Item No.
Classification:
Date:
Meeting Name:
13.
Open
27 January 2016
Cabinet
Report title:
Motions Referred from Council Assembly
Ward(s) or groups affected:
All
From:
Council Assembly
RECOMMENDATION
1.
That the cabinet considers the motions set out in the appendices attached to the
report.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
2.
Council assembly at its meetings on Wednesday 25 November 2015 agreed
several motions and these stand referred to the cabinet for consideration.
3.
The cabinet is requested to consider the motions referred to it. Any proposals in
a motion are treated as a recommendation only. The final decisions of the
cabinet will be reported back to the next meeting of council assembly. When
considering a motion, cabinet can decide to:
•
Note the motion;
or
•
Agree the motion in its entirety,
or
•
Amend the motion;
or
•
Reject the motion.
KEY ISSUES FOR CONSIDERATION
4.
In accordance with council assembly procedure rule 2.10(6), the attached
motions were referred to the cabinet. The cabinet will report on the outcome of
its deliberations upon the motions to a subsequent meeting of council assembly.
5.
The constitution allocates responsibility for particular functions to council
assembly, including approving the budget and policy framework, and to the
cabinet for developing and implementing the budget and policy framework and
overseeing the running of council services on a day-to-day basis.
6.
Any key issues, such as policy, community impact or funding implications are
included in the advice from the relevant chief officer.
1
BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS
Background Papers
Held At
Contact
Council agenda – 25 November
Report on the council’s Lesley John
2015
website
Constitutional Team
020
7525
7228
Link:
http://moderngov.southwark.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=132&MId=5065&Ver=4
LIST OF APPENDICES
Number
Title
Appendix 1
Employment and local economy
Appendix 2
Arnold Estate warm, dry and safe works
programme
Appendix 3
End cuts to policing in London
Appendix 4
Greater London National Park City campaign
Appendix 5
Extend the 42 bus route
Appendix 6
Trade Union Bill
Appendix 7
Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership
(TTIP)
Appendix 8
The Housing and Planning Bill
AUDIT TRAIL
Lead Officer
Ian Millichap, Constitutional Manager
Report Author
Lesley John, Constitutional Officer
Version
Final
Dated
13 January 2016
Key Decision?
No
CONSULTATION WITH OTHER OFFICERS / DIRECTORATES / CABINET
MEMBER
Officer Title
Comments Sought
Comments
Included
Chief Executive
Yes
No
Strategic Director of Environment and
Yes
No
Leisure
Strategic
Director
of
Housing
and
Yes
No
Modernisation
Strategic
Director
of
Finance
and
Yes
No
Governance
Strategic Director of Children’s and Adults
Yes
No
Services
Director of Law and Democracy
Yes
No
Cabinet Member
No
No
Date final report sent to Constitutional Team
13 January 2016
2
APPENDIX 1
EMPLOYMENT AND LOCAL ECONOMY
At council assembly on Wednesday 25 November 2015, a revised motion entitled
‘employment and local economy’ was moved by Councillor Ian Wingfield. The revised
motion was agreed and stands referred to the cabinet as a recommendation.
RECOMMENDATION
1.
That supporting a strong local economy, improving skills and employment
opportunities, and in particular helping some of Southwark’s most vulnerable
residents to access jobs is key for the council’s plan to achieve a fairer future for
all.
2.
That despite the severe cuts to the council’s funding imposed on Southwark over
the last five years under the Tory/Liberal Democrat coalition government, which
continue to be imposed under the Tory government, this administration has
continued to invest in the borough; growing the local economy, building more
homes and creating more jobs and opportunities for local people.
3.
That council assembly regrets that instead of supporting people into work, the
Government is continuing the coalition’s policies of penalising working families
by cutting tax credits, hitting more than three million families in work who will lose
£1,300 next year on average, and cutting Employment and Support Allowance
pushing hundreds of thousands of sick and disabled people further away from
employment.
4.
That council assembly welcomes the steps this administration has taken to
create employment opportunities for local people, including:
•
Supporting 1,450 residents into jobs since May 2014, including nearly 300
people with a range of complex barriers to employment including physical
and mental health issues, caring responsibilities and other barriers.
•
Delivering employment support to residents in partnership with local and
national organisations, including InSpire St Peters, St Giles Trust, Pecan,
Royal Mencap and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust.
•
Promoting employer led skills provision through initiatives like the business
forum and the creation of a new construction skills centre, due to open next
year.
5.
That council assembly welcomes the council’s support for local businesses,
including:
•
Supporting 24 business projects with £382,000 through the High Street
Challenge.
•
Supporting Southwark employers to access £268,000 worth of finance to
help their business to grow.
3
•
Providing direct access to council services for businesses through the
council’s online business portal.
•
Supporting small local businesses to take on young people through the
Southwark Employment and Enterprise Development Scheme (SEEDS),
helping local employers to stimulate business growth and generating
sustainable jobs and apprenticeships for young people.
6.
That council assembly welcomes this administration’s commitment to giving
young people in Southwark the opportunity to fulfil their potential by:
•
Creating 2,000 new apprenticeships to give young people the opportunity
to develop their skills and become work-ready.
•
Guaranteeing opportunities for every school leaver in Southwark to learn,
work or train through the youth guarantee.
•
Introducing the Southwark apprenticeship standard to guarantee quality
apprenticeships and ensure secure employment, a fair wage, quality
training provision and mentoring support for apprentices.
7.
That council assembly also welcomes the council’s partnership work with
neighbouring boroughs Lambeth and Lewisham, bringing in excess of £1 million
worth of funding into the three boroughs to get residents up-skilled and into work
through the ‘pathways to employment’ project, and establishing a joint committee
to deliver a joined-up approach to employment and skills.
8.
That council assembly calls on the cabinet to:
•
Continue work on the youth guarantee, to ensure every young person in
Southwark has the opportunity for employment, education or training.
•
Continue to invest in skills directly through council apprenticeships, and
work with local businesses and partners to expand apprenticeships,
particularly focusing on industries like construction where there are job
opportunities in the borough.
•
Work in partnership with businesses and organisations in the borough to
promote the London Living Wage, and encourage the take up of
apprenticeships.
•
Continue working collaboratively with the voluntary and community sector
(VCS) to secure employment for the borough’s most vulnerable residents,
and recognise the role of volunteering in Southwark for leading to
employment opportunities.
9.
That council assembly recognises that national employment programmes do not
always provide the right support at the right time to help people with more acute
needs get back into work in places like Southwark. Therefore council assembly
calls on the cabinet to work with other local authorities to campaign for greater
devolution of employment and skills funding and powers to local government.
4
APPENDIX 2
ARNOLD ESTATE WARM, DRY AND SAFE WORKS PROGRAMME
At council assembly on Wednesday 25 November 2015, a motion entitled ‘Arnold
Estate warm, dry and safe works programme’ was moved by Councillor Hamish
McCallum and seconded by Councillor Eliza Mann. The motion was subsequently
amended and the amended motion stands referred to the cabinet as a recommendation.
RECOMMENDATION
That council assembly:
1.
Welcomes the improvements currently underway on the Arnold Estate as part
of the warm, dry and safe programme.
2.
Notes that although the kitchens and bathrooms programme was brought
forward to April 2015, the warm, dry and safe works on the Arnold Estate
started before that, so it was not possible to bring the kitchens and bathrooms
programme into the scope of the work.
3.
Notes that the council is spending £303.9m on housing investment works during
2015/16, which is significantly more than the council has ever spent before in a
year.
4.
Regrets however that the impact of the Chancellor’s post-election decision to
impose rent reductions on councils and housing associations without
compensation, which will result in a net loss of £62m to the HRA over the next
four years, unfortunately means that the council has to slow the proposed major
works programme from that originally envisaged.
5.
Notes that no decision has yet been taken on when the kitchens and bathrooms
work will take place at the Arnold Estate, as all proposals from 2017/18
onwards are currently being consulted on and a final decision will not be taken
until March 2016, and therefore asks that Cabinet consider carefully the views
on the programme set out by the tenants and residents of Arnold Estate
carefully before taking its decision in March.
6.
Calls on the cabinet to ensure that despite the significant financial challenge,
the kitchens and bathrooms programme is still delivered to all council
properties, including the Arnold Estate.
5
APPENDIX 3
END CUTS TO POLICING IN LONDON
At council assembly on Wednesday 25 November 2015, a revised motion entitled
‘end cuts to policing in London’ was moved by Councillor Jon Hartley and seconded
by Councillor Kath Whittam. The revised motion was subsequently amended and
the amended motion stands referred to the cabinet as a recommendation
RECOMMENDATION
That council assembly notes:
1.
As a result of the spending review in 2010 the Metropolitan Police Service has
faced cuts of almost £600 million, totalling 20% of its budget.
2.
The ‘safer neighbourhood team’ (SNT) model introduced by the previous
Labour Mayor was widely welcomed by communities and saw each ward
allocated a dedicated team of six officers (one sergeant, two police constables
(PCs) and three police community support officers (PCSOs)).
3.
The introduction of Boris Johnson's local policing model dismantled SNTs
reducing them to just a single dedicated PC and PCSO per ward,
demonstrating the impact of a Tory Mayor on London and Londoners’ safety.
4.
Since May 2010, as a result of government cuts, London has lost 3,170
dedicated neighbourhood PCSOs, a cut of over 70% compared with May 2010.
In Southwark 110 PCSOs have been lost since 2010.
5.
In December the Metropolitan Police Service management board will consider
proposals to scrap neighbourhood PCSOs all together, resulting in a loss of
over 1,000 officers if approved. In Southwark this proposal could mean losing
all of the few remaining PCSOs in the borough.
6.
That whilst PCSOs have been informed of the Met's intention to make this
decision, there has been no meaningful consultation with boroughs, the public
or PCSOs about the impact of scrapping PCSOs.
That council assembly believes:
7.
The introduction of neighbourhood policing teams transformed local policing,
increased public confidence and provided a integral link between communities
and the police.
8.
The £600 million of cuts handed down from government have devastated the
police service in the capital despite promises from the Mayor of London and
Home Secretary that they would not hit the frontline.
9.
Proposals to scrap all of London's neighbourhood PCSOs will have a profound
impact on the shape of London's police force and should be subject to full public
consultation if approved by the Metropolitan Police Service management board.
6
That council assembly resolves:
10. That the council consult residents on any proposed changes to its own
community warden scheme.
11. To call on the Metropolitan Police Service Commissioner to engage with local
authorities to find alternatives to the badly thought-out proposals to scrap
neighbourhood PCSOs, particularly in light of the chancellor’s announcement
that there will be no further budget cuts to policing this year. Including retaining
at least one dedicated PCSO in each of the 21 wards across Southwark, as well
as keeping the existing structure.
12. To call on the Mayor of London to set out the true impact of government cuts
and engage in meaningful consultation with Londoners about the future of
policing in the capital, including the option of not reducing the council tax
precept next year to ensure PCSO numbers can remain at current levels in
Southwark by raising extra funding for the Metropolitan Police.
7
APPENDIX 4
GREATER LONDON NATIONAL PARK CITY CAMPAIGN
At council assembly on Wednesday 25 November 2015, a motion entitled ‘Greater
London national park city campaign’ was formally moved and seconded by Councillors
James Barber and Rosie Shimell. The motion was subsequently amended and the
amended motion stands referred to the cabinet as a recommendation.
RECOMMENDATION
That council assembly:
1.
Congratulates the council on the amount of open and green space available
and maintained for residents in Southwark.
2.
Acknowledges the health, environmental and leisure benefits of parks, green
spaces and water in built-up urban areas.
3.
Notes that Southwark has a large number of parks and green spaces we can be
immensely proud of, including a record number of Green Flag parks, and that
resident satisfaction with Southwark parks is very high.
4.
Notes that parks in Southwark already have the planning protection required to
ensure that they are not under threat.
5.
Notes that Southwark is a leading borough in London for parks and green
spaces and that the council is continuing to invest in parks open spaces, while
many local authorities are scaling back investment because of budget cuts.
6.
Welcomes the council’s work to ensure that standards in Southwark parks
continue to improve against a very difficult backdrop of central government cuts.
7.
Notes that there is no real detail on the potential benefits and risks of a Greater
London National Park City for local authority parks and it is not yet clear what
the implications of the proposals would be on Southwark’s parks and open
spaces.
8.
Calls on the cabinet to ensure that at a time of ever-growing budgetary
pressure, the council focuses on protecting investment in Southwark’s parks
and green spaces, continuing to improve standards and fulfilling the manifesto
promise to increase the number of Green Flag parks in the borough.
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APPENDIX 5
EXTEND THE 42 BUS ROUTE
At council assembly on Wednesday 25 November 2015, a motion entitled ‘extend the
42 bus route’ was formally moved and seconded by Councillors Lorraine Lauder and
Tom Flynn. The motion was subsequently amended and the amended motion stands
referred to the cabinet as a recommendation
RECOMMENDATION
1.
That council assembly notes that the 42 bus route is a key route in Southwark
linking the south-west to the north-east of the borough and providing a much
needed direct link north across the river for our residents.
2.
That council assembly recognises that residents in Camberwell and Walworth
currently have to put up with an inadequate 42 bus service, which is unreliable
and overcrowded, with people often being left at bus stops. This route does not
run enough services and currently terminates at Sunray Avenue rather than the
Sainsburys, which makes it difficult for residents travelling to the shop who have
mobility issues or small children.
3.
That council assembly therefore calls on cabinet to lobby Transport for London:
•
To deliver more frequent and reliable services
•
To turn the route into a double decker in order to increase capacity for
passengers
•
To extend the southern terminating point to Sainsburys East Dulwich
4.
That council assembly further notes that Transport for London has already
announced a consultation on the extension of the 42 bus route to Sainsbury’s
East Dulwich for next month, including whether a double-decker is supported by
both passengers and local residents.
9
APPENDIX 6
THE TRADE UNION BILL
At council assembly on Wednesday 25 November 2015, a motion entitled ‘the Trade
Union Bill’ was formally moved and seconded by Councillors Charlie Smith and Sarah
King. The motion was subsequently amended and the amended motion stands
referred to the cabinet as a recommendation
RECOMMENDATION
1.
That council assembly recognises the positive contribution that trade unions
and trade union members make in our workplaces. This council values the
constructive relationship that we have with our trade unions and we recognise
their commitment, and the commitment of all our staff, to the delivery of good
quality public services.
2.
That council assembly notes with concern the Trade Union Bill which is
currently being proposed by the government and which would affect this
council’s relationship with our trade unions and our workforce as a whole.
Council assembly rejects this bill’s attack on local democracy and the attack on
our right to manage our own affairs.
3.
That council assembly further notes that human rights groups Liberty, Amnesty
International and the British Institute of Human Rights have all condemned the
Bill as an attack on the basic right to protest and that the Chartered Institute of
Personnel and Development has branded this law an 'outdated response that
could have potentially counter-productive consequences.'
4.
That council assembly is clear that facility time, negotiated and agreed by us
and our trade unions to suit our own specific needs, has a valuable role to play
in the creation of good quality and responsive local services. Facility time
should not be determined or controlled by government in Westminster.
5.
That council assembly is happy with the arrangements we currently have in
place for deducting trade union membership subscriptions through our payroll.
We see this as an important part of our positive industrial relations and a cheap
and easy to administer system that supports our staff. This system is an
administrative matter for the council and should not be interfered with by the UK
government.
6.
That council assembly resolves to support the campaign against the
unnecessary, anti-democratic and bureaucratic Trade Union Bill.
7.
That council assembly calls on cabinet to support the campaign against the
unnecessary, anti-democratic and bureaucratic Trade Union Bill and to seek to
continue its own locally agreed industrial relations strategy and take every
measure possible to maintain its autonomy with regard to facility time and the
continuing use of check-off.
10
APPENDIX 7
TRANSATLANTIC TRADE AND INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP (TTIP)
At council assembly on Wednesday 25 November 2015, a motion entitled
‘Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership’ was formally moved and seconded
by Councillors Gavin Edwards and Helen Dennis. The motion was agreed and stands
referred to the cabinet as a recommendation.
RECOMMENDATION
1.
That council assembly notes that there has been no impact assessment about
the potential impact of a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership,
currently being negotiated by the EU and USA, on local authorities, and that
there has been no scrutiny of the negotiating texts by local government and no
consultation with local government representatives.
2.
That council assembly believes that TTIP could have a detrimental impact on
local services, employment, suppliers and decision-making. In particular, TTIP
could effectively prevent public services from being brought back in-house,
which could have a negative impact on Southwark where significant
improvements have been made by bringing services back in-house, such as the
council’s revenues and benefits service in 2011.
3.
That council assembly notes that Labour MEPs have been campaigning to
ensure that, should a trade agreement between the EU and the USA be
concluded, it does not in any way limit the ability of public authorities, whether
at local, national or European level, to act for the public interest. Council
assembly welcomes the amendments to the recently adopted European
parliament resolution successfully moved by Labour MEPS for a full exclusion
of all public services, present or future, from the scope of the agreement, as
well as a clear rejection of any type of measures that could undermine public
authorities’ autonomy and sovereignty, including at local level, and their
commitment to veto any agreement that fails to address these concerns.
4.
That council assembly believes that a thorough impact assessment of TTIP on
local authorities must be undertaken before the negotiations can be concluded.
5.
That council assembly calls on the cabinet to:
•
Write to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government,
local MPs and London MEPs, raising our serious concerns about the
impact of TTIP on local authorities and the secrecy of the negotiating
process.
•
Write to the Local Government Association to raise our serious concerns
about the impact of TTIP on local authorities and ask them to raise these
with government on our behalf.
•
Join with other local authorities and local campaigners to raise awareness
about our concerns over TTIP and call for an impact assessment on the
impact of TTIP on local authorities.
11
APPENDIX 8
THE HOUSING AND PLANNING BILL
At council assembly on Wednesday 25 November 2015, a late motion entitled ‘the
Housing and Planning Bill’ was formally moved and seconded by Councillors Richard
Livingstone and Ben Johnson. The late motion was agreed and stands referred to the
cabinet as a recommendation.
RECOMMENDATION
That council assembly notes:
1.
That the Housing and Planning Bill is currently being debated in Parliament,
and if passed would threaten the provision of affordable homes for rent and buy
through:
a)
forcing 'high-value' council homes to be sold on the open market
b)
extending the right-to-buy to housing association tenants, and
c)
undermining Section 106 requirements on private developers to provide
affordable homes.
2.
That there is no commitment in the Bill that affordable homes will be replaced
like-for-like in the local area.
3.
That whilst measures to help first-time buyers are welcome, the 'starter homes'
proposals in the Bill will be unaffordable to families and young people on
ordinary incomes in most parts of the country, will not preserve the taxpayer
investment and will be built at the expense of genuinely affordable homes to
rent and buy.
4.
That the Bill undermines localism by taking new wide and open-ended powers
for the Secretary of State over councils and local communities, including the
ability to override local plans, to mandate rents for social tenants, and to impose
a levy on stock-holding councils, violating the terms of the housing revenue
account self-financing deal.
5.
That the Bill, whilst introducing some welcome measures to get to grips with
rogue landlords, does not help with the high rents, poor conditions and
insecurity affecting many of England's private renters - including one in four
families with children - and does nothing to help arrest the recent rise in
homelessness.
That council assembly calls on cabinet:
6.
To analyse and report on the likely impact of the forced sale of council homes,
the extension of right-to-buy and the 'starter homes' requirement on the local
availability of affordable homes.
7.
To analyse and report on any further likely impacts of the Bill on Southwark.
8.
To use this information to:
a)
write to the Secretary of State with our concerns regarding the Bill
12
b)
set up an urgent meeting between the Leader of the Council and the Chief
Executive with the local Members of Parliament to raise our concerns,
and
c)
make public our concerns, including by publishing the above information
on the council's website and promoting through the local press.
13