Agenda item

Motions

The following Motions have been notified in accordance with the requirements of Council Procedure Rule 15, to be moved and seconded by the Members indicated:

 

(1)            One Hour Free Parking Motion

 

 

To be moved by Councillor Paul Osborn and seconded by Councillor Anjana Patel:

 

 

This Council notes:

  • The Covid-19 Pandemic has had a devastating effect on business of all sizes, but especially small to medium business.
  • While it is recognised that the government went above and beyond to support businesses through Covid grants and business rate relief, many businesses are still struggling.
  • Eighteen months of lockdown have taken their toll on businesses in Harrow.
  • Parking costs, even before the pandemic, often discourage people from shopping locally.
  • Local Authorities should be doing everything in their power to encourage residents to use local shops and support local businesses.
  • Research collected for smallbusiness.co.uk in 2017 shows that 9 in 10 residents would be more likely to visit the high street if there were some element of free parking.
  • In February at the Budget Full Council meeting, Harrow Conservatives proposed a costed solution which would deliver one-hour free parking at Council car parks for one year.

 

This Council resolves:

  • To support local residents when parking to use local shops.
  • To call on the Executive to implement the fully costed proposals put forward by Harrow Conservatives at the February Full Council meeting and introduce one-hour free car parking across all Council car parks.

 

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 15.6, this Motion is moved by the Leader of the Opposition, as it relates to a matter within the powers of the Executive, to not stand automatically referred to the next meeting of the Executive but shall be dealt with as if Council Procedure Rule 15.7.1 applied.

 

(2)            Planning Motion

 

 

To be moved by Councillor Graham Henson and seconded by Councillor Natasha Proctor:

 

 

“This Council believes planning works best when developers and the local community work together to shape local areas and deliver necessary new homes;

 

This Council therefore calls on the Government to

 

  • protect the right of communities to object to individual planning applications
  • undertake a review of permitted development rights
  • implement stronger controls to ensure Ministers making decisions on planning applications are not connected, financially or personally, with developers or related parties to the application

 

The Council instructs the Chief Executive to write to the three Harrow Members of Parliament – Gareth Thomas, Bob Blackman and David Simmonds – to inform them of this motion, seek their support for the points made, and their commitment to oppose any changes that seek to reduce the rights of communities to object to individual planning application and for the letters and any responses to be published for residents.”

 

(3)            Food Poverty Motion

 

 

To be moved by Councillor Pamela Fitzpatrick and seconded by Councillor Krishna Suresh:

 

 

“Council notes:

 

  • That the Covid pandemic has exacerbated and highlighted the issue of food insecurity in the UK, resulting in a crisis of food poverty with approximately 10 million people experiencing food insecurity.  This crisis is born out of the political choices and systemic failings created by a decade of austerity and policies that have torn in the social security safety net.  As a result, many in our communities have reached a crisis point.

 

  • The use of food banks was increasing well before the Covid-19 pandemic.  During the pandemic, food bank use has effectively doubled, and all indications are that this situation will continue to get worse.

 

  • The Trussell Trust reported the number of food parcels given to children rose by 52 per cent during the pandemic.  These figures are devastating for one of the richest nations in the world and highlight the sheer scale of inequality in the UK.

 

  • Harrow has seen a growing number of children living in poverty.  In Harrow there are over 18,000 children living in poverty and we see the profound and devastating consequences of food insecurity on the health, wellbeing and livelihoods of citizens in our communities.

 

  • The recent How Are You (HAY) report, which had over 6,000 responses from Harrow young people showed that that over one in ten of us worry that their family might run out of food because of lack of money or other resources.  Further analysis revealed a significant negative link with food insecurity on how we feel mentally and physically.

 

  • The community kitchen in Wealdstone served over 500,000 meals and during the pandemic redistributed over 1000 tonnes of food destined for waste, The Breaking Bread Trust and other charities in Harrow are seeing high demand, and My Yard have delivered over 50 tonnes of surplus food to residents.

 

  • During the pandemic, Harrow Council stepped up to ensure that Free School Meal provision was extended over the summer holidays, ensuring that no child went hungry whilst out of school.  Whilst the Council is proud to have provided this support, the Government must be compelled to act in such circumstances and not be shamed into doing so by Premier League footballers.

 

  • The consistent high rates of poverty across Harrow and we recognise the growing concern amongst our health and care professionals of the current situation.  The situation is likely to be exacerbated through the impact of the Covid19 pandemic and the resulting economic uncertainty.

 

  • A very bad situation is about to be made a whole lot worse with the pending cut of £20 week.  The cost of everyday living is soaring, yet this represent the biggest overnight cut to the basic rate of social security since World War II and will pile unnecessary financial pressure on families, both in and out of work.  Save the Children has found that almost half of Universal Credit claimants don’t think they can live on £20 less each week; 61% claimants state they will struggle to afford food, 48% worry they won’t be able to cover essential bills and 37% will struggle to pay for children’s books and toys.

 

  • The National Living Wage for those over 23 is £8.91 an hour.  Income tax would take off £1.78 of that and National Insurance another £1.07. For people on UC who work (around 40% of claimants), the more they earn - above an in-work allowance - the more their benefit reduces.  For every extra pound earned, the benefit payment reduces by 63p.  This would almost certainly apply to this full time worker, taking off £3.82, bringing the hourly total to £2.24.  That means they would have to work about nine hours to take home £20. (calculation originally done by the Resolution Foundation).

 

  • The National Food Strategy, Independent Review, published earlier this year, is the first independent review of England’s entire food system for 75 years.  Its purpose is to set out a vision for the kind of food system we should be building for the future, and a plan for how to achieve that vision.

 

  • That the Government recognises the United Nations International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, including the “fundamental right to be free from hunger” (Article 11:2)

 

The Council agrees that:

 

  • Our society should be taking progressive steps towards the eradication of hunger, and towards the development of fair and balanced system for sustainable farming and fishing that works for both food producers and consumers alike.

 

  • The government must take a lead on making this happen, for everyone’s benefit, by upholding our Right to Food.

 

  • The Government has a duty to ensure nobody in our communities goes hungry and that the “Right to Food” should be enshrined in UK law in order to make clear this obligation and

 

  • Free School Meal provision should be extended in line with a recommendation of the National Food Strategy, Independent review, as the current threshold means that families must be extremely poor to qualify.

 

Therefore the Council resolves to:

 

  •  Call upon the Government to:

 

1.       Include the ‘Right To Food’ in the ‘National Food Strategy’.

2.       Extend Free School Meals provision throughout school holidays.

3.       Retain the £20 uplift to Universal Credit.

4.       Scrap the five week waiting period for Universal Credit.

 

Taken together, these measures would help to alleviate some of the worst food insecurity in our country and ensure that the Right to Food is properly recognised in law.

 

Further, council resolves:-

 

  • Ask the Chief Executive to write to Henry Dimbleby to further to request for the ‘Right to Food’ to be incorporated into the ‘National Food Strategy’.

 

  • For the council to clearly signpost the support, networks and guidance that is available in Harrow, and promote through appropriate channels to our residents and businesses.”

 

(4)            Deliver a Better Built Environment in Harrow Motion

 

 

To be moved by Councillor Marilyn Ashton and seconded by Councillor Stephen Greek

 

 

Harrow, like many London boroughs, has seen extensive changes in the built environment over the last decade.  As the demand for housing has risen, Harrow has seen a significant increase in high-rise buildings as well as the conversion of family homes into flats and HMOs.

 

This Council notes:

  • The Planning Policy Working Group (PPWG) has recently considered a draft of a Small Sites Design Code Supplementary Planning Document (SPD).
    • This document is currently private and confidential.  However, it is noted that there is no mention of limiting the number conversions of single-family dwellings into flats or HMOs.
  • In recent years there has been a notable increase in HMOs and conversions of family homes into flats.
  • Large HMOs and conversions of houses into flats runs contrary to the suburban and family focused character of our borough.
  • The strain that these additional units (in the form of conversions and HMOs) can put on our existing infrastructure.
  • This resolution is designed to assist the Council in having the tools to be able to win an appeal on excessive numbers of conversions and HMOs.

 

This Council resolves:

  • To protect the suburban and family friendly character of Harrow’s housing stock.
  • To reaffirm its commitment to putting quality housing for families front and centre of our borough’s planning policy.
  • In addition to the Small Sites Design Code SPD, this Council asks the PPWG to also consider:
    • Adopting a policy which would limit the number of conversions of family houses in any street to no more than 20% of the total housing stock in the street.
    • Adopting a policy which would limit the number of large HMOs (six or more tenants) in any street to no more than 10% of the total housing stock in the street.”

 

Minutes:

(i)              One Hour Free Parking Motion

 

 

Motion in the names of Councillor Paul Osborn and Councillor Anjana Patel

 

 

This Council notes:

§     The Covid-19 Pandemic has had a devastating effect on business of all sizes, but especially small to medium business.

§     While it is recognised that the government went above and beyond to support businesses through Covid grants and business rate relief, many businesses are still struggling.

§     Eighteen months of lockdown have taken their toll on businesses in Harrow.

§     Parking costs, even before the pandemic, often discourage people from shopping locally.

§     Local Authorities should be doing everything in their power to encourage residents to use local shops and support local businesses.

§     Research collected for smallbusiness.co.uk in 2017 shows that 9 in 10 residents would be more likely to visit the high street if there were some element of free parking.

§     In February at the Budget Full Council meeting, Harrow Conservatives proposed a costed solution which would deliver one-hour free parking at Council car parks for one year.

 

This Council resolves:

§     To support local residents when parking to use local shops.

§     To call on the Executive to implement the fully costed proposals put forward by Harrow Conservatives at the February Full Council meeting and introduce one-hour free car parking across all Council car parks.”

 

Upon the meeting moving to a vote, the Conservative Group requested a recorded vote.  The Motion was lost.

 

For the Motion:  Councillors Almond, Ashton, Bath, Baxter, Benjamin, Chauhan, Greek, Halai, Hinkley, Hirani, Jogia, Lammiman, Dr Lewinson, Janet Mote, Osborn, Mina Parmar, Anjana Patel, Pritesh Patel, Stevenson and Wright.

 

Against the Motion: Councillors Jeff Anderson, Sue Anderson, Assad, Borio, Brown, Butterworth, Fitzpatrick, Graham Henson, Maxine Henson, Maru, O’Dell, Parekh, Varsha Parmar, Primesh Patel, Perry, Proctor, Ramchandani, Rekha Shah, Sachin Shah, Smith, Krishna Suresh, Sasikala Suresh and Swersky.

 

Abstain: The Worshipful the Mayor Councillor Ghazanfar Ali].

 

(ii)            “Planning Motion

 

 

Motion the names of Councillor Graham Henson and Councillor Natasha Proctor

 

 

This Council believes planning works best when developers and local community work together to shape local areas and deliver necessary new homes.

 

This Council therefore calls on the Government to

 

·                 protect the right of communities to object to individual planning applications

·                 undertake a review of permitted development rights

·                 implement stronger controls to ensure Ministers making decisions on planning applications are not connected, financially or personally, with related parties to the application

 

The Council instructs the Chief Executive to write to the three Harrow Members of Parliament – Gareth Thomas, Bob Blackman and David Simmonds – to inform them of this motion, seek their support for the points made, and their commitment to oppose any changes that seek to reduce the rights of communities to object to individual planning application and for the letters and any responses to be published for residents”.

 

A tabled amendment was received and duly seconded.  Upon being put to the vote the amendment was lost.

 

RESOLVED:  That the Motion, as set out at (ii) above, be adopted.

 

[Councillor Kiran Ramchandani and Councillor Sachin Shah left the Chamber for the discussion and vote on this item].

 

(iii)          “Food Poverty Motion

 

 

Motion in the names of Councillor Pamela Fitzpatrick and Councillor Krishna Suresh

 

 

Council notes:

 

§     That the Covid pandemic has exacerbated and highlighted the issue of food insecurity in the UK, resulting in a crisis of food poverty with approximately 10 million people experiencing food insecurity.  This crisis is born out of the political choices and systemic failings created by a decade of austerity and policies that have torn in the social security safety net.  As a result, many in our communities have reached a crisis point.

 

§     The use of food banks was increasing well before the Covid-19 pandemic.  During the pandemic, food bank use has effectively doubled, and all indications are that this situation will continue to get worse.

 

§     The Trussell Trust reported the number of food parcels given to children rose by 52 per cent during the pandemic.  These figures are devastating for one of the richest nations in the world and highlight the sheer scale of inequality in the UK.

 

§     Harrow has seen a growing number of children living in poverty.  In Harrow there are over 18,000 children living in poverty and we see the profound and devastating consequences of food insecurity on the health, wellbeing and livelihoods of citizens in our communities.

 

§     The recent How Are You (HAY) report, which had over 6,000 responses from Harrow young people showed that that over one in ten of us worry that our family might run out of food because of lack of money or other resources.  Further analysis revealed a significant negative link with food insecurity on how we feel mentally and physically.

 

§     The community kitchen in Wealdstone served over 500,000 meals and during the pandemic redistributed over 1000 tonnes of food destined for waste, The Breaking Bread Trust and other charities in Harrow are seeing high demand, and My Yard have delivered over 50 tonnes of surplus food to residents.

 

§     During the pandemic, Harrow Council stepped up to ensure that Free School Meal provision was extended over the summer holidays, ensuring that no child went hungry whilst out of school.  Whilst the Council is proud to have provided this support, the Government must be compelled to act in such circumstances and not be shamed into doing so by Premier League footballers.

 

§     The consistent high rates of poverty across Harrow and we recognise the growing concern amongst our health and care professionals of the current situation.  The situation is likely to be exacerbated through the impact of the Covid19 pandemic and the resulting economic uncertainty.

 

§     A very bad situation is about to be made a whole lot worse with the pending cut of £20 week.  The cost of everyday living is soaring, yet this represent the biggest overnight cut to the basic rate of social security since World War II and will pile unnecessary financial pressure on families, both in and out of work. Save the Children has found that almost half of Universal Credit claimants don’t think they can live on £20 less each week; 61% claimants state they will struggle to afford food, 48% worry they won’t be able to cover essential bills and 37% will struggle to pay for children’s books and toys.

 

§     The National Living Wage for those over 23 is £8.91 an hour.  Income tax would take off £1.78 of that and National Insurance another £1.07.  For people on UC who work (around 40% of claimants), the more they earn - above an in-work allowance - the more their benefit reduces.  For every extra pound earned, the benefit payment reduces by 63p.  This would almost certainly apply to this full-time worker, taking off £3.82, bringing the hourly total to £2.24.  That means they would have to work about nine hours to take home £20. (calculation originally done by the Resolution Foundation)

 

§     The National Food Strategy, Independent Review, published earlier this year, is the first independent review of England’s entire food system for 75 years.  Its purpose is to set out a vision for the kind of food system we should be building for the future, and a plan for how to achieve that vision.

 

§     That the Government recognises the United Nations International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, including the “fundamental right to be free from hunger” (Article 11:2).

 

Council notes:

 

§     That the Covid pandemic has exacerbated and highlighted the issue of food insecurity in the UK, resulting in a crisis of food poverty with approximately 10 million people experiencing food insecurity.  This crisis is born out of the political choices and systemic failings created by a decade of austerity and policies that have torn in the social security safety net.  As a result, many in our communities have reached a crisis point.

 

§     The use of food banks was increasing well before the Covid-19 pandemic.  During the pandemic, food bank use has effectively doubled, and all indications are that this situation will continue to get worse.

 

§     The Trussell Trust reported the number of food parcels given to children rose by 52 per cent during the pandemic.  These figures are devastating for one of the richest nations in the world and highlight the sheer scale of inequality in the UK.

 

§     Harrow has seen a growing number of children living in poverty.  In Harrow there are over 18,000 children living in poverty and we see the profound and devastating consequences of food insecurity on the health, wellbeing and livelihoods of citizens in our communities.

 

§     The recent How Are You (HAY) report, which had over 6,000 responses from Harrow young people showed that that over one in ten of us worry that our family might run out of food because of lack of money or other resources.  Further analysis revealed a significant negative link with food insecurity on how we feel mentally and physically.

 

§     The community kitchen in Wealdstone served over 500,000 meals and during the pandemic redistributed over 1000 tonnes of food destined for waste, The Breaking Bread Trust and other charities in Harrow are seeing high demand, and My Yard have delivered over 50 tonnes of surplus food to residents.

 

§     During the pandemic, Harrow Council stepped up to ensure that Free School Meal provision was extended over the summer holidays, ensuring that no child went hungry whilst out of school.  Whilst the Council is proud to have provided this support, the Government must be compelled to act in such circumstances and not be shamed into doing so by Premier League footballers.

 

§     The consistent high rates of poverty across Harrow and we recognise the growing concern amongst our health and care professionals of the current situation.  The situation is likely to be exacerbated through the impact of the Covid19 pandemic and the resulting economic uncertainty.

 

§     A very bad situation is about to be made a whole lot worse with the pending cut of £20 week.  The cost of everyday living is soaring, yet this represent the biggest overnight cut to the basic rate of social security since World War II and will pile unnecessary financial pressure on families, both in and out of work. Save the Children has found that almost half of Universal Credit claimants don’t think they can live on £20 less each week; 61% claimants state they will struggle to afford food, 48% worry they won’t be able to cover essential bills and 37% will struggle to pay for children’s books and toys.

 

§     The National Living Wage for those over 23 is £8.91 an hour.  Income tax would take off £1.78 of that and National Insurance another £1.07.  For people on UC who work (around 40% of claimants), the more they earn - above an in-work allowance - the more their benefit reduces. For every extra pound earned, the benefit payment reduces by 63p.  This would almost certainly apply to this full-time worker, taking off £3.82, bringing the hourly total to £2.24. That means they would have to work about nine hours to take home £20. (calculation originally done by the Resolution Foundation).

 

§     The National Food Strategy, Independent Review, published earlier this year, is the first independent review of England’s entire food system for 75 years.  Its purpose is to set out a vision for the kind of food system we should be building for the future, and a plan for how to achieve that vision.

 

§     That the Government recognises the United Nations International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, including the “fundamental right to be free from hunger” (Article 11:2).

 

The Council agrees that:

 

§     Our society should be taking progressive steps towards the eradication of hunger, and towards the development of fair and balanced system for sustainable farming and fishing that works for both food producers and consumers alike.

 

§     The government must take a lead on making this happen, for everyone’s benefit, by upholding our Right to Food.

 

§     The Government has a duty to ensure nobody in our communities goes hungry and that the “Right to Food” should be enshrined in UK law in order to make clear this obligation and

 

§     Free School Meal provision should be extended in line with a recommendation of the National Food Strategy, Independent review, as the current threshold means that families must be extremely poor to qualify.

 

Therefore the Council resolves to:

 

·                 Call upon the Government to:

1.              Include the ‘Right To Food’ in the ‘National Food Strategy’.

2.              Extend Free School Meals provision throughout school holidays.

3.              Retain the £20 uplift to Universal Credit.

4.              Scrap the five week waiting period for Universal Credit.

 

Taken together, these measures would help to alleviate some of the worst food insecurity in our country and ensure that the Right to Food is properly recognised in law.

 

Further, council resolves: -

 

§     Ask the Chief Executive to write to Henry Dimbleby to further to request for the ‘Right to Food’ to be incorporated into the ‘National Food Strategy’.

 

For the council to clearly signpost the support, networks and guidance that is available in Harrow, and promote through appropriate channels to our residents and businesses.”

 

RESOLVED:  That the Motion, as set out at (iii) above, be adopted.

 

[Councillor Kiran Ramchandani and Councillor Sachin Shah left the Chamber for the discussion and vote on this item].

 

(iv)          “Deliver a Better Built Environment Motion

 

 

Motion in the names of Councillor Marilyn Ashton and Councillor Stephen Greek

 

 

Harrow, like many London boroughs, has seen extensive changes in the built environment over the last decade.  As the demand for housing has risen, Harrow has seen a significant increase in high-rise buildings as well as the conversion of family homes into flats and HMOs.

 

This Council notes:

 

§     The Planning Policy Working Group (PPWG) has recently considered a draft of a Small Sites Design Code Supplementary Planning Document (SPD).

o   This document is currently private and confidential. However, it is noted that there is no mention of limiting the number conversions of single-family dwellings into flats or HMOs.

 

§     In recent years there has been a notable increase in HMOs and conversions of family homes into flats.

 

§     Large HMOs and conversions of houses into flats runs contrary to the suburban and family focused character of our borough.

 

§     The strain that these additional units (in the form of conversions and HMOs) can put on our existing infrastructure.

 

§     This resolution is designed to assist the Council in having the tools to be able to win an appeal on excessive numbers of conversions and HMOs.

 

This Council resolves:

 

§     To protect the suburban and family friendly character of Harrow’s housing stock.

 

§     To reaffirm its commitment to putting quality housing for families front and centre of our borough’s planning policy.

 

§     In addition to the Small Sites Design Code SPD, this Council asks the PPWG to also consider:

o   Adopting a policy which would limit the number of conversions of family houses in any street to no more than 20% of the total housing stock in the street.

o   Adopting a policy which would limit the number of large HMOs (six or more tenants) in any street to no more than 10% of the total housing stock in the street.”

 

A tabled amendment was received and duly seconded. Upon being put to the vote, the amendment was carried.

 

Upon being put to the vote, the substantive Motion was agreed as follows: -

 

“Harrow, like many London boroughs, has seen extensive changes in the built environment over the last decade.  As the demand for housing has risen, Harrow has seen a significant increase in high-rise buildings as well as the conversion of family homes into flats and HMOs.

 

This Council notes:

 

§     The Planning Policy Working Group (PPWG) has recently considered a draft of a Small Sites Design Code Supplementary Planning Document (SPD).

o   This document is currently private and confidential. However, it is noted that there is no mention of limiting the number conversions of single-family dwellings into flats or HMOs.

 

§     In recent years there has been a notable increase in HMOs and conversions of family homes into flats.

 

§     Large HMOs and conversions of houses into flats runs contrary to the suburban and family focused character of our borough.

 

§     The strain that these additional units (in the form of conversions and HMOs) can put on our existing infrastructure.

 

§     This resolution is designed to assist the Council in having the tools to be able to win an appeal on excessive numbers of conversions and HMOs.

 

This Council resolves:

 

§     To protect the suburban and family friendly character of Harrow’s housing stock.

 

§     To reaffirm its commitment to putting quality housing for families front and centre of our borough’s planning policy.”

 

RESOLVED:  That the Motion, as amended and set out at above, be adopted.

 

Supporting documents: