Agenda item
Notice of Motion
Purpose: To consider the following Notices of Motion from Councillor Aaron Shotton.
New Build Council Housing
The HRA (Housing Revenue Account) borrowing cap is set for Wales by the UK Government. The borrowing cap limits the level of debt that a Local Authority HRA can accrue. It is an artificial figure which bears no relation to the capacity within HRA accounts to fund the revenue costs of borrowing.
If the borrowing cap were raised councils could build more homes to meet rising local need.
The current borrowing cap, when applied to our County, enables this Council to build around 200 new Council homes. For illustration an additional £25m rise in the borrowing cap, could build a further additional 200 new council houses by 2020.
Motion:
‘Flintshire County Council calls upon the UK Government to take urgent action and lift the HRA borrowing cap in Wales, enabling this Council to build more Council housing and alleviate the crisis of housing demand, whilst supporting local economic growth in Flintshire.’
Developing a Youth Council for Flintshire
A local Youth Council is a democratic organisation created, run and developed by young people for young people. They exist to represent the views of young people at a local level giving young people the opportunity to have a voice, to discuss relevant issues, engage with decision-makers and contribute to improving the lives of young people within their communities.
Developing a Youth Council with formalised reporting links to this Council will enable young people to be directly involved in the decisions being made that affect them.
A Youth Council will enable Young People to:
· Voice their concerns
· Participate in local government
· Be empowered to take decisions and action to improve their local community.
Developing a Youth Council will enable the County Council to:
· Truly represent the whole of the community
· Become more vibrant, modern and dynamic
· Encourage more young people to vote and engage in public service.
· Improve services to young people
Motion:
‘This Council supports the establishment of a Youth Council for Flintshire to discuss relevant issues, engage with decision-makers and contribute to improving the lives of young people within the County.’
Decision:
(a) That the amended Notice of Motion on New Build Council Housing be supported as follows: ‘Flintshire County Council calls upon the Welsh Government and Welsh Local Government Association to engage with the UK Government to review the HRA borrowing cap in Wales, to allow the opportunity to consider building more council houses and alleviate the crisis of housing demand, whilst supporting local economic growth in Flintshire.’; and
(b) That the Notice of Motion on developing a Youth Council for Flintshire be supported as follows: ‘This Council supports the establishment of a Youth Council for Flintshire to discuss relevant issues, engage with decision-makers and contribute to improving the lives of young people within the County’.
Minutes:
Two Notices of Motion had been received from Councillor Aaron Shotton:
(i) New Build Council Housing
‘The HRA (Housing Revenue Account) borrowing cap is set for Wales by the UK Government. The borrowing cap limits the level of debt that a Local Authority HRA can accrue. It is an artificial figure which bears no relation to the capacity within HRA accounts to fund the revenue costs of borrowing. If the borrowing cap were raised councils could build more homes to meet rising local need. The current borrowing cap, when applied to our County, enables this Council to build around 200 new Council homes. For illustration an additional £25m rise in the borrowing cap, could build a further additional 200 new council houses by 2020.
Motion: Flintshire County Council calls upon the UK Government to take urgent action and lift the HRA borrowing cap in Wales, enabling this Council to build more Council housing and alleviate the crisis of housing demand, whilst supporting local economic growth in Flintshire.’
In support of his Motion, Councillor Shotton spoke about the Council’s significant achievements on council house building and on helping to secure an end to the HRA subsidy system. He said that the Motion would enable Flintshire to lead the campaign to lift the borrowing cap in Wales to allow the Council to continue to build high quality housing to meet demand.
This was seconded by Councillor Bernie Attridge.
Councillor Patrick Heesom thanked the Leader for his Motion and for his representations on the HRA subsidy system. He referred to the shortage of houses in the private sector and the need for more rented properties to meet demand. He said there was concern that the private sector did not appear to want to meet the level of housing supply needed.
Whilst acknowledging the intent of the Motion, Councillor Mike Peers referred to the legislation and pointed out that borrowing limits for all housing stock-retaining councils in Wales had been part of a collective agreement. He therefore proposed the following amendment: ‘Flintshire County Council calls upon the Wales Government and the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) to engage with the UK Government to review the HRA borrowing cap in Wales, to allow the opportunity to consider building more council houses and alleviate the crisis of housing demand, whilst supporting local economic growth in Flintshire.’ He said that once the outcome was known, the Council would be in a position to assess the affordability of further borrowing.
Councillors Shotton and Attridge indicated acceptance of the amendment put forward by Councillor Peers.
Following a question from Councillor Kevin Hughes on borrowing levels and implications, the Chief Executive explained about the self-financing model operated by the Council and the need to remove the borrowing cap to enable continuation of viable council house building.
Speaking in support of the Motion, Councillor Gladys Healey commended the Council’s progress on council house building and praised the Housing team for its work on tackling homelessness.
The Chief Executive said there was widespread support for the removal of the borrowing cap in acknowledgement of the need for increased council house building to keep up with demand.
On being put to the vote, the Motion, as amended, was unanimously supported.
(ii) Developing a Youth Council for Flintshire
‘A local Youth Council is a democratic organisation created, run and developed by young people for young people. They exist to represent the views of young people at a local level giving young people the opportunity to have a voice, to discuss relevant issues, engage with decision-makers and contribute to improving the lives of young people within their communities. Developing a Youth Council with formalised reporting links to this Council will enable young people to be directly involved in the decisions being made that affect them.
A Youth Council will enable Young People to:
· Voice their concerns
· Participate in local government
· Be empowered to take decisions and action to improve their local community.
Developing a Youth Council will enable the County Council to:
· Truly represent the whole of the community
· Become more vibrant, modern and dynamic
· Encourage more young people to vote and engage in public service
· Improve services to young people.
Motion:
‘This Council supports the establishment of a Youth Council for Flintshire to discuss relevant issues, engage with decision-makers and contribute to improving the lives of young people within the County.’
In providing background information to his Motion, Councillor Shotton explained that the aim was to establish the principle of a Youth Council and progress through the Improvement Plan. There were many good examples of Youth Councils across the UK, and the development of such a forum in Flintshire would add to the range of current opportunities for young people to have their voices heard.
This was seconded by Councillor Bernie Attridge.
Speaking in support of the Motion, Councillor David Healey referred to the potential for town/community councils to identify ways of engaging with young people to reinforce community resilience and for dedicated resources to provide guidance to young people.
Other Members supporting the Motion were Councillor Heesom who welcomed the leadership element to youth provision, and Councillor Veronica Gay who spoke about current town council engagement with young people. Suggestions were made by Councillor Hilary McGuill to include a member of the Youth Council on the Public Service Board at a future stage and by Councillor Peers on co-ordination with other Youth Councils.
Whilst agreeing with the principle of the Motion, Councillor Clive Carver was unable to support it in its current form as he felt more consideration was needed to ensure the sustainable involvement of young people to achieve the right outcomes for all. In response, the Chief Executive advised that the aim was to agree the principle of a Youth Council as natural progression to the current arrangements, with the details to be subject to discussion and input by young people.
Councillor Chris Bithell was supportive of the Motion which sought to build upon local arrangements across the county.
On being put to the vote, the Notice of Motion was carried.
RESOLVED:
(a) That the amended Notice of Motion on New Build Council Housing be supported as follows: ‘Flintshire County Council calls upon the Welsh Government and Welsh Local Government Association to engage with the UK Government to review the HRA borrowing cap in Wales, to allow the opportunity to consider building more council houses and alleviate the crisis of housing demand, whilst supporting local economic growth in Flintshire.’; and
(b) That the Notice of Motion on developing a Youth Council for Flintshire be supported as follows: ‘This Council supports the establishment of a Youth Council for Flintshire to discuss relevant issues, engage with decision-makers and contribute to improving the lives of young people within the County’.