To be moved by Councillor Adam Hug and seconded by Councillor Vincenzo Rampulla:
"The Council notes that the Government is proposing to force local authorities to sell off high value council properties, many of which are to be found in Westminster, to fund its manifesto commitment to give tenants of English registered social landlords a right to buy their properties and cover a number of additional costs.
According to the Housing Department the Council expects that the Government’s proposals would require the sale of around 200 council owned homes that become vacant each year, currently around half of annual council social rent relets.
The Council resolves to directly lobby the Government, in addition to working with the GLA, London Councils and other bodies, to make clear the real challenges that such proposals make for maintaining the social mix within Westminster and the ability of the local authority to respond to both its significant housing need and stated aims of providing new opportunities for working people in within the local authority boundaries.
The Council urges the Government to find an alternative source of funding to support home ownership amongst housing association tenants. If the Government can not be made to rethink its plans and persists in using higher value social housing to fund its policy Westminster Council agrees to lobby, in concert with other inner London authorities, to ensure that:
· Funding retained by the council from these enforced sales must be of a sufficient level to enable the replacement of at least an equal number of similarly sized or larger homes within Westminster in-line with the requirements of its housing stock strategy. These replacement homes must be built in Westminster in addition to, rather than replacement for, the council’s own plans for new social and affordable housing building. There should be no delays between the sale of Westminster properties and the completion of their replacements.
· Any valuation thresholds and mechanisms for enforced sales are set at levels which reduce the proposed impact on Westminster. These thresholds must rise at least with inner London property prices to prevent the council being forced to sell a higher proportion of its homes in future years."
Minutes:
The Minority Party had selected for debate the Notices of Motion as set out on the Agenda.
The Notice of Motion: Phone Ownership as set out on the agenda was moved by Councillor Adam Hug and seconded by Councillor Vincenzo Rampulla.
An amendment was moved by Councillor Daniel Astaire and seconded by Councillor Peter Cuthbertson.
The Lord Mayor put the amendment to the vote and on a show of hands declared the amendment to be adopted.
The Lord Mayor then put the substantive motion, as amended, to the vote and on a show of hands declared the amended motion to be adopted.
RESOLVED:
The Council welcomes the election of a Conservative Government with ambitious plans for social reform, including increased home ownership and mixed tenure neighbourhoods which are designed to help stimulate local communities and help the continued and sustained growth in the UK economy.
Amongst the basket of measures that the Government is proposing is that the Right to Buy is extended to properties owned by registered providers as well as the local authority, creating a level playing field within social housing stock.
The Council recognises that the Government’s proposals are at a very early stage and that now is an appropriate time for the Council to work with Government to ensure that the development of the policy meets the needs and desires of the City Council and local communities.
To achieve this the Council is committed to working with partner boroughs (Kensington & Chelsea and Wandsworth) who face similar challenges and share similar outlooks in respect of housing policy to work with and influence the Government, in addition to working with the GLA, and other agencies, to ensure that proposals work for the City Council, its residents and partners.
The City Council is embarking on an ambitious new Housing Strategy and regeneration programme. Key proposals are the regeneration of a number of our housing estates and the improved life chances that this will offer residents, together with a move towards a greater supply of intermediate housing for working households and the opportunity to allow people to get a foot onto the housing ladder.
The Council will encourage the Government to support its ambitious housing plans in any legislation passed. In respect of the Government’s Housing agenda, the Council will maintain ongoing dialogue and negotiation to make sure that the Government can meet its pledges while at the same time balancing a number of needs and factors that are of real importance to London’s social and economic success, including:
· The need to meet urgent and local housing needs on a continuing basis through the provision and availability of low cost rent stock and in turn allowing councils to control temporary accommodation costs.
· Maintaining low cost rent homes in higher value areas but exploring ways that would allow this stock to be better utilised whilst providing the opportunity for current occupiers to buy a home.
· Providing a greater degree of local autonomy and responsibility to meet the Government’s pledges through a fully flexible financing regime focused on delivering outcomes rather than meeting regulations.
At 9.44pm the Lord Mayor advised that the time allocated for debate had finished.