Agenda item

Motion M (2009/10)

 

Councillor Canver has given notice that she will move in the following terms:

 

Tackling unauthorised conversions and HMO’s

 

“This Council Notes:

 

·        The announcement from the Labour Government that there will be new local powers for Councils to control the spread of high concentrations of shared rented homes and to tackle pockets of unsafe and substandard accommodation run by bad landlords.

·        That this legislation, due to come into effect from April would change the planning rules, giving local authorities the powers to manage the development of HMOs in their area

·        The changes also mean that landlords will need to apply for planning permission in order to establish a new HMO with a change of use and the Council also would have extra flexibility to license landlords

·        That badly managed HMO’s can create serious problems for residents, when the landlord does not comply with the law and does not provide safe and adequate facilities.

·        The current trials of risk rating systems to assess HMO’s in the borough, which targets resource at high risk accommodation.

·        The plan to target those problem HMO’s on the Ladder and carry out compliance inspections to ensure building and housing standards are in accordance with Building and Planning Law

·        The recent work by the Housing Improvement team in Harringay ladder area, via a letter drop informing residents in HMO’s of the standards required

·        That the recently allocated migration fund is being used to identify and co-ordinate speedy multi-agency action

·        The new strategic Corporate HMO Strategy currently under development which will target at problem premises through coordinating services in Street Action plans.

·        The strengthening of the application process for Certificates of Lawfulness, including reinvestigating suspicious applications.

·        The Council has begun to revoke Certificates of Lawfulness where relevant

·        The development of a Rogue Landlords/Property Initiative, which will establish a target list of offenders who will face action from a number of services including Legal Services, Police and Enforcement Officers.

·        The work of the HMO Members Advisory Group in tackling problem HMO’s and unauthorised developments.

 

This Council Believes

 

·        That we have a duty of care to all residents to ensure that standards of housing are of a decent level, and do not have a negative effect on vulnerable residents.

·        That badly managed HMO’s can be a source of anti social behaviour in the borough, particularly issues relating to noise.

·        The increased number of HMO’s provides strain on infrastructure and services in Haringey, specifically regarding parking and waste collection.

·        We should engage with cooperative landlords whilst ensuring that those landlords who fail to work proactively with the council and its strategic partners shall face repercussions.

·        That prosecuting those landlords who do not comply with legislation sends a strong message to other rogue landlords but the courts need to use the full powers available to them

·        That as soon more information on the recent legislative change is available the Council should commit to use all of the powers available

 

This Council Resolves:

 

·        To liaise with the Department of Communities and Local Government and relevant ministers to provide greater clarity on HMO legislation and remove bureaucracy.  

·        To work with landlords, occupants of HMO’s, and resident groups to accommodate the needs of all, particularly providing education about anti social behaviour.

·        Finalise and implement the Corporate HMO Strategy and Rogue Landlords/Property Initiative to tackle at risk premises in the borough.

·        To support those landlords who are cooperative and ensure that those who fail to comply with the law face repercussions”. 

 

Motion N (2009/10)

 

Councillor Peacock has given notice that she will move in the following terms:

 

Creating a safer borough

  

“This Council Notes:

 

·        The damaging effect that alcohol misuse can have on both crime and health inequalities, and is correlated strongly with anti social behaviour and criminal activity.

·        The NHS Statistic that 33% of men and 16% of women drink levels of alcohol which are detrimental to their health.

·        The implementation of Designated Street Drinking Control Zones in hotspot areas in the borough to tackle anti social behaviour and crime related to alcohol consumption.

·        In January 2009, all Safer Neighbourhood Teams reported a significant reduction in alcohol related anti social behaviour and nuisance related to alcohol consumption within Haringey Controlled drinking zones.

·        The perception by residents that Designated Street Drinking Control Zones have had a positive effect on the reduction of alcohol related crime and anti social behaviour, reflected in the reduced number of complaints to the Police about street drinking.

·        The significant reduction of alcohol related litter in Seven Sisters ward due to the implementation of Designated Street Drinking Control Zones.

·        The Haringey Crime Audit which evaluated that nearly a quarter of arrests in the borough were alcohol related.

·        The excellent work of Haringey Council’s Licensing Team which have completed over 700 risk assessments of alcohol license venues in the last year with a regularly revised list of target license holders for inspection.

·        A study showed that alcohol is a major driver behind domestic violence and the vast majority of alcohol related violence in the borough is domestic violence

·        Haringey Council’s funding of voluntary support groups including Haringey Advisory Group on alcohol, which offers a number of services to problem drinkers and their families.

·        The planned yellow/red card scheme which will ensure that those venues which breach alcohol licensing laws will face consequences, including withdrawal of their licence.

·        The proposed ‘code’ to be distributed to all alcohol retailers stating mandatory national conditions including limits on promotions and targeted conditions for hot spots.

·        That a number of under age sales test purchases have been carried out to crack down on underage sales

·        That it has currently embarked on migrant research programme to look at the relationship with street drinking

 

This Council Believes:

 

·        That tackling alcohol misuse has an important role to play in eradicating crime and health inequalities in the borough.

·        That those licensees who choose to act irresponsibly, and breach legislation shall face serious repercussions from the Council and our strategic partners.

 

This Council Resolves:

 

·        To utilise the stronger powers for local authorities to tackle the misuse of alcohol licenses under The Policing and Crime Act 2009 Bill

·        To continue to try and tackle the problems that alcohol can create, such as health inequalities, anti-social behaviour and crime”

 

Motion O (2009/10)

 

Councillor Aitken has given notice that he will move in the following terms:

 

“This Council notes with concern the London Mayor’s plan to cut £16.4million from Police budgets which will result in a cut of 455 police officer posts in London by the financial year 2012/13.

 

This Council is opposed to cuts in Police numbers.

 

This Council supports national Liberal Democrat proposals that would fund 10,000 extra police officers over and above the Government’s current commitment by scrapping the unnecessary and illiberal ID cards scheme and through wider savings in the Home Office budget.

 

This Council resolves to ask the Leader of the Council and the Chief Executive to write to the London Mayor voicing this Council’s opposition to the Police cuts proposed”.

 

 

Motion P (2009/10)

 

Councillor Weber has given notice that she will move in the following terms:

 

Cold Weather Payments

 

“Council notes that:

 

·        Cold Weather Payments of £25 per week are paid to people on low incomes who receive a qualifying benefit, such as Pension Credit.

·        The form to apply for Pension Credit is 18 pages long. The advisory notes on how to fill it in are 19 pages long.

·        Last year 1.7million pensioners missed out on an average of over £1700 each of pension credit

·        The Government has saved £17.5billion in 11 years that has not gone to struggling pensioners in pension credit payments.

 

This Council is concerned that the complexity of the system to claim Pension Credit has put so many people off claiming the credit and that consequently they also do not receive the additional cold weather payments.

 

This Council therefore resolves to ask the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State expressing Councils wish to see the system for claiming pension credit simplified”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Due to the hour Motions M, N, O & P (2009/10) were not considered.

 

 

 

The meeting ended at hours 22:01HRS