Motion D - Making London a National Park City
Proposer: Cllr Lorna Reith
Seconder: Cllr Liz McShane
Over the last 18 months, a movement has been growing in London to make the city a greener, healthier, fairer and even more beautiful place to live. The objective of the movement is to achieve National Park City status for Greater London.
This Councilnotes:
· That the Greater London Nation Park City initiative has already gained support from more than 100 organisations, ranging from small community groups to universities and large companies. In addition, the London Assembly unanimously passed a motion to help develop the proposals and further support has been given from Parliament and local government.
· That turning London into a National Park City will help:
o Ensure 100% of Londoners have free and easy access to high-quality green space
o Connect 100% of London’s children to nature
o Make the majority of London physically green
o Improve London’s air and water quality, year on year
o Improve the richness, connectivity and biodiversity of London’s habitats
o Inspire the building of affordable green homes
o Inspire new business activities
o Promote London as a Green World City
o Nurture a shared National Park City identity for Londoners
This Council further notes:
· That to become a National Park in England, Natural England (the Government’s adviser for the natural environment in England) must view a landscape as an ‘extensive tract of country’.
· That, with its distinctive, urban natural and cultural heritage, historic landscape, and many opportunities for outdoor recreation, London meets many requirements for becoming a National Park but it isn’t, however an ‘extensive tract of country’ in the spirit of existing legislation. As such, the intention of this initiative is to transform Greater London into a National Park City, a new kind of National Park that sits outside of current legislation.
· That London can become a National Park City once at least two-thirds (436) of London’s 654 wards, the Mayor of London and the London Assembly have declared their support.
· That 85% of Londoners think that making London a National Park City is a good idea and 84% think that it is something London Councils and the Mayor of London should support
· That Labour London Mayor Sadiq Khan has already given his backing and 210 wards, including many in Haringey, across 30 boroughs have also declared their support.
This Council recognises:
· That London’s landscape is central to our health and prosperity and the quality of the capital’s built and natural environment – its green, blue and open spaces – is what makes it one of the world’s most desirable cities in which to live, work and invest.
· That all Haringey’s green spaces, including 22 parks and open spaces managed by the Council which have been awarded Green Flag status, are incredibly important and provide many health and recreation benefits for residents.
This Council resolves:
· To supportthe campaign to make London a National Park City
· To encourage councillors from all wards in the borough to give their support to the initiative.
· To writeto both MPs in Haringey to encourage them to also give their full public backing to the initiative.
Motion E – Renters’ Bill
Proposer: Cllr Gail Engert
Seconder: Cllr Liz Morris
This council notes Baroness Grenders’ private member bill on renters’ rights, which is currently at the committee stage in the House of Lords. If passed this bill could bring significant changes to the rented housing sector in Haringey and the rest of the country.
This council notes that the Renters’ Bill, which is supported by Generation Rent and the Debrief’s “Make Renting Fair” campaign, proposes to:
· Ban letting fees for renters
· Give renters access to an open register of rogue landlords
· Bring in compulsory electrical safety checks in rented homes
· Prevent rogue landlords from obtaining an HMO licence
This council is concerned that letting fees and rogue landlords have a significant impact on local residents in Haringey and across the country, with almost one in five of the population, one-third of them families with children, renting. In fact, Just under a quarter of renters in London have moved three times or more in the past five years.
This council also notes the impact of letting fees, moving costs and agencies:
· In London, the median amount that renters must pay before moving is £1,500, and in many cases the cost is several thousand pounds.
· Citizens Advice, has seen 80,000 people with a problem in the private rented sector in the last year, with an 8% increase in complaints about letting agent.
This council further notes:
· letting fees for tenants have already been banned in Scotland
· the Government have introduced legislation on rogue landlords in the Housing and Planning Act 2016, but they stopped short of giving tenants access to the list of rogue landlords
This council is committed to improving standards for renters and supports the Renters’ Bill. This council calls on the Leader of the Council to write to the local MPs and urge them to support the bill when it reaches the House of Commons.
Minutes:
The Mayor set out that there were two motions tabled for debate, and invited Councillor Reith to introduce the first motion.
Councillor Reith set out the background to her motion, and the broad support for London being a National Park City. It would make London be seen differently, and ensure pride in its parks, and give a greater sense of public ownership and guardianship over them. Ultimately, this would make London greener and a more healthy place to live.
Seconding the motion, Councillor McShane outlined the number parks
and green spaces in the borough, and thanked the parks service for
its work to maintain them. The motion would show Haringey’s
support for the value of its parks.
Councillor Doron echoed the sentiments made, and set out Haringey was one of the greenest boroughs in one of the greenest capital cities in the world. He encouraged all members to agree the motion.
Councillor Carter welcomed the motion, particularly as the nineteenth ward in the borough had expressed support for this motion very recently.
Councillor Berryman welcomed the improvement to Haringey’s parks over many years, and believed there was a public interest in maintaining good parks with public funds, given their environmental and social benefits.
Councillor Ahmet welcomed the motion and support for the campaign across the borough, and added her thanks to the parks staff.
Responding, Councillor Reith set out this was the beginning of the campaign, which Haringey had showed clear support for.
The Mayor then put the motion to Council, when it was agreed by acclamation.
Proposing the second motion, Councillor Engert referred to her earlier remarks and recommended it be moved without discussion. Councillor Morris seconded the motion.
Responding, Councillor Kober said that the matter was of great importance to residents and beyond party politics, and that her group would support it.
The Mayor then put the motion to Council, when it was agreed by acclamation.
RESOLVED
Motion D - Making London a National Park City
Over the last 18 months, a movement has been growing in London to make the city a greener, healthier, fairer and even more beautiful place to live. The objective of the movement is to achieve National Park City status for Greater London.
This Council notes:
· That the Greater London Nation Park City initiative has already gained support from more than 100 organisations, ranging from small community groups to universities and large companies. In addition, the London Assembly unanimously passed a motion to help develop the proposals and further support has been given from Parliament and local government.
· That turning London into a National Park City will help:
Ensure 100% of Londoners have free and easy access to high-quality green space
Connect 100% of London’s children to nature
Make the majority of London physically green
Improve London’s air and water quality, year on year
Improve the richness, connectivity and biodiversity of London’s habitats
Inspire the building of affordable green homes
Inspire new business activities
Promote London as a Green World City
Nurture a shared National Park City identity for Londoners
This Council further notes:
· That to become a National Park in England, Natural England (the Government’s adviser for the natural environment in England) must view a landscape as an ‘extensive tract of country’.
· That, with its distinctive, urban natural and cultural heritage, historic landscape, and many opportunities for outdoor recreation, London meets many requirements for becoming a National Park but it isn’t, however an ‘extensive tract of country’ in the spirit of existing legislation. As such, the intention of this initiative is to transform Greater London into a National Park City, a new kind of National Park that sits outside of current legislation.
· That London can become a National Park City once at least two-thirds (436) of London’s 654 wards, the Mayor of London and the London Assembly have declared their support.
· That 85% of Londoners think that making London a National Park City is a good idea and 84% think that it is something London Councils and the Mayor of London should support
· That Labour London Mayor Sadiq Khan has already given his backing and 210 wards, including many in Haringey, across 30 boroughs have also declared their support.
This Council recognises:
· That London’s landscape is central to our health and prosperity and the quality of the capital’s built and natural environment – its green, blue and open spaces – is what makes it one of the world’s most desirable cities in which to live, work and invest.
· That all Haringey’s green spaces, including 22 parks and open spaces managed by the Council which have been awarded Green Flag status, are incredibly important and provide many health and recreation benefits for residents.
This Council resolves:
· To support the campaign to make London a National Park City
· To encourage councillors from all wards in the borough to give their support to the initiative.
· To write to both MPs in Haringey to encourage them to also give their full public backing to the initiative.
Motion E – Renters’ Bill
This council notes Baroness Grenders’ private member bill on renters’ rights, which is currently at the committee stage in the House of Lords. If passed this bill could bring significant changes to the rented housing sector in Haringey and the rest of the country.
This council notes that the Renters’ Bill, which is supported by Generation Rent and the Debrief’s “Make Renting Fair” campaign, proposes to:
· Ban letting fees for renters
· Give renters access to an open register of rogue landlords
· Bring in compulsory electrical safety checks in rented homes
· Prevent rogue landlords from obtaining an HMO licence
This council is concerned that letting fees and rogue landlords have a significant impact on local residents in Haringey and across the country, with almost one in five of the population, one-third of them families with children, renting. In fact, Just under a quarter of renters in London have moved three times or more in the past five years.
This council also notes the impact of letting fees, moving costs and agencies:
· In London, the median amount that renters must pay before moving is £1,500, and in many cases the cost is several thousand pounds.
· Citizens Advice, has seen 80,000 people with a problem in the private rented sector in the last year, with an 8% increase in complaints about letting agent.
This council further notes:
· letting fees for tenants have already been banned in Scotland
· the Government have introduced legislation on rogue landlords in the Housing and Planning Act 2016, but they stopped short of giving tenants access to the list of rogue landlords
This council is committed to improving standards for renters and supports the Renters’ Bill. This council calls on the Leader of the Council to write to the local MPs and urge them to support the bill when it reaches the House of Commons.