Agenda item

Motion C

Calling for fairer funding for local government

Proposer: Cllr Sarah Williams

Seconder: Cllr Anna Abela

Council notes

-          The current Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has on record stated that he, in his then role as the Chancellor of the Exchequer, had reversed the local government funding formulas implemented under the last Labour government in order to take funding from ‘urban deprived areas’ and distribute this funding to wealthier areas. 

-          The government’s ‘levelling up’ agenda is supposed to address inequality across the country, but some wealthy areas of England have seen 10 time more funding than the least well-off.

-          Local government is facing a funding gap of £3.4 billion in 2023/24 and £4.5 billion in 2024/25.

-          According to the Institute for Government, poorer areas have been hit disproportionally by a combination of cuts to neighbourhood services such as parks, libraries, refuse collection and children’s centres since 2010.

-          IFS research shows that:

o   In general, funding to local services in areas with greater need has fallen further and faster than spending in more affluent areas.

o   In areas with high need, spending on social care for adults and children is much lower than it is in areas where there is less need.

o   This will have serious long-term consequences in terms of equity, living standards, wellbeing, and economic success.

Council believes

-          That the government’s austerity agenda has, over the last 12 years, had devastating effects on our communities. 

-          That the Government’s levelling up agenda has paid little attention to the inequality within London itself and the socioeconomic challenges many Londoners face.

-          That ‘Levelling up’ will only be turned into a reality if councils have the powers and funding they need to tackle concentrations of deprivation and make our towns and communities attractive places to live, work and visit.

-          It is crucial that local services have a sustainable future which gives councils certainty over their funding, allowing councils to make decisions that will benefit communities in the long term.

Council resolves

-          To write to Rishi Sunak PM to request that:

o   the government return the money they have taken from deprived communities;

o   the government reassess their local government funding formula to reflect the principles of ‘levelling up’ and ensure that funding is allocated fairly and to the areas that need it most.

Housing Repairs

Motion D

Proposer: Councillor Dawn Barnes

Seconder: Councillor Luke Cawley-Harrison

Council Notes:

To meet the decent homes standard, homes must meet the following criteria:

o meet the current statutory minimum standard for housing

o be in a reasonable state of repair

o have reasonably modern facilities and services

o provide a reasonable degree of thermal comfort

In 2020/21 over a quarter of council homes in Haringey did not meet the decent homes standard;

In 2020/21 the council failed to meet its target for emergency repairs completed within timescale, and performance has worsened in 2021/22 (up to March);

In 2020/21 the council failed to meet its target for resident satisfaction with their last repair, and performance has worsened in 2021/22 (up to March);

In 2021/22 (up to March) almost 10% of urgent repairs were not completed within the government timescale;

Council believes that:

·  The administration’s welcome focus on building new council homes must not come at the cost of maintaining the current stock;

·  The council’s current performance when it comes to repairs is not good enough, and greater investment is needed;

·  Properly maintained council stock is more important than ever given the cost of living crisis;

·  Bringing the housing service in-house will not improve services for residents in and of itself, and public performance indicators have not improved since the service was taken in-house;

·  The Housing Online service is a useful way for residents to be able to check on progress of repairs;

Council resolves to:

·  Introduce a Service Level Agreement which includes an automatic compensation scheme for late and poor repairs on both council and council leasehold properties;

·  Fully replicate the reporting procedures of Homes for Haringey, with all reports being sent to the Housing, Planning and Development Scrutiny Panel.