1. PROPOSED BY COUNCILLOR WILSON
"This council notes the announcement from the Prime Minister that the government will allocate £2bn to build additional homes for social or affordable rent.
This council agrees that it should bid for a slice of the £2bn to build new homes for social or affordable rent in Gloucester.
This council also agrees that it should do much more to facilitate the building of new affordable homes for rent within the City of Gloucester and it asks the cabinet member for housing and planning to prepare a report on how this council can raise further finance to build new homes for rent itself.
This also agrees to lobby the city MP to seek his support to promote changes in legislation that would allow this council to borrow money from financial institutions to enable the building of new council homes in Gloucester.
This council agrees that it should also lobby the government to remove the right to buy from new homes the council might build in future, which are let on social or affordable rent tenancies."
2. PROPOSED BY COUNCILLOR JAMES
“This Council:
· Notes that a bid has been submitted to GFirst LEP for Growth Deal funding to secure improvements to Gloucester Railway Station and its immediate environment, including the subway to Great Western Road;
· Fully supports this bid and recognises the economic benefits the project would bring to the city, including through improved connections between the city centre and Gloucestershire Royal Hospital and the housing development sites on Great Western Road;
· Acknowledges the importance of this investment in helping to raise commercial values and as a consequence contribute towards resolving issues of financial viability and in creating investor confidence through public sector intervention;
· Thanks our partners, including Great Western Railways, Network Rail and the Homes and Communities Agency for their help and support with this bid.”
3. PROPOSED BY COUNCILLOR JAMES
“This Council:
· Note that bids have been submitted to the Homes and Communities Agency’s Housing Investment Fund for support to bring forward housing schemes at Greater Blackfriars/Quayside (including the former Prison site) and Kings Quarter;
· Fully supports these bids as a way of regenerating these important sites, providing much-needed housing in the city and bringing more people to live in the city centre.”
4. PROPOSED BY COUNCILLOR COOLE
“This Council recognises the value of a diverse workforce that reflects the community we serve. The Council welcomes the commitment to join the County Councils LGBTQ organisation for staff and members PRISM and encourages everyone to sign the PRISM pledge, either as an LGBTQ person or an ally. It is also important that future employees can see that we are an organisation that values diversity and this Council further agrees to investigate signing up for the Stonewall Diversity Champions scheme either in our own right or through the County Council who provide our HR services.”
5. PROPOSED BY COUNCILLOR SMITH
“This Council notes that 6,400 women in Gloucester born on or after 05 April 1951 have been adversely affected by the increase in the State Pension Age (SPA) and that these women have unfairly borne the burden of the increase to the SPA. The lack of appropriate notification has resulted in many women not being told about the changes until it was too late to make alternative arrangements.
The Council calls on the Government to reconsider transitional arrangements so that women do not live in hardship due to these State Pension Age changes, and instructs the Managing Director to write to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, and the Member of Parliament for Gloucester seeking their support for action by the Government.”
Minutes:
(1) Notice of Motion from the Liberal Democrat Group
46.1 Proposed by Councillor Wilson seconded by Councillor D. Brown:
"This Council notes the announcement from the Prime Minister that the Government will allocate £2bn to build additional homes for social or affordable rent.
This Council agrees that it should bid for a slice of the £2bn to build new homes for social or affordable rent in Gloucester.
This Council also agrees that it should do much more to facilitate the building of new affordable homes for rent within the City of Gloucester and it asks the Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning to prepare a report on how this Council can raise further finance to build new homes for rent itself.
This Council also agrees to lobby the City MP to seek his support to promote changes in legislation that would allow this Council to borrow money from financial institutions to enable the building of new council homes in Gloucester.
This Council agrees that it should also lobby the Government to remove the right to buy from new homes the Council might build in future, which are let on social or affordable rent tenancies."
46.2 Councillor Organ proposed the following amendment and was seconded by Councillor James:
"This Council:
notes welcomes the announcement from the Prime Minister
that the Government will allocate £2bn to build additional
homes for social or affordable rent;
This Council
agrees that it should work with partners to bid for
a slice of the £2bn to build new homes for social or
affordable rent in Gloucester. ;
This Council also
further agrees that it should do much more
consider all options to facilitate
the building of new affordable homes for rent within the City of
Gloucester and it asks the Cabinet Member for Housing and
Planning to prepare a report on how this
Council can raise further finance to build new homes for rent
itself. can
be best achieved, including reviewing any relevant
measures contained within the Chancellor’s Autumn
Budget;
Welcomes the work by Gloucester City Homes and other registered providers to build new affordable homes in Gloucester;
Welcomes the award of £1.25 million by the Homes and Communities Agency to Gloucester City Homes to begin masterplanning work on the regeneration of the Matson and Podsmead estates and resolves to work with all partners to deliver this ambitious project;
This Council
also agrees to lobby work with the City
MP to seek his support to promote changes in legislation that
would allow this Council to borrow money from financial
institutions to enable the building of new council homes in
Gloucester. including through
changes to legislation where necessary
This Council
agrees that it should also lobby the Government to remove the right
to buy from new homes the Council might build in future, which are
let on social or affordable rent tenancies."
46.3 The proposer and seconder of the motion indicated that they would accept the amendment subject to the following further minor amendment to the penultimate paragraph:
“agrees to work with the City MP to seek his support in delivering more affordable housing in the City through promoting changes to legislation where necessary.
46.4 The proposer and seconder of the amendment indicated that the further minor amendment was acceptable.
46.5 There was a short adjournment at the request of the Labour Group.
46.6 RESOLVED that this Council
§ welcomes the announcement from the Prime Minister that the Government will allocate £2bn to build additional homes for social or affordable rent;
§
agrees that it should work with partners to bid for a
slice of the £2bn to build new homes for social or affordable
rent in Gloucester;
§ further agrees that it should consider all options to facilitate the building of new affordable homes for rent within the City of Gloucester and it asks the Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning to prepare a report on how this can be best achieved, including reviewing any relevant measures contained within the Chancellor’s Autumn Budget;
§ Welcomes the work by Gloucester City Homes and other registered providers to build new affordable homes in Gloucester;
§ welcomes the award of £1.25 million by the Homes and Communities Agency to Gloucester City Homes to begin masterplanning work on the regeneration of the Matson and Podsmead estates and resolves to work with all partners to deliver this ambitious project;
§ agrees to work with the City MP to seek his support in delivering more affordable housing in the City including through promoting changes to legislation where necessary.
(2) Notices of motion from the Conservative Group
46.7 Proposed by Councillor James and seconded by Councillor Noakes:
“ This Council:
· Notes that a bid has been submitted to GFirst LEP for Growth Deal funding to secure improvements to Gloucester Railway Station and its immediate environment, including the subway to Great Western Road;
· Fully supports this bid and recognises the economic benefits the project would bring to the City, including through improved connections between the City centre and Gloucestershire Royal Hospital and the housing development sites on Great Western Road;
· Acknowledges the importance of this investment in helping to raise commercial values and as a consequence contribute towards resolving issues of financial viability and in creating investor confidence through public sector intervention;
· Thanks our partners including Great Western Railways, Network Rail and the Homes and Communities Agency for their help and support with this bid.”
46.8 RESOLVED that this Council
· Notes that a bid has been submitted to GFirst LEP for Growth Deal funding to secure improvements to Gloucester Railway Station and its immediate environment, including the subway to Great Western Road;
· Fully supports this bid and recognises the economic benefits the project would bring to the City, including through improved connections between the City centre and Gloucestershire Royal Hospital and the housing development sites on Great Western Road;
· Acknowledges the importance of this investment in helping to raise commercial values and as a consequence contribute towards resolving issues of financial viability and in creating investor confidence through public sector intervention;
· Thanks our partners including Great Western Railways, Network Rail and the Homes and Communities Agency for their help and support with this bid.”
46.9 Proposed by Councillor James and seconded by Councillor Organ:
`This Council
· Note that bids have been submitted to the Homes and Communities Agency’s Housing Investment Fund for support to bring forward housing schemes at Greater Blackfriars/Quayside (including the former Prison site) and Kings Quarter;
· Fully supports these bids as a way of regenerating these important sites, providing much-needed housing in the city and bringing more people to live in the city centre.”
46.10 Councillor Coole proposed and Councillor Haigh seconded the following motion:
“`This Council recognises the value of a diverse workforce that reflects the community we serve. The Council welcomes the commitment to join the County Council’s LBTQ organisation for staff and Members, PRISM and encourages everyone to sign the PRISM pledge, either as an LBTQ person or as an ally. It is also important that future employees can see that we are an organisation that values diversity and this Council further agrees to investigate signing up for the Stonewall Diversity Champions Scheme either in its own right or through the County Council who provide our HR services."
46.11 RESOLVED that this Council recognises the value of a diverse workforce that reflects the community we serve. The Council welcomes the commitment to join the County Council’s LBTQ organisation for staff and Members, PRISM and encourages everyone to sign the PRISM pledge, either as an LBTQ person or as an ally. It is also important that future employees can see that we are an organisation that values diversity and this Council further agrees to investigate signing up for the Stonewall Diversity Champions Scheme either in its own right or through the County Council who provide our HR services.
46.12 Councillor Smith proposed and Councillor Fearn seconded the following motion:
“This Council notes that 6,400 women in Gloucester born on or after 5th April 1951 have been adversely affected by the increase in the state Pension Age (SPA) and that these women have unfairly borne the burden of the increase to the SPA. The lack of appropriate notification has resulted in many women not being told about the changes until it was too late to make alternative arrangements.
The Council calls on the Government to reconsider transitional arrangements so that women do not live in hardship due to these State Pension Age changes, and instructs the Managing Director to write to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and the Member of Parliament for Gloucester seeking their support for action by the Government.”
46.13 Councillor Watkins proposed the following amendment which was seconded:
“This Council notes that 6,400 women in Gloucester born on or after 5th April 1951 have been adversely affected by the increase in the state Pension Age (SPA) and that these women have unfairly borne the burden of the increase to the SPA. The lack of appropriate notification has resulted in many women not being told about the changes until it was too late to make alternative arrangements.
The Council calls on the Government to reconsider transitional
arrangements so that women do not live in hardship due to these
State Pension Age changes, and instructs the Managing
Director Leader
to write to the Secretary of
State for Work and Pensions and the Member of Parliament for
Gloucester asking for clarification of Government
policy and seeking their support for action by the
Government.”
46.14 The proposer and seconder of the motion indicated their acceptance of the amendment.
46.15 RESOLVED that this Council notes that 6,400 women in Gloucester born on or after 5th April 1951 have been adversely affected by the increase in the State Pension Age (SPA) and that these women have unfairly borne the burden of the increase to the SPA. The lack of appropriate notification has resulted in many women not being told about the changes until it was too late to make alternative arrangements.
The Council calls on the Government to reconsider transitional arrangements so that women do not live in hardship due to these State Pension Age changes, and instructs the Leader to write to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and the Member of Parliament for Gloucester asking for clarification of Government policy and seeking their support for action by the Government.