Decision details

There were five motions submitted in accordance with Standing Order 4.8.12.

A)    Provision of Affordable Housing and Infrastructure on Developments

RESOLVED:  That Council instructed the Leader of the Council writes to the Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government setting out the Council’s views and calling for the government to adopt a strategy that will prioritise increasing delivery of housing with appropriate infrastructure and to prioritise giving more power to Councils to build housing, in particular social and affordable housing.

B)    Two Child Limit to Benefit Payments

RESOLVED: That Council:

(1)   Instructed the Leader of North Herts Council to write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Prime Minister indicating North Herts Council's strong belief that the two-child limit to benefit payments should be scrapped – which would help 2120 children living in North Hertfordshire.

(2)   Further instructed the Council Leader to write to all MPs covering the district of North Hertfordshire, asking them to commit their public support to the campaign to end the cruel two-child limit to benefit payments and ensure the number of children a family has is considered when a hardship grant is given out by the Council.

C)    Proposed Expansion of London Luton Airport

RESOLVED:

(1)   That the new Leader of the Council writes again to the Secretary of State for Transport urging them not to grant a Development Consent Order, as well as stating that North Hertfordshire District Council continues to oppose any further expansion of London Luton Airport in the strongest possible terms, and remains of the opinion there are no conditions that can be applied to the application to make it acceptable.

(2)   Council further resolved that the new Leader of the Council writes to the Member of Parliament for Hitchin, the Member of Parliament for North East Hertfordshire and the Member of Parliament for Stevenage, urging them to call on the Secretary of State for Transport to reject the proposal allowing London Luton Airport to expand, as well as to use their role as an MP representing residents in North Hertfordshire to secure Parliamentary scrutiny of the proposed expansion.

D)    Government Planning Reforms and Housing Target

RESOLVED: That Council resolves:

(1)   That the Leader of the Council writes to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government calling on the Government to:

(1.1)       not increase the Housing Target for North Hertfordshire.

(1.2)       Restore the Urban Uplift, ensuring cities and urban areas take their fair share of housing development, particularly as many of these areas already have the infrastructure to support additional development.

(1.3)       Ensure infrastructure to support approved development is built prior to houses, thereby reducing the negative impact of development on existing communities, and ensuring local infrastructure is ready to provide for residents moving into new homes.

(1.4)       Adopt a brownfield first approach to development, and provide greater protection for green belt land in North Hertfordshire.

(1.5)       Not to amend paragraph 11(d) of the 2023 NPPF, which currently provides protection for North Hertfordshire as a local authority that has recently adopted a local plan but does not have a five-year housing land supply.

(1.6)       Strengthen the rights of local residents to ensure they have a meaningful say when development is proposed within their communities.

(1.7)       Not remove the emphasis and focus on ‘beauty’ and ‘beautiful design’ from the National Planning Policy Framework.

(1.8)       Meaningfully engage with Local Planning Authorities on the New Town Scheme and – where proposed sites are put forward within an area – ensure that plans have local consent and that sufficient additional funding is in place to support already-stretched planning departments.

(1.9)       Actively pursue reforms designed to ensure that a far greater proportion of planning applications – which continue to be approved under the existing policy framework – are actually built out by developers in a timely manner, recognising that this is the most effective way of meeting the Government’s stated objectives.

(2)   That the Leader of the Council writes to the Member of Parliament for Hitchin, the Member of Parliament for North East Hertfordshire and the Member of Parliament for Stevenage highlighting the opposition of Council to the Government’s proposed planning reforms and housing targets, urging them to stand up against these proposals which would have a detrimental impact on residents and communities across North Hertfordshire.

E)    Changes to the Winter Fuel Allowance

RESOLVED: That Council resolves:

(1)     That the Leader of the Council writes to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, urging a review of the decision to means-test the Winter Fuel Payment and asks the government to ensure that vulnerable pensioners, particularly those who do not claim Pension Credit, are protected from fuel poverty.

(2)     That the Leader of the Council writes to the Member of Parliament for Hitchin, the Member of Parliament for North East Hertfordshire and the Member of Parliament for Stevenage, urging them to ask the government to ensure that vulnerable pensioners, particularly those who do not claim Pension Credit, are protected from fuel poverty, as well as to press the government to reverse this decision which may impact 23,266 pensioners in North Hertfordshire.

(3)     To continue to encourage local efforts to promote Pension Credit uptake through council services and partnerships with local charities and community organisations to ensure that all eligible pensioners in North Hertfordshire are supported in claiming their entitlement.

(4)     To encourage Councillors to consider the ‘Save the Winter Fuel Payment for Struggling Pensioners’ petition being run by Age UK.

(5)     To acknowledge and understand that the financial blackhole that the previous 14 years of Conservative government has left our country in has an impact on the new government’s financial decision-making, but that does not justify the withdrawal of the Winter Fuel Payment.