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 night shelter accommodation so that the homeless can be offered somewhere warm to stay overnight.
This Council, therefore asks, the Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning to report back to this Council with proposals to provide enhanced support to homeless people who arrive in Gloucester, ensuring that no-one has to sleep rough within the boundaries of this Council.”
4. PROPOSED BY COUNCILLOR JAMES
“This Council:
notes that 2016 is the 800th anniversary of the coronation of Henry III in Gloucester Cathedral and resolves to work with the Cathedral, Marketing Gloucester and other partners to maximise the benefits in social, cultural and economic terms of this important occasion;
notes the suggestion made on social media that Gloucester should petition to be granted Royal City status on the basis of the Henry III anniversary and the city’s many other royal connections and resolves to consult the public and key stakeholders, including the City MP, as to whether this suggestion should be pursued.”
Minutes:
(1) Notice of Motion from the Labour Group
59.1 Moved by Councillor Hobbs and seconded by Councillor Smith:
“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.
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.”
59.2 The motion was put to the vote and was lost.
(2) Notice of Motion from the Labour Group
59.3 Moved by Councillor Haigh and seconded by Councillor Smith:
“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.”
59.4 The motion was put to the vote and was lost.
(3) Notice of Motion from the Liberal Democrat Group
59.5 Moved by Councillor Hilton and seconded by Councillor McLellan:
“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 night shelter accommodation so that the homeless can be offered somewhere warm to stay overnight.
This Council, therefore asks, the Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning to report back to this Council with proposals to provide enhanced support to homeless people who arrive in Gloucester, ensuring that no-one has to sleep rough within the boundaries of this Council.”
59.6 Councillor Organ moved the following amendment, which was seconded by Councillor James:
“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 there should continue to be
provision for adequate emergency night shelter accommodation
so that the homeless can be offered somewhere warm to stay
overnight.;
notes that many rough sleepers do have accommodation elsewhere and acknowledges that the decision to sleep rough is often as a result of complex personal issues;
This Council, therefore asks, the Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning to
report back to this Council Members with
proposals to provide enhanced support to homeless people who
arrive in Gloucester, ensuring that no-one has to sleep rough
within the boundaries of this Council details of
the outreach service provided by St Mungos and proposals to secure additional emergency
accommodation in partnership with other local
authorities.”
59.7 Councillor Hilton accepted the amendment.
59.8 The following motion, as amended, was put to the vote and was carried:
“This Council:
expresses concern about the number of people that have been sleeping rough on the streets of Gloucester this winter, particularly in the city centre;
agrees that no-one should have to sleep rough on the streets of Gloucester and that there should continue to be provision for adequate emergency accommodation so that the homeless can be offered somewhere warm to stay overnight;
notes that many rough sleepers do have accommodation elsewhere and acknowledges that the decision to sleep rough is often as a result of complex personal issues;
asks the Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning to report back to Members with details of the outreach service provided by St Mungos and proposals to secure additional emergency accommodation in partnership with other local authorities.”
59.9 The motion was put to the vote and was carried.
(4) Notice of Motion from the Conservative Group
59.10 Moved by Councillor James and seconded by Councillor Noakes:
“This Council:
notes that 2016 is the 800th anniversary of the coronation of Henry III in Gloucester Cathedral and resolves to work with the Cathedral, Marketing Gloucester and other partners to maximise the benefits in social, cultural and economic terms of this important occasion;
notes the suggestion made on social media that Gloucester should petition to be granted Royal City status on the basis of the Henry III anniversary and the city’s many other royal connections and resolves to consult the public and key stakeholders, including the City MP, as to whether this suggestion should be pursued.”
59.11 Councillor Hilton moved the following amendment, which was seconded by Councillor McLellan:
“This Council:
notes that 2016 is the 800th anniversary of the coronation of Henry III in Gloucester Cathedral and resolves to work with the Cathedral, Marketing Gloucester and other partners to maximise the benefits in social, cultural and economic terms of this important occasion;
notes the suggestion made on social media that Gloucester should petition to be granted Royal City status on the basis of the Henry III anniversary and the city’s many other royal connections and resolves to consider this at an all-party working group ahead of consulting the public and key stakeholders, including the City MP, as to whether this suggestion should be pursued.”
59.12 Councillor James accepted the amendment.
59.13 The following motion, as amended, was put to the vote and was carried:
“This Council:
notes that 2016 is the 800th anniversary of the coronation of Henry III in Gloucester Cathedral and resolves to work with the Cathedral, Marketing Gloucester and other partners to maximise the benefits in social, cultural and economic terms of this important occasion;
notes the suggestion made on social media that Gloucester should petition to be granted Royal City status on the basis of the Henry III anniversary and the city’s many other royal connections and resolves to consider this at an all-party working group ahead of consulting the public and key stakeholders, including the City MP, as to whether this suggestion should be pursued.”
59.14 The motion was put to the vote and was carried.