Issue - meetings

To consider any motions, due notice of which have been given in accordance with Standing Order 4.8.12.

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  ...  view the full decision text for item 43

Audio recording – 19 minutes 21 seconds

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

A)    Provision of Affordable Housing and Infrastructure on Developments

Councillor Steve Jarvis proposed the motion as follows:

‘This Council notes that, despite the existence of unimplemented planning permission to build more than a million homes across England, the current government, like its predecessor, believes that making it easier for developers to get planning permission is the way to increase the availability of affordable housing.

The Council believes that increasing numbers of permissions, rather than focusing on building the right housing in the locations which are already identified for development will boost developers profits rather than meet the needs for affordable housing.

It also notes that the government’s proposed changes to the NPPF would make it easier for developers in North Herts to obtain planning permission on speculative sites, particularly those in parts of the Green Belt, at a time when they should be delivering housing on the sites that are identified in the Local Plan.

It instructs the Leader of the Council to write 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 affordable housing with appropriate infrastructure, rather than increasing property developers’ profits.’

Councillor Ruth Brown seconded the motion.

The Chair advised that there had been an amendment to this motion which had been proposed by Councillor Daniel Wright-Mason and seconded by Councillor Dave Winstanley and had been published as a supplementary document.

Councillor Daniel Wright-Mason proposed the amendment as follows:

‘This Council notes that, despite the existence of unimplemented planning permission to build more than a million homes across England, the current government, like its predecessor, believes that making it easier for developers to get planning permission is a way to increase the availability of affordable housing.

The council believes that increasing numbers of permissions, rather than focusing on building the right housing in the locations which are already identified for development will boost developers profits, whilst not necessarily meeting the needs for affordable housing.

It also notes that the government’s proposed changes to the NPPF would make it easier for developers in North Herts to obtain planning permission on speculative sites, including those in parts of the Green Belt.

It instructs the Leader of the Council to write 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.’

Councillor Dave Winstanley seconded the amendment.

During the debate on the amendment, Councillor Daniel Allen stated that whilst under joint administration the Council brought forward the 40% affordable housing scheme and that the Local Plan identified the right homes  ...  view the full minutes text for item 43