12. 3   Motion regarding the Housing and Planning Bill

Councillor Councillor Sirajul Islam moved and Councillor Rachel Blake seconded the motion as printed in the agenda.

Following debate, the motion was put to the vote and was agreed.

DECISION

This Council notes that:

1.    The Government published a Housing and Planning Bill for First reading on 13 October 2015.

2.    The second reading took place on the 2 November 2015 and that the Bill was carried at its second reading in Parliament.

3.    The Bill has been through the Committee Stage and is now in the final stages of being agreed by the Commons

4.    The Bill includes:

a.    Introduction of a General Duty to promote Starter Homes

b.    Measures to force Councils to sell high value council homes

c.    Measures to require higher earners to pay higher rents and for the increased income to be paid to the Secretary of State

d.    Measures to implement the Right to Buy for Housing Association Tenants through a on a voluntary basis.

5.    That Cllr Philippa Roe, Conservative Leader of Westminster Council, has said “it is absolutely vital that the proceeds of right-to-buy from London are kept in London.”

6.    Rushanara Ali MP and Jim Fitzpatrick MP voted against the Bill at the second reading.

7.    Zac Goldsmith MP, in the House of Commons on Monday 2^nd November, said:

·       “the gap between supply and demand remains very wide, and without radical action, it will grow wider still, further pricing Londoners out of their own city”

·       “closing the gap between supply and demand, therefore, is the absolute priority”

·       “council homes in London are far more valuable than they are elsewhere, and without a change we will see a disproportionate flow of resources out of London”

·       “the amendment that I intend to table after today’s debate will ask for a binding guarantee that London will see a net gain in affordable housing as a consequence of this policy—a guarantee that London will see, in addition to the replaced housing association homes, at least two low-cost homes built for every single high-value home sold”

·       “the bottom line is that we are going to have to use every single available lever to deliver affordable homes at all incomes”

8.       Sadiq Khan MP tabled an amendment to the Bill that would ensure that a proportion of starter homes are available to local people.

9.       Sadiq Khan MP described the Bill as being “catastrophic for hundreds of thousands of people who will see rents and house prices rise and a steep decline in the number of affordable properties.”

10.       The Mayor in Cabinet in September 2015 approved the development of new  affordable homes.

This Council believes:

1.    London’s successful future is threatened without sufficient supply of genuinely affordable homes.

2.    Tower Hamlets has historically provided a vital role for supplying homes for households on low incomes who play a vital role in London’s economy and that role is under threat.

3.    This Bill will have a  ...  view the full decision text for item 12

12. 3   Motion regarding the Housing and Planning Bill

Councillor Sirajul Islam moved and Councillor Rachel Blake 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 Government published a Housing and Planning Bill for First reading on 13 October 2015.

2.    The second reading took place on the 2 November 2015 and that the Bill was carried at its second reading in Parliament.

3.    The Bill has been through the Committee Stage and is now in the final stages of being agreed by the Commons

4.    The Bill includes:

a.    Introduction of a General Duty to promote Starter Homes

b.    Measures to force Councils to sell high value council homes

c.    Measures to require higher earners to pay higher rents and for the increased income to be paid to the Secretary of State

d.    Measures to implement the Right to Buy for Housing Association Tenants through a on a voluntary basis.

5.    That Cllr Philippa Roe, Conservative Leader of Westminster Council, has said “it is absolutely vital that the proceeds of right-to-buy from London are kept in London.”

6.    Rushanara Ali MP and Jim Fitzpatrick MP voted against the Bill at the second reading.

7.    Zac Goldsmith MP, in the House of Commons on Monday 2^nd November, said:

·       “the gap between supply and demand remains very wide, and without radical action, it will grow wider still, further pricing Londoners out of their own city”

·       “closing the gap between supply and demand, therefore, is the absolute priority”

·       “council homes in London are far more valuable than they are elsewhere, and without a change we will see a disproportionate flow of resources out of London”

·       “the amendment that I intend to table after today’s debate will ask for a binding guarantee that London will see a net gain in affordable housing as a consequence of this policy—a guarantee that London will see, in addition to the replaced housing association homes, at least two low-cost homes built for every single high-value home sold”

·       “the bottom line is that we are going to have to use every single available lever to deliver affordable homes at all incomes”

8.       Sadiq Khan MP tabled an amendment to the Bill that would ensure that a proportion of starter homes are available to local people.

9.       Sadiq Khan MP described the Bill as being “catastrophic for hundreds of thousands of people who will see rents and house prices rise and a steep decline in the number of affordable properties.”

10.       The Mayor in Cabinet in September 2015 approved the development of new  affordable homes.

This Council believes:

1.    London’s successful future is threatened without sufficient supply of genuinely affordable homes.

2.    Tower Hamlets has historically provided a vital role for supplying homes for households on low incomes who play a vital role in London’s economy and that role is under threat.

3.    This Bill will  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12