MOTION A: MODERN SLAVERY
Proposed by: Cllr Norman Webster
Seconded by: Cllr Gary Marsh
Mid Sussex District Council notes that:
· Though slavery was abolished in the UK in 1833, there are more slaves today than ever before in human history.
· Modern Slavery is happening nationwide. Traffickers and slave masters use whatever means they have at their disposal to coerce, deceive and force individuals into a life of abuse, servitude and inhumane treatment. This can include sexual and criminal exploitation.
· Councils have an important role to play in ensuring their contracts and supplies don't contribute to modern day slavery and exploitation.
· The council is part of the Sussex Anti-Slavery Network, which provides a framework for bringing together all the organisations across Sussex who have a part to play in the fight against Modern Slavery.
· The Network is driving efforts to ensure that partners in Sussex support medium and long-term plans towards the eradication of slavery and exploitation in Sussex.
This Council believes that:
· Action needs to be taken to raise awareness of modern slavery and the fact that it is happening all over the UK.
· Mid Sussex District Council as part of Local Government and as an employer, commissioner and contractor of other bodies has a responsibility to take a robust approach to slavery and human trafficking.
This Council resolves to:
· Adopt a County wide Modern Slavery Pledge for this year’s Anti-Slavery Day on the 18th October 2020.
· Work proactively with national and local government, law enforcement agencies, business, the community and voluntary sector, faith bodies and our local communities to:
- Demonstrate strong leadership for anti-slavery initiatives;
- Raise awareness amongst our staff, associates and the people we service on a daily basis;
- Train our staff to recognise and respond appropriately to potential signs of slavery;
- Share intelligence and information to help detect slavery and ensure it cannot take root;
- Support victims and survivors in our communities;
- Remove slave-based labour from our supply chains;
- Contribute to building a prosperous and slavery-free economy.
MOTION B: GOVERNMENT PLANNING CONSULTATIONS
Proposed by: Cllr Simon Hicks
Seconded by: Cllr Sue Hatton
This Council notes:
a. The publication by Government of ‘Changes to the Current Planning System’ and ‘Planning for the Future’ on 6 August 2020.
b. That the vast majority of planning applications are given the go ahead by local authority planning committees, with permission granted to around 9 out of 10 applications.
c. That research by the Local Government Association has said that there are existing planning permissions for more than one million homes that have not yet been started.
d. That the LGA has also raised concerns that the proposed algorithm that will set housing targets will see a disproportionate increase in the South and in rural areas of England.
e. That on 7th September in the House of Commons, Andrew Griffith, MP for Arundel and South Downs described how the algorithm ignores areas of land that are prohibited from development such as National Parks and AONBs, forcing unrealistic amounts of development to be concentrated in the remaining unprotected land, citing Mid Sussex as a district that is especially vulnerable in this respect.
f. The proposals include restructuring of the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) and scrapping site specific S106 contributions to be replaced by a charge on development value above a certain threshold with a nationally set one size fits all rate called the Infrastructure Levy.
g. That the proposals only seek affordable housing on developments over 40 -units which on the Governments own figures could reduce the number of new houses from this source by up to 20%, and for affordable housing provided from the new Infrastructure Levy to focus on discounted housing rather than social housing for rent.
This Council is concerned that the Planning White Paper – Planning for the Future proposals seek to:
h. Introduce a zone-based system, replacing the current system where people get two chances to be consulted, firstly on development principles and secondly when a planning application is submitted.
i. Reduce or remove the right of residents to object to applications near them and grant automatic rights for developers to build on land identified as ‘for growth’.
This Council Believes:
j. That whilst not perfect, existing planning procedures, as currently administered by the District Council allow for local democratic control over future development and give local people some say in planning proposals that affect them.
k. That proposals for automatic rights to build in ‘growth’ areas, and increased permitted development rights, risk unregulated growth and unsustainable communities.
l. That local communities must be in the driving seat on shaping the future of their neighbourhoods, and local determination of the planning framework and planning applications play an important part in this process.
m. That the new more prescriptive housing targets are likely to mean at least a 35% increase in the target for Mid Sussex when the existing target is already challenging and will take no account of local constraints such as national park boundaries and the viability of developments in rural areas and resultant damage to biodiversity.
n. That the proposed 40-50 unit threshold for delivering affordable housing will be especially detrimental in smaller villages where most new developments are low in number, and as a result delivering genuinely affordable housing in our communities will become harder if these proposals go ahead.
This Council resolves to:
o. Take part in the consultation in the planning proposals, and to make representations against the proposals as outlined in this motion.
p. Write to and lobby all three of our Members of Parliament, urging them to oppose these proposals and to circulate their replies to members.
q. Highlight its concerns over these proposals with the public and encourage participation in the consultation.
MOTION C: REFUGEES
Proposed by:
Cllr Benedict Dempsey
Seconded by:
Cllr Lee Gibbs
Mid Sussex District Council:
1. Notes that the issue of refugees and people seeking asylum currently has a raised media profile in the UK.
2. Acknowledges that the issue of asylum and international migration is a highly complex issue without simple solutions.
3. Recognises that the UK has a proud tradition of providing sanctuary to refugees who have been displaced by conflict and persecution.
4. Affirms Mid Sussex's pride in having refugees living as part of our communities in the District.
5. Emphasises that, notwithstanding differing views, anyone engaged in discourse on this issue has a responsibility to treat the people involved with dignity, compassion and respect.
Minutes:
MOTION A: MODERN SLAVERY
Councillor Webster proposed the motion. He noted that the Council is part of the anti-slavery network and that regular training is provided, along with initiatives to ensure the Council’s supply chain meets requirements. The motion was seconded by Councillor Marsh noting that it enables the Council to have direct influence, take action and work with partners to take a robust approach to modern slavery.
The Chairman took Members to a vote on the motion which was agreed. For: 49, 1 Member abstained or failed to record a vote.
RESOLVED
Mid Sussex District Council resolves to:
• Adopt a County wide Modern Slavery Pledge for this year’s Anti-Slavery Day on the 18th October 2020.
• Work proactively with national and local government, law enforcement agencies, business, the community and voluntary sector, faith bodies and our local communities to:
- Demonstrate strong leadership for anti-slavery initiatives;
- Raise awareness amongst our staff, associates and the people we service on a daily basis;
- Train our staff to recognise and respond appropriately to potential signs of slavery;
- Share intelligence and information to help detect slavery and ensure it cannot take root;
- Support victims and survivors in our communities;
- Remove slave-based labour from our supply chains;
- Contribute to building a prosperous and slavery-free economy.
MOTION B: GOVERNMENT PLANNING CONSULTATIONS
Councillor Hicks formally proposed the motion (amended from that published). Councillor Bradbury agreed to second it. The Head of Regulatory Services read the motion for the benefit of Members and the public.
In proposing the motion, Councillor Hicks noted the Council’s concern with the Government’s proposals, which appear counter-productive, and potentially disregard local housing needs in favour of a national target. In seconding the motion, Councillor Bradbury noted that the Council is not against a reform of the planning system and welcomes elements such as the building on brownfield sites and biodiversity, however he felt that any changes need to recognise the work of establishing a District Plan which is a better indication of local housing need.
Member’s discussed the need to ensure affordable housing is integrated within new developments. Comment was also made on the need for the current planning system to better take into consideration the views of residents.
The Chairman took Members to the motion as agreed which was approved. For: 48
RESOLVED
This Council notes:
a. The Government’s consultations on changes to the current planning system and the ‘Planning for the Future’ White Paper, and welcomes the focus on building on brownfield sites, better energy efficiency standards and the requirement to enhance biodiversity. The Council also welcomes the simplification, modernisation and digitisation of the planning process and the proposal to apply the new Infrastructure Levy to permitted development, but believes that planning should be kept local with public participation at its heart with sufficient funding for local infrastructure that flows to the infrastructure provider.
b. That the vast majority of planning applications are given the go ahead by local authority planning committees, with permission granted to around 9 out of 10 applications.
c. That research by the Local Government Association has said that there are existing planning permissions for more than one million homes that have not yet been started.
d. That the LGA has also raised concerns that the proposed algorithm that will set housing targets will see a disproportionate increase in the South and in rural areas of England.
e. That on 7th September in the House of Commons, Andrew Griffith, MP for Arundel and South Downs described how the algorithm ignores areas of land that are prohibited from development such as National Parks and AONBs, forcing unrealistic amounts of development to be concentrated in the remaining unprotected land, citing Mid Sussex as a district that is especially vulnerable in this respect.
f. The proposals include restructuring of the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) and scrapping site specific S106 contributions to be replaced by a charge on development value above a certain threshold with a nationally set one size fits all rate called the Infrastructure Levy.
g. That the proposals seek to temporarily only allow local Councils to seek affordable housing on developments over 40-50 units, thereby having a detrimental impact on the supply of affordable and social housing.
The Council calls for an urgent review of the housing allocation methodology which would significantly increase housing numbers in Mid Sussex. The Council expresses concern that the methodology concentrates housing numbers in market towns, suburbs and rural areas, which already have an infrastructure deficit, and away from larger towns and cities which have better infrastructure.
The Council welcomes the response that the Cabinet Member for Housing & Planning has submitted to the ‘Changes to the Current Planning System’ consultation, which opposes in particular the proposed standard methodology for assessing housing numbers and the proposed lifting of the small sites threshold below which affordable housing would no longer be provided.
The Council notes that the Cabinet Member for Housing & Planning will make a further response on behalf of the Council to the ‘Planning for the Future’ consultation.
MOTION C: REFUGEES
Councillor Dempsey proposed the motion. The motion was seconded by Councillor Gibbs who noted it was a reaffirmation of a sentiment that resonates with all.
The Cabinet Member for Housing, Planning and Economic Growth noted the Council, like all those nationally works with Central Government to resettle and support refugees.
The Chairman took Members to the vote on the motion which was agreed. For: 21, 27 Members abstained, so the Motion was carried.
RESOLVED
Mid Sussex District Council:
1. Notes that the issue of refugees and people seeking asylum currently has a raised media profile in the UK.
2. Acknowledges that the issue of asylum and international migration is a highly complex issue without simple solutions.
3. Recognises that the UK has a proud tradition of providing sanctuary to refugees who have been displaced by conflict and persecution.
4. Affirms Mid Sussex's pride in having refugees living as part of our communities in the District.
5. Emphasises that, notwithstanding differing views, anyone engaged in discourse on this issue has a responsibility to treat the people involved with dignity, compassion and respect.