Agenda item

To consider motions referred from the 20 October council assembly on the

following:

 

• Housing solutions for Southwark
• Southwark Life
• Committing to localism
• Withdrawal of private finance initiative (pfi) funding for regenerating the Aylesbury Estate
• King's Stairs Gardens site of importance for nature conservation (SINC) status

 

 

Housing solutions for Southwark

 

RESOLVED:

 

1.  That it is regretted that too many families have been forced into often poor quality private rented accommodation by the failure over the past 25 years to build sufficient affordable social housing. 

 

2.  That ever increasing and unsustainable housing benefit bill and the government’s plans to tackle this be noted.

 

3.  That plans to reform housing benefit were also in the Labour manifesto and the Mayor of London's comments that this would lead to "Kosovo style social cleansing" be noted.

 

4.  That the concern of many residents about the proposed changes to social housing tenures and to some of the proposed changes to housing benefit be noted.

 

5.  That it be noted that the impact on Southwark of these changes are likely that:

 

·  The reduction of the local housing allowance in October 2011 leads to households losing as much as £57.53 a week, and this could lead to nearly 5,000 private sector tenants looking for council accommodation 

·  This reduction widens over following years as the indexation of housing benefit shifts from the retail price index to the typically lower consumer price index

·  The reduction is further compounded by the penalisation of those who have been unable to find employment for a year

·  This reduction is further compounded by deductions for non-dependents who still live in the home, the deductions being introduced despite increasing barriers to entry to the housing market for young people

·  Demand for housing in Southwark increases markedly as housing benefit claimants are forced to leave even more expensive parts of London like Westminster and Camden.

 

6.  That it is believed that it is inconceivable that these changes will not lead to repossessions, homelessness and enforced home moves in Southwark, as the number of homes that are affordable for residents living on housing benefits decreases and the number of people competing for those homes increases.

 

7.  That particular concern that new tenants will not be offered traditional secure tenancies which provide stability, support family networks and can improve social cohesion be expressed. 

 

8.  That concern that the government grants to build future affordable homes are to be cut by some 50% be expressed by the council.

 

9.  That the rights of secure tenants to live in their council home for as long as they wish be fully supported, but it is believed the council should look at new ways of tackling under-occupancy of homes to make better use of existing council stock.

 

10.  That it is believed that government’s aims to tackle high rents charged by private landlords through a reduction in the local housing allowance may harm families rather than unscrupulous landlords.

 

11.  That cabinet investigate whether rent capping in the private rented sector could be a positive way of achieving the government’s aim of reducing the overall housing benefit bill.

 

12.  That whilst the principle that people should work if they are able is supported, members are concerned that in light of the current economic climate and employment market the government should rethink plans to reduce by 10% housing benefit for those claiming jobseekers allowance for more than 12 months.

 

13.  That cabinet write to government to:

 

·  oppose the changes to secure tenancies

·  oppose plans to measure local housing allowance at the 30^th percentile rather than the median

·  oppose plans to remove 10% of housing benefit from those who have been claiming jobseekers allowance for more than 12 months given the current state of the employment market

·  support a housing benefit solution for London, as suggested by Simon Hughes MP, which understands the particular needs and market in London

·  investigate the possibility of land value taxation or introducing rent control in some parts of the private rented sector

·  fulfil promises of allowing local authorities to make their own decisions about new housing and rents for new and existing tenancies

·  co-ordinate a cross party response to the government’s housing consultation.

 

14.  That all of Southwark's MPs be called on to oppose the proposed changes to secure tenancies, the change in the local housing allowance measure and to specifically vote against the proposal to cut housing benefit by 10% after a year of unemployment when the Bill comes before the House of Commons

 

Southwark Life

 

RESOLVED:

 

1.  That it be noted that the current format of Southwark Life was determined by the previous Liberal Democrat/Tory coalition.

 

2.  That it be noted that the format and frequency of Southwark Life is under review as part of the budgeting process with all other communication services.

 

Committing to Localism

 

RESOLVED:

 

1.  That it be noted that the Localism Bill has not yet been published and it is believed that the coalition’s proposals are as yet unclear.

 

2.  That cabinet fully investigate any new powers that the local authority is afforded as part of the bill and implement them as appropriate.

 

Withdrawal of Private Finance Initiative (pfi) Funding for Regeneration the Aylesbury Estate

 

RESOLVED:

 

1.  That the bitterly disappointing news that the coalition government has decided to withdrawn £181 million of private finance initiative (PFI) funding for building new homes for Aylesbury Estate residents be noted.

 

2.  That the continued cross-party support for the regeneration of the Aylesbury Estate be noted.

 

3.  That it be noted that the leader has written to the Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government inviting them to the Aylesbury Estate to see the impact the withdrawal of funding will have.

 

4.  That it be noted that the first new homes on site 1a (formerly Red Lion Close and Little Bradenham) will be complete early in the new year and that the continued development of this site and the plans to redevelop sites 7 and 10 (Amersham and North Wolverton) are unaffected by the withdrawal of PFI funding.

 

5.  That the council is determined  that the withdrawal of the PFI funding will not mean the end of the regeneration of the Aylesbury Estate, and commitment to work with local residents and Creation Trust to transform the area be affirmed.

 

6.  That the cabinet be requested to call on the government to change its decision or to provide an alternative funding mechanism.

 

7.  That the cabinet be called on to continue to rehouse residents from sites 1b and 1c (Bradenham, Chartridge, Arlow and Chiltern) and to explore all possible alternative options for taking the regeneration of the Aylesbury forward.

 

Kings Stairs Gardens site of importance for nature conservation (SINC) status

 

Comments of the deputy chief executive in respect of this motion were circulated at the meeting.

 

RESOLVED:

 

1.  That on 4 November 2009 council assembly agreed the submission version of the core strategy which included a new designation of King’s Stairs Gardens as a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC).  This version of the core strategy was then submitted to the planning inspector and subject to examination in public.  Following this, on 27 January 2010 council assembly agreed the submission version of the Canada Water Area Action Plan for examination by a planning inspector.

 

2.  That  it be noted that the inspector's report and final version of the core strategy is still to be received and that there have been some indications that the inspector may not approve new site specific designations as being appropriate for inclusion in the core strategy.  It has been indicated that he may be decided that such designations would be more appropriately made in development plan documents (DPDs).

 

3.  That it be noted the submission version of the Canada Water Area Action Plan (a DPD) is due to undergo examination in public in the new year after the inspector's report on the core strategy is received.

 

4.  That it was anticipated at the time of the submission of the Canada Water Area Action Plan that the designation of King's Stairs Gardens as a SINC would be accepted by the inspector of the core strategy.  In the eventuality of King’s Stairs Gardens not being designated as a SINC in the inspector's report, the cabinet member for regeneration and corporate strategy write to the planning inspector asking for King’s Stairs Gardens to be designated as a SINC within the Canada Water Area Action Plan and to make similar representations for the inclusion of any other new and amended site designations within the Canada Water AAP area which were agreed by council assembly in the submission version of the core strategy.