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:
12.2 Motion regarding a New Deal for Leaseholders
Councillor John Pierce moved, and Councillor Rachel Blake seconded, the motion as printed in the agenda.
During the debate, Councillor Rabina Khan indicated that she wished to move an amendment to the motion in the following terms:-
“The Council Notes;
In the mid 1990s and into early 2000 under the Labour administration there was a programme called the Five Year Rolling programme which included major and capital works.
The Five Year Rolling Programme did not use stock condition surveys and did not have a comprehensive repayment options with leaseholders been charged 9% interest after two years of been sent a bill.
It was only in 2012 with the Cabinet Report that the Mayor took the initiative to introduce comprehensive repayment options with a view to review the options during the course of the Major Works.
The, hard work of the Mayor and his administration of working since August 2014 to review the repayment options following petitions and individual issues raised by leaseholders regarding Major Works.
The Council believes that;
That THH and the Tower Hamlets Council had already begun the review process for repayment options back in August 2014.
That in the last major works charges completed under a Labour administration such measures were never brought forward and that leaseholders faced hefty bills were issued during that time.
The Council Resolves;
To only bill on completion of works after all works have been signed off with leaseholders, contractors and Tower Hamlets Council.
To continue to the review of repayments which began in August 2104 with a paper for Cabinet to extend from 3 years and 5 years repayment options for resident leaseholders up to 10 years.
To offer 3 years interest free repayment to non-residents subject to qualifying circumstances.
To, explore the potential to offer no interest charge to resident leaseholders if paid within 10 years.
To explore the potential to offer 7% discount if paid within the first year to all leaseholders.
To ensure that the financial and inclusion officer at THH pro-actively works with leaseholders who qualify for the discretionary cap.”
Copies of the amendment were circulated. However due to time constraints the amendment was not considered and the motion as printed in the agenda was put to the vote and was agreed. Accordingly it was
RESOLVED
This Council notes:
1. The hard work done by MPs Rushanara Ali and Jim Fitzpatrick to support leaseholders in the borough
2. Leaseholders across Tower Hamlets have been sent bills by Tower Hamlets Homes for as much as £40,000 for major works as part of the Decent Homes Programme
3. Leaseholders have been given 12 months to repay these hefty and unmanageable bills
4. Leaseholders feel that Tower Hamlets Homes and Tower Hamlets Council have not adequately engaged, consulted or responded to their concerns
This Council believes that:
1. It is unacceptable for leaseholders to be hit with such extreme bills and under such a short repayment timescale
2. The repayment period for major works should be extended to 10 years
3. Greater transparency is necessary, particularly relating to all charges and proposed works
4. There needs to be an open and fair dialogue between leaseholders and Tower Hamlets Homes
This Council resolves to call on Tower Hamlets Homes and Tower Hamlets Council to:
1. Extend the current repayment period for major works from 12 months to 10 years
2. Provide much greater transparency on all charges and proposed major works
3. Adopt a pro-active approach when responding to, engaging with and consulting leaseholders
12.5 Motion regarding Barts Health NHS Trust
Councillor Asma Begum moved, and Councillor Rachel Blake seconded, the motion as printed in the agenda.
During debate, Councillor Abdul Asad moved and Oliur Rahman seconded an amendment that:-
“The Council recognise, support and help build on the hard work that the Council and CCG are doing to:-
Oppose Conservative detrimental policy – such as the removal of the Minimum Practice Income Guarantee;
Open more GPs surgeries to ensure that residents have access to a GP; and
Secure funding to provide routine and urgent care acess to Primary Care 12 hours a day, 7 days a week in the future.”
Councillor Asma Begum indicated that she accepted the amendment proposed by Councillor Asad and altered her motion accordingly.
Following debate the motion, as amended, was put to the vote and was agreed. Accordingly it was
RESOLVED
This Council notes that:
1. Barts Health NHS Trust has been put into special measures, after a Care Quality Commission found a culture of bullying and low morale among staff at Whipps Cross Hospital
2. The coalition government scrapped Labour’s guarantee of a GP appointment within 48 hours
3. The coalition government cut funding for Labour’s GP extended opening hours scheme, and as a result fewer practices are open at evening and weekends
4. Over 20,000 signed the petition to ‘Save our Surgeries’ – calling on NHS England to reverse the withdrawal of the minimum practice income guarantee, which changed the funding formula and is taking money away from deprived areas
5. The Labour Group is fighting locally for local workers and to ensure that the best talent is available to the Trust
This Council believes that:
1. Labour’s policy to guarantee that you can get a GP appointment within 48 hours is vital
2. Barts Health NHS Trust should employ more local workers, creating local jobs and using local skills
3. The Tories have wasted £3 billion on a top-down reorganisation which puts competition and profits before co-operation and patient care, and ties hospitals up in competition law
4. The unaffordability of housing is becoming a barrier to recruitment and retention of key NHS workers
This Council resolves to:
1. Call on Barts Health NHS Trust to use trust assets to enable the provision of affordable, local housing for local staff
2. Call on Barts Health to fully utilise the resource of local workers
3. Call on Barts Health to work with housing providers and the council to prioritise provision of local housing for key workers
That the Council recognise, support and help build on the hard work that the Council and CCG are doing to:
1. Oppose Conservative detrimental policy – such as the removal of the Minimum Practice Income Guarantee;
2. Open more GPs surgeries to ensure that residents have access to a GP; and
3. Secure funding to provide routine and urgent care acess to Primary Care 12 hours a day, 7 days a week in the future.
12.10 Motion regarding Cambridge Heath Sixth Form Centre Special Educational Needs Unit
Councillor Danny Hassell moved, and Councillor Marc Francis seconded, the motion as printed in the agenda.
During debate Councillor Gulam Robbani moved and Councillor Rabina Khan seconded an amendment:-
“That the Council recognizes that transition units for SEN is a nation-wide issue and whilst the amendments to the Children’s and Family’s Act recently does not still meet the needs of SEN children and young people;
That this Council shares the sentiments of the parents and carers campaigning for a quality transition SEN unit to remain within the borough;
In particular to explore how the Sixth Form unit might be able to keep the SEN provision open;
That a delegation of a cross party group support the campaign group meeting with each of the school’s Governing Body and their Chairs;
That, whilst the Council has no direct power to ensure that the unit stays open, the Mayor will explore how best to ensure there is appropriate provision for SEN students in the borough.”
Councillor Danny Hassell indicated that he accepted the motion moved by Councillor Robbani and altered his motion accordingly.
Following debate the motion, as amended, was put to the vote and was agreed unanimously. Accordingly it was
RESOLVED
This Council notes:
1. The Cambridge Heath Sixth Form Centre was founded to provide a centre for further education for 16-18 year-olds from Morpeth, Swanlea and Oaklands Secondary Schools with the support and encouragement of LBTH;
2. The centre currently includes a separate unit for 21 youngsters with Special Educational Needs, which is based in two of the classrooms;
3. Parents of these children have been told that the SEN Unit will be closed from April and that there has been no consultation with those parents over this proposal, only very belated discussion over alternative arrangements for the continuing education of individual children.
This Council believes that:
1. Good quality teaching for children with Special Educational Needs within a strong learning environment is a vital part of our educational system;
2. Parents and other stakeholders, including LBTH should be consulted meaningfully before any decision is taken to reduce education provision.
3. The impact of these proposals on affect pupils and their families could be incredibly damaging to their education and their wider wellbeing.
4. Tower Hamlets schools should be leading London with high quality provision for children and young people with a range of needs.
This Council resolves:
1. To call on the Heads and Governing Bodies of Morpeth, Oaklands and Swanlea Schools to reconsider the decision to close the Cambridge Heath Six Form SEN Unit;
2. To call on the Mayor to support the campaign by parents to keep the Cambridge Heath SEN Unit open.
3. To request officers engage with Cambridge Heath Sixth Form to explore support for the SEN unit. For officers to provide proactive support to young people and their families who could be affected by these proposals.
That the council recognizes that transition units for SEN is a nation-wide issue and whilst the amendments to the Children’s and Family’s Act recently does not still meet the needs of SEN children and young people.
That this council shares the sentiments of the parents and carers campaigning for a quality transition SEN unit to remain within the borough.
In particular to explore how the Sixth Form unit might be able to keep the SEN provision open,
That a delegation of a cross party group support the campaign group meeting with each of the school’s Governing Body and their Chairs.
That, whilst the council has no direct power to ensure that the unit stays open, the Mayor will explore how best to ensure there is appropriate provision for SEN students in the borough.
Motions 12.1, 12.3, 12.4, 12.6 - 12.9 and 12.11 – 12.13 were not debated due to lack of time.
Supporting documents: