through an agreed Memorandum of Understanding with that organisation and work positively to resolve leaseholder/freeholder issues.
(Action by: Aman Dalvi, Corporate Director, Development and Renewal)
11.9 Motion proposed by Councillor Harun Miah regarding Boris Johnson’s fare rises
Councillor Lutfur Rahman moved, and Councillor Abdal Ullah seconded, an amendment to the motion to delete all words in the published motion and replace with text as tabled at the meeting. This was agreed and the substantive motion as amended was then agreed as follows.
DECISION
This Council notes that:
Tory Mayor Boris Johnson has subjected Londoners to a huge above-inflation rise in bus fares.
This approach follows his refusal to intervene in support of those residents in Bow whose S2 bus he scrapped, forcing pensioners and mums with young children to carry their shopping through a dirty and dangerous underpass beneath the dual carriageway.
The overall increase in bus fares introduced from 2nd January 2010 was 12.7% however, a pay-as-you-go single bus journey increased by 20% from £1 to £1.20 (a rise of 20%).
Fare rises are substantial and particularly likely to affect infrequent, irregular users such as part-time workers. This will include the 18% of families in Tower Hamlets living on less than £15,000.
Raising bus fares impacts disproportionately on the poor as they are most likely to use buses as opposed to more expensive forms of public or private transport.
In the current economic circumstances this makes it difficult for many on low wages to get to and from work, dampening employment and growth in the capital.
That that Mayor continues to fight for lower taxes for the bankers who helped create the current economic crisis while placing a de-facto “transport tax” on those worst affected by the downturn and least able to afford it.
Despite the fare rise, the Mayor has scrapped the proposed western extension to the congestion charge and emissions based congestion charge, both of which could raise the revenue needed to offset bus fare rises.
That the current Mayor’s stance stands in direct contrast to his predecessor, Labour Mayor Ken Livingstone, who cut bus fares significantly to help the young, the elderly, the unemployed and those on low wages to access public transport.
This Council believes that:
Accessible and affordable transport is vital to the economic wellbeing of the capital in general and the lowest paid workers in particular.
The Mayor’s decision to raise bus fares while fighting for lower taxes and charges for the better off is contrary to the needs of most Londoners.
This Council resolves:
To instruct the Leader to write to the London Mayor and TfL to protest the increase.
To lobby London Assembly members to hold the Mayor to account for making public transport less accessible to Londoners.
To work with other Councils, the Minister for London and the Department for Transport to press the Mayor to share the burden of paying for London’s transport infrastructure more fairly.
(Action by: Stephen Halsey, Corporate Director, Communities, Localities and Culture)
11.12 Motion proposed by Councillor Abdul Munim regarding Ocean regeneration and business uncertainty
Councillor Oliur Rahman moved, and Councillor Alibor Choudhury seconded, an amendment to the motion to insert a new para i) and to delete all words in the published motion after “This Council believes that” and replace with text as tabled at the meeting. This was agreed and the substantive motion as amended was then agreed as follows.
DECISION
This Council notes that:
a) the Ocean estate is to be the subject of a major regeneration project
b) this regeneration will involve the demolition of some existing buildings
c) demolition will include Marmora House on Ben Jonson Road which houses many local shops which provide essential services to the local community
d) shop owners and keepers in Ben Jonson Road recently received letters from a developer informing them of a planning application to redevelop the site where they have their shops
e) shop owners and keepers in Ben Jonson Road have spent many years building up their businesses and serving the community
f) the letter from the developer makes no reference to providing them with alternative facilities from which to operate after they have left the existing premises or for them to have the right to return to the newly established shop premises upon completion of the redevelopment
g) this is causing severe stress and concern to the business community in Ben Jonson Road and those residents who currently depend on these shops for important and vital services
h) shop owners and keepers have made submissions to the planning department asking that alternative premises from which their businesses can operate should be guaranteed and that they should have right of return once redevelopment has been completed
i) that the local councilors have taken a strong lead in representing the interests of shop keepers
This Council welcomes any development and regeneration that will benefit the residents
This Council believes that:
a) Shop keepers must be fully involved in the consultation about the future redevelopment plans for the Ocean estate
b) Council officers should continue to work closely with shop keepers on both a one-to-one and collective basis to try to ensure the continuation of those businesses
c) The Lead Member should report back to Full Council on the progress of negotiations with the shop keepers on Ben Jonson Road.
(Action by: Aman Dalvi, Corporate Director, Development and Renewal)
Motions 11.1, 11.2, 11.5, 11.6, 11.7, 11.8, 11.10 & 11.11 as listed below were not considered due to lack of time, the meeting having closed in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 9 (Duration of meeting).
11.1 Motion submitted by Councillor Abjol Miah regarding parking policy in Tower Hamlets
11.2 Motion submitted by Councillor Stephanie Eaton regarding reducing carbon emissions by 10% in 2010
11.5 Motion submitted by Councillor Dulal Uddin regarding car free zones
11.6 Motion submitted by Councillor Ohid Ahmed regarding reducing carbon emissions
11.7 Motion submitted by Councillor Fozol Miah regarding Housing Policy
11.8 Motion submitted by Councillor Joshua Peck regarding increasing access to transport for older residents
11.10 Motion submitted by Councillor Alex Heslop regarding support for the co-operative and social enterprise sector
11.11 Motion submitted by Councillor Mamun Rashid regarding youth facilities
Minutes:
Motions 11.3, 11.4, 11.9 and 11.12 had been considered at earlier points in the meeting.
The Mayor then closed the meeting in accordance with Rule 9 (Duration of meeting).
Motions 11.1, 11.2, 11.5, 11.6, 11.7, 11.8, 11.10 & 11.11 as listed below were not considered due to lack of time, the meeting having closed in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 9 (Duration of meeting).
11.1 Motion submitted by Councillor Abjol Miah regarding parking policy in Tower Hamlets
11.2 Motion submitted by Councillor Stephanie Eaton regarding reducing carbon emissions by 10% in 2010
11.5 Motion submitted by Councillor Dulal Uddin regarding car free zones
11.6 Motion submitted by Councillor Ohid Ahmed regarding reducing carbon emissions
11.7 Motion submitted by Councillor Fozol Miah regarding Housing Policy
11.8 Motion submitted by Councillor Joshua Peck regarding increasing access to transport for older residents
11.10 Motion submitted by Councillor Alex Heslop regarding support for the co-operative and social enterprise sector
11.11 Motion submitted by Councillor Mamun Rashid regarding youth facilities
Supporting documents: