Agenda item

Notices of Motion

Meeting of Council, Thursday, 26 March 2015 6.50 pm (Item 88.)

To consider the following Notices of Motion under Standing Order 12:

A – Motions referred from the Cabinet in accordance with Standing Order 12.1(a)

None

B – Motions submitted for consideration directly by Council, in accordance with Standing Order 12.1(b)

(i) From Cllr Merrett:

Housing

“Council recognises the depth of the housing and affordability crisis facing the younger generation in York and the country, with home ownership amongst the 25-34 year olds falling from 59% in 2004 to 36% in 2014. Council notes the even bleaker position in York with house prices 8.5 times average earnings.

Council also recognises that private sector renting correspondingly has more than doubled from 21% to 48%, and that private sector average rent levels rose from £153 per week to £176.40 in 2014, at a time when incomes have been significantly squeezed in real terms, particularly for younger workers. York now has the most expensive private rents - by a significant margin – for one, two & three bedroom properties in the region and north of England.

Council notes that many younger families and individuals are paying disproportionate amounts of their incomes on rents. Those on middling incomes cannot now realistically save for deposits for home ownership whilst those on lower pay face a lifetime paying out increasing rents, with one in five renters now dependent on housing benefit, with the bill to taxpayers twice what it was five years ago – a completely unsustainable trend. Lower rent council housing is under double pressure from loss of stock through Right to Buy sales (with only one in ten being replaced nationally) and increased demand.

Council therefore notes the various National party commitments to much higher levels of house building:

Lib Dems 250-300k per annum

Labour 220k per annum

Conservatives 200k starter purchase homes (albeit in place of Section 106 requirements)

Greens 500k social need housing by 2020

These figures reinforce the need for early adoption of a local plan in York providing good levels of new and affordable housing for the city, and Council welcomes the major increase in housing permissions, including affordable housing requirements, that the Council has given in the last two years.

Council also agrees to support the cross party LGA proposals in their “Investing for our Nation’s Future – First 100 days of the next Government” report and agrees to the Chief Executive writing to the national parties in support of this, and also to the Secretary of State to make an immediate request for an exemption for York from the Right to Buy provision given the exceptionally difficult York housing picture.”

(ii) From Cllr Healey

Draft Local Plan

“Council notes that since York became a unitary authority that it has failed to secure a Local Plan and that it is now vital that a Local Plan which includes the wishes of residents is put in place;

Council believes that to date the proposed plan has favoured excessive housing growth based on a reliance on presumed high employment growth and associated in-migration which is not reflected in current statistics;

Council also believes that the reliance on such inflated statistics would fail an inspection, resulting in a verdict similar to that recently given by the Planning Inspector to the City of Durham Council, who said that their proposed local plan relying on similar high growth assumptions ‘represents an unacceptable risk’ and that it ‘necessitates huge releases of green belt land around the city, which I cannot support’;

Council also notes the recent DCLG census data which shows the level of demand for York is not as high as the current Labour plan and that a further reduction should be made to reflect this;

Council concludes that whilst the Labour administration’s modest proposal to reduce housing numbers is a move in the right direction, it does not adequately reduce proposed building on the green belt, nor adequately reflect the number of brown field sites potentially available, possible windfall sites or differences of opinion regarding the amounts of safeguarded land necessary to be provided;

Council therefore instructs officers to review and present to Cabinet a revised draft local plan for York reflecting the number of houses actually needed and achievable in York rather than a plan based on assumptions of high growth which will not be supported at inspection.”

(iii) From Cllr Aspden:

Committee System

Council Notes:

· The 2011 Localism Act gave local authorities new powers over their executive arrangements allowing them to operate a committee system. Subsequently, a number of councils including Sutton, Brighton, Reading, Norfolk and Hartlepool have moved to a committee-style system.

Council Believes:

· Since 2011 (under both a majority group rule and no overall control) the Cabinet and leader system has proved that it is not fit-for-purpose.

· Regardless of the results of May’s elections, it is in the public interest for different political viewpoints to have an influence on the decision-making process and for decisions to be made in a more open and collaborative way.

· All councillors should have the opportunity to be involved in making real decisions on matters that affect their residents and be held accountable for them.

Council Resolves:

· To instruct Officers to bring forward proposals to change the Council’s governance arrangements to implement a return to a committee system after May’s local elections. Under this system executive power will be exercised by a number of committees made up of councillors in proportion to the political balance of the Council.

(iv) From Cllr Burton

Cost of Living

“Council notes that those living in Yorkshire are £2,380 a year worse off on average in real terms compared to 2010 [1]. This is equivalent to almost a 9% pay cut, worse than the national average.

Council resolves to:

· Commit to the principle of a business rate discount for small businesses paying the Living Wage, as Labour-run Brent Council has done. This will in turn help support the small, independent businesses that make York special;

· Lobby for greater devolution to local government over regulation of bus fares and private tenancy rents, as the Local Government Association (LGA) Labour Group is doing. This is a particular issue in York which has the most expensive private rents - by a significant margin - in the region and north of England[2];

· Support the freezing of energy bills and the extension of free childcare, as a Labour Government would deliver. York’s 2014 Childcare Sufficiency Assessment states that “Parents and carers expressing that they feel that childcare is not affordable is the strongest single message from families through the parental consultation.”

In order to start tackling the cost of living crisis facing York residents.”

[1] February 2015, Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings RPI adjusted

[2] Shelter Housing Databank

(v) From Cllr Scott

Councillor Champions

“The need for open and transparent governance has never been more needed in this Council. The Council therefore moves to amend the Constitution to establish with immediate effect the roles of Councillor Champions (“the Champions”) for:

1. Children and Young People;

2. Older People;

3. Heritage;

4. Transparency and Effective Governance.

Council will then immediately after passing this motion accept nominations from the floor of the Chamber to immediately appoint the Champions whose terms of office will be until midnight on 7^th May 2015.

Thereafter the Champions will be appointed for 2 years at Annual Council commencing at the 2015 Annual Council.

For the Children and Young Peoples’ Champion and the Older Peoples’ Champion the Champions and the Council shall consult with the Youth Council and the Older Peoples’ Assembly as to how to how best to select their Champion subsequently.

All the Champions will work with the appropriate Scrutiny Committees to develop job description for their role, responsibilities and duties. Such Job descriptions shall be provided to the Corporate and Scrutiny Management Committee and Cabinet for approval by 1^st November 2015.

The Council therefore instructs the Monitoring Officer, in accordance with the powers under Article 16 of the Constitution, to effect the necessary changes to the Constitution and to report back upon the details to the Cabinet in due course.”

Note: Council will be required to suspend the relevant Standing Orders if it is minded to allow consideration of five motions at this meeting.

Minutes:

A Motions submitted for consideration directly by Council, in accordance with Standing Order 12.1(b)

(i) Housing Affordability

(proposed by Cllr Merrett, seconded by Cllr Riches)

Council therefore notes the various National party commitments to much higher levels of house building:

Lib Dems 250-300k per annum

Labour 220k per annum

Conservatives 200k starter purchase homes (albeit in place of Section 106 requirements)

Greens 500k social need housing by 2020

On being put to the vote, the motion was declared CARRIED and it was

Resolved: That the above motion be approved. ^1.

(ii) Draft Local Plan

(proposed by Cllr Healey, seconded by Cllr Steward)

Council also notes the recent DCLG census data which shows the level of demand for York is not as high as the current Labour plan and that a further reduction should be made to reflect this;

On being put to the vote, the motion was declared CARRIED and it was

Resolved: That the above motion be approved. ^2.

(iii) Committee System

(proposed by Cllr Aspden, seconded by Cllr Waller:

“Council Notes:

Council Believes:

· Since 2011 (under both a majority group rule and no overall control) the Cabinet and leader system has proved that it is not fit-for-purpose.

· All councillors should have the opportunity to be involved in making real decisions on matters that affect their residents and be held accountable for them.

Council Resolves:

On being put to the vote, the motion was declared LOST and it was

Resolved: That the above motion be not approved.

Order of Business

It was then moved by Cllr Scott and seconded by Cllr King that in accordance with Standing Order 4.2.2, the order of business of the meeting be varied, in order to allow the fifth motion, relating to Councillor Champions, to be considered as the fourth motion. On being put to the vote it was

Resolved: That the order of business not be varied and no changes made to the order of the notices of motion.

At this point in the meeting, the guillotine fell and the following business was deemed moved and seconded. Where a proposer and seconder were before Council, at the time of the guillotine falling, details are listed below:

(iv) Cost of Living

(proposed by Cllr Burton)

“Council notes that those living in Yorkshire are £2,380 a year worse off on average in real terms compared to 2010 [1]. This is equivalent to almost a 9% pay cut, worse than the national average.

Council resolves to:

In order to start tackling the cost of living crisis facing York residents.”

[1] February 2015, Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings RPI adjusted

[2] Shelter Housing Databank

On being put to the vote, the motion was declared CARRIED and it was

Resolved: That the above motion be approved. ^3.