(a) Private Rented Sector in Westminster
To be moved by Councillor Vincenzo Rampulla and seconded by Councillor Murad Gassanly:
This council notes:
? The enormous growth in the private rented sector, with more than 4 out of 10 households in Westminster now renting from private landlords;
? The high cost of the sector, with households paying around 40 per cent of their income on rents, in Westminster 3 out of 4 private renters rely on benefits to pay their rent;
? The council has this year subsidised private landlords, through housing benefit, paying out an enormous £75 million - partly explained by average rents in Westminster in 2011-12 increasing by around £744 whilst wages decreased by 13 per cent;
? The poor standards within the sector compared to other tenures, with figures showing 4 out of 10 homes still failing to meet Decent Homes standards. In 2011/12 one in 8 homes the council inspected received a legal notice;
? That only 52 per cent of private renters thought renting privately was a 'good' tenure, as opposed to 93 per cent owner occupiers and 82 per cent of social renters;
This council resolves to:
? Support a better private rented sector in Westminster, one that is well-run, well-regulated and offers value for money to both renters and taxpayers;
? Play an active role in ensuring a well-run, sufficiently regulated private rental market, producing a dedicated council private rented sector strategy that will focus on:
? Identifying those areas that represent the worst standards in the borough;
? Using all legal powers currently available to address poor standards in the private rented sector, including proactively taking enforcement measures;
? Encouraging the use of longer-term tenancies to add stability for renters;
? Encouraging institutional investment to increase the supply of new, well-run and affordable rented accommodation in Westminster;
? Ensuring renters and landlords in Westminster know about the Mayor's Rental Standard and making sure it is actively championed by the council;
? Support the principle of a borough-wide licensing scheme to champion the better standards in Westminster's private rented market, commissioning a working group of equal political representation, to report the possible development and implementation of such a scheme within six months;
? Continue to lobby central Government to ensure local authorities are given stronger powers to intervene in the private rented sector for the benefit of Westminster renters and taxpayers.
(b) Health Care
To be moved by Councillor Barrie Taylor and seconded by Councillor Adam Hug
This Council notes that the winter months are producing severe pressures on our local A&E service at St Mary’s hospital – which is subject to the ‘Shaping a Healthier Future’ plan as approved by the Secretary of State and covering nine local authority areas in North West London.
It is also noted that the physical infrastructure of local primary health care services in Westminster is not adequate to provide integrated care, due to the poor state of many GPs practices and land prices in Westminster.
The Council acknowledges the national intention of major political parties to integrate health with social care services and will use every power / opportunity of the local authority to assist in its implementation, including:
· In respect of St Mary’s A&E services we call upon NHS England to sell the Samaritan ex-Hospital site to provide immediate capital resources to implement changes to the hospital infrastructure, as required by the Shaping a Healthier Future plan;
· In respect of the chronic state of much of the infrastructure for primary care services we will use our Section 106 and Community Infrastructure Levy powers to develop a £20m capital fund, in partnership with NHS England, to introduce community facilities for the provision of integrated health and social care services and to attract the highest quality of GPs to work in our area
Minutes:
The Minority Party had selected for debate the Notices of Motion as set out on the agenda.
The first item was the Notice of Motion – Private Rented Sector moved by Councillor Vincent Rampulla and seconded by Councillor Murad Gassanly. Following the debate the Lord Mayor put the motion – Private Rented Sector in Westminster to the vote.
In accordance with Standing Order 16 (2) a division was requested and granted. Accordingly there voted:
In favour of the Motion: Councillors Begum, Boothroyd, Bush, Dimoldenberg, Gassanly, Grahame, Hug, McAllister, McKie, Mukerji, Qureshi, Rampulla, Taylor, Toki and Williams.
Against the Motion: Councillors Acton, Adams, Aiken, Arzymanow, Astaire, Beddoe, Burbridge, Caplan, Chalkley, Church, Connell, Crockett, Cuthbertson, Davis, Devenish, Evans, Flight, Freeman, Glanz, Hall, Holloway, Hyams, Mitchell, Mohammed, Prendergast, Rahuja, Rigby, Robathan, Roberts, Roe, Rowley, Scarborough, Summers and Warner.
The Lord Mayor declared the Notice of Motion moved by Councillor Vincenzo Rampulla and seconded by Councillor Murad Gassanly LOST.
At 9.39pm the Lord Mayor advised that the time allocated for debates selected by the Minority Party had finished.