Agenda item

The following Motions have been notified in accordance with the requirements of Council Procedure Rule 14, to be moved and seconded by the Members indicated:

 

(1)          Budget cuts to Welfare Motion
	To be moved by Councillor Pamela Fitzpatrick and seconded by Councillor Sachin Shah:   “Council notes that: ·         In George Osborne’s emergency Budget, £12bn of cuts to the UK’s vital safety net for people who have hit on hard times were laid out, with a further £19bn to be cut from non-protected government departments, including the Department for Communities & Local Government.    ·         In the budget many of the welfare cuts will detrimentally affect Harrow’s residents, including:   -        18 – 21 year olds in Harrow will no longer be automatically eligible for housing benefit.   -        Employment & Support Allowance, which helps people with severe medical conditions will be cut (i.e. Working age benefits will be cut in real terms each and every year for four years).   -        Cutting the benefit cap to below the level needed by a family with two children living in the private rented sector. Tax credit, housing benefit and universal credit will be limited to two children from April 2017.   -        A new national ‘living wage’ to be introduced for over 25s, which is set almost £2 an hour lower than the London living wage.   Council believes that: ·         Making 18 – 21 year olds exempt from housing benefit will be a further hit to a generation of young people both in Harrow and across the UK who are struggling to get on the housing ladder.   ·         The cut to Employment & Support Allowance is unjustified and will penalise people with disabilities through no fault of their own; people with severe medical conditions may no longer be able to afford to eat or heat their homes, leading to their condition deteriorating.   ·         The effects of these cuts will push more and more people in to severe poverty, rent arrears and homelessness.   ·         Setting the benefit cap at £23,000 will force families out of Harrow and London, forcing children to move schools and putting more pressure on families.   ·         Limiting certain benefits to families with a maximum of two children has put families in a terrible place by making no allowance for women who have become pregnant with a third child after being a victim of a traumatic sexual crime.   ·         The new national ‘living wage’ is solely an increase to the minimum wage, and falls below the actual living wage, which in London is £9.15.   Council resolves that:   ·         The Council will monitor the impacts of these welfare cuts on our residents.   ·         The Council is committed to supporting the most vulnerable, and is prohibited in doing this within the financial constraints placed on it by the Conservative Government.   ·         The Leader of the Council and the Chief Executive jointly writes to Harrow’s three MPs and the Chancellor of the Exchequer to express our concern about these changes on Harrow’s residents.   ·         The Council will lobby national government to reverse some cuts if they are found to impoverish or have a significant and damaging impact on the lives of our residents.”
(2)          National Park City Motion
	To be moved by Councillor Adam Swersky and seconded by Councillor Graham Henson:   “Council notes that:   ·         There is a campaign by the Greater London National Park City to make London the world’s first National Park City.   ·         The proposed organisation would bring together public, private and third sector organisations to enhance our natural and cultural heritage, encourage a better understanding and enjoyment of the city, foster wellbeing and inspire others to share these purposes.   ·         Air pollution in London is a real problem and is linked to 1 in 12 deaths in London; taking measures to improve London’s green spaces and parks will help reduce levels of air pollution, and be of benefit to all our residents health & well-being.   ·         Living in a green city with easy access to local parks, nature and wildlife improves the well-being of local residents.   ·         The London Assembly have passed a motion approving the plans to turn London into a National Park City.   ·         That under the guidance of the Labour administration, the Council has set a target to be the best Borough in London for recycling, as a part of its campaign to make the Borough cleaner and more green.   ·         The Borough of Harrow has over 100,000 trees, with a third of the Borough categorised as green space – including five parks that have been awarded green flag status.   ·         Good quality green spaces are an essential component of the urban fabric of Harrow and, with over 1,300 hectares of open space within the borough, this make a profound contribution to the quality of life of local communities.   ·         The Council has set up Park User Group Forums to allow local people to have a greater say in how their parks are maintained, and to encourage community use of our parks.   ·         The Council has a fully developed open spaces strategy to preserve our parks and green spaces.   Council believes that:   ·         That the £83m of cuts imposed by the Conservative Government on Harrow Council and our residents, has put severe pressure on our ability to maintain our parks and open spaces to the highest possible standard.   ·         As a Council we should work with all organisations to improve our parks and green spaces, as well as reduce air pollution and help support our residents to access and enjoy our many parks.   ·         We should welcome and fully support the excellent campaign to make London the world’s first National Park City.   ·         The Greater London National Park City initiative would bring together public, private and third sector organisations to enhance our natural and cultural heritage, encourage a better understanding and enjoyment of the city, foster wellbeing and inspire others to share these purposes.   Council resolves that:   ·         The Portfolio Holder for Business, Planning & Regeneration should meet with Greater London National Park City to explore how the plans to make a London a National Park City can fit in with the Labour administration’s ambitious regeneration plans for the Borough.   ·         All Harrow Councillors should sign to declare their Wards support on the http://www.nationalparkcity.london/ward_support website.   ·         The Council should support the organisation in developing its vision, in particular by setting out how Harrow Council and its local partners could contribute towards its aims.”
(3)          National Review of Planning Permission Motion
	To be moved by Councillor Barry Kendler and seconded by Councillor Keith Ferry:   “Council notes that: ·         Overcrowding is an increasing problem not just in Harrow but across London.   ·         There is an increasing problem with ‘beds in sheds,’ where Landlords are cramming vulnerable people into unsuitable accommodation, often asking for extortionate rents.   ·         In 2008 there was a relaxation of planning permission laws to allow large structures to be constructed in rear gardens for domestic purposes without planning permission – this received cross party support under the Permitted Development Order SI 2362:2008.   ·         This change to planning law is now being exploited to build structures to house vulnerable people and charge them extortionate rents.   Council believes that:   ·         Everyone should have access to good quality and affordable accommodation.   ·         Tenants should not be exploited; the Tories disastrous housing policies have created a housing crisis in London and Harrow that is leading to vulnerable people being exploited.   ·         The abuse of SI 2362:2008 is creating overcrowded and insanitary living conditions, especially for migrant communities. This is damaging community relations and is creating hazardous living conditions.   ·         These problems were not envisaged in 2008 and the legal framework Planning Departments are working within are too weak to allow proper enforcement to take place.   ·         Due to the prevalence of this issue across the UK there should be a national review of SI 2362:2008.   Council resolves that:   ·         The Director of Planning and Chief Executive write a joint letter to Greg Clark MP, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, and Brandon Lewis MP, Minister of State for Housing and Planning to ask them to look at bringing in a national review on SI 2362:2008.”
(4)          Supporting the Financial Transaction Tax (FTT) Motion
		To be moved by Councillor Jeff Anderson and seconded by Councillor Antonio Weiss:   “Council notes that:   ·         Harrow Council had to make savings of £70m from 2010 to 2014 and £83m from 2014 to 2018.   ·         Extending the current FTT on shares to other asset classes such as bonds and derivatives could raise £20bn of additional revenue in the UK a year.   ·         At least 11 European nations including France, Germany, Italy and Spain are moving ahead with FTTs on shares, bonds and derivatives which is estimated to raise £30bn a year.   Council believes that:   ·         Revenues from the FTT could help repair the damage caused by cuts in public services since 2010.   ·         Local government deserves to receive a significant proportion of FTT revenues, making an important contribution to both capital and revenue expenditure to help us meet the cost of an increasing and ageing population.   ·         Whilst an FTT might have a negligible effect on jobs in the City of London, investing FTT revenues in a smart and progressive way would see a significant increase in employment levels in other sectors, and more locally in Harrow.   Council resolves that:   ·         The UK government should extend the current FTT on shares to other asset classes, such as bonds and derivatives.   ·         The Council will write to the Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition, Chancellor and Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and Local MPs stating this council’s support for extending FTTs.”

 

At item 22 the Council received four Motions:

 

(i)            Motion in the names of Councillor Pamela Fitzpatrick and Councillor Sachin Shah.  The tabled amendment was voted upon but not carried.

 

“Budget cuts to Welfare Motion

 

Council notes that:

 

·           In George Osborne’s emergency Budget, £12bn of cuts to the UK’s vital safety net for people who have hit on hard times were laid out, with a further £19bn to be cut from non-protected government departments, including the Department for Communities & Local Government. 

 

·           In the budget many of the welfare cuts will detrimentally affect Harrow’s residents, including:

 

-        18 – 21 year olds in Harrow will no longer be automatically eligible for housing benefit.

 

-        Employment & Support Allowance, which helps people with severe medical conditions will be cut (i.e. Working age benefits will be cut in real terms each and every year for four years).

 

-        Cutting the benefit cap to below the level needed by a family with two children living in the private rented sector. Tax credit, housing benefit and universal credit will be limited to two children from April 2017.

 

-        A new national ‘living wage’ to be introduced for over 25s, which is set almost £2 an hour lower than the London living wage.

 

Council believes that:

 

·           Making 18 – 21 year olds exempt from housing benefit will be a further hit to a generation of young people both in Harrow and across the UK who are struggling to get on the housing ladder.

 

·           The cut to Employment & Support Allowance is unjustified and will penalise people with disabilities through no fault of their own; people with severe medical conditions may no longer be able to afford to eat or heat their homes, leading to their condition deteriorating.

 

·           The effects of these cuts will push more and more people in to severe poverty, rent arrears and homelessness.

 

·           Setting the benefit cap at £23,000 will force families out of Harrow and London, forcing children to move schools and putting more pressure on families. 

 

·           Limiting certain benefits to families with a maximum of two children has put families in a terrible place by making no allowance for women who have become pregnant with a third child after being a victim of a traumatic sexual crime.

 

·           The new national ‘living wage’ is solely an increase to the minimum wage, and falls below the actual living wage, which in London is £9.15.

 

Council resolves that:

 

·           The Council will monitor the impacts of these welfare cuts on our residents.

 

·           The Council is committed to supporting the most vulnerable, and is prohibited in doing this within the financial constraints placed on it by the Conservative Government.

 

·           The Leader of the Council and the Chief Executive jointly writes to Harrow’s three MPs and the Chancellor of the Exchequer to express our concern about these changes on Harrow’s residents.

 

·           The Council will lobby national government to reverse some cuts if they are found to impoverish or have a significant and damaging impact on the lives of our residents.” 

 

Upon a vote, the Motion was agreed.

 

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

 

(ii)          Motion in the names of Councillor Adam Swersky and Councillor Graham Henson.  The tabled amendment was voted upon but not carried.

 

“National Park City Motion

 

Council notes that:

 

·           There is a campaign by the Greater London National Park City to make London the world’s first National Park City.

 

·           The proposed organisation would bring together public, private and third sector organisations to enhance our natural and cultural heritage, encourage a better understanding and enjoyment of the city, foster wellbeing and inspire others to share these purposes.

 

·           Air pollution in London is a real problem and is linked to 1 in 12 deaths in London; taking measures to improve London’s green spaces and parks will help reduce levels of air pollution, and be of benefit to all our residents health & well-being.

 

·           Living in a green city with easy access to local parks, nature and wildlife improves the well-being of local residents.

 

·           The London Assembly have passed a motion approving the plans to turn London into a National Park City.

 

·           That under the guidance of the Labour administration, the Council has set a target to be the best Borough in London for recycling, as a part of its campaign to make the Borough cleaner and more green.

 

·           The Borough of Harrow has over 100,000 trees, with a third of the Borough categorised as green space – including five parks that have been awarded green flag status.

 

·           Good quality green spaces are an essential component of the urban fabric of Harrow and, with over 1,300 hectares of open space within the borough, this make a profound contribution to the quality of life of local communities.

 

·           The Council has set up Park User Group Forums to allow local people to have a greater say in how their parks are maintained, and to encourage community use of our parks.

 

·           The Council has a fully developed open spaces strategy to preserve our parks and green spaces.

 

Council believes that:

 

·           That the £83m of cuts imposed by the Conservative Government on Harrow Council and our residents, has put severe pressure on our ability to maintain our parks and open spaces to the highest possible standard.

 

·           As a Council we should work with all organisations to improve our parks and green spaces, as well as reduce air pollution and help support our residents to access and enjoy our many parks.

 

·           We should welcome and fully support the excellent campaign to make London the world’s first National Park City.

 

·           The Greater London National Park City initiative would bring together public, private and third sector organisations to enhance our natural and cultural heritage, encourage a better understanding and enjoyment of the city, foster wellbeing and inspire others to share these purposes.

 

Council resolves that:

 

·           The Portfolio Holder for Business, Planning & Regeneration should meet with Greater London National Park City to explore how the plans to make a London a National Park City can fit in with the Labour administration’s ambitious regeneration plans for the Borough.

 

·           All Harrow Councillors should sign to declare their Wards support on the http://www.nationalparkcity.london/ward_support website.

 

·           The Council should support the organisation in developing its vision, in particular by setting out how Harrow Council and its local partners could contribute towards its aims.”

 

Upon a vote, the Motion was agreed.

 

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

 

(iii)         Motion in the names of Councillor Barry Kendler and Councillor Keith Ferry.

 

“National Review of Planning Permission Motion

 

Council notes that:

 

·           Overcrowding is an increasing problem not just in Harrow but across London.

 

·           There is an increasing problem with ‘beds in sheds,’ where Landlords are cramming vulnerable people into unsuitable accommodation, often asking for extortionate rents.

 

·           In 2008 there was a relaxation of planning permission laws to allow large structures to be constructed in rear gardens for domestic purposes without planning permission – this received cross party support under the Permitted Development Order SI 2362:2008.

 

·           This change to planning law is now being exploited to build structures to house vulnerable people and charge them extortionate rents.

 

Council believes that:

 

·           Everyone should have access to good quality and affordable accommodation.

 

·           Tenants should not be exploited; the Tories disastrous housing policies have created a housing crisis in London and Harrow that is leading to vulnerable people being exploited.

 

·           The abuse of SI 2362:2008 is creating overcrowded and insanitary living conditions, especially for migrant communities. This is damaging community relations and is creating hazardous living conditions.

 

·           These problems were not envisaged in 2008 and the legal framework Planning Departments are working within are too weak to allow proper enforcement to take place.

 

·           Due to the prevalence of this issue across the UK there should be a national review of SI 2362:2008.

 

Council resolves that:

 

·           The Director of Planning and Chief Executive write a joint letter to Greg Clark MP, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, and Brandon Lewis MP, Minister of State for Housing and Planning to ask them to look at bringing in a national review on SI 2362:2008.”

 

Upon a vote, the Motion was agreed.

 

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

 

(iv)         Motion in the names of Councillor Jeff Anderson and Councillor Antonio Weiss.

 

“Supporting The Financial Transaction Tax (FTT)

Council notes that:

 

·           Harrow Council had to make savings of £70m from 2010 to 2014 and £83m from 2014 to 2018.

 

·           Extending the current FTT on shares to other asset classes such as bonds and derivatives could raise £20bn of additional revenue in the UK a year.

 

·           At least 11 European nations including France, Germany, Italy and Spain are moving ahead with FTTs on shares, bonds and derivatives which is estimated to raise £30bn a year.

 

Council believes that:

 

·           Revenues from the FTT could help repair the damage caused by cuts in public services since 2010.

 

·           Local government deserves to receive a significant proportion of FTT revenues, making an important contribution to both capital and revenue expenditure to help us meet the cost of an increasing and ageing population.

 

·           Whilst an FTT might have a negligible effect on jobs in the City of London, investing FTT revenues in a smart and progressive way would see a significant increase in employment levels in other sectors, and more locally in Harrow.

 

Council resolves that:

 

·           The UK government should extend the current FTT on shares to other asset classes, such as bonds and derivatives.

 

·           The Council will write to the Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition, Chancellor and Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and Local MPs stating this council’s support for extending FTTs.”

 

Upon a vote, the Motion was agreed.

 

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