(time limit 30 minutes)
Motion 1
Abolition of Section 21 no fault evictions
Councillor Leach to MOVE and Councillor Fielding to SECOND:
This Council notes that:
(Tenancies) (Scotland) Act 2016.
This Council believes Abolishing Section 21 no-fault evictions:
This Council therefore:
Motion 2
Calling on the Government to fund free TV licences for all over 75s
Councillor Stretton to MOVE and Councillor G Hulme to MOVE:
This Council notes that the government has withdrawn funding from the BBC which has hitherto covered the cost of free TV Licences for all pensioners over the age of 75. The government shifted the responsibility for deciding whether the free TV License should continue to be available to all pensioners and, if so, how it would be funded to the BBC in 2015. The BBC have announced that after the end of June next year the free TV licence will only be available to households where there is a pensioner over the age of 75 who is in receipt of Pension Credits.
This Council also notes the recent Joseph Rowntree Foundation report that says one in 6 pensioners are living in poverty and pensioner poverty is rising. Furthermore, in the most recent government statistics for take up of pension credits (2016 -2017) only 6 out of 10 pensioners who were entitled to the benefit claimed it and only 64 per cent of the total amount of Pension Credit that could have been claimed was claimed.
This Council believes it is clear that the cost of a TV Licence at £154.50 will be prohibitive for many and as a result many pensioners will be without the benefit of TV.
This Council calls upon the Government to reinstate the funding to the BBC to enable the retention of the free colour TV licence for all over 75’s.
This Council resolves to instruct the Chief Executive to write to the Borough’s three MPs calling on them to demand that government reinstate the funding to the BBC to allow free TV licences for all over 75s.
Minutes:
Motion 1 – Abolition of Section 21 No Fault Evictions
Councillor Leach MOVED and Councillor Fielding SECONDED the following motion:
“This Council notes that:
· No fault evictions introduced under Section 21 of the 1988 Housing Act, allow landlords to evict tenants, without having to give a reason, once the term of the tenancy has expired;
· 80% of England’s 11 million renters are on tenancies with fixed terms of six months or a year; after this period has ended, landlords can evict their tenants under Section 21 without cause;
· Research published by The Observer campaign group Generation Rent indicates that Section 21 evictions are now the single biggest cause of homelessness in England; and that
· In 2017, the Scottish Government made tenancies indefinite and banned no-fault evictions under the terms of the Private Housing (Tenancies) (Scotland) Act 2016.
This Council believes Abolishing Section 21 no-fault evictions:
· Would help to make renting more secure and communities more stable, improve standards and increase tenant confidence;
· Would further help to tackle homelessness, which should be a priority for government at all levels; and
· Should happen as soon as practicably possible.
The Council therefore:
· Welcomes the UK Government announcement in April of plans to consult on new legislation to abolish Section 21 no-fault evictions in England; and
· Resolves to work with the Unfair Evictions Campaign led by Generation Rent, the New Economics Foundation and renters’ unions, to bring about the swift abolition of Section 21 no-fault evictions.”
Councillor Al-Hamdani spoke in support of the Motion.
Councillor Harkness spoke in support of the Motion.
Councillor Curley spoke in support of the Motion.
Councillor Chadderton spoke in support of the Motion.
Councillor Judd spoke in support of the Motion.
Councillor Roberts spoke in support of the Motion.
Councillor Leach exercised her right of reply.
On being put to the vote the MOTION was therefore CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
RESOLVED that:
1. The UK Government announcement of plans to consult on new legislation to abolish Section 21 no-fault evictions in England be welcomed.
2. The Council resolved to work with the Unfair Evictions Campaign led by Generation Rent, the New Economics Foundation and renters’ union to bring about the swift abolition of Section 21 no-fault evictions.
Motion 2 – Calling on the Government to Fund Free TV Licences for all over 75s
Councillor Stretton MOVED and Councillor Hulme SECONDED the following MOTION:
“This Council notes that the government has withdrawn funding from the BBC which has hitherto covered the cost of free TV Licences for all pensioners over the age of 75. The government shifted the responsibility for deciding whether the free TV License should continue to be available to all pensioners and, if so, how it would be funded to the BBC in 2015. The BBC have announced that after the end of June next year the free TV Licence will only be available to households where there is a pensioner over the age of 75 who is in receipt of Pension Credits.
This Council also notes the recent Joseph Rowntree Foundation report that says one in 6 pensioners are living in poverty and pensioner poverty is rising. Furthermore, in the most recent government statistics for take up of pension credits (2016-17) only 6 out of 10 pensioners who were entitled to the benefit claimed it and only 64 percent of the total amount of Pension Credit that could have been claimed was claimed.
The Council believes it is clear that the cost of a TV Licence at £154.50 will be prohibitive for many and as a result many pensioners will be without the benefit of TV.
This Council calls upon the Government to reinstate the funding to the BBC to enable the retention of the free colour TV licence for all over 75’s.
This Council resolves to instruct the Chief Executive to write to the Borough’s three MPs calling on them to demand the government reinstate the funding to the BBC to allow free TV licences for all over 75s.”
AMENDMENT
The Chief Executive had been notified that Councillor Williamson had to leave the meeting and was unable to Move the Motion and notice had been given that Councillor Sykes would Move the Motion in her absence which was AGREED.
Councillor Sykes MOVED and Councillor Harkness SECONDED the following AMENDMENT:
“At the end of paragraph 3 add a new sentence:
‘By promoting the take-up of Pension Credit by all of those eligible to do so, the Council would be taking a practical action to help address pensioner poverty, whilst helping guarantee entitlement to a free TV licence for those pensioners aged 75 or over living with poverty.’
Add a further bullet point at the end:
‘This Council also resolves to work with our partners who advise or provide services to older residents in this borough to promote the take up of Pension Credit by residents who are eligible for this benefit, but who currently fail to claim. The take-up campaign should highlight the entitlement to a free TV licence for those aged 75 or over in receipt of Pension Credit.’
The motion as amended to read:
“This Council notes that the government has withdrawn funding from the BBC which has hitherto covered the cost of free TV Licences for all pensioners over the age of 75. The government shifted the responsibility for deciding whether the free TV License should continue to be available to all pensioners and, if so, how it would be funded to the BBC in 2015. The BBC have announced that after the end of June next year the free TV Licence will only be available to households where there is a pensioner over the age of 75 who is in receipt of Pension Credits.
This Council also notes the recent Joseph Rowntree Foundation report that says one in 6 pensioners are living in poverty and pensioner poverty is rising. Furthermore, in the most recent government statistics for take up of pension credits (2016-17) only 6 out of 10 pensioners who were entitled to the benefit claimed it and only 64 percent of the total amount of Pension Credit that could have been claimed was claimed.
The Council believes it is clear that the cost of a TV Licence at £154.50 will be prohibitive for many and as a result many pensioners will be without the benefit of TV. By promoting the take-up of Pension Credit by all of those eligible to do so, the Council would be taking a practical action to help address pensioner poverty, whilst helping guarantee entitlement to a free TV licence for those pensioners aged 75 or over living with poverty.
This Council calls upon the Government to reinstate the funding to the BBC to enable the retention of the free colour TV licence for all over 75’s.
This Council resolves to instruct the Chief Executive to write to the Borough’s three MPs calling on them to demand the government reinstate the funding to the BBC to allow free TV licences for all over 75s.
This Council also resolves to work with our partners who advise or provide services to older residents in this borough to promote the take up of Pension Credit by residents who are eligible for this benefit, but who currently fail to claim. The take-up campaign should highlight the entitlement to a free TV licence for those aged 75 or over in receipt of Pension Credit.”
Councillor Stretton in moving the MOTION ACCEPTED the AMENDMENT.
A vote was then taken on the AMENDMENT.
On being put to the vote, the AMENDMENT was CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Councillor Harkness who spoke in support of the Substantive Motion.
Councillor Ur-Rehman spoke in support of the Substantive Motion.
Councillor Stretton exercised her right of reply.
On being put to the vote, the SUBSTANTIVE MOTION was CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
RESOLVED that:
1. The Chief Executive be instructed to write to the Borough’s three MPs calling on them to demand that government reinstate the funding to the BBC to allow free TV licences for all over 75s.
2. The Council would work with our partners who advised or provided services to older residents in this borough to promote the take up Pension Credit by residents who were eligible for this benefit, but who currently failed to claim. The take-up campaign should highlight the entitlement to a free TV licence for those aged 75 or over in receipt of Pension Credit.