Agenda item
TO CONSIDER MOTIONS SUBMITTED BY MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL
The motions submitted by Councillors for debate at this meeting are set out in the attached report.
Minutes:
Procedural Motion
Councillor Danny Hassell moved and Councillor Rachael Saunders seconded, a procedural motion “that under Procedure Rule 14.1.3 the order of business be varied as follows:
· Item 12.1 - Motion regarding the Housing and Planning Act.
· Item 12.4 - Motion regarding Increasing Organ and Blood Donation in Tower Hamlets.
· Item 12.6 - Motion regarding Electoral Petition Costs.
· Item 12.3 - Motion regarding the 2016 Carbuncle Award.
· Item 12.7 - Motion regarding pollution near schools.
· Item 12.5 - Motion regarding the future of the Tower Hamlets Youth Service.
The motion was put to the vote and was agreed.
12. 1 Motion regarding the Housing and Planning Act
Councillor Andrew Cregan moved and Councillor Sirajul Islam seconded the motion as printed in the agenda.
Following debate, the motion was put to the vote and was agreed. Accordingly it was:
RESOLVED:
This Council Notes that:
1. The Housing and Planning Act (‘the Act’) received Royal Assent on 12th May 2016.
2. The Council debated and supported a motion (20th January 2016) which called on the Mayor and all Councillors to actively campaign to highlight the disastrous consequences of the then Bill; and called on the Mayor to give full consideration to finding meaningful, genuinely affordable housing solutions for Tower Hamlets.
3. The Mayor and/or Cabinet Members have subsequently attended public meetings organised by ‘Kill the Bill’ on the Cranbrook, Collingwood, Ocean estates and outside Albert Jacob House and confirmed their commitment to attend others as invited.
4. LBTH Officers have attended public meetings on Collingwood and Ocean estates to set out the technical aspects of the Act.
5. The Mayor launched the Housing Strategy consultation which closed on 31st July
6. East End Life, Our East End, and 24 Hour Housing have all published articles setting out the Mayor’s opposition to this Act and his response to the impact.
7. An all members briefing on the Draft Housing Strategy including the impact of the Housing and Planning Act was held on 2nd June 2016.
8. The Housing and Regeneration Mayors Question Time in Poplar included an officer briefing for residents on the Housing and Planning Act.
9. An article in THH newsletter and information has been circulated to all RPs for their newsletters.
10. The Tower Hamlets website features a detailed summary of the Act and the impact on Tower Hamlets at http://www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/lgnl/housing/Housing_and_Planning_Act.aspx
11. LBTH has responded to Government consultations on details of the Act and responses are available at http://www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/lgnl/housing/Housing_and_Planning_Act.aspx
12. In order to fully prepare for the impact of the Act, further guidance is required from Government regarding the implementation.
13. The Council is organising a Housing Strategy Conference for residents on 1st October 2016 to discuss the Council’s future Housing Strategy, responding to the Housing and Planning Act.
This Council believes that:
1. The Housing and Planning Act represents a Conservative attack on the diverse communities in Tower Hamlets and it will significantly impede the council’s ability to provide adequate affordable housing for families in the borough.
2. The Tory ‘Pay to Stay’ policy will drive up rents and have a devastating effect in Tower Hamlets.
3. The Government should publish guidance on the implementation of ‘Pay to Stay’ and ‘Sale of High Value Voids’ to allow Councils to fully prepare.
This Council calls on:
1. The Mayor to write to the Minister of State for Housing and Planning setting out the impact of the uncertainty over the Act.
2. Our local Labour MPs to raise questions in Parliament about how the Act will be implemented and how it will impact Tower Hamlets.
Motions 12.2 -12.7 were not debated due to lack of time.
Supporting documents: