Agenda item

Motion J (2010/11)

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

Local Housing Allowance

Notes:

• The coalition Government’s decision to slash the cap on the Local Housing Allowance (LHA), with a resulting reduction in the amount of housing benefit paid towards the rent.
• That it’s estimated that 218 claimants in Haringey will be directly affected by this change
• That due to higher rents in the capital changes in the LHA cap disproportionately affects Londoners.
• London Council’s predictions that nearly 15,000 families could lose their homes or live in overcrowded conditions as a result of this change.
• That more than one in three private sector homes are rented by families in receipt of LHA of Housing benefit, with 18,645 households in London affected.
• That 14,661 of households with children will be affected by the slash on Local Housing Allowance
• That 10,500 households living in inner London could be forced to move to outer London, putting a strain on local services
• That the new LHA cap is lower than the existing cap for all 33 London boroughs for five bedroom homes, in 25 boroughs for four bedroom homes and in 18 boroughs for homes with three and two bedrooms.

Believes:

• That this a socially divisive policy that will affect a wider range of people than just those in receipt of LHA
• That this cap could create major social dislocation as many families will be forced out of their communities because they will no longer be able to afford their rent
• That Haringey as an Outer London borough may see greater pressure put on services, as people are forced to move out of inner London
• The new cap will result in increased levels of rent arrears, overcrowding, and families living in temporary accommodation, as people will struggle to meet increased costs
• That creating transitional arrangements in London would allow the government to reduce the level of LHA being paid, while seeking to protect the most vulnerable households.

Resolves:

·        Continue to work with members of the community who will be affected by this decision, liaise with other local authorities and our partner agencies to mitigate the impacts of the cap.

·        Call on the Government to rethink its action and look at bringing transitional arrangements in London  

Motion K (2010/11)

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

Fair Votes Motion

This Council supports moves to change our parliamentary voting system, which will see Haringey’s Members of Parliament elected under a fairer system. 

Council calls on the Returning Officer to take steps to promote participation in the Referendum.

Motion L (2010/11)

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

Rogue Landlord Motion

This Council notes:

• A recent survey by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) showing that of those officers working on housing enforcement in the private rented sector, nine out of ten had encountered landlords engaging in harassment or illegal eviction, and 78% had dealt with landlords who persistently refuse to maintain their property to a safe condition
• It is only a minority of private landlords that are threatening and abusive to their tenants

• The damage rogue landlords can have on vulnerable tenants and the wider community
• The lack of protection for tenants if they make a complaint against a landlord
• Local authorities can serve an improvement notice or prohibition order where housing conditions fall below an acceptable standard. If the landlord fails to comply they can be prosecuted.
• Harassment and illegal eviction are criminal offences. Local authorities can prosecute landlords who commit these crimes.
• Shelter’s recent survey with the CIEH, shows 66% of Environmental Health Officers working in the private rented sector said that in their area no landlords had been prosecuted in the last 12 months for failure to comply with an order under the 2004 Housing Act, although over 40% said that under a quarter of such orders issued by their local authority had been complied with.

The Council resolves

·        To take a zero tolerance approach to rogue landlords

·        To use the full range of tools and powers at our disposal to tackle rogue landlords

·        To carry out regular housing conditions surveys, focusing on areas in which the stock is poorly maintained and the level of private renting is highest.

·        To use in instances where the Councils becomes aware of rogue landlords operating in low demand areas, to consider using power to introduce a selective licensing scheme.

·        To back up their enforcement policies with adequate resources to make them enforceable as the cost of rogue landlords’ activities will be picked up in other ways, such as a higher number of tenants requiring homelessness assistance.

·        To take advantage of the provisions of the 2004 Housing Act, which allows a recoup of costs by charging the landlord.

 Motion M (2010/11)

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

Council welcomes

• The news that the Government has committed itself to the key Liberal Democrat pledge of providing more social housing by scrapping the Housing Revenue Account subsidy system.
• In particular it welcomes the council retaining all receipts from Right to Buy sales and the council retaining all money from rents in their area, rather than seeing the rent income and most of the Right to Buy receipts going to Whitehall.

Council recognises

• It will mean a much-needed boost for repair and maintenance of existing council properties, and for the building of new social housing.
• It congratulates all who worked hard for this change in approach, including the Local Government Association and all others involved with the "My Rent went to Whitehall" campaign, and sees the announcement as another good example of Liberal Democrat influence inside the Coalition Government.

This Council resolves to:- 

• Condemn the previous Labour Government for its 13 year long failure to reform the HRA system which meant few council homes being built and a continued backlog of repairs needed to council-owned housing stock across the country.
• Request the Chief Executive to write to the LGA commending them and partner organisations for their hard work and success with the “My Rent Went to Whitehall’ campaign
• Request the Chief Executive write to the Coalition Government welcoming its commitment to scrap the HRA system

MOTION J 2010/11

It was moved by Councillor Bevan and seconded by Councillor Stewart that:

This Council Notes:

• The coalition Government’s decision to slash the cap on the Local Housing Allowance (LHA), with a resulting reduction in the amount of housing benefit paid towards the rent.
• That it’s estimated that 218 claimants in Haringey will be directly affected by this change
• That due to higher rents in the capital changes in the LHA cap disproportionately affects Londoners.
• London Council’s predictions that nearly 15,000 families could lose their homes or live in overcrowded conditions as a result of this change.
• That more than one in three private sector homes are rented by families in receipt of LHA of Housing benefit, with 18,645 households in London affected.
• That 14,661 of households with children will be affected by the slash on Local Housing Allowance
• That 10,500 households living in inner London could be forced to move to outer London, putting a strain on local services
• That the new LHA cap is lower than the existing cap for all 33 London boroughs for five bedroom homes, in 25 boroughs for four bedroom homes and in 18 boroughs for homes with three and two bedrooms.

Believes:

• That this a socially divisive policy that will affect a wider range of people than just those in receipt of LHA
• That this cap could create major social dislocation as many families will be forced out of their communities because they will no longer be able to afford their rent
• That Haringey as an Outer London borough may see greater pressure put on services, as people are forced to move out of inner London
• The new cap will result in increased levels of rent arrears, overcrowding, and families living in temporary accommodation, as people will struggle to meet increased costs
• That creating transitional arrangements in London would allow the government to reduce the level of LHA being paid, while seeking to protect the most vulnerable households.

Resolves:

• Continue to work with members of the community who will be affected by this decision, liaise with other local authorities and our partner agencies to mitigate the impacts of the cap.
• Call on the Government to rethink its action and look at bringing transitional arrangements in London  

An amendment to the motion was moved by Councillor Wilson and seconded by Councillor Jenks that:

(Amendments are in italics and in bold, deletions have been struck through)

This Council notes:

·      The coalition Government’s decision to slash the cap on the Local Housing Allowance (LHA), with a resulting reduction in the amount of housing benefit paid towards the rent.

·      That it’s estimated that 218 claimants in Haringey will be directly affected by this change

·      That due to higher rents in the capital changes in the LHA cap disproportionately affects Londoners.

·      London Council’s predictions that nearly 15,000 families could lose their homes or live in overcrowded conditions as a result of this change.

·      That more than one in three private sector homes are rented by families in receipt of LHA of Housing benefit, with 18,645 households in London affected.

·      That 14,661 of households with children will be affected by the slash on Local Housing Allowance

·      That 10,500 households living in inner London could be forced to move to outer London, putting a strain on local services

·      That the new LHA cap is lower than the existing cap for all 33 London boroughs for five bedroom homes, in 25 boroughs for four bedroom homes and in 18 boroughs for homes with three and two bedrooms.

·      That the Housing Benefit bill to taxpayers has increased by £7.3billion since 2002

·      The coalition government has increased Discretionary Housing Payments

Notes with concern:

·      The Council’s poor performance in assessing local residents’ Housing Benefit and Local Housing Allowance claims

Believes: 

·      That this a socially divisive policy that will affect a wider range of people than just those in receipt of LHA

·      That this cap could create major social dislocation as many families will be forced out of their communities because they will no longer be able to afford their rent

·      That Haringey as an Outer London borough may see greater pressure put on services, as people are forced to move out of inner London

·      The new cap will result in increased levels of rent arrears, overcrowding, and families living in temporary accommodation, as people will struggle to meet increased costs

·      Reform of the Housing Benefit and LHA system is needed to reduce the increasingly unsustainable budget

·      That creating transitional arrangements in London would allow the government to reduce the level of LHA being paid, while seeking to protect the most vulnerable households.

Resolves:

·      Continue to work with members of the community who will be affected by this decision, liaise with other local authorities and our partner agencies to mitigate the impacts of the cap.

·      Call on the Government to rethink its action and look at bringing transitional arrangements in London

·      Calls on the Council to closely examine the affects of the LHA changes on Haringey’s residents, respond quickly and ensure smooth administration of Discretionary Housing Payments

On being put to the vote the amendment was declared LOST (22 for, 32 against).

The Motion was declared CARRIED following a recorded vote, as follows:

For the Motion: The Deputy Mayor (Councillor Adamou), Councillors Adje, Amin, Basu, Bevan, Brabazon, Browne, Bull, Canver, Christophides, Cooke, Demirci, Diakides, Dogus, Egan, Ejiofor, Gibson, Goldberg, Khan, Kober, Mallett, McNamara, Meehan, Peacock, Reith, Rice, Stennett, Stewart, Strickland, Vanier, Waters and Watson.

Abstentions: Councillors Alexander, Allison, Beacham, Bloch, Butcher, Engert, Erskine, Gorrie, Hare, Jenks, Newton, Reece, Reid, Schmitz, Scott, Solomon, Strang, Weber, Whyte, Williams, Wilson and Winskill.

Absent:  Councillors Davies and Stanton.

Due to the hour, motions K, L and M were not considered.