Agenda item

To consider the following motions on the theme submitted by members of the council:

 

·  Local Business and Enterprise

 

·  Small Business Saturday

 

·  Introducing a Supermarket Levy

 

·  Pay Day Lenders.

The Mayor reminded the meeting that it had previously agreed that there would be a single debate on the themed motions.  The proposers of the motions would have three minutes to speak and the seconders of the motions and the mover and seconder of amendments A - D would formally move and second the amendments.  The subject of the theme would then be open to debate.

 

MOTION 1 – LOCAL BUSINESS AND ENTERPRISE (see pages 3 – 4 of the main agenda)

 

Councillor Sunil Chopra moved the motion.  It was formally seconded by Councillor Mark Glover.

 

Amendment A was formally moved and seconded.

 

MOTION 2 – SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY (see page 5 of the main agenda)

 

Councillor Michael Mitchell moved the motion.  It was formally seconded by Councillor Lewis Robinson.

 

Amendment B was formally moved and seconded.

 

MOTION 3 – INTRODUCING A SUPERMARKET LEVY (see page 5 of the main agenda)

 

Councillor Tim McNally moved the motion.  It was formally seconded by Councillor James Barber.

 

Amendment C was formally moved and seconded.

 

MOTION 4 – PAY DAY LENDERS (see page 6 of the main agenda)

 

Councillor Neil Coyle moved the motion.  It was formally seconded by Councillor Martin Seaton.

 

Amendment D was formally moved and seconded.

 

The theme was then debated (Councillors Gavin Edwards, Anood Al-Samerai, Lewis Robinson, Mark Williams, Veronica Ward, Peter John, Michael Bukola, Richard Livingstone, James Barber and Mark Glover), at 8.51pm the Mayor announced that the time for the themed section of the meeting had finished and the meeting would move to the vote on the amendments and motions.

 

Vote on Motion 1 and Amendment A – Local business and enterprise

 

Amendment A was put to the vote and declared to be carried.

 

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

 

RESOLVED:

 

1.  That council assembly welcomes this administration's commitment to supporting our residents and businesses in tough economic times and the difference this administration is making to jobs and growth across our borough.

 

2.  That council assembly notes the council's recent economic wellbeing strategy and its important commitment to:

 

·  Narrow the gap between the Southwark and London employment rate

·  Make Southwark the place of choice to start and grow a business

·  Get our town centres and high streets thriving

·   Promote financial independence and resilience.

 

3.  That council assembly welcomes the steps that the council has already taken to progress these ambitions.  Council assembly further warmly welcomes the £1 million business support fund, the £1 million of youth fund a year through to 2016/17, focused on employment and assisting young people to remain in education and trainingand the council's ongoing commitment to securing jobs, training and employment support through section 106 and community infrastructure levy agreements with developers.

 

4.  That council assembly recognises the progress this administration has made including:

 

·  Over 1000 Southwark residents finding work as a direct result of the council’s employment programmes in the last 18 months

 

·  Over £440,000 of investment in five of our town centres through the community restoration fund

 

·  A £100,000 emergency fund for Herne Hill businesses affected by the August 2013 flood,

 

·  Supporting Southwark businesses over the course of this year to secure public and private sector contracts worth £1.2 million through our supply Southwark project.

 

5.  That council assembly warmly welcomes the commitment of this administration to keep making a difference, including by:

 

·  Supporting 200 Southwark start-ups and small to medium enterprises (SMEs) to get investment-ready, helping to secure over £2 million worth of finance for Southwark businesses and making sure it is Southwark residents that get the job opportunities arising from this business growth

 

·  Supporting Southwark businesses to be ‘fit to compete’ for public and private sector contract opportunities, securing contracts with a value of £1.2 million this year and £3 million by the end of 2015

 

·  A £600,000 town centre growth initiative to help business-led groups to reinvigorate their local high streets.

 

6.  That council assembly regrets the abject failure of the Tory Liberal Democrat government to introduce policies that would maximise the huge opportunities of regeneration in Southwark and the huge talent and potential of our residents and to instead oversee three years of austerity-induced stagnation and continuously failing living standards across the UK. Council assembly further regrets the decision of the Tory Liberal Democrat government to scrap Labour-backed schemes such as the future jobs fund which helped to get unemployed people into work, and which was scrapped by the government despite a report from the Department for Work and Pensions which showed it produced a net benefit to society of approximately £7,750 per participant.

 

7.  That council assembly welcomes the cabinet's commitment to prioritise delivering jobs and growth across Southwark and urges them to continue to prioritise these efforts so that Southwark is a place where residents can get on and where businesses and high streets can continue to thrive.

 

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

 

Vote on Motion 2 and Amendment B – Small business Saturday

 

Amendment B was put to the vote and declared to be carried.

 

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

 

RESOLVED:

 

1.  That council assembly commends the council’s efforts to encourage people to shop locally and assist small businesses in their communities by supporting the Small Business Saturday campaign.

 

2.  That council assembly resolves to call on cabinet to back local businesses throughout the borough, to do all they can to ensure the East Dulwich Cracker, taking place on Small Business Saturday, is a roaring success and continue to support the Herne Hill Christmas re-launch of those businesses affected by the August floods, taking place on 14 December, to help bring back much needed foot fall to Herne Hill.

 

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

 

Vote on Motion 3 and Amendment C – Introducing a supermarket levy

 

Amendment C was put to the vote and declared to be carried.

 

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

 

RESOLVED:

 

That council assembly:

 

1.  Welcomes Labour's commitment to reverse the Tory - Liberal Democrats’ government cut in corporation tax from 21 per cent to 20 per cent.

 

2.  Welcomes the £1 billion this policy would save over two year's and Labour's commitment to use this revenue to reduce business rates on properties and commercial premises with an annual rental value of £50,000 or less, providing a much needed boost to small businesses across Southwark

 

3.  Notes the Local Works campaign for a levy on large supermarkets and the use of such a scheme across the entirety of Northern Ireland.

 

4.  Believes that to minimise any risk to Southwark residents, many of whom work and shop in large retail outlets in the borough, the best approach to a supermarket levy would be a pan-London one.

 

5.  Therefore call on cabinet to:

 

·  Approach the Mayor of London to bring together all London boroughs to consult on introducing a supermarket levy

·  Discuss this proposal with neighbouring councils to ensure a joined up approach to local business in South London.

 

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

 

Vote on Motion 4 and Amendment D – Pay day lenders

 

Amendment D was put to the vote and declared to be carried.

 

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

 

RESOLVED:

 

That council assembly:

 

1.  Notes with concern the increase in “payday loan” outfits in our high streets, particularly in Peckham, the Walworth Road, Southwark Park Road and Tower Bridge Road.

 

2.  Recognises the negative effect these lenders can have on people on low incomes, particularly given the very high interest rates that are often charged, and the tactics used by many lenders to encourage borrowing while failing to disclose the true cost of loans.

 

3.  Believes lending of this kind is both socially and financially irresponsible and calls for all political parties in Southwark to support and prioritise alternative affordable models of lending.

 

4.  Welcomes the cabinet’s announcement that Southwark residents will face less exposure to payday lenders following the agreement from two of the council’s billboard advertising contractors not to display payday loan adverts.  Council assembly urges the council’s other contractor, JC Decaux, to follow this example and end payday loan advertising in Southwark.

 

5.  Recognises the importance of small businesses for the local economy and acknowledges that these businesses are often ‘priced out’ of our high streets, allowing an increased number of payday lenders to open shops.

 

6.  Praises the work of the London Mutual Credit Union for their commitment to responsible lending in the borough and encourages the council to further promote credit unions as an alternative to irresponsible payday lenders.

 

7.  Welcomes the commitment of the cabinet member for communities and economic wellbeing to work with officers to make it more difficult for payday lenders to open on our high streets, including tackling payday loan shops through planning powers.

 

8.  Welcomes the council's groundbreaking approval to bring into force Article 4 planning directions on change of use to help protect our high streets. This makes Southwark the first authority nationally to make such a change.

 

9.  Urges cabinet to call on government to follow Southwark’s lead in finding new ways of tackling the scourge of payday lenders on our high streets and better supporting local businesses.

 

10.  Welcomes that councils are now able to vary business rates under the Localism Act (2011), and calls on cabinet, in consultation with community councils, to introduce relevant local business rates discounts and exemptions to encourage mixed high streets.

 

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