Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the Council Meeting held on 19 November 2015.

A period not exceeding three minutes is allowed for the presentation of a petition or deputation provided that no such petition or deputation is in relation to:

·            Matters relating to individual Council Officers, or

·            Matters relating to current or pending legal proceedings

To receive announcements from:

a)        The Mayor

b)        Leader of the Council

c)        Members of the Cabinet

d)        Chair of Committees

e)        Head of Paid Service

a)         Leader and Cabinet Members’ Question Time (30 minutes)

        Any member of the Council may ask the Leader of the Council or any Cabinet Member any question without prior notice, upon:

·       Any matter relating to the Council’s administration

·       Any matter relating to any report of the Cabinet appearing on the Council’s summons

·       A matter coming within their portfolio of responsibilities

        Only one supplementary question is allowed per question.

c)     Questions to Chairs of Meetings (15 Minutes)

To receive the report of the Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources seeking approval to retain the current Local Council Tax Support Scheme (LCTS) for 2016/17.

To receive the report of the Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources seeking approval to change the level of discount for Class C empty properties from 100% in the first month and 25% in subsequent 5 months, to 25% for the 6 months’ period.

To receive the report of the Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning seeking the adoption of the revised Playing Pitch Strategy and Artificial Grass Pitch Strategy following a period of public consultation.

To receive the report of the Members’ Allowances Panel concerning recommendations of the Panel with regard to the Council’s Members’ Allowances Scheme and to seek a decision on an appropriate scheme for the payment of allowances in 2016-17.

To receive the report of the Democratic and Electoral Services Manager seeking approval for the two-year programme of ordinary meetings of Council and other meetings for the period of May 2016 to April 2018.

1.    PROPOSED BY COUNCILLOR HOBBS

“More than half of new homes built today are not big enough to meet the needs of the people who live in them. Research by the Royal Institute of Architects shows that houses are being built up to 25sq ft smaller than the recommended size for a three bed family home.

This County needs to build more housing, but these houses need to be built to the recommended space standards.

This Council:

1.    Instructs the Planning Policy Committee to develop local planning policy which ensures all future houses are built to the recommended national space standards.

2.    Seeks to ensure the minimum standard is applied to the Joint Core Strategy.

3.    Calls on the MP to support a change in legislation through Parliament to make the recommended space standards be applied to all houses across the country.”

2.    PROPOSED BY COUNCILLOR HAIGH

“This Council notes that the announcement by the Government in July to cut social housing rents by 1% for the next four years has made it tougher for Councils and housing associations to build more housing across the country.

Before the General Election the City MP advocated and worked towards the transfer of the Council’s housing stock to an independent housing association. He spoke at the time of the investment in existing and new social housing this would allow as the Council was unable to borrow to do this. Since the election this announcement on rents together with introduction of the Housing and Planning Bill has set out a Government policy that will result in fewer homes being available for affordable and social rent. This was also supported by the Housing Minister, Kris Hopkins MP, our City MP and the City’s Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning.

This Council believes that tackling the housing deficit will require an increase in supply across all tenures. We support measures that increase home ownership but there is also a need to provide homes for affordable and social rent. Investing in affordable housing for low wage earners and those on social housing waiting lists can help reduce the £24 billion annual housing benefit bill; boost employment in the construction industry; support local economies; and reduce the £2.5 billion cost of poor quality housing to the NHS. We believe the Bill does not support this aspiration.

This Council calls on the Leader and the Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning to write to the City MP asking what he is doing to ensure that all residents of the City will be able to access the homes they need in the future and that his response is published on the Council website.”

3.    PROPOSED BY COUNCILLOR HILTON

“This Council expresses concern about the number of homeless people that have been sleeping rough on the streets of Gloucester this winter, particularly in the city centre.

This Council agrees that no-one should have to sleep rough on the streets of Gloucester and that this council should make provision for adequate emergency  ...  view the full agenda text for item 59.

No written questions have been received.