Agenda item

To consider the following Motions on Notice under Standing Order B13:

 

Motions submitted for consideration directly by Council, in accordance with Standing Order 22.1

 

(i)     From Cllr Whitcroft

 

[To follow]

 

(ii)    From Cllr Ayre

 

York’s Local Plan

 

“Council notes:

 

·       The continued progress with agreeing a Local Plan for York to deliver much-needed new homes and land for employment

·       The ongoing Government consultation on revisions to the National Planning Policy Framework and wider policy proposals

·       That the current draft Local Plan is meeting a need of 822 dwellings per annum (net average) for the City of York and the new standard method proposed by the Government would set a revised figure of 1,251, compared to the current standard method figure of 1,020

·       That the July 2020 letter from planning inspectors challenged the council for overdelivering on housing in the Local Plan

·       That the council’s independent evidence base said about the 822 dwellings per annum housing target in the Local Plan that “there would not be the level of household growth required to fill this number of homes.”

·       That the 2024 Liberal Democrat General Election manifesto set a target of building 380,000 homes each year across the UK, with the Labour and Conservative manifestos including similar figures

·       That the 2024 Liberal Democrat General Election manifesto promised to introduce ‘use-it-or-lose-it’ planning permission for developers who refuse to build.

·       That whilst York’s housing targets have increased by 22%, London’s targets have seen a 20% reduction

·       That the council’s response to the Government consultation is due to be agreed at an Executive Member Decision Session on 23 September 2024.

 

Council believes:

·       That adoption of the Local Plan is a crucial step towards delivering much-needed new homes for York

·       That the draft Local Plan contains ambitious and deliverable targets which will meet the pressing need for more new homes, whilst preserving York’s unique setting and environment

·       That other measures can play an important part in improving the supply of homes for local residents, such as giving local authorities new powers to control second homes and short-term lets in their area and introducing ‘use-it-or-lose-it’ planning permission for developers who refuse to build.

 

Council resolves:

·       To ask the Executive Member for Housing, Planning and Safer Communities to approve a council response to the Government consultation referred to above which expresses support for the retention of the housing target contained in the current draft Local Plan

·       To ask the Executive Member to reaffirm his commitment, as reported in The Press on 13 June 2023 (https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/23583238.will-no-extra-new-housing-green-belt-says-york-labour/), that the only housing development allowed on green belt land will be on those sites already allocated for development in the draft Local Plan.”

 

(iii)   From Cllr Douglas

 

Community response to Israel-Gaza conflict

 

“We, the Council and people of York, in keeping with our city's status as the first Human Rights City in the UK, resolve to urgently call for:

·       An immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza and Israel based on recent peace proposals.

·       Immediate access within Gaza to water, medical and food supplies, restoration of electricity, and provision of proper shelters for all impacted by the war.

·       The immediate release of all Israeli hostages and Palestinian detainees.”

 

(iv)     From Cllr Runciman

 

Dignity in retirement

“Council notes

-        The Labour Government is cutting winter fuel payments for 10 million pensioners in the UK

-        According to the Labour Government’s own figures 800,000 of the lowest income pensioners who are eligible for Pension Credit but do not receive it will lose their Winter Fuel Payments

-        Age UK’s campaign to “Save the Winter Fuel Payment for struggling pensioners” which seeks to stop Labour’s means testing of the Winter Fuel Payments

-        The Parliamentary Liberal Democrat Motion that sought to block the cut to Winter Fuel Payments

-        That locally in York, the Labour administration have cut the contract they held with Age UK to deliver York’s Older People Community Support Service

-        That if the York Liberal Democrats’ alternative budget for 2024/25 had been approved by Council, the cut to Age UK’s contract would not have happened

-        That 1639 pensioners who are entitled to Pension Credit in York do not claim it, meaning that there is £3.7million worth of unclaimed benefits for pensioners.

 

Council believes

-        That the Age UK Day Clubs were a lifeline for many older residents, encouraging social interaction, providing lunch and enabling older people to keep warm in winter

-        The Council should not have made the decision to cut Age UK’s contract

-        That many older residents who do not currently qualify for the means tested Winter Fuel Payments will have to choose between heating their home or eating

-        That York’s two Labour MPs should use their influence to persuade the Government to reverse the decision to cut York pensioners’ Winter Fuel Allowances

-        That pensioners in York should have dignity in their retirement and currently will be £700 worse off a year due to the cumulative effects of Labour’s cut to the Winter Fuel Payment, the loss of the Cost of Living Payment, the rise in the energy price cap and the Green Bin Tax

-        That the Council should do all it can to mitigate the impact on older people of decisions that it has taken and decisions taken by the Labour Government

-        That the impact of the decision to cut Winter Fuel Payments will hit colder cities like York more

-        That the City of York Council has a responsibility to alert every household in York about the benefits they are entitled, how to claim them and the support that is available to assist with making claims.

 

Council resolves

-        To ask the Leader of the Council, Leader of the Council’s opposition groups and York’s two MPs to write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer to ask them to reverse the Winter Fuel Allowance cut

-        To ask the Leader of the Council, on behalf of the entire Executive, to sign the Age UK petition on the Winter Fuel Allowance cut

-        To request that the Executive Members for Finance, Major Projects and Equalities work with officers to create a plan for consideration by the relevant Scrutiny Committee(s) which sets out a range of measures that could be taken to mitigate the impact of the above decisions on York’s pensioners. This should include consideration of waiving the Green Bin Tax for pensioners, refunding all pensioners who have already paid it, reversing the cut to funding to Age UK York for Day Clubs and reinstating funding for a replacement Dial and Ride service

-        To request that the Council Leader confirms, in writing to Councillors, that there will be no reduction in the number of warm spaces available to vulnerable residents this winter and next winter

-        To request that officers write to all 1639 pensioners who are currently entitled to Pension Credit and do not claim it, informing them of the Winter Fuel Payment changes and encouraging them to claim for the benefits they are entitled to.”

 

 

Under the Council Procedure Rules, Part B3 (2), the Lord Mayor varied the order of the Motions on Notice in order to bring forward the motion on community response to Israel-Gaza conflict.

 

(i)           Community Response to Israel-Gaza Conflict

 

Moved by Cllr Douglas, seconded by Cllr Kilbane.

 

“We, the Council and people of York, in keeping with our city's status as the first Human Rights City in the UK, resolve to urgently call for:

·        An immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza and

Israel based on recent peace proposals.

·        Immediate access within Gaza to water, medical and food supplies, restoration of electricity, and provision of proper shelters for all impacted by the war.

·        The immediate release of all Israeli hostages and

Palestinian detainees.”

 

Cllr Steward then moved, and Cllr Rowley BEM seconded, an amendment to the above motion, as follows:

“In the last bullet point:

- insert ‘any’ before ‘Palestinian’

- insert an ‘s’ onto ‘Palestinian’ and then insert ‘detained otherwise

than in accordance with international law.’

- delete detainees.”

 

On being put to the vote, the amendment was declared LOST.

 

The original motion was then put to the vote and was declared CARRIED, and it was

 

Resolved:  That the above motion be approved.¹

 

[An adjournment took place between 8:23pm and 8:44pm]

 

(ii)         York’s Local Plan

 

Cllr Ayre sought consent to alter his motion to incorporate the amendment submitted by Cllr Rowley BEM.

 

On being put to the vote, the amendment was CARRIED, and the amended motion was then moved by Cllr Ayre and seconded by Cllr Orrell, as follows:

 

“Council notes:

·        The continued progress with agreeing a Local Plan for York to deliver much-needed new homes and land for employment

·        The ongoing Government consultation on revisions to the National Planning Policy Framework and wider policy proposals

·        That the current draft Local Plan is meeting a need of 822

         dwellings per annum (net average) for the City of York and the new standard method proposed by the Government would set a revised figure of 1,251, compared to the current standard method figure of 1,020

·        That the July 2020 letter from planning inspectors challenged the council for overdelivering on housing in the Local Plan

·        That the council’s independent evidence base said about the 822 dwellings per annum housing target in the Local Plan that “there would not be the level of household growth required to fill this number of homes.”

·        That the 2024 Liberal Democrat General Election manifesto set a target of building 380,000 homes each year across the UK, with the Labour and Conservative manifestos including similar figures

·        That the 2024 Liberal Democrat General Election manifesto

          promised to introduce ‘use-it-or-lose-it’ planning permission for developers who refuse to build.

·        That whilst York’s housing targets have increased by 22%,

          London’s targets have seen a 20% reduction

·        That the council’s response to the Government consultation is due to be agreed at an Executive Member Decision Session on 23 September 2024.

 

Council believes:

·        That adoption of the Local Plan is a crucial step towards delivering much-needed new homes for York

·        That the draft Local Plan contains ambitious and deliverable

          targets which will meet the pressing need for more new      homes, whilst preserving York’s unique setting and environment

·        That other measures can play an important part in improving the supply of homes for local residents, such as giving local authorities new powers to control second homes and short-term lets in their area and introducing ‘use-it-or-lose-it’ planning permission for developers who refuse to build.

 

Council resolves:

·        To ask the Executive Member for Housing, Planning and Safer Communities to approve a council response to the Government consultation referred to above which expresses support for the retention of the housing target contained in the current draft Local Plan. The response should urge the government to reassess the way in which student housing is deemed to meet housing demand, given the many logical differences between the two supplies.

·        To ask the Executive Member to reaffirm his commitment, as

reported in The Press on 13 June 2023 (https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/23583238.will-no-extra-newhousing-green-belt-says-york-labour/), that the only housing development allowed on green belt land will be on those sites already allocated for development in the draft Local Plan.”

 

Cllr Ben Burton then moved, and Cllr Merrett seconded, an amendment to the above motion, as follows:

 

“Under Council notes:

In the first bullet point:

- insert ‘,’ after ‘homes’ and delete ‘and’

- after employment insert ‘, and supporting infrastructure and

facilities.’

In the fourth bullet point:

- after ‘inspectors’ insert ‘asked the council to confirm, with

supporting evidence, if latest 2018 household projection figures

represented meaningful change to its evidence base, and

therefore whether its annual housing targets remained appropriate

for York’s’

- delete ‘challenged the council for overdelivering on housing in the’

In the fifth bullet point:

- After ‘homes’ insert ‘before factoring in housing requirements

linked to forecast economic growth. However, under the previous

Liberal Democrat-Green administration, the council response to

the Inspectors confirmed 822 per annum remained appropriate

and that it was sticking to an annual housing requirement of 822

dwellings p.a., based on up to date household projections, forecast

employment growth and addressing historic shortfalls in housing

delivery.’

Insert a sixth bullet point:

- ‘That the Council’s further evidence to the Local Plan hearings in

August 2022 indicated an overall need for affordable housing

within the plan period (2017 – 2033) of 9,396 affordable dwellings

against a then expected total affordable housing supply during the

same period of 3,265 affordable dwellings. This equated too only

35% of the anticipated total affordable housing need of 9,396, and

still remains at well under 50% in the modified plan.’

Insert a seventh bullet point:

- The sizeable contribution of over 7,500 new Green Belt homes

provided through the Liberal Democrat-led Local Plan, submitted

to Government in 2018;’

In the now tenth bullet point:

- Insert after ‘22%’ ‘under the Government’s proposed new

methodology’

 

Under Council believes:

In the third bullet point:

- After ‘in’ insert ‘preventing the loss of and delete improving the

supply of’

- After ‘area’ insert ‘, revising ‘Right to buy’ terms,’

- After ‘build’ insert ‘out a valid planning permission.’

 

Under Council resolves:

In the first bullet point:

- Delete ‘the retention of the’

- After ‘targets’ include ‘, including affordable housing targets,’

- After ‘are’ insert ‘based on evidenced need, including latest

household formation figures;’

- Delete ‘contained in the current draft Local Plan.’

In the second bullet point:

- After ‘that’ ‘insert’ within his powers and outside of the

independence of the Local Planning Authority,’

- After the last ‘development’ insert ‘or otherwise allowed for’

- After the last ‘the’ insert ‘Liberal Democrat-led’”

 

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

Resolved: That the above motion, as amended, be approved.²

 

(iii)        Reforming Residents' Priority Parking in York

 

Moved by Cllr Whitcroft, seconded by Cllr Baxter.

 

“This Council notes that:

·        Residents' Priority Parking (ResPark) schemes are crucial for

managing parking pressures in residential areas of York;

·        The current ResPark system is limited in scope and requires

complex, time-consuming consultations for implementation or changes;

·        Many residential streets currently lack ResPark protection,

including a proportion of streets close to the city centre, and

streets around schools and other key trip attractors throughout the city, leading to parking issues for residents.

 

This Council believes that:

·        All residents within the City of York boundary should have

equitable access to car parking and ideally also car club schemes near to their homes, which can help to ease local parking pressures;

·        The current consultation process for ResPark schemes is overly bureaucratic and expensive to the council and delays

implementation of necessary parking controls, particularly with the 50% recommended turnout guideline;

·        A more streamlined and comprehensive approach to ResPark would benefit residents and improve overall parking management in the city.

 

Council resolves to request Executive:

·        Simplifies the process for implementing and modifying ResPark schemes by:

o Developing a set of standardised criteria for ResPark

eligibility;

o Developing a streamlined consultation and implementation process for ResPark schemes, in accordance with current legislation;

o Conducting a city-wide review of the Respark process;

o Working to reform the turnout guideline in Residents’ Parking consultations to reflect area-specific issues for some streets, including consistently unoccupied properties, short-term and part time occupancy properties, and HMOs;

o Reviewing the pricing structure for ResPark permits to ensure fair pricing for residents.

·        Asks the Executive Member for Transport to work with council officers to present a detailed plan and timeline for expanding and reforming ResPark, in accordance with existing legislation, to the Executive, when capacity exists;

·        Commits to implementing a reformed ResPark system, having considered the measures proposed in this motion and in accordance with existing legislation.”

 

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

 

Resolved: That the above motion be approved.³

 

(iv)        Dignity in retirement

 

Cllr Runciman sought consent to alter her motion to incorporate the amendment submitted by Cllr Nicholls.

 

On being put to the vote, the amendment was declared LOST, and the original motion was then moved by Cllr Runciman and seconded by Cllr Vassie, as follows:

 

“Council notes

- The Labour Government is cutting winter fuel payments for 10

million pensioners in the UK

- According to the Labour Government’s own figures 800,000 of the lowest income pensioners who are eligible for Pension Credit but do not receive it will lose their Winter Fuel Payments

- Age UK’s campaign to “Save the Winter Fuel Payment for

struggling pensioners” which seeks to stop Labour’s means testing

of the Winter Fuel Payments

- The Parliamentary Liberal Democrat Motion that sought to block

the cut to Winter Fuel Payments

- That locally in York, the Labour administration have cut the

contract they held with Age UK to deliver York’s Older People

Community Support Service

- That if the York Liberal Democrats’ alternative budget for 2024/25

had been approved by Council, the cut to Age UK’s contract would

not have happened

- That 1639 pensioners who are entitled to Pension Credit in York do not claim it, meaning that there is £3.7million worth of unclaimed benefits for pensioners.

 

Council believes

- That the Age UK Day Clubs were a lifeline for many older

residents, encouraging social interaction, providing lunch and

enabling older people to keep warm in winter

- The Council should not have made the decision to cut Age UK’s

contract

- That many older residents who do not currently qualify for the

means tested Winter Fuel Payments will have to choose between

heating their home or eating

- That York’s two Labour MPs should use their influence to persuade the Government to reverse the decision to cut York pensioners’ Winter Fuel Allowances

- That pensioners in York should have dignity in their retirement and currently will be £700 worse off a year due to the cumulative

effects of Labour’s cut to the Winter Fuel Payment, the loss of the

Cost of Living Payment, the rise in the energy price cap and the

Green Bin Tax

- That the Council should do all it can to mitigate the impact on older people of decisions that it has taken, and decisions taken by the Labour Government

- That the impact of the decision to cut Winter Fuel Payments will hit colder cities like York more

- That the City of York Council has a responsibility to alert every

household in York about the benefits they are entitled, how to claim them and the support that is available to assist with making claims.

 

Council resolves

- To ask the Leader of the Council, Leader of the Council’s

opposition groups and York’s two MPs to write to the Chancellor of

the Exchequer to ask them to reverse the Winter Fuel Allowance

cut

- To ask the Leader of the Council, on behalf of the entire Executive, to sign the Age UK petition on the Winter Fuel Allowance cut

- To request that the Executive Members for Finance, Major Projects and Equalities work with officers to create a plan for consideration by the relevant Scrutiny Committee(s) which sets out a range of measures that could be taken to mitigate the impact of the above decisions on York’s pensioners. This should include consideration of waiving the Green Bin Tax for pensioners, refunding all pensioners who have already paid it, reversing the cut to funding to Age UK York for Day Clubs and reinstating funding for a replacement Dial and Ride service

- To request that the Council Leader confirms, in writing to

Councillors, that there will be no reduction in the number of warm

spaces available to vulnerable residents this winter and next winter

- To request that officers write to all 1639 pensioners who are

currently entitled to Pension Credit and do not claim it, informing

them of the Winter Fuel Payment changes and encouraging them

to claim for the benefits, they are entitled to.”

 

Cllr Nicholls then moved, and Cllr Rowley BEM seconded, the first amendment to the above motion, as follows:

 

“Under Council resolves:

In the first bullet point:

- delete ‘and York’s two MPs’ and after ‘cut’ insert ‘and to write to

York’s two MPs expressing disappointment that they did not vote to keep the Winter Fuel allowance and urge them to change their

position.’

In the fifth bullet point:

- after ‘To’ insert ‘launch a campaign of awareness, including’ and

delete ‘request that’.

- amend ‘write’ to ‘writing’

- Insert a new sentence at the end 'The campaign should also

include reaching out to Parish Councils and the likes of Citizens

Advice and Age UK and Explore to best maximise take-up.’

Insert a sixth bullet point:

- ‘To use all pressure to ensure no worsening of the situation for

pensioners, including lobbying for no change to pensioner free bus

passes or the single person council tax discount which many benefit from.’”

 

On being put to the vote, the motion was declared LOST, and then Cllr Rose moved, and Cllr Coles seconded, a second amendment to the original motion, as follows:

 

“Under Council notes:

In the first bullet point:

- delete ‘cutting’ and insert ‘moving to means testing of’ delete ‘for’

and insert ‘affecting’

In the second bullet point:

- delete ‘for Pension Credit’ insert ‘will retain’ delete ‘but do not

receive it will lose their’

- after ‘payments’ insert ‘by signing up for Pension Credit;’

In the fifth bullet point:

- after ‘administration’ insert ‘has agreed a saving through’ and

delete ‘have cut’

- after ‘contract’ delete ‘they’

- insert after ‘Service,’ as part of efforts to address a £44m black

hole it inherited in the council’s finances;’

In the sixth bullet point:

- after ‘2024/25’ insert ‘which involved dangerous financial risk

through use of one off funding for permanent services and was not

recommended by the council’s Chief Finance Officer,

- after ‘contract’ insert ‘could potentially have been avoided in the

current year 2024-25;’

- delete ‘would not have happened’

In the seventh bullet point:

- delete ‘1639’ and add ‘470’

- after ‘is’ insert ‘around £1m’ and delete ‘£3.7million’

 

Under Council believes:

In the first bullet point:

- after ‘winter’ insert ‘and that Age UK York and the council

supporting them to find alternative social groups is essential.’

In the second bullet point:

- after ‘Council’ insert ‘has taken a very difficult decision to make

savings to’

- delete ‘should not have made the decision to cut’

- Delete the third bullet point

In the now third bullet point:

- after ‘Government’ insert ‘to review the means-testing threshed

level for’ and delete ‘to reverse the decision to cut York

pensioners’

- after ‘Allowances’ insert ‘to ensure the benefit reaches those who

need it most;’

- Delete the fifth bullet point

In the now fifth bullet point:

- after ‘to’ insert ‘means-test’ and delete ‘cut’

In the now sixth bullet point:

- after ‘entitled’ insert ‘to’

 

Under Council resolves:

In the first bullet point:

- before ‘reverse’ insert ‘review’ and then delete ‘reverse’

- after ‘Allowance’ insert ‘eligibility threshold;’ and delete ‘cut’

- Delete the second bullet point

In the now second bullet point:

- Delete the last sentence

- After ‘pensioners’ insert ‘including maintaining financial support for warm spaces in York through allocation of Household Support

Fund grants;’

- Delete the now third bullet point

In the last bullet point:

- insert ‘continue’ after ‘officers’

- delete ‘write’ and insert ‘writing’

- delete ‘1639’ and insert 470”

 

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

 

Resolved: That the above motion, as amended, be approved.⁴