Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, Trafford Town Hall, Talbot Road, Stretford

Contact: Ian Cockill  Democratic Services Officer

Note: The meeting is scheduled to commence at 7.15 p.m. or at the later rising of the Extraordinary Meeting of the Council being held beforehand 

Media

Items
No. Item

37.

Motion Submitted by the Liberal Democrats Group - Empty Homes Premium Scheme

 

This Council notes that:

 

-     Britain faces a shortage of affordable and sustainable housing

-     Current Greater Manchester Spatial Framework proposals to meet demand by building on ‘greenbelt’ land are highly unpopular with residents in Trafford

-     There are currently more than 2,000 unoccupied and substantially unfurnished empty homes in Trafford, many of which have been empty for over two years, some considerably longer. A rise of 16% since 2017.

-     There are currently more than 19,000 unoccupied and substantially unfurnished empty homes across greater Manchester

-     A significant number of these properties – both in Trafford and across the city region – are considered ‘unfit for human habitation’

 

This Council acknowledges the Rating (Property in Common Occupation) and Council Tax (Empty Dwellings) Act 2018 enabling the use of the ‘Empty Homes Premium’ model - as seen in Cheshire East - as an additional means for local authorities to encourage empty homes to be brought back in to use and welcomes the inclusion of a 50% ‘Empty Homes Premium’ in the February 2019 budget.

 

This Council Requires the Executive to raise the ‘Empty Homes Premium’ from 50% to 100% as part of its budget (February 2020) in line with the following timescale:

 

-     As of April 1st 2020 the ‘relevant maximum’ for properties empty over 2 years will be 100%

 

This Council also Requires the Executive to give notice of the following incremental time scale:

 

1.   As of 1st April 2021 the ‘relevant maximum’ for properties empty over 5 years will be 200%

 

2.   As of April 1st 2022 the ‘relevant maximum’ for properties over ten years empty will be 300%

 

This Council requires the Executive to investigate the feasibility of ‘Capped Public Works Loans’ as seen in Cheshire East, to assist with major works and help bring more properties back into use without punishing property owners.

 

This Council Notes the following exemptions:

 

-     Properties requiring major works should receive an extension of up to 12 months before the ‘relevant maximum’ is raised

-     Properties currently in ‘Trust’ or ‘Probate’ should receive an extension of up to 12 months before the ‘relevant maximum is raised

-     Properties left empty by a person who lives in accommodation provided by the Ministry of Defence (for example: service personnel posted away from home)

-     Properties which are part of another property (for example: an annexe)

 

 

This Council Recognises that simply seeking to bring empty housing back into use is not enough to solve Britain’s housing crisis, but is determined to pursue every available option, especially when it is possible to avoid development on ‘Green Belt’ land.

 

This Council requires the Leader of the Council to:

 

-     Write to the Mayor of Greater Manchester and the leaders of all Greater Manchester local authorities urging them to work with Trafford Council to address the housing shortage in our region by supporting the resolutions of this motion

-     Write to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government urging the Government highlighting the need  ...  view the full agenda text for item 37.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

 

(Note: In respect of the business on the agenda, the Mayor announced that speeches made by Members moving and seconding a Motion or any amendment would be limited to a maximum of 5 minutes per speaker and that all other all speeches would be limited to a maximum of 2 minutes per speaker.)

 

It was moved and seconded that:

 

“This Council notes that:

 

-     Britain faces a shortage of affordable and sustainable housing

-     Current Greater Manchester Spatial Framework proposals to meet demand by building on ‘greenbelt’ land are highly unpopular with residents in Trafford

-     There are currently more than 2,000 unoccupied and substantially unfurnished empty homes in Trafford, many of which have been empty for over two years, some considerably longer. A rise of 16% since 2017.

-     There are currently more than 19,000 unoccupied and substantially unfurnished empty homes across greater Manchester

-     A significant number of these properties – both in Trafford and across the city region – are considered ‘unfit for human habitation’

 

This Council acknowledges the Rating (Property in Common Occupation) and Council Tax (Empty Dwellings) Act 2018 enabling the use of the ‘Empty Homes Premium’ model - as seen in Cheshire East - as an additional means for local authorities to encourage empty homes to be brought back in to use and welcomes the inclusion of a 50% ‘Empty Homes Premium’ in the February 2019 budget.

 

This Council Requires the Executive to raise the ‘Empty Homes Premium’ from 50% to 100% as part of its budget (February 2020) in line with the following timescale:

 

-     As of April 1st 2020 the ‘relevant maximum’ for properties empty over 2 years will be 100%

 

This Council also Requires the Executive to give notice of the following incremental time scale:

 

1.   As of 1st April 2021 the ‘relevant maximum’ for properties empty over 5 years will be 200%

 

2.   As of April 1st 2022 the ‘relevant maximum’ for properties over ten years empty will be 300%

 

This Council requires the Executive to investigate the feasibility of ‘Capped Public Works Loans’ as seen in Cheshire East, to assist with major works and help bring more properties back into use without punishing property owners.

 

This Council Notes the following exemptions:

 

-     Properties requiring major works should receive an extension of up to 12 months before the ‘relevant maximum’ is raised

-     Properties currently in ‘Trust’ or ‘Probate’ should receive an extension of up to 12 months before the ‘relevant maximum is raised

-     Properties left empty by a person who lives in accommodation provided by the Ministry of Defence (for example: service personnel posted away from home)

-     Properties which are part of another property (for example: an annexe)

 

This Council Recognises that simply seeking to bring empty housing back into use is not enough to solve Britain’s housing crisis, but is determined to pursue every available option, especially when it is possible to avoid development on ‘Green Belt’ land.

 

This Council requires the Leader of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 37.

38.

Motion Without Notice

This Council condemns the revelation that, on 22 August 2018, the Labour Group via the Leader of the Council wrote to the Corporate Director for Finance and Systems instructing that the voluntary reduction of 1.9% applied to Members Allowances since 2013/14 be reversed.  

 

Council notes:

 

·          This letter was submitted secretly with no public accountability or scrutiny of the change

·          That the change in allowances was subsequently backdated to April 2018

·          That the Labour group also requested this change to be applied to significant Special Responsibility Allowances, to ensure maximum personal financial benefit for Labour members

 

Council finds it abhorrent and hypocritical that this Labour administration has the audacity to talk about austerity whilst at the same time:

 

·          increasing their own allowances, in secret without scrutiny

·          trebling the cost of the Corporate Leadership Team to nearly £1m per annum in the last 10 months 

·          overseeing the deterioration of services in Trafford (see Children’s Services) through poor leadership and management

 

The Council requires every Labour member to return their increased allowance to the taxpayers of Trafford and for members’ allowances to be reset to the levels stipulated in 2015/16 to be consistent for all Members (i.e. 98.1% of present full allowance).

Additional documents:

Minutes:

 

In accordance with Procedure Rule 12 (d) it was moved and seconded that:

 

“the next item of business listed on the Summons ‘Motion Submitted by the Conservative Group - Members' Allowances Increases for Labour Councillors’ be referred to the Standards Committee for consideration.”

 

In accordance with Procedure Rule 13.8 (d) ‘Motions which may be moved during debate’ it was moved and seconded that the question be now put.

 

With the consent of the Council, the Motion to refer the matter of Members’ Allowances Increases to Standards Committee was put to the vote and declared carried.

 

RESOLVED: That the matter of the Motion Submitted by the Conservative Group - Members' Allowances Increases for Labour Councillors, be referred to the Standards Committee for consideration.