Agenda item

·  Motion 1 - Homes for Families

·  Motion 2 - Southwark’s Housing Investment Programme

·  Motion 3 - Protecting Southwark Park

MOTION 1: HOMES FOR FAMILIES (see page 17 of the main agenda)

The guillotine having fallen, Councillor Rosie Shimell, seconded by Councillor Michael Bukola, formally moved the motion.

Councillor Ian Wingfield, seconded by Councillor Helen Morrissey, formally moved late Amendment  I.

Late Amendment I was put to the vote and declared to be carried.

The substantive motion was put to the vote and declared to be carried.

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RESOLVED:

1.  That council agrees that good quality housing can play an important role in shaping the future, health and well-being of young people in our borough.

2.  That council therefore regrets the actions of the Tory Liberal Democrat government to threaten Southwark tenants security of tenure, cut Southwark’s housing revenue account, halve the amount of decent homes funding Southwark is to receive, cap housing benefit and introduce rents of up to 80% of market value, making many properties unaffordable to people living in the borough – all of which will impact upon the future health, happiness and well-being of young people in our borough.

3.  That council also regrets the failure of the previous Liberal Democrat administration to set out a coherent housing programme that addressed the needs of people in Southwark and was based on spending money that was not available to the council at the time.

4.  That council welcomes the current administration’s pledges to; make every council home warm, dry and safe by 2014/15, and believes the new housing investment programme will help to secure a better future for our young people by bringing every Southwark home up to a decent standard, by letting tenants know when they can expect improvements and by being based on funding available to the council to ensure that it is actually delivered unlike the previous Liberal Democrat administration’s disastrous programme.

Note: This motion was referred as a recommendation to the cabinet for consideration.

MOTION 2: SOUTHWARK’S HOUSING INVESTMENT PROGRAMME(see pages 17-18 of the main agenda)

The guillotine having fallen, Councillor Ian Wingfield, seconded by Councillor Gavin Edwards, formally moved the motion.

Councillor Michael Bukola, seconded by Councillor Tim McNally, formally moved Amendment  J.

Amendment J was put to the vote and declared to be lost.

The substantive motion was put to the vote and declared to be carried.

RESOLVED:

1.  That council assembly welcomes the council’s key pledge to make every home in Southwark warm, dry and safe by 2014-2015.

2.  That council assembly also welcomes the council’s proposednew housing investment programme of major works to the value of £326.5m over the next five years which will ensure that the council’s homes meet the government’s decent homes standard and the reestablishment of a separate housing department.

3.  That council assembly regrets the previous administration’s wasteful and inefficient housing programme which created uncertainty among tenants and leaseholders about when their decent homes works would be done; was based on a commitment that could never be delivered within the funding available to the council and did not offer a solution for all of the council’s housing stock or meet central government requirements.

4.  That council assembly also regrets that the Conservative/Liberal Democrat government has cut Southwark’s housing revenue account by nearly £7 million this year, has only provided half the amount of decent homes funding that was bid for and that the allocation is back-ended in the final two years.

5.  That council assembly notes that Southwark’s housing revenue account will face a deficit as a result of Conservative/Liberal Democrat government cuts.

6.  That council assembly calls on the cabinet and relevant cabinet members:

a)  To ensure that all of the council’s homes are made warm, dry and safe by 2014-15.

b)  To develop a longer-term sustainable strategy for our housing stock.

c)  To look at ways to maximise the level of resources available for investment, including savings through new major works contracts, limited disposal of voids, external funding sources and self-financing regeneration options.

Note: This motion was referred as a recommendation to the cabinet for consideration.

MOTION 3: PROTECTING SOUTHWARK PARK(see page 18 of the main agenda)

Following advice from the strategic director of communities, law and governance, members of the planning committee left the chamber for this item.

This motion was considered prior to the guillotine having fallen.

Councillor Jeff Hook, seconded by Councillor Paul Noblet, moved the motion.

Following debate (Councillors Peter John and Barrie Hargrove) the motion was put to the vote and declared to be carried.

RESOLVED:

1.  That council assembly emphasises the significant environmental, social and community value of the green spaces in our borough.

2.  That council assembly notes with regret and concern the suggestions over the last year for tunnels, holes and pipes in Southwark Park.

3.  That council assembly and the cabinet clearly state to UK Power Networks that Southwark Park is not a suitable site for their proposals.

4.  That councillors and the cabinet work with UK Power Networks to find an alternative brownfield site for their proposals.

Note: This motion was referred as a recommendation to the cabinet for consideration.