Agenda item
- Meeting of Council, Wednesday, 24th November, 2021 5.00 pm (Item 93.)
- View the declarations of interest for item 93.
A. To consider the under-mentioned Notice of Motion standing in the names of Councillor L Hooper, S Trask and J James:
“The aspiration of home ownership is a natural instinct for many individuals and families across Rhondda Cynon Taff County Borough Council, and it is an aspiration this Council endeavours to support.
For many individuals and families, the aspiration of owning their own home looks increasingly difficult to achieve due to rising house prices and a shortage of properties. One major contributor to this is the increasing tendency of housing developers to engage in a practice which is commonly referred to as ‘land-banking’, whereby the developer succeeds in securing planning permission but does not deliver upon the proposed development.
This is an issue that affects the whole United Kingdom and in this County Borough alone could explain as many as 4,517 properties that were granted between 2012/13 and 2019/20 but have yet to be built.
Though there are a multitude of factors that can explain why a successful housing application isn’t delivered upon, it is clear that a great many of these are as a result of the practice of ‘land-banking’.
As well as preventing many of our residents in making the first step on to the housing ladder, it can also erode the trust of residents in the planning system when ‘brownfield’ sites are being ‘land-banked’ by developers - putting pressure on the Local Development Plan to propose new sites for housing allocations that may be less suitable for such development.
Therefore, this Council resolves:
-That the Leader of the Council writes to the Welsh Minister for Climate Change (whose portfolio includes housing) asking that Local Authorities in Wales are given the power to levy council tax charges on incomplete applications that have failed to materialise after an agreed timeframe set by the local authorities.
-To ask council officers to bring forward a report to Full Council in the New Year, setting out what actions can be taken in the short-term to reduce the impact of this harmful practice”.
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A. To consider the under-mentioned Notice of Motion standing in the names of Councillors G. Davies, P Jarman, E, Webster, D. Grehan, E. Stephens, L. Jones, J. Williams, A. Cox, S. Evans, A. Chapman, S. Rees-Owen, M. Weaver, J. Davies, J. Cullwick, K. Morgan, H. Fychan and E. Griffiths.
“This Council expresses concern at the policy of the UK government to recruit 16-year-olds into the army. The UK government is the only country in NATO or Europe to do this.
This policy has adverse consequences for recruits of 16 and 17 years of age. Evidence shows that: -
1) They are twice as likely to be killed in active service than older recruits.
2) They are more likely to suffer mental health problem such as PTSD, and depression.
3) They are more likely to have alcohol and drug related addictions
4) They are more likely to commit suicide.
5) 28% fail to complete the basic training.
The policy has been opposed by the Children’s Commissioner for Wales on the ground that it conflicts with the United Nation’s Convention on the Rights for the Child.
Council resolves to write to the UK Prime Minister requesting that the policy be changed as a matter of urgency. A copy of the letter will also be sent to the Welsh First Minister”.
Minutes:
11A The following Notice of Motion was received standing in the names of Councillors L Hooper, S Trask and J James:
“The aspiration of home ownership is a natural instinct for many individuals and families across Rhondda Cynon Taff County Borough Council, and it is an aspiration this Council endeavours to support.
For many individuals and families, the aspiration of owning their own home looks increasingly difficult to achieve due to rising house prices and a shortage of properties. One major contributor to this is the increasing tendency of housing developers to engage in a practice which is commonly referred to as ‘land-banking’, whereby the developer succeeds in securing planning permission but does not deliver upon the proposed development.
This is an issue that affects the whole United Kingdom and in this County Borough alone could explain as many as 4,517 properties that were granted between 2012/13 and 2019/20 but have yet to be built.
Though there are a multitude of factors that can explain why a successful housing application isn’t delivered upon, it is clear that a great many of these are as a result of the practice of ‘land-banking’.
As well as preventing many of our residents in making the first step on to the housing ladder, it can also erode the trust of residents in the planning system when ‘brownfield’ sites are being ‘land-banked’ by developers - putting pressure on the Local Development Plan to propose new sites for housing allocations that may be less suitable for such development.
Therefore, this Council resolves:
-That the Leader of the Council writes to the Welsh Minister for Climate Change (whose portfolio includes housing) asking that Local Authorities in Wales are given the power to levy council tax charges on incomplete applications that have failed to materialise after an agreed timeframe set by the local authorities.
-To ask council officers to bring forward a report to Full Council in the New Year, setting out what actions can be taken in the short-term to reduce the impact of this harmful practice”.
Following consideration, it was RESOLVED not to adopt the Notice of Motion.
(Note: The following Members of the Conservative Group County Borough Councillors L Hooper and S Trask as well as the Independent Member County Borough Councillor S Belzak wished to have it recorded as voting in favour of the Notice of Motion).
11B The following Notice of Motion was received standing in the names of Councillors
G. Davies, P Jarman, E, Webster, D. Grehan, E. Stephens, L. Jones, J. Williams, A. Cox, S. Evans, A. Chapman, S. Rees-Owen, M. Weaver, J. Davies, J. Cullwick, K. Morgan, H. Fychan and E. Griffiths.
“This Council expresses concern at the policy of the UK government to recruit 16-year-olds into the army. The UK government is the only country in NATO or Europe to do this.
This policy has adverse consequences for recruits of 16 and 17 years of age. Evidence shows that: -
1) They are twice as likely to be killed in active service than older recruits.
2) They are more likely to suffer mental health problem such as PTSD, and depression.
3) They are more likely to have alcohol and drug related addictions
4) They are more likely to commit suicide.
5) 28% fail to complete the basic training.
The policy has been opposed by the Children’s Commissioner for Wales on the ground that it conflicts with the United Nation’s Convention on the Rights for the Child.
Council resolves to write to the UK Prime Minister requesting that the policy be changed as a matter of urgency. A copy of the letter will also be sent to the Welsh First Minister”.
Following consideration, it was RESOLVED not to adopt the Notice of Motion.
(Note: The following members of the Plaid Cymru Group present, County Borough Councillors A Chapman, A Cox, J Cullwick, G Davies, J Davies, S Evans, H Fychan, D Grehan, P Jarman, L Jones, K Morgan, S Rees-Owen, E Stephens, M Weaver, E Webster and J Williams and the Independent Member County Borough Councillor S Belzak wished to have it recorded as voting in favour of the Notice of Motion
The following members of the RCT Independent Group present, County Borough Councillors P Howe, K Jones, W Jones, W Owen and Lyndon Walker and the Conservative Group present County Borough Councillors L Hooper and S Trask wished to have it recorded as voting against the Notice of Motion).