Agenda item

NOTICES OF MOTION

Meeting of Council, Wednesday, 3rd February, 2016 7.00 pm (Item C. 700)

The following Notices of Motion have been received:-

(i) Flooding

"This Council pays tribute to all the Council Officers, emergency services and volunteers for their heroic and selfless work in helping those devastated by the Boxing Day floods which hit our borough.

It calls on the Government to reverse the savage cuts to all these services especially to this Council, the fire and police service and the Environment Agency which threaten the maintenance of infrastructure and the ability to help those in need in a crisis, and to recognise the need to act now to mitigate the effects of climate change.

It also calls on the Government to apply immediately for the £125 million available for flood relief from the EU solidarity Fund which incredibly it has so far failed to do."

In the names of Councillors P Adams, N Bayley, J Black, S Briggs, D Cassidy, M Connolly, E FitzGerald, L Fitzwalter, J Grimshaw, S Haroon, P Heneghan, T Holt, A Isherwood, M James, D Jones, J Kelly, S Kerrison, J Lewis, J Mallon, A Matthews, E O’Brien, N Parnell, C Preston, A Quinn, R Shori, A Simpson, R Skillen, Sarah Southworth, Susan Southworth, T Tariq, J Walker, S Walmsley and M Whitby

(ii) Fair Deal for Private Renters

Council notes

1 The important contribution private-rental property makes to our housing market in Bury (nearly 14% at the last survey);

2 That some private rented homes fall beneath a decent standard and there is a continuing problem with rogue landlords in a minority of cases;

3 That private renters spend a higher proportion of their income on housing than in with other tenures, and that moving costs can be prohibitively expensive, with high letting fees and large deposit requirements.

Council calls on the Government

1. To carry on work started in the last Parliament to tackle rogue landlords, revenge evictions.

2. To move towards a system where letting of homes in the private rented sector to be professionalised through the licensing of landlords;

3. To provide proper funding for local authorities to enable them to support tenants through improved housing and legal advice.

Council Resolves

1. To look to significantly increase the take-up and awareness of the Landlord Accreditation Scheme (currently less than 1.5% of rented properties).

2. To consider the business case for extending the Paperless Bond facility to a wider group of potential tenants in financial need.

3. To continue to work, together with Six Town Housing, to look at how the Council can help bring empty properties into use through assisting with private sector renting, in return for nomination rights.

4. To write to the Borough’s MPs to inform them of this motion and ask to support this issue in their work.

In the names of Councillors T Pickstone and M D’Albert

(iii) Rail Franchises

This Council Meeting welcomes the Government’s announcement on 9 December, 2015 that the new Northern and TransPennine Express Franchises have been awarded, in a massive boost to rail services bringing the Northern Powerhouse to life.

As Bury is one of the most outward commuting places in Greater Manchester this will bring benefits and make a real difference to our local community, across our region and beyond including:

· The introduction of 500 brand new carriages

· Removal of the outdated and unpopular Pacer trains across the North

· Space for over 40,000 more passengers at the busiest of times

· Thousands of extra services a week

· Roll out of free Wi-Fi on trains and at stations

· Over £55 million invested in station improvements, including new ticket machines and the introduction of staffing at 45 currently unstaffed stations

· Improving compensation arrangements, including automatic compensation for delays for registered season and advanced purchase tickets.

This Council Meeting further welcomes the decision that the franchises will be jointly managed in the North, from Leeds, by the DfT and Rail North Ltd - which represents 29 Local Authorities across the North. This shows the Government’s continued commitment to devolution and to closing the economic gap between the North and South. The new franchises are expected to create jobs, opportunity and growth and – coupled with electrifying the vital trans-Pennine route – will help our region realize its full economic potential by ensuring it has a modern, 21^st Century transport system.

This Council Meeting notes that the award of the new rail franchises has been roundly welcomed by business organisations and others including the CBI, Manchester Airport and UKTI as well as by the IPPR North.

This Council Meeting therefore welcomes the award of the rail franchises and resolves to support the provision of a world class rail service across the North and the contribution this can make to rebalancing the UK economy, with Bury at the heart of a Northern Powerhouse.

In the names of Councillors I Bevan, R Caserta, J Daly, I Gartside, D Gunther, M Hankey, J Harris, R Hodkinson, K Hussain, G Keeley, S Nuttall, R Walker, and Y Wright

Minutes:

Three Notices of Motion had been received and set out in the Summons.

(i) Flooding

A motion had been received and set out in the Summons in the names of:-

Councillors P Adams, N Bayley, J Black, S Briggs, D Cassidy, M Connolly, E FitzGerald, L Fitzwalter, J Grimshaw, S Haroon, P Heneghan, T Holt, A Isherwood, M James, D Jones, J Kelly, S Kerrison, J Lewis, J Mallon, A Matthews, E O’Brien, N Parnell, C Preston, A Quinn, R Shori, A Simpson, R Skillen, Sarah Southworth, Susan Southworth, T Tariq, J Walker, S Walmsley and M Whitby

It was moved by Councillor Fitzwalter and seconded by Councillor Quinn:

It also calls on the Government to apply immediately for the £125 million available for flood relief from the EU solidarity Fund which incredibly it has so far failed to do."

It was moved by Councillor Gartside and seconded by Councillor Daly as an amendment:-

That the Motion be amended by the deletion of paragraphs 2 and 3 and the substitution of:

“This Council recognises the £200 million pounds direct emergency funding provided by Government to all flood affected areas and notes that this was needed immediately rather than having to rely on funding applications from the EU which will take several months to be processed. In Bury’s case we welcome the 1.5 million pounds of direct funding assistance by the Government, which is more than many of our surrounding councils.

We also welcome the Government’s continued work to recognise climate change through “Climate Change Adaption Reporting” and to reduce the effects of climate change through the 2015 Paris Agreement, the Natural Capital Committee, and further investments in clean air and water.

“Council welcomes the announcement by Government that all forms funding assistance, including that of the EU Solidarity fund, will be pursued to help with Britain’s flood relief effort and flood defences”

Prior to the vote on the amendment, in excess of eight Councillors requested that voting be recorded to show how each Member cast their vote, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 17.5.

The result of the vote was a follows:-

For the amendment:

Councillors I Bevan, R Caserta, J Daly, I Gartside, D Gunther, M Hankey, J Harris, R Hodkinson, K Hussain, G Keeley, S Nuttall, R Walker, M Wiseman and Y Wright

Against the amendment:

Councillors P Adams, N Bayley, D Bailey, J Black, M Connolly, M D’Albert, E FitzGerald, L Fitzwalter, J Grimshaw, S Haroon, T Holt, A Isherwood, M James, D Jones, J Kelly, S Kerrison, J Lewis, J Mallon, A Matthews, E O’Brien, N Parnell, C Preston, T Pickstone, A Quinn, R Shori, R Skillen, Sarah Southworth, Susan Southworth, T Tariq, J Walker, S Walmsley and M Whitby

Abstaining from the amendment:

The Worshipful the Mayor.

The Mayor declared the amendment lost.

Prior to the vote on the substantive motion, in excess of eight Councillors requested that voting be recorded to show how each Member cast their vote, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 17.5.

The result of the vote was a follows:-

For the substantive motion:

Councillors P Adams, N Bayley, D Bailey, J Black, M Connolly, M D’Albert, E FitzGerald, L Fitzwalter, J Grimshaw, S Haroon, T Holt, A Isherwood, M James, D Jones, J Kelly, S Kerrison, J Lewis, J Mallon, A Matthews, E O’Brien, N Parnell, C Preston, T Pickstone, A Quinn, R Shori, R Skillen, Sarah Southworth, Susan Southworth, T Tariq, J Walker, S Walmsley and M Whitby

Against the substantive motion:

Councillors I Bevan, R Caserta, J Daly, I Gartside, D Gunther, M Hankey, J Harris, R Hodkinson, K Hussain, G Keeley, S Nuttall, R Walker, M Wiseman and Y Wright

Abstaining from the substantive motion:

The Worshipful the Mayor.

The Mayor declared the substantive motion carried.

(ii) Fair Deal for Private Renters

A motion had been received and set out in the Summons in the names of Councillors T Pickstone and M D’Albert.

It was moved by Councillor Pickstone and seconded by Councillor D’Albert:

Council notes

1. The important contribution private-rental property makes to our housing market in Bury (nearly 14% at the last survey);

2. That some private rented homes fall beneath a decent standard and there is a continuing problem with rogue landlords in a minority of cases;

3. That private renters spend a higher proportion of their income on housing than in with other tenures, and that moving costs can be prohibitively expensive, with high letting fees and large deposit requirements.

Council calls on the Government

1. To carry on work started in the last Parliament to tackle rogue landlords, revenge evictions.

2. To move towards a system where letting of homes in the private rented sector to be professionalised through the licensing of landlords;

3. To provide proper funding for local authorities to enable them to support tenants through improved housing and legal advice.

Council Resolves

1. To look to significantly increase the take-up and awareness of the Landlord Accreditation Scheme (currently less than 1.5% of rented properties).

2. To consider the business case for extending the Paperless Bond facility to a wider group of potential tenants in financial need.

4. To write to the Borough’s MPs to inform them of this motion and ask to support this issue in their work.

It was moved by Councillor Gartside and seconded by Councillor Gunther as an amendment:-

That (1) paragraph 1 be amended to include:

“That 84% of private sector tenants are now satisfied with their housing according to the 2012-13 English Housing Survey ‘Households Report’

That (1) paragraph 2 be amended as follows:

“To carry on work started in the last Parliament and continued in this Parliament to tackle rogue landlords, revenge evictions. This Council welcomes the Housing and Planning Bill (now in House of Lords) to protect tenants and ensure that landlords provide good quality, safe accommodation. Rogue landlords and property agents will face bans and fines up to £30,000.”

That (2) and (3) paragraph 2 be amended to include:

“The industry itself has developed a Code of Practice on the legal requirements and best practice. A Model Tenancy Agreement has also been introduced which will help tenants to agree longer tenancies with their landlords for stability

The Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act requires that letting and managing agents in the private rented sector offer landlords, tenants, freeholders and leaseholders access to an approved redress scheme.”

The amendment was put to the vote and with 9 voting for, 25 against with the Mayor abstaining was declared lost.

The substantive motion was put to the vote and with 34 voting for, 0 against and Mayor abstaining the substantive motion was declared carried.

(iii) Rail Franchises

A motion had been received and set out in the Summons in the names of:

Councillors I Bevan, R Caserta, J Daly, I Gartside, D Gunther, M Hankey, J Harris, R Hodkinson, K Hussain, G Keeley, S Nuttall, R Walker, and Y Wright

It was moved by Councillor Gartside and seconded by Councillor R Walker: