Agenda item

(time limit 30 minutes)

 

Motion 1

Councillor K Phythian to MOVE and Councillor Chadderton to SECOND:

Housing policy

This Council notes the complete confusion that now surrounds housing and planning policy following the collapse of the mini-budget, sacking of Kwasi Kwarteng as Chancellor and resignation of Prime Minister Liz Truss and subsequent Leadership election.

The status of proposals in the Levelling Up White Paper is in question and rumours about ‘supply side reforms’ abound.

This Council further notes the impact of Conservative Government policies on Oldham including:

1. The rise in households in housing need in Oldham - up a quarter in the past year – there are now over 7,000 households on the Housing Register waiting for a social home
2. Government refusal to fund general needs social homes in Oldham
3. Affordability issues in private developments meaning the target of 10% affordable homes on developments over 10 homes are often not met
4. Policy uncertainty leading to reluctance of developers to commit to new schemes
5. A hike in mortgage interest payments threatening many residents’ ability to pay and keep their home, making it harder for first time buyers and raising private tenants’ rents
6. Continued insecurity for private renters as no date is set for the abolition of Section 21 evictions despite a 2019 manifesto commitment

This Council believes that the best solution to Oldham’s Housing crisis is a Labour Government committed to: a reformed Private Rented Sector that works for renters and good landlords; helping Councils build good quality social homes at rents people can afford to pay; and help for first time buyers and home owners including abolishing leasehold as a tenure.

This Council resolves to write to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to ask for urgent clarification of the Government’s Housing and Planning policies and seeking assurance that

1. Section 21 evictions will be abolished in this session of Parliament
2. Any reforms of the Planning system will ensure local democratic control of the planning process and fund Councils to provide an efficient and effective service
3. Homes England will be directed to support all Councils to build homes for social rent
4. Requirements on developers to provide Affordable Homes will not be further watered down
5. Action will be taken to end land banking by developers
6. Help will be put in place to support mortgage payers who are threatened with losing their home because of Tory mismanagement of the economy

 

Motion 2

Councillor Jabbar to MOVE and Councillor Brownridge to SECOND

Cost-of-living; Pension Credits

Older people in Oldham face a harsh winter this year, with the cost-of-living crisis affecting older people disproportionately. The government’s support schemes haven’t gone far enough to support vulnerable older people, and the new chancellor’s announcements have done little to give people confidence or stability in the coming months.

Over three million households in the UK are eligible to claim pension credits, however over 800,000 of these households don’t claim it. In Greater Manchester this means that £70m in benefits went unclaimed last year, with over £6m in Oldham alone.

The Labour administration has pledged to ensure that residents in the town will have access to all support that they are entitled to, as people cannot rely on the government to support them when they are unable to support their own policies.

With energy bills, food, fuel and household essential prices rising, many older people in Oldham are forced to choose between staying warm or eating. Whilst government policy is ever changing, the Prime Minister cannot be trusted to help our older people, Oldham Council has taken action to support those who are most vulnerable during this cost-of-living crisis with our £3m We Can Help Campaign.

This Council notes:

• That during the Tory cost of living crisis, £6m in pension credits went unclaimed in Oldham last year, preventing those who are eligible to receive them using this money to support themselves during these difficult times.
• Last year Oldham’s Welfare Rights Team supported residents by helping them access over £1.8m worth of social security support.
• The government has failed to provide the necessary support and guidance to eligible pension credit recipients.
• As a local authority we are committed to ensuring that our vulnerable residents can access all the support they are eligible to receive.
• The work that the council are undertaking across all departments to ensure that the most vulnerable residents are supported.

This Council resolves to:

• Ensure that the council continues its joined up approach to supporting residents during the cost-of-living crisis, working across all areas to ensure that no resident suffers hardship due to their financial situation.
• Continue to support residents to access all the benefits they are entitled to access, through the Council’s Welfare Rights Team.
• Commit to working alongside Age UK to identify how the council can support older people during the cost-of-living crisis, including ensuring that everyone has access to food and heating.

This Council further resolves to:

• Instruct the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, asking them to make changes to the benefits system to ensure that eligible residents receive benefits automatically, rather than having to claim them; asking them to commit to raising all social security benefits in line with inflation.
• Work alongside the Greater Manchester Combined Authority Ageing Hub to identify more avenues of support for older people in the borough.

Motion 1 – Housing Policy

Councillor Kyle Phythian MOVED and Councillor Chadderton SECONDED the following Motion: Housing Policy

 

This Council notes the complete confusion that now surrounds housing and planning policy following the collapse of the mini budget, sacking of Kwasi Kwarteng as Chancellor and resignation of Prime Minister Liz Truss and subsequent Leadership election.

The status of proposals in the Levelling Up White Paper is in question and rumours about ‘supply side reforms’ abound.

This Council further notes the impact of Conservative Government policies on Oldham including:

1. The rise in households in housing need in Oldham - up a quarter in the past year – there are now over 7,000 households on the Housing Register waiting for a social home
2. Government refusal to fund general needs social homes in Oldham
3. Affordability issues in private developments meaning the target of 10% affordable homes on developments over 10 homes are often not met
4. Policy uncertainty leading to reluctance of developers to commit to new schemes
5. A hike in mortgage interest payments threatening many residents’ ability to pay and keep their home, making it harder for first time buyers and raising private tenants’ rents
6. Continued insecurity for private renters as no date is set for the abolition of Section 21 evictions despite a 2019 manifesto commitment

This Council believes that the best solution to Oldham’s Housing crisis is a Labour Government committed to: a reformed Private Rented Sector that works for renters and good landlords; helping Councils build good quality social homes at rents people can afford to pay; and help for first time buyers and home owners including abolishing leasehold as a tenure.

This Council resolves to write to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to ask for urgent clarification of the Government’s Housing and Planning policies and seeking assurance that

1. Section 21 evictions will be abolished in this session of Parliament
2. Any reforms of the Planning system will ensure local democratic control of the planning process and fund Councils to provide an efficient and effective service
3. Homes England will be directed to support all Councils to build homes for social rent
4. Requirements on developers to provide Affordable Homes will not be further watered down
5. Action will be taken to end land banking by developers
6. Help will be put in place to support mortgage payers who are threatened with losing their home because of Tory mismanagement of the economy.

 

1^st AMENDMENT

 

Councillor Woodvine MOVED and Councillor Lancaster SECONDED the following AMENDMENT

 

 

This Council welcomes the Prime Minister-elect, Rishi Sunak, who has set out clear and concise but bold policies for Planning in this country with an emphasis placed on protecting our precious, green, open spaces – particularly the Green Belt.

The ‘Levelling Up’ White Paper passing through Parliament and the grant funding received from the Conservative Government in its name has resulted in millions of extra pounds for this Metropolitan Borough Council.

This Council notes the impact of its own failing Labour Administration of the past decade, which has resulted in two of their consecutive Group Leaders losing their seats, has had on the Borough of Oldham, including:

1. Supporting and adopting into policy Mr. Burnham’s ‘Places for Everyone’

strategic plan for Greater Manchester which will destroy hundreds of hectares

of Green Belt across the Borough of Oldham.

2. Supporting Mr. Burnham as he has led Greater Manchester Police into special measures with spiralling crime rates (including crimes committed in housing settings) resulting in the intervention of the Conservative Government to turn things around.

3. Increasing Council Tax every year, adding greater financial pressure on homeowners who also have other costs, e.g. mortgage repayments, while recklessly spending the people of Oldham’s money on vanity projects, with Spindles set to make a loss in turnover totalling hundreds of thousands of pounds.

4. Not balancing the books and going over Budget with at least a projected

£6million overspend in this financial year alone, which adversely affects confidence in the Borough’s economy, therefore diminishing the attractiveness to buy a home locally.

5. Approving Planning Applications in Oldham which are detrimental to the

quality of life of the people living across our communities and contradict this

Council’s own Local Plan.

Therefore, this Council believes that the best solution to Oldham’s so called ‘housing crisis’ is the premiership of Rishi Sunak. This Council is ready for Rishi and resolves to write to the Prime Minister and his Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing, and Communities to:

a. Welcome them into their positions, wish them well and wish them every

success as they deliver real change for the country and show real leadership.

b. Thank them for their generosity in investing £105.85 million into Oldham’s

business, (brownfield) housing, health and education developments – truly

‘Levelling Up’ our Borough.

c. Support the Ten Point Plan – as set out by Mr. Sunak – which will scrap VAT on energy bills, scrap all EU laws to boost the economy as it bounces back, tackle illegal immigration (which is itself causes unsustainable demand on domestic housing stock), and protect Green Belt.

4. Support the missions of the ‘Levelling Up’ White Paper including productivity, public investment, pride in place, public transport, and paths to home ownership, which represent the right priorities.

In addition, this Council will use its strategic powers in Planning to resolve to: 1. Promote democratic input into the Planning process, in developing the Local Plan and relevant associated policies, to ensure the confidence of the people of the Borough.

2. End any of its current land banking in the Borough of Oldham.

3. Prioritise housing for veterans and service personnel, to strengthen delivery of the Armed Forces Covenant, which this Council is a signatory of, and as set out in the Localism Act (2011).

4. Prioritise housing for local people, as permitted under the Localism Act, by using a residency test with a requirement of having worked or lived in Oldham’s communities for 2+ years.

5. Condemn Mr. Burnham for his actions in causing undue distress to small/medium enterprises with his Clean Air Zone – which has so far wasted £60million of taxpayer’s money – and welcome its scaling back.

 

A vote was taken on the 1^st AMENDMENT, which was LOST

 

2^nd AMENDMENT

Councillor Al-Hamdani MOVED and Councillor Sykes SECONDED the following AMENDMENT

 

This Council notes the complete confusion that now surrounds housing and planning policy following the collapse of the mini-budget, sacking of Kwasi Kwarteng as Chancellor and resignation of Prime Minister Liz Truss and subsequent Leadership election.

The status of proposals in the Levelling Up White Paper is in question and rumours about ‘supply side reforms’ abound.

This Council further notes the impact of Conservative Government policies on Oldham including:

1.            The rise in households in housing need in Oldham - up a quarter in the past year – there are now over 7,000 households on the Housing Register waiting for a social home

2.            Government refusal to fund general needs social homes in Oldham

3.            Affordability issues in private developments meaning the target of 10% affordable homes on developments over 10 homes are often not met

4.            Policy uncertainty leading to reluctance of developers to commit to new schemes

5.            A hike in mortgage interest payments threatening many residents’ ability to pay and keep their home, making it harder for first time buyers and raising private tenants’ rents

6.            Continued insecurity for private renters as no date is set for the abolition of Section 21 evictions despite a 2019 manifesto commitment

7.            This Council believes and fund Councils to provide an efficient and effective service

8.            Homes England will be directed to support all Councils to build homes for social rent

9.            Requirements on developers to provide Affordable Homes will not be further watered down", or will be strengthened, including financial or legislative support to increase the proportion of affordable homes provided in areas of greater need

10.         Action will be taken to end land banking by developers

11.         Help will be put in place to support mortgage payers who are threatened with losing their home because of Tory mismanagement of the economy that the best solution to Oldham’s Housing crisis is a Government committed to: a reformed Private Rented Sector that works for renters and good landlords; helping Councils build good quality social homes at rents people can afford to pay; and help for first time buyers and home owners including abolishing leasehold as a tenure.

This Council resolves to write to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to ask for urgent clarification of the Government’s Housing and Planning policies and seeking assurance that:

1.    Section 21 evictions will be abolished in this session of Parliament.

2.    Any reforms of the Planning system will ensure local democratic control of the planning process.

 

On being put to the Vote the AMENDMENT was CARRIED.

 

On being put to the Vote the MOTION as AMENDED was CARRIED.

 

RESOLVED:

This Council resolves to request that the Chief Executive writes to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to ask for urgent clarification of the Government’s Housing and Planning policies and seeking assurance that:

1.         Section 21 evictions will be abolished in this session of Parliament.

2.         Any reforms of the Planning system will ensure local democratic control of the planning process.

 

Motion 2 – Cost of Living Pension Credits

Councillor Jabber MOVED and Councillor Brownridge SECONDED the following Motion: Cost of Living Pension Credits

 

Older people in Oldham face a harsh winter this year, with the cost-of-living crisis affecting older people disproportionately. The government’s support schemes haven’t gone far enough to support vulnerable older people, and the new chancellor’s announcements have done little to give people confidence or stability in the coming months.

Over three million households in the UK are eligible to claim pension credits, however over 800,000 of these households don’t claim it. In Greater Manchester this means that £70m in benefits went unclaimed last year, with over £6m in Oldham alone.

The Labour administration has pledged to ensure that residents in the town will have access to all support that they are entitled to, as people cannot rely on the government to support them when they are unable to support their own policies.

With energy bills, food, fuel and household essential prices rising, many older people in Oldham are forced to choose between staying warm or eating. Whilst government policy is ever changing, the Prime Minister cannot be trusted to help our older people, Oldham Council has taken action to support those who are most vulnerable during this cost-of-living crisis with our £3m We Can Help Campaign.

This Council notes:

•           That during the Tory cost of living crisis, £6m in pension credits went unclaimed in Oldham last year, preventing those who are eligible to receive them using this money to support themselves during these difficult times.

•           Last year Oldham’s Welfare Rights Team supported residents by helping them access over £1.8m worth of social security support.

•           The government has failed to provide the necessary support and guidance to eligible pension credit recipients.

•           As a local authority we are committed to ensuring that our vulnerable residents can access all the support they are eligible to receive.

•           The work that the council are undertaking across all departments to ensure that the most vulnerable residents are supported.

This Council resolves to:

•           Ensure that the council continues its joined up approach to supporting residents during the cost-of-living crisis, working across all areas to ensure that no resident suffers hardship due to their financial situation.

•           Continue to support residents to access all the benefits they are entitled to access, through the Council’s Welfare Rights Team.

•           Commit to working alongside Age UK to identify how the council can support older people during the cost-of-living crisis, including ensuring that everyone has access to food and heating.

This Council further resolves to:

•           Instruct the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, asking them to make changes to the benefits system to ensure that eligible residents receive benefits automatically, rather than having to claim them; asking them to commit to raising all social security benefits in line with inflation.

 

AMENDMENT

Councillor Quigg MOVED and Councillor McManus SECONDED the following AMENDMENT

Older people in Oldham face a harsh winter this year, with the cost-of-living crisis affecting older people disproportionately. The government’s support schemes haven’t gone far enough to support vulnerable older people and the new chancellor’s announcement have done little to give people confidence or stability in the coming months.

Over three million households in the UK are eligible to claim pension credits, however over 800,000 of these households don’t claim it. In Greater Manchester this means that £70m in benefits went unclaimed last year, with over £6m in Oldham alone.

The Labour administration has pledged to ensure that residents in the town will have access to all support that they are entitled to, as people cannot rely on the government to support them when they are unable to support their own policies.

With energy bills, food, fuel and household essential prices rising, many older people in Oldham are forced to choose between staying warm or eating. Whilst government policy is ever changing, the Prime Minister cannot be trusted to help our older people, Oldham Council has taken action to support those who are most vulnerable during this cost-of-living crisis with our £3m We Can Help Campaign.

This Council notes:

•           • That during the Tory cost of living crisis, £6m in pension credits went unclaimed in Oldham last year, preventing those who are eligible to receive them using this money to support themselves during these difficult times.

•           • Last year Oldham’s Welfare Rights Team supported residents by helping them access over £1.8m worth of social security support.

•           • The government has failed to provide the necessary support and guidance to eligible pension credit recipients.

•           • As a local authority we are committed to ensuring that our vulnerable residents can access all the support they are eligible to receive.

•           • The work that the council are undertaking across all departments to ensure that the most vulnerable residents are supported.

This Council resolves to:

•           • Ensure that the council continues its joined up approach to supporting residents during the cost-of-living crisis, working across all areas to ensure that no resident suffers hardship due to their financial situation.

•           • Continue to support residents to access all the benefits they are entitled to access, through the Council’s Welfare Rights Team.

•           • Commit to working alongside Age UK to identify how the council can support older people during the cost-of-living crisis, including ensuring that everyone has access to food and heating.

This Council further resolves to:

•           • Instruct the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, asking them to make changes to the benefits system to ensure that eligible residents receive benefits automatically, rather than having to claim them; asking them to commit to raising all social security benefits in line with inflation.

•           • Work alongside the Greater Manchester Combined Authority Ageing Hub to identify more avenues of support for older people in the borough.

The government’s support schemes to support vulnerable older people in Oldham through this winter include:

•           • A £400 payment to all homes paid as £66 a month over winter.

•           • A £650 payment to those on benefits (half's already been paid).

•           • A £150 payment to those with disabilities.

•           • £300 cost of living payment to pensioners.

•           • As well as a removal of green levies on household bills, worth about £150 off bills.

Over three million households in the UK are eligible to claim pension credits, however over 800,000 of these households don’t claim it. In Greater Manchester this means that £70m in benefits went unclaimed last year, with over £6m in Oldham alone. However, £60m was wasted by the Labour Mayor of Greater Manchester on the Clean Air Zone Charge in Greater Manchester, which could have been better spent on helping older people in Greater Manchester.

With energy bills, food, fuel, and household essential prices rising, due to rising inflation and the War in the Ukraine, the US Federal Reserve has said that the war (in Ukraine) will reduce global GDP by about 1.5 percent and leading to a rise in global inflation of about 1.3 percentage points. Locally residents or all ages face higher Council tax bills something which this Council can remedy but chooses not to do so.

The Council has pledged to ensure that residents in the town will have access to all support that they are entitled to.

This Council notes:

•           • That £6m in pension credits went unclaimed in Oldham last year, preventing those who are eligible to receive them using this money to support themselves during these difficult times.

•           • Last year Oldham’s Welfare Rights Team supported residents by helping them access over £1.8m worth of social security support.

•           • As a local authority we are committed to ensuring that our vulnerable residents can access all the support they are eligible to receive.

•           • The work that the council are undertaking across all departments to ensure that the most vulnerable residents are supported.

•           • The £3m ‘We Can Help Campaign’ to help local residents who need help.

This Council resolves to:

•           • Ensure that the council continues its joined up approach to supporting residents during the cost-of-living crisis, working across all areas to ensure that no resident suffers hardship due to their financial situation.

•           • Continue to support residents to access all the benefits they are entitled to access, through the Council’s Welfare Rights Team.

•           • Commit to working alongside Age UK to identify how the council can support older people during the cost-of-living crisis, including ensuring that everyone has access to food and heating.

•           • Stop punishing people with higher Council tax bills and to commit to freezing those bills instead.

This Council further resolves to:

•           • Instruct the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, asking them to make changes to the benefits system to ensure that eligible residents receive

•           benefits automatically, rather than having to claim them; asking them to commit to raising all social security benefits in line with inflation.

•           • Work alongside the Greater Manchester Combined Authority Ageing Hub to identify more avenues of support for older people in the borough.

•           • Condemn the £60m wasted by the Labour Mayor of Greater Manchester on the Clean Air Zone Charge in Greater Manchester, which could have been better spent on helping older people in Greater Manchester.

 

A vote was taken on the AMENDMENT which was LOST.

 

On being put to the Vote, the MOTION was CARRIED.

 

RESOLVED

1.    Ensure that the council continues its joined up approach to supporting residents during the cost-of-living crisis, working across all areas to ensure that no resident suffers hardship due to their financial situation.

2. Continue to support residents to access all the benefits they are entitled to access, through the Council’s Welfare Rights Team.
3. Commit to working alongside Age UK to identify how the council can support older people during the cost-of-living crisis, including ensuring that everyone has access to food and heating.

This Council further resolves to:

4.    Instruct the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, asking them to make changes to the benefits system to ensure that eligible residents receive benefits automatically, rather than having to claim them; asking them to commit to raising all social security benefits in line with inflation.

5. Work alongside the Greater Manchester Combined Authority Ageing Hub to identify more avenues of support for older people in the borough.