This council recognises the need to help overcrowded families in council housing but believes the current government policy of reducing benefit for under-occupying tenants is ineffective, unfair and penalises the most vulnerable.
Council notes the efforts of other councils to offer greater certainty to affected tenants by guaranteeing they won’t be evicted for arrears accrued as a result of under-occupying their home.
Council resolves to adopt a non-eviction policy for tenants in Leeds who have had their benefits cuts due to under-occupation, provided they have
· applied for rehousing
· applied for a discretionary housing payment
· maintained their tenancy effectively in terms of overall property condition and standards of behaviour
· not refused reasonable offers to downsize
Council requests officers to produce a report to Executive Board detailing how such a policy will be implemented in Leeds and to investigate the possibility of setting up a hardship fund to support tenants adversely affected by welfare reforms.
J BENTLEY
Minutes:
It was moved by Councillor J Bentley, seconded by Councillor Townsley that this council recognises the need to help overcrowded families in council housing but believes the current government policy of reducing benefit for under-occupying tenants is ineffective, unfair and penalises the most vulnerable.
Council notes the efforts of other councils to offer greater certainty to affected tenants by guaranteeing they won’t be evicted for arrears accrued as a result of under-occupying their home.
Council resolves to adopt a non-eviction policy for tenants in Leeds who have had their benefits cuts due to under-occupation, provided they have
· applied for rehousing
· applied for a discretionary housing payment
· maintained their tenancy effectively in terms of overall property condition and standards of behaviour
· not refused reasonable offers to downsize
Council requests officers to produce a report to Executive Board detailing how such a policy will be implemented in Leeds and to investigate the possibility of setting up a hardship fund to support tenants adversely affected by welfare reforms.
An amendment was moved by Councillor P Gruen that this Council notes the authority’s response to the bedroom tax. This includes preparing tenants and staff for the changes and ensuring properties are correctly designated. Council welcomes the amendments made to the rent recovery arrears procedures, ensuring that all tenants are supported if they come into rent arrears.
Council recognises that to treat people fairly it is reasonable to have a single rent arrears policy, where individual cases are considered on their own merits. Council further recognises that it is essential to have a consistent and fair housing needs assessment for all tenants who are unable to pay their rent. Council therefore requests that officers continue to update Executive Board on the outcomes of central government’s welfare changes.
Council requests that the Chief Executive writes to The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and all local MPs, updating them on the impact of the bedroom tax on Council tenants in Leeds.
This Council commits itself to the abolition of the bedroom tax and agrees to undertake a campaign with the present Government and any future Government for its abolition to come about.
The amendment in the name of Councillor P Gruen was carried, and
upon being put as the substantive motion, it was
RESOLVED - That this Council notesthe authority’s response to the bedroom tax. This includes preparing tenants and staff for the changes and ensuring properties are correctly designated. Council welcomes the amendments made to the rent recovery arrears procedures, ensuring that all tenants are supported if they come into rent arrears.
Council recognises that to treat people fairly it is reasonable to have a single rent arrears policy, where individual cases are considered on their own merits. Council further recognises that it is essential to have a consistent and fair housing needs assessment for all tenants who are unable to pay their rent. Council therefore requests that officers continue to update Executive Board on the outcomes of central government’s welfare changes.
Council requests that the Chief Executive writes to The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and all local MPs, updating them on the impact of the bedroom tax on Council tenants in Leeds.
This Council commits itself to the abolition of the bedroom tax and agrees to undertake a campaign with the present Government and any future Government for its abolition to come about.
On the requisitions of Councillor Campbell and G Latty , the voting on the amendment was recorded as follows;
YES
Akhtar, Atha, Blake, Bruce, Charlwood, Congreve, Coupar, Cummins, Davey, Dawson, Dobson, Dowson, Dunn, Elliott, Finnigan, Gabriel, Gettings, P Grahame, R Grahame, Groves, C Gruen, P Gruen, S Hamilton,Hardy, Harington, Harland, G Harper, J Harper, A Hussain, G Hussain, G Hyde, Illingworth, Iqbal, Jarosz, J Lewis, R Lewis, Lowe, Macniven, Maqsood, A McKenna, J McKenna, Mitchell, Morgan, Mulherin, Nagle, Nash, Ogilvie, Rafique, Renshaw, Selby, Sobel, E Taylor, Towler, Truswell, Urry, Varley, Walker, Walshaw, Wakefield ,Yeadon.
60
NO
J Bentley, S Bentley, Campbell, Chapman, M Hamilton, Townsley
6
ABSTAIN
ABlackburn,DBlackburn,Downes,Golton 4