Agenda

The confidential report to the Employment (Senior Officer) Committee contains exempt information during which the public is likely to be excluded from the meeting subject to determination by Council following consideration of a public interest test.  This exclusion would be made under paragraph 1 and 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

Background to motion 

It is now nearly 5 years since the last government made a commitment to reform the private rental market and protect people from “no fault” evictions. 

 

These evictions were introduced by s21 Housing Act 1988. They have created a climate of fear for private renters, which can inhibit them from asking for much needed repairs. 

 

After much delay a Renters (Reform) Bill 2024 was drafted which would have reduced the scope of “no fault” evictions, but was halted by the announcement of the July 4 2024 General Election. 

 

Since the announcement of the proposed reform, rates of s21 “no fault” evictions have risen sharply, with 900 s21 “no fault” evictions per week recorded in the UK. The true figure is likely to be higher because not all these evictions are recorded. 

 

Active Motion 

 

This Council notes: 

 

According to the 2021 Census, 31% of Cambridge households were in private rental accommodation. The welfare of these residents is of great importance to our city. 

 

When residents are made homeless, there can also be an obligation placed on the council (“homelessness duty”)  A rise in private tenants made homeless is likely to increase the strain on council resources. 

 

Re-introduction of the Renters (Reform) Bill to Parliament (preferably with the 81 amendments tabled by the then opposition parties) would protect private renters from unfair treatment and improve their quality of life. 

 

Any delay in re-introducing this bill or a similar one leaves tenants exposed to s21 eviction. 

 

It is accordingly important that this bill (or a similar bill) is made law at the earliest possible date.  

 

The Council therefore resolves to write to the Rt Hon Angela Rayner, copying in our local MPs asking her to bring forward a new renters reform bill at the earliest possible date. 

 

(At the time of drafting this motion, the Council is unaware of whether such a proposal will be included in the King’s Speech on 17 July 2024 and shall adjust the letter accordingly.) 

 

The Council also proposes to require its private rentals team to consider whether support for private tenants can be increased in the short term before any increase in legal protection and bring a report to the appropriate council committee on its proposals in Autumn 2024. 

 

The Council wishes particularly to require officers to report on  whether it would be practical to introduce a local version of the measures introduced by the Mayor of London, including online resources Rogue Landlord and Agent Checker, Property Licence Checker and Report a Rogue Landlord tool. 

 

Useful Links (not part of active motion) 

 

We have included some background papers that we found useful. 

 

https://www.london.gov.uk/programmes-strategies/housing-and-land/improving-private-rented-sector/reforming-private-renting-london  

 

https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-10004/  

 

https://www.london.gov.uk/programmes-strategies/housing-and-land/improving-private-rented-sector/advice-renters  

 

We have also drawn upon the 2021 Census figures and the council’s own Housing Facts. 

Council notes the public outrage displayed in the general election about the pollution of rivers, waterways and beaches by sewage - an outrage which is shared locally in relation to the River Cam. 

 

With the last government having been unwilling to take convincing measures to address this, council calls on the new government now to treat this as a priority for action, including introduction of criminal liability of water companies and suspension of executive bonuses for failure to meet performance targets. 

 

Council requests the Chief Executive to write to the new Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs seeking the inclusion of legislation to appear in the very first King’s Speech, and to both of Cambridge’s MPs asking them to support this.

The Council notes that the recent general election produced a new government with 100% of the power after winning two-thirds of the Parliamentary seats with only a third of the popular vote, when turnout was the lowest since 2001.

 

It considers that 'First Past The Post' is neither fair, inclusive, representative or popular and that it encourages voter disengagement, with surveys frequently showing that switching to a form of proportional representation is widely popular.

 

It calls on the Leader of the Council to write to the Prime Minister to express our dissatisfaction with the current electoral system, and our belief that a better system is both possible and desirable, and to ask him to set up a Citizens' Assembly to explore a system of voting fit for the Twenty-First century, encompassing national, local and mayoral elections.

 

It also calls on the Leader of the Council to write to the city’s two members of Parliament calling for their support for this request.

This Council notes with concern the rapidly accelerating water crisis that we are facing. Cambridge experienced severe drought in 2022 and 2023, while recently we have seen some of the wettest six months on record in the UK, which have caused flooding in many parts of the city and surrounding areas, damaged agriculture, roads and other public infrastructure, and affected the lives of numerous residents.

 

We now have by turns either too much or too little water, as well as distressingly high levels of pollution.  When residents see local flooding, they may think that our water shortage is over.  Unfortunately, drought and flooding go hand in hand as dry hard soil fails to absorb water. Valuable rain fails to reach our chalk streams and instead contributes to flooding. 

 

In 2019, the City Council declared biodiversity and climate emergencies. This helped to raise public awareness of these critical issues and influenced planning and other decisions. 

 

We need a water emergency declaration for the same reasons.

 

This council recognises that other agencies are charged with water management. However, we acknowledge the impact of our own actions and decisions on our local water issues. We acknowledge that without broad engagement and co-operation that the chances of any improvement in our water situation is very limited.

 

This may be the longest motion that Greens have ever submitted to this council. We make no apologies for this. The scale of the crisis and the extent of the water supply gap is such that we consider that no prudent or responsible person can justify leaving any stone unturned to improve the situation

 

This council:

 

·      Asserts that our water issues go wider than the supply and sewage problems that are the responsibility of the local water companies

·      Resolves to take steps to ensure the public are aware of the full extent of our water supply gap by monitoring and republishing the information prepared by Water Resources East, the Environment Agency and others as appropriate and providing full and clear information on the extent of the water gap.

·      Pledges to encourage all organisational departments, partners and our communities, businesses and residents to address the water crisis within Cambridge and the wider region, and

·      To take a full and active part in that work ourselves and employ our “soft power” fully

 

(1) Declare recognition of the water emergency and the local impact this could have on the residents, communities and businesses we serve;

 

(2) Help reduce over-abstraction by:

 

·      Giving full weight in planning applications for large-scale developments to the evidence of the Environment Agency as statutory consultee on water issues

·      Writing to the Rt Hon Angela Rayner to request the withdrawal or amendment of the 8 May 2024 WMS (“Written Ministerial Statement”) on the Cambridge Delivery Group to be replaced with a new WMS requiring greater priority to be given to water issues in considering any local planning applications

·      Writing to the Rt Hon Angela Rayner to request that planning matters in Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire remain under the  ...  view the full agenda text for item 8d

Council notes:

·      Cambridge is a vitally important city both to the region and to the country’s regeneration. There has always been government interest and investment in the Cambridge area, from Harold Wilson to Gordon Brown and more recently former Secretary of State Michael Gove’s 2050 proposals. 

·      The City Council has and will continue to play an essential role in the running of the city, providing important democratic governance and local decision making.

·      With renewed interest in the city, including from the new Labour government, it is important that the Council establishes its own vision for Cambridge’s future, one which is led by residents, workers and businesses here.

·      The Council’s current vision was written and adopted in 2014/15, following Labour taking over control of the Council. Since then, the city has seen significant change, as it has continued to grow rapidly, and become more diverse.

·      Cambridge and the council have lived through Brexit, Covid, cost of living crises and the impacts of conflict around the world.

·      This vision has been informed by conversations with residents about what matters most to them now and in the future; by councillors in their roles as community champions; and by our staff and partners. This includes the ‘Rich Picture’, ‘State of the City’ and the ‘Cambridge Conversations’ led by Executive Councillors.

·      The vision is high-level and accessible. Many council strategies, delivery plans and targets fall out of the vision and will be further developed and refined, ideally with partners and communities, to help shape a new corporate plan from 2025-2030.

 

Council believes:

·      This vision reflects the values, aspirations and needs of our local communities based on these conversations and ongoing collaborations.

·      This vision will help the council in conversations about the future of Cambridge. It will enable us to represent the views of our citizens and to assert the city’s future needs in discussions we have with our partners and our recently elected Labour government.

 

Council resolves:

·      To adopt the Vision statement which positions the Council as a place maker, convenor and community facilitator as well as playing a core role in providing public services.

·      To promote our vision and ambition for the future of Cambridge, building on our vision for One Cambridge, Fair for All, to underpin and direct the work of the council and our partnerships including the emerging Local Plan and Cambridge 2050.

 

Cambridge: Our Vision

 

One Cambridge, Fair for All

 

Where:

·      Residents enjoy a high quality of life and exemplar public services. Cambridge is a place of high employment where everyone has a warm, safe, and affordable home, and beautiful open spaces to enjoy. Communities are thriving and empowered, supported by well-run public services, and drawing on shared prosperity with greater equality in health and educational outcomes.

·      Decarbonisation and sustainability are central to prosperity. Cambridge is a net zero carbon city, where people and nature enjoy a clean river, clean air, and biodiverse green spaces. Strong nature networks are coordinated between relevant bodies to combat the impacts of social and climate  ...  view the full agenda text for item 8e

This Council Notes:

1.    The key role volunteering plays both locally and nationally.[1]

2.    Our gratitude to the many thousands of volunteers that do so much to enhance our city and, particularly, to support the most vulnerable. Our equal gratitude to our staff, who work so tirelessly for our council and our city.

3.    The impact that the economic downturn and the cost-of-living crisis have had on our paid and voluntary sectors[2].

4.    The importance of sound core principles in enhancing relations between paid staff and volunteers.

5.    That volunteering helps build social capital and community cohesion and plays an important role in the delivery of key public services. But that volunteers should not be a substitute for paid staff.

 

This Council Resolves to:

1.    Affirm and adopt the TUC Volunteer charter principles as set out below.

2.    Use these principles as a guide to review our more detailed policies and procedures, which reflect our local needs and circumstances. To do this in discussion with local union representatives and volunteering managers.

3.    Encourage partner organisations to do the same, to make sure paid staff are protected and volunteers supported.

 

TUC Volunteer Charter[3]

Preamble

 

This Charter sets out the key principles on which volunteering is organised and how good relations between paid staff and volunteers are built. It has been developed jointly by Volunteering England (VE) and the Trades Union Congress (TUC) and has been endorsed by the wider volunteering and trade union movements.

Its starting point is that volunteering plays an essential role in the economic and social fabric of the UK. It is estimated that some 22 million people volunteer each year, contributing around £23 billion to the economy. Volunteering helps build social capital and community cohesion and plays an important role in the delivery of key public services. Volunteering is also good for the volunteer: it helps improve health and wellbeing and provides opportunities for individuals to acquire skills and knowledge that can enhance career development or employment prospects.

 

This Charter demonstrates the value and importance that both organisations place on voluntary activity and the time, skills and commitment given by volunteers.

 

This Charter recognises that voluntary action and trade unionism share common values. Both are founded on the principles of mutuality and reciprocity, leading to positive changes in the workplace and community. The trade union movement itself is built on the involvement and engagement of volunteers.

 

Volunteering England and the TUC acknowledge that on the whole, relations between paid staff and volunteers are harmonious and mutually rewarding. They can, however, be enhanced by good procedures, clarity of respective roles, mutual trust and support. This Charter sets out the key principles to help underpin good relations in the workplace.

 

These principles should be used as a guide by individual organisations to develop more detailed policies and procedures, which reflect local needs and circumstances. This should be done, wherever possible, between local union representatives, employers and volunteering managers.

 

Paid work is any activity that  ...  view the full agenda text for item 8f