Agenda item
MOTIONS
The following 3 motions have been received in accordance with Procedure Rule 16:
21.1 From Councillor Julian Dean
Housing Benefit for those in Women’s Refuges
Council notes:
The government proposals to remove Domestic Abuse Refuges and other forms of short-term supported housing from the welfare system.
On average housing benefit makes up 53% of the funding to refuges that provide a vital, sometimes life-saving service to vulnerable women and children fleeing abusive partners.
The chief executive of Women’s Aid had said: “The government’s proposed reforms to supported housing will dismantle our national network of lifesaving refuges and put the lives of women and children trying to escape domestic abuse at risk. This is a matter of life or death.”
West Mercia Police has seen the number of domestic abuse reports more than double in the last four years.
The government proposal will see housing benefit replaced with a grant to local authorities. However there is no proposal to ring fence this for particular forms of short-term supported housing. In addition many people fleeing domestic violence and abuse need to relocate, and so may stay in areas where they have little or no local connection, with the possibility that the response from local authorities to their short-term housing needs will become uneven at best.
Council resolves to instruct the Chief Executive and Leader to make representations to government calling on them to remove this proposal and retain access to housing benefit for those in short-term supported housing to help secure the future of this vital service.
21.2 From Councillor Heather Kidd
The Council has severe problems recruiting carers, teachers and other key workers in rural areas – especially in South West Shropshire. The Council now needs to have a robust plan to define our key workers and a delivery plan for their housing in the countryside. Maintaining and improving sustainability of our villages is vital for their future, the future of their services e.g. schools, shops and local businesses. This has the potential to save money in Council Service delivery too.
This Council requests officers- as a matter of urgency - to bring forward innovative ways to build housing to satisfy local need and not developers wants in our rural areas. This response should include cost effective and low resource methods to improve the status of Parish and Neighbourhood planning so that Towns and Parishes have a meaningful role in planning applications and can reflect needs of their communities. A new definition and status of key workers is also vital.
21.3 From Councillor Andy Boddington
Council funding for community groups has been substantially reduced and is set to fall further. Several councils have introduced a community lottery. For example, the pioneering Vale Lottery run by Aylesbury Vale District Council raised around £75,000 for good causes in its first year. The sales drive is led by charities and voluntary groups. These support everything from village halls to suicide prevention and from helping young people to ensuring the air ambulance keeps flying. Good causes get 50% of the sales for every nomination. A further 10% of the £1 stake goes to other good causes locally. That leaves 40% for administration.
This council instructs the Chief Executive to examine the case for a Shropshire community lottery and to report back to council before the end of March 2018.
Minutes:
83.1 The following motion was proposed by Cllr Deanand duly seconded by Cllr Taylor:
“Housing Benefit for those in Women’s Refuges
Council notes:
The government proposals to remove Domestic Abuse Refuges and other forms of short-term supported housing from the welfare system.
On average housing benefit makes up 53% of the funding to refuges that provide a vital, sometimes life-saving service to vulnerable women and children fleeing abusive partners.
The chief executive of Women’s Aid had said: “The government’s proposed reforms to supported housing will dismantle our national network of lifesaving refuges and put the lives of women and children trying to escape domestic abuse at risk. This is a matter of life or death.”
West Mercia Police has seen the number of domestic abuse reports more than double in the last four years.
The government proposal will see housing benefit replaced with a grant to local authorities. However there is no proposal to ring fence this for particular forms of short-term supported housing. In addition many people fleeing domestic violence and abuse need to relocate, and so may stay in areas where they have little or no local connection, with the possibility that the response from local authorities to their short-term housing needs will become uneven at best.
Council resolves to instruct the Chief Executive and Leader to make representations to government calling on them to remove this proposal and retain access to housing benefit for those in short-term supported housing to help secure the future of this vital service.”
Cllr Carroll proposed an amendment, a copy of which was circulated at the meeting, which was seconded by Cllr Wild:
“Central Government has proposed changes to Housing Benefit for people in women’s refuges and temporary accommodation. These have the potential to have a significant impact on those individuals within Shropshire and how Shropshire Council is able to meet their needs. Shropshire Council believes we need to drill down in to this issue to understand its impact.
Therefore this Council resolves to refer this issue to the Welfare Reform Task & Finish Group to review and inform any response we need to make.”
On being put to the vote, the amendment was carried with the majority voting in favour.
In addition to this Cllr Evans proposed that to this end Council should look at undertaking a Rapid Action Group (in 1 day). This was seconded by Cllr Calder and duly agreed by the majority.
83.2 The following motion was proposed by Cllr Kiddand duly seconded by Cllr Hartin:
“The Council has severe problems recruiting carers, teachers and other key workers in rural areas – especially in South West Shropshire. The Council now needs to have a robust plan to define our key workers and a delivery plan for their housing in the countryside. Maintaining and improving sustainability of our villages is vital for their future, the future of their services e.g. schools, shops and local businesses. This has the potential to save money in Council Service delivery too.
This Council requests officers- as a matter of urgency - to bring forward innovative ways to build housing to satisfy local need and not developers wants in our rural areas. This response should include cost effective and low resource methods to improve the status of Parish and Neighbourhood planning so that Towns and Parishes have a meaningful role in planning applications and can reflect needs of their communities. A new definition and status of key workers is also vital.”
Cllr Carroll proposed an amendment, a copy of which was circulated at the meeting, which was seconded by Cllr Butler:
“Shropshire Council recognises there can be problems recruiting carers, teachers and other key workers in rural areas around the county. Maintaining and improving the sustainability of our villages is vital for their future and the future of their services e.g. Schools, shops and local businesses. As a Council we have already started to take proactive steps to help tackle these important issues:
a) Officers are working closely with Registered Providers who have funding which could help us to develop innovative solutions to meeting housing need in rural areas:
b) Currently, the delivery of effective local solutions is often frustrated by the fact the housing register does not capture sufficient evidence of local need including ‘hidden’ need. This means that some local communities don’t recognise or support initiatives to address local housing need. External funding has supported the employment of additional staff in the Policy Team who are actively engaged in developing new ways of collecting robust local evidence about local employment and housing need to help deliver tailored solutions. We expect to launch a new initiative ‘Right Homes Right Places’ to help address this issue before the end of January 2018.
c) Officers are currently reviewing the existing ‘Type and Affordability of Housing’ Supplementary Planning Document, which expands on housing policies in the existing Local Plan. The review provides an opportunity to make improvements which would support innovative solutions to help deliver more affordable housing in sustainable locations with good access to local services. There will be an opportunity for elected members to contribute directly to the review process for this guidance starting in early 2018;
d) Officers continue to actively support the preparation and review of community-led plans within current resource constraints. The Local Plan Review will provide an opportunity to review planning policies to help reinforce the value and application of up to date local evidence as part of planning decisions and to support the continued preparation of both informal Parish Plans and formal Neigbourhood Plans;
Therefore this Council RESOLVES to
i) Support the work of officers from the Housing and Planning Policy Teams in developing innovative ways to provide the housing to satisfy local needs in our rural areas.
ii) Refer the issue of parish and neighbourhood planning to the Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee for investigation as part of the work on Place Shaping in their work programme.
On being put to the vote, the amendment was duly carried with the majority voting in favour.
83.3 The following motion was proposed by Cllr Boddington and duly seconded by Cllr Keeley;
“Council funding for community groups has been substantially reduced and is set to fall further. Several councils have introduced a community lottery. For example, the pioneering Vale Lottery run by Aylesbury Vale District Council raised around £75,000 for good causes in its first year. The sales drive is led by charities and voluntary groups. These support everything from village halls to suicide prevention and from helping young people to ensuring the air ambulance keeps flying. Good causes get 50% of the sales for every nomination. A further 10% of the £1 stake goes to other good causes locally. That leaves 40% for administration and prizes.
This Council instructs the Chief Executive to examine the case for a Shropshire community lottery and to report back to council before the end of March 2018.”
On being put to the vote this motion was carried by the majority.