To debate a Motion submitted by the Administration in accordance with Rules 11 and 13 of the Council’s Constitution. The debate will last for a maximum of 30 minutes.

 

MOTION ON COUNCIL’S PTS AND CFZ SCHEME

 

Council considered a motion as printed in the agenda on the Permit Transfer Scheme and Car Free Zone that had been moved by Councillor Kabir Hussain and seconded by Councillor Kabir Ahmed.

 

 

Council also considered the amendment proposed by Councillor Asma Islam and seconded by Councillor Rebeka Sultana as set out in the supplementary agenda.

 

ADDITIONS BOLD

DELETIONS STRUCKTHROUGH

 

This council notes:

 

·       The high levels of overcrowding in the borough, with over 23,000 residents currently on the housing waiting list, and 14,000 in acute overcrowding.

 

·       The detrimental impact that such levels of overcrowding have on residents, affecting health; educational attainment; employment opportunities; and quality of life.

 

·       That some residents rely on their cars and vehicles for business and familial duties of care.

 

·       That despite this, Tower Hamlets has one of the lowest car ownership rates in the country, and the third lowest in London.

 

·       That many residents refuse the chance to move to larger properties that could relieve some of these pressures associated with overcrowding, due to these properties’ lack of a parking space.

 

·       That this has contributed to the growing list of residents waiting for suitably-sized homes.

 

•         That the Car Free Zone policy was brought in nearly twenty years ago in an effort both to mitigate the impact of new development on the environment in Tower Hamlets and ensure existing car owners were not disadvantaged by significant numbers of new residents obtaining parking permits;

 

•         That there were many complaints from social housing tenants who were forced to give up their resident parking permit when they moved into a larger property within a scheme covered by a Car Free Zone restriction;

 

•         That Some tenants moved into properties which were not advertised as being in a Car Free Zone, and some only belatedly became aware when LBTH began enforcing the restriction two or three years later;

 

•         Residents living within a Car Free Zone development were not even entitled to Visitors Parking Scratch-cards;

 

•         That on 29th November 2023 Mayor Lutfur Rahman and his administration agreed to change and amend the council’s policy on PTS criteria however this change is not applied retrospectively to those who already are affected by this policy dating back over a decade.

 

This council believes:

 

·       That the existing Permit Transfer Scheme (PTS) was unsuitable and incompatible with the needs of residents in Tower Hamlets.

 

·       That the criteria to qualify for the Permit Transfer Scheme was too restrictive, and dissuaded residents from moving into new properties due to their fear of losing their car parking space.

 

·       That a newer, bespoke approach to the scheme was required, and that this has been captured in the new PTS strategy adopted on 30^th November.

 

·       That the following principles will contribute to a reduction in overcrowding in Tower Hamlets:

 

o   Families will now qualify if they live in overcrowded properties and are moving into larger properties with two or more bedrooms, instead of three or more bedrooms. 

o   A resident is no longer required to have held an on-street resident parking permit for 12 months prior to moving into a car-free property.

o   A resident no longer loses their right to a permit if it is cancelled or expires.

o   If one member of the household cancels their permit, then another member can apply for a new one.

o   An individual or family can now downsize and keep one resident permit under the PTS.

 

·       That the related Car Free Zone (CFZ) scheme also unfairly punishes those residents who rely on their vehicles for work.

 

·       That the proposed changes to the CFZ scheme being explored by the Mayor will complement the changes enacted by the review of the PTS scheme, where the new CFZ scheme would:

 

o   Apply to all residents living in car-free properties.

o   Allow for a maximum of three permits per household.

 

·       That this new approach to the CFZ scheme – that would apply to residents who live in a car-free development who are not currently eligible to apply for an on-street parking permit, and their own vehicle is crucial to their livelihood and their ability to work, such as licensed mini cabbing (including Uber) – will halt the penalisation of those who rely on their vehicles to work, many of whom do so as second or third jobs.

 

·       That this new approach to the CFZ scheme will contribute to the reduction of those numbers of residents currently on the housing waiting list and towards reducing overcrowding in the borough.

 

·       That as well as implementing the new PTS + CFZ schemes to all future developments, the new provisions should be – where possible – applied retrospectively to existing developments, to ensure that opportunities to support the reduction of overcrowding in the borough, as well as those residents who rely on their vehicles for work, can be maximised.

 

 

This council resolves:

 

·       To support and promote this new PTS scheme, with a view to encouraging a shortening of the housing waiting list.

 

·       To thank the Lead Member and officers for their work on the revised PTS scheme.

 

·       To support the Lead Member and officers in the continued revision of the CFZ scheme.

 

·       To call on the Mayor Lutfur Rahman to ensure his PTS policy will be in effect retrospectively across all existing affected residents as well as new residents.

 

·       To ensure that the retrospective application of the PTS are accommodated through the 2024/25 budget.

 

Following debate, the amendment moved by Councillor Asma Islam was put to the vote and was defeated.

 

The motion as moved by Councillor Maium Miah Talukdar was put to the vote and was agreed.

 

The Council RESOLVED to:

 

This council notes:

 

·       The high levels of overcrowding in the borough, with over 23,000 residents currently on the housing waiting list, and 14,000 in acute overcrowding.

 

·       The detrimental impact that such levels of overcrowding have on residents, affecting health; educational attainment; employment opportunities; and quality of life.

 

·       That some residents rely on their cars and vehicles for business and familial duties of care.

 

·       That despite this, Tower Hamlets has one of the lowest car ownership rates in the country, and the third lowest in London.

 

·       That many residents refuse the chance to move to larger properties that could relieve some of these pressures associated with overcrowding, due to these properties’ lack of a parking space.

 

·       That this has contributed to the growing list of residents waiting for suitably-sized homes.

 

This council believes:

 

·       That the existing Permit Transfer Scheme (PTS) was unsuitable and incompatible with the needs of residents in Tower Hamlets.

 

·       That the criteria to qualify for the Permit Transfer Scheme was too restrictive, and dissuaded residents from moving into new properties due to their fear of losing their car parking space.

 

·       That a newer, bespoke approach to the scheme was required, and that this has been captured in the new PTS strategy adopted on 30^th November.

 

·       That the following principles will contribute to a reduction in overcrowding in Tower Hamlets:

 

o   Families will now qualify if they live in overcrowded properties and are moving into larger properties with two or more bedrooms, instead of three or more bedrooms. 

o   A resident is no longer required to have held an on-street resident parking permit for 12 months prior to moving into a car-free property.

o   A resident no longer loses their right to a permit if it is cancelled or expires.

o   If one member of the household cancels their permit, then another member can apply for a new one.

o   An individual or family can now downsize and keep one resident permit under the PTS.

 

·       That the related Car Free Zone (CFZ) scheme also unfairly punishes those residents who rely on their vehicles for work.

 

·       That the proposed changes to the CFZ scheme being explored by the Mayor will complement the changes enacted by the review of the PTS scheme, where the new CFZ scheme would:

 

o   Apply to all residents living in car-free properties.

o   Allow for a maximum of three permits per household.

 

·       That this new approach to the CFZ scheme – that would apply to residents who live in a car-free development who are not currently eligible to apply for an on-street parking permit, and their own vehicle is crucial to their livelihood and their ability to work, such as licensed mini cabbing (including Uber) – will halt the penalisation of those who rely on their vehicles to work, many of whom do so as second or third jobs.

 

·       That this new approach to the CFZ scheme will contribute to the reduction of those numbers of residents currently on the housing waiting list and towards reducing overcrowding in the borough.

 

·       That as well as implementing these new schemes to all future developments, the new provisions should be – where possible – applied retrospectively to existing developments, to ensure that opportunities to support the reduction of overcrowding in the borough, as well as those residents who rely on their vehicles for work, can be maximised.

 

This council resolves:

 

·       To support and promote this new PTS scheme, with a view to encouraging a shortening of the housing waiting list.

 

·       To thank the Lead Member and officers for their work on the revised PTS scheme.

 

·       To support the Lead Member and officers in the continued revision of the CFZ scheme.