Agenda item

This council remains committed to supporting the creation of affordable accommodation to buy and rent in Leeds.

 

Council notes with concern the continued actions of central government to reduce the housing options available to residents with a sustained attack on the availability of affordable rented housing in the city. This has most recently been highlighted by the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement, which concentrated yet again on creating opportunities for people on higher incomes to buy property. The government’s interpretation of a ‘starter home’ being valued at up to £250,000 demonstrates the disconnect between their policy and the reality for most people here in Leeds.

 

In the context of more Leeds people now living in private rents than council homes and the cost of renting privately now standing at an average of £206pw compared to just £75pw for a council rent, Council believes that there is still a role for affordable rented accommodation in the city. Council again reiterates our commitment to increasing the provision of council housing for the benefit of people on the lowest income who need affordable rented accommodation and who should not be forgotten in central government policy making.

 

Council notes the research from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and Cambridge University showing that 75,000 low cost homes to let could be lost over the next 5 years due to the expansion of Right to Buy. Council is concerned about the impact of this development on the lowest paid, who are most in need of access to social rents, and who will be forced into high cost private rented accommodation. Furthermore, Council is dismayed at the recent government decision to abolish lifetime tenancies which provide security for families and help support the creation of sustainable communities.

 

Council asks that the Director of Environment and Housing prepares a report for Executive Board showing the impact of the changes proposed in the Housing and Planning Bill and the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement. Council requests that the Leader of the Council raises this with all Leeds MPs at their next meeting so that they can be aware of the impact on Leeds when voting on national legislation, and writes to the Chancellor of the Exchequer to express this Council’s concerns.

 

It was moved by Councillor Coupar, seconded by Councillor Walshaw that this council remains committed to supporting the creation of affordable accommodation to buy and rent in Leeds.

 

Council notes with concern the continued actions of central government to reduce the housing options available to residents with a sustained attack on the availability of affordable rented housing in the city. This has most recently been highlighted by the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement, which concentrated yet again on creating opportunities for people on higher incomes to buy property. The government’s interpretation of a ‘starter home’ being valued at up to £250,000 demonstrates the disconnect between their policy and the reality for most people here in Leeds.

 

In the context of more Leeds people now living in private rents than council homes and the cost of renting privately now standing at an average of £206pw compared to just £75pw for a council rent, Council believes that there is still a role for affordable rented accommodation in the city. Council again reiterates our commitment to increasing the provision of council housing for the benefit of people on the lowest income who need affordable rented accommodation and who should not be forgotten in central government policy making.

 

Council notes the research from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and Cambridge University showing that 75,000 low cost homes to let could be lost over the next 5 years due to the expansion of Right to Buy. Council is concerned about the impact of this development on the lowest paid, who are most in need of access to social rents, and who will be forced into high cost private rented accommodation. Furthermore, Council is dismayed at the recent government decision to abolish lifetime tenancies which provide security for families and help support the creation of sustainable communities.

 

Council asks that the Director of Environment and Housing prepares a report for Executive Board showing the impact of the changes proposed in the Housing and Planning Bill and the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement. Council requests that the Leader of the Council raises this with all Leeds MPs at their next meeting so that they can be aware of the impact on Leeds when voting on national legislation, and writes to the Chancellor of the Exchequer to express this Council’s concerns.

 

An amendment was moved by Councillor J Bentley seconded by Councillor Golton,

 

To insert at the end of the motion:

 

“This council pledges that should the government legislate to abolish lifetime tenancies, Leeds City Council will do everything in its power to ensure that all current and future council tenants who continue to meet the obligations detailed in the existing secure tenancy agreement will not face the risk of eviction.”

 

A second amendment was moved by Councillor B Anderson seconded by Councillor J Procter,

 

Delete all after the first line and replace with:

 

“Council notes the Government’s plans to build 200,000 affordable starter homes by 2020. This ambition is to be supported through planning reforms, billions of pounds of investment announced in the Spending Review, and will include specific funding to prepare brownfield land for affordable homes. Council also looks forward to seeing more detail around the Government’s proposals to directly commission thousands of new affordable homes on public land.

 

“Council recognises that with support for initiatives such as Help to Buy, Right to Buy and Shared Ownership schemes the Government has made a sustained commitment to helping people from all economic backgrounds achieve the aspiration of owning their own home. 130,000 people have bought their own home under Help to Buy since 2013.

 

“Council asks that the Director of Environment and Housing prepares a report for Executive Board showing how residents in Leeds can benefit from Government initiatives to improve access to affordable housing and outlining what more the Council itself can do to help support this aim.”

 

Motion would read as follows:

 

“This council remains committed to supporting the creation of affordable accommodation to buy and rent in Leeds.

 

“Council notes the Government’s plans to build 200,000 affordable starter homes by 2020. This ambition is to be supported through planning reforms, billions of pounds of investment announced in the Spending Review, and will include specific funding to prepare brownfield land for affordable homes. Council also looks forward to seeing more detail around the Government’s proposals to directly commission thousands of new affordable homes on public land.

 

“Council recognises that with support for initiatives such as Help to Buy, Right to Buy and Shared Ownership schemes the Government has made a sustained commitment to helping people from all economic backgrounds achieve the aspiration of owning their own home. 130,000 people have bought their own home under Help to Buy since 2013.

 

“Council asks that the Director of Environment and Housing prepares a report for Executive Board showing how residents in Leeds can benefit from Government initiatives to improve access to affordable housing and outlining what more the Council itself can do to help support this aim.”

 

A third amendment was moved in the name of Councillor Finnigan seconded by Councillor Leadley;

Delete all after;

 

This Council remains committed to supporting the creation of affordable accommodation to buy and rent in Leeds.

 

And add the following 

 

This Council commits itself to campaign for the full repeal of the right to buy legislation and the re-introduction of the fair rent legislation for privately rented properties.

 

This Council also agrees to the introduction of a minimum of a 25% affordable housing contribution on all new developments regardless of size or location.

 

The amended motion would then read ;

 

This Council remains committed to supporting the creation of affordable accommodation to buy and rent in Leeds.

 

This Council commits itself to campaign for the full repeal of the right to buy legislation and the re-introduction of the fair rent legislation for privately rented properties.

 

This Council also agrees to the introduction of a minimum of a 25% affordable housing contribution on all new developments regardless of size or location.

 

The amendments in the name of Councillor J Bentley, Councillor B Anderson and Councillor Finnigan were declared lost and upon being put to the vote it was

 

RESOLVED - That this council remains committed to supporting the creation of affordable accommodation to buy and rent in Leeds.

 

Council notes with concern the continued actions of central government to reduce the housing options available to residents with a sustained attack on the availability of affordable rented housing in the city. This has most recently been highlighted by the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement, which concentrated yet again on creating opportunities for people on higher incomes to buy property. The government’s interpretation of a ‘starter home’ being valued at up to £250,000 demonstrates the disconnect between their policy and the reality for most people here in Leeds.

 

In the context of more Leeds people now living in private rents than council homes and the cost of renting privately now standing at an average of £206pw compared to just £75pw for a council rent, Council believes that there is still a role for affordable rented accommodation in the city. Council again reiterates our commitment to increasing the provision of council housing for the benefit of people on the lowest income who need affordable rented accommodation and who should not be forgotten in central government policy making.

 

Council notes the research from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and Cambridge University showing that 75,000 low cost homes to let could be lost over the next 5 years due to the expansion of Right to Buy. Council is concerned about the impact of this development on the lowest paid, who are most in need of access to social rents, and who will be forced into high cost private rented accommodation. Furthermore, Council is dismayed at the recent government decision to abolish lifetime tenancies which provide security for families and help support the creation of sustainable communities.

 

Council asks that the Director of Environment and Housing prepares a report for Executive Board showing the impact of the changes proposed in the Housing and Planning Bill and the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement. Council requests that the Leader of the Council raises this with all Leeds MPs at their next meeting so that they can be aware of the impact on Leeds when voting on national legislation, and writes to the Chancellor of the Exchequer to express this Council’s concerns.