Agenda item

(i) Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO)

 

A motion had been received in the names of: Councillors Carol Birchmore, Cllr Donald Berry, Cllr Andrea Booth, Cllr Des Duncalfe, Cllr Glyn Marsden, Cllr James Mason, Cllr Mike Smith and Cllr Mary Walsh.

This Council notes :-

Houses in Multiple Occupancy (HMO) have become a significant part of the rental sector and can provide accommodation at a cheaper rate than renting a whole house or flat. This is useful for people who have limited housing choices or looking for short stay accommodation, such as migrant workers or young professionals.

Many landlords offer well maintained homes. However, there are still a number of landlords who rent sub-standard, overcrowded and potentially dangerous accommodation to vulnerable people. Many of these are not considered as ‘Large’ HMO’s and therefore do not require a licence.

The growth of HMO’s also has an impact on the local community Eg waste management, health and safety, social care, access to health services and property availability for first time buyers.

Licensing has largely been successful in helping to drive up standards in order that HMO’s are safer places to live. All properties used as HMO’s, housing five people or more in two or more households, sharing facilities come under legislation and will require a licence. The licence includes minimum room sizes (6.5sqm single person, 10.2sqm for 2 people, 4.6sqm child under 10years old) and requirements for landlords to provide adequate bins and waste storage.

Bury MBC is required to maintain a register of large HMO’s. There are currently 105 such properties: 63 in Bury; 12 in Prestwich; 17 in Radcliffe; 0 in Ramsbottom; 3 in Tottington and 10 in Whitefield. Ten of the properties on the published register are out of their licence period.

 

This Council therefore resolves :-

• To update the website to state a review of the HMO register is in process and will be published when complete
• To inspect as appropriate applications to ensure a good standard of safety and maintenance and carry out appropriate enforcement of those that do not meet the standard.
• To explore the possibility of expanding the Article 4 Directive (remove permitted development rights), to other areas of the Borough, if and when such areas are identified.
• To explore Council Tax rules available to us and where possible ensure that landlords are paying appropriate tax for their business.
• To explore the potential of additional funding to be made available to the Licensing and Enforcement teams during the budget setting process.

 

(ii)  Household Support Fund

 

A MOTION HAS BEEN RECEIVED IN THE NAMES OF COUNCILLORS: A ARIF,  BAYLEY, BOLES, BORODA, CUMMINS, FAROOQ, FITZGERALD, FRITH, GOLD, GREEN, GRIMSHAW, HAROON, HAYES, IBRAHIM, MCGILL, MORRIS, MOSS, O'BRIEN, PILKINGTON, A QUINN, D QUINN, RAFIQ, RIZVI, RUBINSTEIN, RYDER, L SMITH, STAPLES-JONES, THORPE, WALMSLEY, WHITBY:

In 2010 60,000 people were using food banks in the UK, in 2023 2.9 million people had to use foodbanks. Over 6900 children qualify for free school meals in the Bury borough alone. Many residents are struggling with recent high inflation, high mortgage interest rates and a doubling of fuel bills in the last 2 years. The government's household support fund went part of the way to enable councils to support the worst hit residents when it was introduced in 2021. Now, the Government's Household support fund is set to end on 31st March, 2024. 

This council believes that everyone is entitled to the basic physical needs, to be warm, dry, clean and fed.

This council recognises that in the last 12 months the Household support fund, (HSF) administered by Labour-ran Bury council;

Provided free school meals in the holidays for those who need it

Payments to those in food and fuel poverty

Grants to our Bury food support network

Community grants to organisations tackle the cost of living crisis

Discretionary housing payments for those at risk of homelessness

funded the Citizens advice bureau

and many more projects supporting those who most needed it.

Withdrawal of this grant, at a time when council's face such financial hardship, will only leave 1000s of bury residents to struggle even more.

This council resolves to

·         Continue to execute our Cost of living and Anti-poverty strategy.

·         Work with communities and partners to make sure we help those most vulnerable in the borough

·         Call for a reinstatement of the HSF in our boroughwide Let's fix it campaign

·         write to our two local MPs asking them to support our calls to keep the HSF

·         Write to the Prime Minister and the chancellor of Exchequer asking them to keep the fund in their budget in March.

 

AMENDMENT

Conservative amendment to the Labour notice of motion is attached.

 

(iii)       Bury Council Twinning with a Town, Region or City in Ukraine

 

A MOTION HAS BEEN RECEIVED IN THE NAMES OF COUNCILLORS, ARIF, BERNSTEIN, BROWN, GARTSIDE, HARRIS, HUSSAIN, DEAN, LANCASTER, McBRIAR, RYDEHEARD, VERNON

 

The communities of Bury stand together with our friends in Ukraine.

 

From the darkest moments of the war we have supported the Ukrainian people as they fight against the illegal and unjustified invasion of Ukraine by Russia. This Council has been moved by the strength of feeling in this country to support Ukraine

 

Many people from Bury have given aid to Ukraine and have supported the humanitarian effort.

 

We have opened our doors to Ukrainian people through the Homes for Ukraine scheme and seen their wonderful culture first hand.

 

After the Second World War, the last time that Europe was ravaged by needless war, towns and communities across Europe twinned. It was done to share cultural ties and further express our shared  culture and values. 

 

We now stand with the spirit of twinning and exchanging culture across Europe, which is ever more important since the Russian full scale invasion of Ukraine and aim to forge a new twinning relationship with a town, region or city in Ukraine.

 

Therefore, this Council resolves that:

 

·         Bury resolves to seek to twin with a town, region or city in Ukraine to highlight the Council’s strength of support for Ukraine.

 

·         The Council resolves to work with the UK Friends of Ukraine to find a suitable town, region or city in Ukraine to twin with.

 

·         The Council requests that officers come back to the next Full Council with a report on a formal twinning with a town in Ukraine and the next steps in a creation of a Twinning Association.

 

 

A motion had been received in the names of: Councillors Carol Birchmore, Cllr Donald Berry, Cllr Andrea Booth, Cllr Des Duncalfe, Cllr Glyn Marsden, Cllr James Mason, Cllr Mike Smith and Cllr Mary Walsh.

This Council notes :-

Houses in Multiple Occupancy (HMO) have become a significant part of the rental sector and can provide accommodation at a cheaper rate than renting a whole house or flat. This is useful for people who have limited housing choices or looking for short stay accommodation, such as migrant workers or young professionals.

Many landlords offer well maintained homes. However, there are still a number of landlords who rent sub-standard, overcrowded and potentially dangerous accommodation to vulnerable people. Many of these are not considered as ‘Large’ HMO’s and therefore do not require a licence.

The growth of HMO’s also has an impact on the local community Eg waste management, health and safety, social care, access to health services and property availability for first time buyers.

Licensing has largely been successful in helping to drive up standards in order that HMO’s are safer places to live. All properties used as HMO’s, housing five people or more in two or more households, sharing facilities come under legislation and will require a licence. The licence includes minimum room sizes (6.5sqm single person, 10.2sqm for 2 people, 4.6sqm child under 10years old) and requirements for landlords to provide adequate bins and waste storage.

Bury MBC is required to maintain a register of large HMO’s. There are currently 105 such properties: 63 in Bury; 12 in Prestwich; 17 in Radcliffe; 0 in Ramsbottom; 3 in Tottington and 10 in Whitefield. Ten of the properties on the published register are out of their licence period.

 

This Council therefore resolves :-

·                     To update the website to state a review of the HMO register is in process and will be published when complete

·                     To inspect as appropriate applications to ensure a good standard of safety and maintenance and carry out appropriate enforcement of those that do not meet the standard.

·                     To explore the possibility of expanding the Article 4 Directive (remove permitted development rights), to other areas of the Borough, if and when such areas are identified.

·                     To explore Council Tax rules available to us and where possible ensure that landlords are paying appropriate tax for their business.

·                     To explore the potential of additional funding to be made available to the Licensing and Enforcement teams during the budget setting process

 

On being put with 44 Members voting for, 0 Members voting against and the Mayor Abstaining, the Mayor declared the motion carried.

 

 

Council considered a notice of motion received from Councillors: A Arif, Bayley, Boles, Boroda, Cummins, Farooq, Fitzgerald, Frith, Gold, Green, Grimshaw, Haroon, Hayes, Ibrahim, McGill, Morris, Moss, O'Brien, Pilkington, Quinn Alan, Quinn Deborah, Rafiq, Rizvi, Rubinstein, Ryder, Smith Lucy Staples-Jones Gareth, Thorpe, Walmsley, Whitby.

 

In 2010 60,000 people were using food banks in the UK, in 2023 2.9 million people had to use foodbanks. Over 13500 children qualify for free school meals in the Bury borough alone. Many residents are struggling with recent high inflation, high mortgage interest rates and a doubling of fuel bills in the last 2 years. The government's household support fund went part of the way to enable councils to support the worst hit residents when it was introduced in 2021. Now, the Government's Household support fund is set to end on 31st March, 2024. 

 

This council believes that everyone is entitled to the basic physical needs, to be warm, dry, clean and fed.

 

This council recognises that in the last 12 months the Household support fund, (HSF) administered by Labour-ran Bury council;

• Provided free school meals in the holidays for those who need it
• Payments to those in food and fuel poverty
• Grants to our Bury food support network
• Community grants to organisations tackle the cost of living crisis
• Discretionary housing payments for those at risk of homelessness
• funded the Citizens advice bureau
• and many more projects supporting those who most needed it.

 

Withdrawal of this grant, at a time when council's face such financial hardship, will only leave 1000s of bury residents to struggle even more.

 

This council resolves to

• Continue to execute our Cost of living and Anti-poverty strategy.
• Work with communities and partners to make sure we help those most vulnerable in the borough
• Call for a reinstatement of the HSF in our boroughwide Let's fix it campaign
• write to our two local MPs asking them to support our calls to keep the HSF
• Write to the Prime Minister and the chancellor of Exchequer asking them to keep the fund in their budget in March.

 

 

Members considered an amendment moved by Councillor Bernstein and seconded by Councillor McBriar that:

 

In 2010 60,000 people were using food banks in the UK, in 2023 2.9 million people had to use foodbanks. Over 13500 children qualify for free school meals in the Bury borough alone. Many residents are struggling with recent high inflation, high mortgage interest rates and a doubling of fuel bills in the last 2 years. The government's household support fund went part of the way to enable councils to support the worst hit residents when it was introduced in 2021. Now, the Government's Household support fund is set to end on 31st March, 2024. 

 

This council believes that everyone is entitled to the basic physical needs, to be warm, dry, clean and fed.

 

This council recognises that in the last 12 months 3 years the Household support fund, (HSF) administered by Labour-ran provided by the conservative government to local authorities generally including Bury council;

• Provided free school meals in the holidays for those who need it
• Payments to those in food and fuel poverty
• Grants to our Bury food support network
• Community grants to organisations tackle the cost of living crisis
• Discretionary housing payments for those at risk of homelessness
• funded the Citizens advice bureau
• and many more projects supporting those who most needed it.

 

Withdrawal of this grant, at a time when council's face such financial hardship, will only leave 1000s of bury residents to struggle even more.

 

None continuation of this grant will require councils such as this to deliver much improved financial management if it chooses to continue to support the activities listed above

 

 

This council resolves to

• Continue to execute our Cost of living and Anti-poverty strategy.
• Review our cost of living and anti-poverty strategy in light of the encouraging economic improvements
• Work with communities and partners to make sure we help those most vulnerable in the borough
• Call for a reinstatement of the HSF in our boroughwide Let's fix it campaign
• write to our two local MPs asking them to support our calls to keep the HSF
• Write to the Prime Minister and the chancellor of Exchequer asking them to keep the fund in their budget in March.
• Write to the chancellor of the exchequer and seek his view as to whether due to the improving economic situation and local financial settlement the household support fund needs to be continued.

 

 

Members moved to vote on the amendment.

 

On being put with 11 Members voting for, 34 Members voting against and the Mayor Abstaining, the Mayor declared the motion lost.

 

 

Members voted on the substantive motion:

On being put: with 34 voting for, 0 voting against, 11 including the Mayor abstaining, the motion was carried.

 

 

Council considered a notice of motion received from

COUNCILLORS ARIF, BERNSTEIN, BROWN, DEAN, GARTSIDE, HARRIS, HUSSAIN, LANCASTER, McBRIAR, RYDEHEARD, VERNON

 

 

The communities of Bury stand together with our friends in Ukraine.

 

From the darkest moments of the war we have supported the Ukrainian people as they fight against the illegal and unjustified invasion of Ukraine by Russia. This Council has been moved by the strength of feeling in this country to support Ukraine

 

Many people from Bury have given aid to Ukraine and have supported the humanitarian effort.

 

We have opened our doors to Ukrainian people through the Homes for Ukraine scheme and seen their wonderful culture first hand.

 

After the Second World War, the last time that Europe was ravaged by needless war, towns and communities across Europe twinned. It was done to share cultural ties and further express our shared  culture and values. 

 

We now stand with the spirit of twinning and exchanging culture across Europe, which is ever more important since the Russian full scale invasion of Ukraine and aim to forge a new twinning relationship with a town, region or city in Ukraine.

 

Therefore, this Council resolves that:

 

1. Bury resolves to seek to twin with a town, region or city in Ukraine to highlight the Council’s strength of support for Ukraine.

 

2. The Council resolves to work with the UK Friends of Ukraine to find a suitable town, region or city in Ukraine to twin with.

 

3. The Council requests that officers come back to the next Full Council with a report on a formal twinning with a town in Ukraine and the next steps in a creation of a Twinning Association.

 

On being put with 45 Members voting for, 0 Members voting against and the Mayor Abstaining, the Mayor declared the motion carried.