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Agenda item

Notices of Motion

(a)      Action to enable the West End to more fully re-open

 

To be moved by Councillor Rachael Robathan

 

To be seconded by Councillor Melvyn Caplan

 

 

This council notes the need for decisive action to enable more of the West End to fully re-open.

 

This council welcomes the significant support that businesses in Westminster have received from the Government.

 

This council further notes that the Westminster economy is the key driver for the London and UK economies and therefore requires even greater support so that Westminster businesses can drive the recovery of the UK economy.

 

This council believes that the Government should provide increased clarity about people returning to work including improving the messaging around social distancing.

 

The council looks to the government and other public bodies to lead by example in showing that it is safe for their staff to return to their offices.

 

This council believes that the Mayor should look at offering Congestion Charge exemptions for certain low pollution private vehicles that are visiting key sectors such as theatres.

 

This council resolves to continue to lobby the Government to extend the business rates holiday beyond March 2021 and to review the rateable value cap for certain businesses in Westminster that have not previously had access to Government grants.

 

This council further resolves to seek further support from the Mayor and Government for the council’s initiatives to provide increased space for pedestrians and for al fresco dining hospitality initiatives and for Westminster’s promotional campaigns Sight See Crowd Free and Inside Out.

 

This council also resolves to seek more flexibility around the statutory review of licensing policy to help support those businesses that would otherwise be affected by changes that do not take into the position of these businesses since lockdown.


 

(b)      Minority Party Motion – ‘Planning Policy’

 

To be moved by Councillor Geoff Barraclough

 

To be seconded by Councillor Matt Noble

 

 

The Council notes the deep concern about the Government’s ‘Planning for the Future’ White Paper expressed by local residents and the widespread opposition to the plans from groups as diverse as Shelter and the Westminster Property Association.

 

The Council notes that the White Paper makes no explicit mention of any role for elected councillors, local amenity societies, neighbourhood forums or other residents groups. 

 

The Council notes separate Government changes to the Permitted Development rules on office-to-residential conversion that can take place without planning permission or any requirement to contribute towards local infrastructure or affordable housing. It also notes Government proposals that new developments of under 50 units should not have to make any contribution to affordable housing at all. 

 

The Council also notes the proposed revisions to Westminster’s annual housing target that could see it rise fivefold, leading to badly planned homes with poor living conditions.

 

The Council believes that an effective planning system needs to work to provide homes and workplaces to serve society, shaped by the priorities of local residents, and that at present the White Paper does not achieve these goals.

 

The Council believes that as currently drafted, the ‘Planning for the Future’ proposals would significantly reduce local people’s opportunity to have their say on new developments in Westminster, with no recognition of amenity issues such as light overshadowing, noise nuisance and sense of enclosure.

 

The Council believes that these planning changes could drastically reduce the ability of local authorities to build the social and affordable homes for rent that we need while massively increasing the number of private units and the risk of poor quality conversions. 

 

The Council resolves to explicitly and publicly oppose the permitted development changes, the proposed new house building targets and the proposals in the Planning for the Future document that would reduce the say of local people, remove the decision making role of elected councillors and undermine obligations for developers to support affordable housing delivery. 

 

The Council resolves to lobby the Government, make statements to the media, collaborate with London Councils and the Local Government Association on a cross-party basis, and take all other appropriate steps to demand the Government change course. 

The Council resolves to demand that if the Government goes ahead with its White Paper plans, it allows local authorities like Westminster to set any new ‘infrastructure levy’ at levels that can fully respond to local needs.

 

 

Minutes:

13.1    The Conservative Party had selected for debate the Notice of Motion (Enable more of the West End to fully to re-open) as set out on the agenda.  The Notice of Motion was moved by Councillor Rachael Robathan and seconded by Councillor Melvyn Caplan.

 

13.2    Councillor Pancho Lewis moved and it was seconded by Councillor Paul Dimoldenberg that the Notice of Motion be amended, as follows:

 

           Amended motion

 

           “This council notes the need for decisive action to enable more of the            West End to fully re-open.

 

           This council welcomes the significant support that businesses in Westminster have received from the Government.

           This council further notes that the Westminster economy is the key driver for the London and UK economies and therefore requires even greater support so that Westminster businesses can drive the recovery of the UK economy.

 

           This council believes that the Government should provide increased clarity about people returning to work including improving the messaging around social distancing and providing better access to testing.

 

           The council looks to the Government and other public bodies to lead by example in showing when it is safe for their staff to return to their offices, recognising that situations will differ by organisation, office type and for different staff members.

 

           This council believes that the Mayor should look at offering Congestion Charge exemptions for certain low pollution private vehicles that are visiting key sectors such as theatres and that the Government should look at amending Section H of its bailout terms for TFL and provide additional funding to facilitate such exemptions to be provided.

 

           This council believes that ‘building back better’ means that, while strongly supporting measures to build confidence and help people return to the West End, things will not be the same as before the crisis. The council will need to effectively manage the change to put tacking the climate crisis, creating living streets and low-traffic neighbourhoods at the heart of a new vision for the West End. 

 

           This council resolves to continue to lobby the Government to extend the business rates holiday beyond March 2021, to extend the furlough flexibly for certain sectors (such as the hospitality trade) and to review the rateable value cap for certain businesses in Westminster that have not previously had access to Government grants and it will continue to lobby for reform of the taxation of online retailers to create a more level playing field with West End retail. It will lobby for a better financial settlement from Government that will enable it to protect and enhance services that manage our City and to help Westminster provide greater flexibility over Council rents and market pitch fees.

 

           This council further resolves to seek further support from the Mayor and Government for the council’s initiatives to provide increased space for pedestrians and for al fresco dining hospitality initiatives and for Westminster’s promotional campaigns Sight See Crowd Free and Inside Out. It will back further initiatives to support Westminster’s culture sector, including new spaces for outdoor performance in appropriate places and support for high quality popups in empty units and other initiatives to make the West End even more attractive to visit at this time.

 

           This council also resolves to seek more flexibility around the statutory review of licensing policy to help support those businesses that would otherwise be affected by changes that do not take into the position of these businesses since lockdown.

 

           This council resolves to take a review of the City Plan so that post-inspection the council can look at ways policy may need to evolve further to respond to the long-term impacts of the changes created by Covid-19 both for the West End and the City as a whole, including secondary retail areas.”

 

13.3    Following debate, The Lord Mayor put the amendment to the motion to the vote and following an electronic poll declared the amendment to the motion LOST.

 

13.4    The Lord Mayor then put the substantive motion to the vote and following an       electronic poll declared the substantive motion CARRIED.

 

           RESOLVED:

 

           This council notes the need for decisive action to enable more of the West End to fully re-open.

 

           This council welcomes the significant support that businesses in Westminster have received from the Government. This council further notes that the Westminster economy is the key driver for the London and UK economies and therefore requires even greater support so that Westminster businesses can drive the recovery of the UK economy.

 

           This council believes that the Government should provide increased clarity about people returning to work including improving the messaging around social distancing.

 

           The council looks to the government and other public bodies to lead by example in showing that it is safe for their staff to return to their offices.

 

           This council believes that the Mayor should look at offering Congestion Charge exemptions for certain low pollution private vehicles that are visiting key sectors such as theatres.

           This council resolves to continue to lobby the Government to extend the business rates holiday beyond March 2021 and to review the rateable value cap for certain businesses in Westminster that have not previously had access to Government grants.

 

           This council further resolves to seek further support from the Mayor and Government for the council’s initiatives to provide increased space for pedestrians and for al fresco dining hospitality initiatives and for Westminster’s promotional campaigns Sight See Crowd Free and Inside Out.

 

           This council also resolves to seek more flexibility around the statutory review of licensing policy to help support those businesses that would otherwise be affected by changes that do not take into the position of these businesses since lockdown.        

 

13.5    The Minority Party had selected for debate the Notice of Motion (Planning White Paper) as set out on the agenda.  The Notice of Motion was moved by Councillor Geoff Barraclough and seconded by Councillor Matt Noble.

 

13.6    Councillor Matthew Green moved and it was seconded by Councillor Robert Rigby that the Notice of Motion be amended, as follows:

 

           Amendment to Motion

 

           “The Council notes the deep concern about the Government’s ‘Planning for the Future’ White Paper expressed by local residents and the widespread opposition to the plans from groups as diverse as Shelter and the Westminster Property Association.

           The Council notes that the White Paper makes no explicit insufficient mention of any role for elected councillors, local amenity societies, neighbourhood forums or other residents groups.

           Where The Council notes separate Government changes to the Permitted Development rules on office-to-residential conversion is appropriate and can bring benefits, the Council supports a that can take place without planning permission or any requirement to contribute contribution towards local infrastructure or and affordable housing.  It also notes Government.  The Council supports proposals that new the draft City Plan’s commitment to ensuring that developments of under over 1 50 units provide a minimum of 35% of the total residential units as should not have to make any contribution to affordable housing at all on site.

 

           The Council also notes the supports proposed revisions to Westminster’s annual housing target that are ambitious, while remembering but they must be realistic and feasible could see it rise five-fold, leading to badly planned homes with poor living conditions.   

 

           The Council believes that an effective planning system needs to work to provide homes and workplaces to serve society, shaped by the priorities of local residents, and that at present the will work with Government and partners to White Paper does not achieve deliver these goals.

 

           The Council believes that as currently drafted, the “Planning for the Future” proposals would significantly reduce supports local people’s opportunity to have their say on new developments in Westminster, with no recognition of including amenity issues such as light overshadowing, noise nuisance and sense of enclosure.

 

           The Council believes that these planning changes could drastically reduce the ability of local authorities to supports the building of the social and affordable homes for rent rent that we need while massively increasing the number of private units and the risk of poor quality conversions.

 

           The Council resolves to explicitly and publicly oppose the permitted development changes, the proposed new house building targets and the does not support supports proposals in the Planning for the Future document a planning system that would reduce encourages the say of local people, remove fosters the decision making role of elected councillors and undermine secures obligations for developers to support affordable housing delivery.

 

           The Council resolves to lobby the Government, make statements to the media, collaborate with London Councils and the Local Government Association on a cross party basis, and take all other appropriate steps to demand the Government change course with residents to ensure that the planning process continues to meet their needs.

          

           The Council resolves to demand that if the Government goes ahead with its White Paper plans, it allows local authorities like Westminster to set any new supports a planning system in which “infrastructure levy” levies’ at levels that can fully respond to local needs.”

 

13.7    Following debate, The Lord Mayor put the amendment to the motion to the vote and following an electronic poll declared the amendment to the motion CARRIED.

 

13.8    In the absence of any objections from the Members present, The Lord Mayor

           declared the substantive motion CARRIED.

 

           RESOLVED:

 

          The Council notes the deep concern about the Government’s ‘Planning for the Future’ White Paper expressed by local residents and the widespread opposition to the plans from groups as diverse as Shelter and the Westminster Property Association.

 

 

           The Council notes that the White Paper makes insufficient mention of any role for elected councillors, local amenity societies, neighbourhood forums or other residents groups.

           Where office-to-residential conversion is appropriate and can bring benefits, the Council supports a contribution towards local infrastructure and affordable housing.  The Council supports the draft City Plan’s commitment to ensuring that developments of over 10 units provide a minimum of 35% of the total residential units as affordable housing on site.

 

           The Council supports revisions to Westminster’s annual housing target that are ambitious, but they must be realistic and feasible.        

 

           The Council believes that an effective planning system needs to work to provide homes and workplaces to serve society, shaped by the priorities of local residents, and will work with Government and partners to deliver these goals.

 

           The Council supports local people’s opportunity to have their say on new developments in Westminster, including amenity issues such as light overshadowing, noise nuisance and sense of enclosure.

 

           The Council supports the building of social and affordable homes for rent.

 

           The Council supports a planning system that encourages the say of local people, fosters the decision making role of elected councillors and secures obligations for developers to support affordable housing delivery.

 

           The Council resolves to collaborate with residents to ensure that the planning process continues to meet their needs.

          

           The Council supports a planning system in which “infrastructure” levies’ fully respond to local needs.”