Agenda item - Notices of Motion.

(a)       Tackling Unemployment Through Social Housing.  Proposed by Councillor Bill Randall.

 

(b)       Making the Most of Wasted Spaces.  Proposed by Councillor Bill Randall.

 

(c)       Save Our Local Newspaper and Local Independent Newsagents.  Proposed by Councillor Gill Mitchell.

 

(d)       Support the ‘Great British Refurb’ and the Creation of More Eco-Jobs and Training in the City.  Proposed by Councillor Craig Turton.

 

(e)       Protecting Public Services.  Proposed by Councillor Paul Steedman.

 

(f)        Metering Water Supply in Flats.  Proposed by Councillor Ben Duncan.

 

(a)            Tackling Unemployment Through Social Housing.

 

11.1       The Notice of Motion as detailed in the agenda was proposed by Councillor Randall and seconded by Councillor Wrighton.

 

11.2       Councillor Caulfield moved an amendment, seconded by Councillor Kemble, which was accepted by Councillor Randall.

 

11.3       The Mayor then put the following Notice of Motion as amended to the vote:

 

“This council believes that social housing should be seen as a gateway into employment, training and education for unemployed people who are housed by the city council and housing associations working in Brighton and Hove.

 

This Council welcomes the work already being carried out to establish a positive link between social housing and employment in the City. This includes: the Places for Change programme, local apprenticeship opportunities in the new housing repairs and maintenance contract and innovative use of the allocations policy to promote social mobility amongst working households.

 

It notes the success of the London-wide Housing Employment Connections programme, which has adopted a joined-up approach to housing, training and job opportunities, principally through the Choice Based Letting system.

 

It therefore asks the Cabinet to consider the possibilities of introducing the Housing Employment Connections programme in Brighton and Hove”

 

11.4       The motion was carried.

 

 

(b)            Making the Most of Wasted Spaces.

 

11.5       The Notice of Motion as detailed in the agenda was proposed by Councillor Randall and seconded by Councillor Kennedy.

 

11.6       Councillor Smith proposed an amendment, seconded by Councillor Older, which was accepted by Councillor Randall.

 

11.7       The Mayor then put the following Notice of Motion as amended to the vote:

 

“This council applauds the success of groups making use of empty spaces and buildings to the cultural, commercial and community benefit of the city, notably:

 

·       Andrew Comben and the Brighton Festival for the inspirational use of the market building to house Anish Kapoor’s The Dismemberment of Jeanne D’Arc

 

·       The Guerilla Gardeners who have turned an eyesore into a community landmark with their rescue of the derelict garage site in the Lewes Road

 

·       The Brighton University art students who converted the Old Music Library into an art gallery for the Brighton Festival

 

·       Slack Space Brighton, which is bringing empty shops and offices into use for small traders across the city.

 

·       The Bristol Estate Artists’ Studio project.

 

·       The conversion of disused buildings, such as bin stores, on some of the Council’s housing estates.

 

·       The Cyberden I.T. training facility at St. James House.

 

It therefore asks the Cabinet to furtherexamine the possibilities of helping these and other groups in their efforts to make the most of wasted spaces to help the city out of the recession.”

 

11.8       The motion was carried.

 

 

(c)            Save Our Local Newspaper and Local Independent Newsagents.

 

11.9       The Notice of Motion as detailed in the agenda was proposed by Councillor Mitchell and seconded by Councillor Hawkes.

 

11.10    The Mayor then put the following Notice of Motion to the vote:

 

“This Council notes the cross party EDM 1424, that seeks to support the National Federation of Retail Newsagents and the Association of News Retailers’ serious concerns about “the recent consolidation of the newspaper and magazine distribution market and the likely emergence of two regional monopolies; values the important role of independent newsagents and is concerned that these changes in the market may force many to close, restricting consumer choice and harming local communities, as well as causing up to 2,800 job losses in news distribution branches across the UK..”

The Council also notes that independent newsagents are closing at a rate of more than one a day, which will threaten thousands of jobs throughout the Country.  With the monopoly of the two distribution giants, Smiths and Menzies, our local newsagents are now becoming powerless against increased prices.

The Council recognises that the worrying decline of locally written media across the country has spread to Brighton and Hove with the proposed closure of the printing works at the Argus offices in Hollingbury, with up to 53 local jobs being lost. 

This Council acknowledges the significant contribution that local newsagents bring to communities throughout the City and values the importance of local news and requests that;

 

·       The Acting Chief Executive writes to the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform to request that the Office of Fair Trading looks urgently at these recent developments in the distribution market and takes action to safeguard competition for the benefit of consumers, independent newsagents and distribution employees alike.

 

·       The Acting Chief Executive write to Newsquest Sussex and the Editor of The Argus, expressing the Council’s concern over the recent job losses and to;

§       Emphasise the value that the Council places on locally written media

§       Expresses concern at any attempts to regionalise the City’s press coverage.”

11.11    The motion was carried.

 

 

(d)            Support the ‘Great British Refurb’ and the Creation of More Eco-Jobs and Training in the City.

 

11.12    The Notice of Motion as detailed in the agenda was proposed by Councillor Turton and seconded by Councillor Mitchell.

 

11.13    The Mayor then put the following Notice of Motion to the vote:

 

“The Council welcomes the Great British Refurb that is planned across the country and the subsequent creation of jobs and training opportunities across the City.

 

The Council recognises that the refurbishment of Britain’s schools, public buildings and council housing to improve energy efficiency has had received wide ranging support.  The Renewable Energy Association has called the Government’s plans ‘very positive, visionary and ambitious and the Local Government Association has called the plans a ‘a major step forward’ and the LGA have asked that energy suppliers pay a £500m annual charge to help fund a home insulation programme that would save 10 million households £280 a year on their energy bills, and create up to 20,000 new eco jobs.

 

Key proposals of the Great British Refurb include;

 

·        Finance packages to install energy efficiency measures and low-carbon heat and power sources would be offered to householders.  Repayment from part of the savings on energy bills would be linked to the property, rather than residents.

 

·        Combined with guaranteed cash payments by way of a Renewable Heat Incentive and a Feed-in Tariff for small scale electricity generation, the payback for homeowners who switch to low-carbon technologies and save energy would start from day one.

 

·        Options for improving the delivery of energy efficiency advice and measures, including establishing a central coordinating body funded by energy companies and working to Government-set targets.

 

·        Rolling out low-cost home energy audits, developing a qualification for energy advisers, and establishing an accreditation scheme for installers.

 

The Council accepts that it will also have a large role to play in developing renewable and low carbon heat and electricity, such as district heating schemes and asks:

 

(a)   The Cabinet Sustainability Committee to consider its responsibility to ensure;

 

·       Local schools, colleges and universities take full advantage of any future qualifications and apprenticeships linked to the instalment of environmentally friendly technology in the City’s homes,

 

·       Local people are kept informed of the benefits of the Great British Refurb, such as any paybacks for homeowners who switch to low carbon alternatives and training opportunities in green industries, through council publications such as the website and City News,

 

·       Work with local energy companies based in the City, as well as government departments to guarantee the best options, in terms of energy packages, training opportunities and jobs for residents and young people in the City,

 

(b)   The Council asks the Cabinet to consider whether there is a wish for any involvement in the roll out of the Great British Refurb, particularly with regards to any future skills and training initiatives, and

 

(c)    That the Acting Chief Executive write to the Department of Energy and Climate Change to outline the Council’s support for the scheme.”

 

11.14    The motion was carried.

 

 

(e)            Protecting Public Services.

 

11.15    The Notice of Motion as detailed in the agenda was proposed by Councillor Steedman and seconded by Councillor Kennedy.

 

11.16    The Mayor then put the following Notice of Motion to the vote:

 

“As a result of the economic troubles facing the UK, more and more people are turning to public services for support. However, in the context of current budget deficits, some commentators argue services are likely to experience real term budget cuts over the next decade. Making sure that vital front-line services which support the most vulnerable in our society have adequate funding is crucial to helping people across the UK weather the economic storm.

 

*    This council notes that the UK economy is experiencing grave difficulties:

 

-        The overall unemployment rate in the UK in June reached a 12 year high of 7.2 per cent.  (In Brighton & Hove more than 7000 people claimed Job Seekers Allowance in May 2009.)

 

-        The Financial Service Authority found in the same month that house repossessions are up 62 per cent in the last year.

 

-        The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in June revised down its forecast for the UK economy in 2009. It warns that the UK is in "a sharp recession" with output set to contract by 4.3 per cent in 2009, worse than its previous forecast of a 3.7 per cent fall.

 

*    Further, this council notes that periods of economic downturn often feature a rise in health, welfare and social problems, and that the more vulnerable members of society are likely to be disproportionately affected:

 

-        2008 saw 2.1million more prescriptions of antidepressants in England than in 2007.

 

-        66 per cent of Relate Centres (the UK's largest provider of relationship counselling) across the country have seen an increase in demand for their services.

 

-        Shelter has seen a 250 per cent increase in the number of calls to its free helpline regarding mortgage arrears over the last year.

 

-        The attorney general, Lady Scotland, has warned that domestic violence will rise with increased financial worries. (Rise, formerly known as the Women's Refuge Project in Brighton, says it is handling an average of about two dozen new referrals a month and the trend is up on last year.)

-        Ministers have conceded that the recession will make it more difficult for the government to meet its pledge to end child poverty (1 in 5 children in Brighton and Hove are growing up in poverty).

 

-        The Prime Minister has said: ‘historically, in tough economic times, there has been a rise in crimes of violence and theft.’

 

*    Further, this council notes that

 

-    Brighton and Hove is ranked as the 79th most deprived local authority in England - so falls within the most deprived 25 per cent of all authorities in England.

 

-    15 of the city’s 164 ‘super output areas’ (SOAs)  fall within the 10 per cent most deprived SOAs in England, with 8 SOAs falling in the 5 per cent most deprived. Deprivation in the city is allied to health inequalities (particularly around mental health), drug, alcohol and substance misuse and child poverty.

 

-  The city’s most recent Local Government Finance Settlement (which funds nearly 50 per cent of the council's net budget) saw Brighton & Hove City Council receive the minimum increase each year, known as a "grant floor increase", which is likely to continue for many years ahead.  The grant increase for 2009/10 is 1.75%, well below the national average increase for Unitary Councils of 3.4%.

 

*    Therefore this council resolves to request the Acting Chief Executive to write to the Chancellor, Alistair Darling MP and the Shadow Chancellor, George Osborne MP requesting that they:

 

-    commit to protect funding for frontline public services

 

-    take into consideration Brighton & Hove’s unique problems in any future financial settlement decisions.”

 

11.17    The motion was carried.

 

 

(f)             Metering Water Supply in Flats.

 

11.18    The Notice of Motion as detailed in the agenda was proposed by Councillor Duncan and seconded by Councillor Kitcat.

 

11.19    Councillor Caulfield proposed an amendment, seconded by Councillor Janio, which was accepted by Councillor Duncan.

 

11.20    The Mayor then put the following Notice of Motion as amended to the vote:

 

“This Council notes:

 

Basing charges for domestic water on the readings of a water meter is likely to result in a decrease in water bills, in some cases this has been reported to be as much as 60% a year.

 

Further, by creating a financial incentive to reduce water consumption, the installation of a water meter usually results in a marked reduction in annual household water consumption.

 

But Southern Water – the principal supplier of water to households in the city – has been either unable or unwilling to install individual water meters in a large number of flats owned by this council.

 

This means tenants and leaseholders living in council-owned blocks are likely to be paying more, on average, for their water, than those living in private houses – and have no direct incentive to try to reduce their water consumption.

 

Recent projections of the city and region’s climate predicted a large reduction in rainfall in coming decades – whilst the city’s population is set to increase: this is almost certain to increase pressure on supply, pushing up costs and requiring ongoing reduction in consumption to avoid interruptions in supply.

 

This Council resolves:

 

1.     To support the principle that charges for water should be made more fair: that the charging structure should be based on three key principles: (a) bills should reflect the amount of water actually used, (b) Southern Water should reward households for taking steps to reduce their water consumption, and (c) Southern Water should ensure that water is available for all, all the time, and that no-one chooses to use less water than they need for their health or welfare in order to reduce bills.

 

2.     To recognise and welcome the work already being done on this issue by tenants and staff working in the housing directorate, as well as the city’s High Rise Action Group and members of the Older Person’s Council and the Sheltered Housing Action Group.

 

3.     Support the principle that all residents should have the opportunity of havingindividual water meters fitted, where this is technically possible, with the cost borne by the water company– and that where this is not possible fairer charges for water should be applied.

 

4.     To support the principle that calculating water charges on the basis of the number of bedrooms in a residence rather than occupancy constitutes discrimination against single people as a class and an unfair pricing policy.

 

5.     To request the Acting Chief Executive to write to Southern Water (sending a copy to industry regulator Ofwat), urging the firm to rethink its policy on charging for water at unmetered properties, specifically that information is sought about the number of people living in a particular property and adjustments made to ensure water bills are cut for single and two-person dwellings, and that no charges for surface drainage are made to those living in properties with ‘soakaways’

 

6.     To request the Acting Chief Executive write to the city’s MPs with a copy of this Notice of Motion, urging them to support the principle of fairer charges for water.”

 

11.21    The motion was carried.