Agenda item

Motion 1.  Increased tuition fees in adult and further education

Moved by Councillor Carpenter and seconded by Councillor McCarthy.

“This Council condemns the Tory/Lib Dem Government’s proposals to increase tuition fees in adult and further education.  For example, the Tory/Lib Dem Government is removing the entitlement to free training for over 25s wanting to get a basic Level 2 qualification (equivalent to 5 GCSEs).  Adults studying for a level 3 qualification (equivalent to A level) will be asked to pay fees.  In addition, there are proposals to increase tuition fees to recoup 80% of the cost of education and training for adults.  These fee increases will be massive.  Many of our hard-working residents on low incomes will not be able to afford to improve their qualifications, and their prospects for employment. These measures are harsh: many of our residents will be locked into unemployment or imprisoned in low paid unskilled jobs.

We, therefore, call upon the Council and our MPs to lobby the Tory/Lib Dem Government vigorously about the impact on the residents of Barking and Dagenham of their proposals to increase significantly tuition fees in adult and further education.”

Members spoke in support of the motion and expressed their concerns that increasing tuition fees was a direct attack on social mobility.  Concern was also raised regarding increased pressure on the Colleges if people were no longer able to afford the fees.

In response, Councillor Carpenter expressed her thanks to Members for their supporting comments.  She said that increasing the fees will affect people aspiring to get a second chance in their education, as well as those who attend for reasons of health and wellbeing.  This will damage the quality of life of many of our residents.

In accordance with paragraph 3.2 of Part H of the Council Constitution, it was agreed to suspend paragraph 9.7 of Article 1 of Part B of the Council Constitution and vote by way of a show of hands.

The motion was put to the vote and unanimously agreed.

Motion 2.  Congratulations to Adult and Community Services

Moved by Councillor Burgon and seconded by Councillor Reason:

“This Council would like to congratulate our Adult and Community Services team for the fantastic news that the Care Quality Commission have announced that we are performing well in safeguarding vulnerable adults and also improving the health and wellbeing of people with learning disabilities.  Moreover, they have stated in this year’s review that our future improvement in these areas is looking promising.

We would also like to congratulate them as our Adult Social Care Area Performance Assessment for 2010 has been deemed as excellent.  Out of the 152 Councils who work within this area, 37 were judged as ‘excellent’, which means that as a Council we are in the top 24%.  In London, only 10 of the 33 councils were given this rating and our score places us approximately 8^th in London.

This is testament to the hard work and dedication shown throughout the directorate from top to bottom, in what is one of the most challenging service areas, and will be increasingly vital over the next few years.”

Members spoke in support of the motion, stating that this is a validation of the quality of the service being provided to residents in the borough.  It was noted that the Adult College works closely with Adult and Community Services and is currently working with 129 adults with learning difficulties to help improve their quality of life.

One note of concern was that this achievement was as a result of funding by the last Labour government and that we need to ensure that funds are still available.  These standards may be more difficult to achieve if we have to face a 20% cut.

Councillor Reason proposed a vote of thanks to the Corporate Director of Adult and Community Services and her dedicated and hard working staff.  This was wholeheartedly supported.

In accordance with paragraph 3.2 of Part H of the Council Constitution, it was agreed to suspend paragraph 9.7 of Article 1 of Part B of the Council Constitution and vote by way of a show of hands.

The motion was put to the vote and unanimously agreed.

Motion 3.    Delivery of Good Quality Social Housing

Moved by Councillor Twomey and seconded by Councillor P Waker:

“This Council recognises the huge impact that the lack of affordable social housing has had on its residents over the last decade. To this end the Lead Members for housing and regeneration and the council officers involved have worked tirelessly, particularly over the last two years, to position us at the forefront of council house building projects. However, for all this hard work, the net result is plans to build only 141 council properties across the borough.

Further cuts to national housing investment by the current government, mean that there will be thousands of fewer affordable homes built this year, and the end of the council house building programme.

There are also many more barriers to building council housing than ever before. The national economic conditions are hampering our ability to attract development partners in an already challenging local housing market and with increasing uncertainty around infrastructure investment in the borough, regeneration of new housing has slowed considerably.

It is unrealistic that we can serve the housing needs of our residents/tenants by funding house building projects ourselves, as current estimates show the need to raise over £38 million to bridge the gap between our current level of estate renewal and the completion of the project.

As noted by the Living and Working Select Committee, we are currently drafting our new housing strategy document due for 2011/2012, which gives the Council an excellent opportunity to develop a substantial and robust vision for the future.

Although it is right to continue to lobby central government in pursuit of Council house building finance, I would move to the Assembly that we as a Council need to have as broad approach as possible, enabling us to explore the whole range of housing delivery options, such as with Registered Social Landlords, so that we can deliver good quality social housing that will facilitate our residents to have better homes, better health, better togetherness and a better future.”

Members spoke in support of the motion, noting that it was important to be cautious when dealing with the private sector but nevertheless to keep an open mind.  It was noted that in some parts of the borough tenants had indicated they would be against a Housing Association landlord.  However, in the current climate, the Council must look at all alternatives, not least to ensure we take good advantage of any housing grants and avoid the risk of losing substantial monies.

Summing up, Councillor Twomey welcomed all Members’ comments.  He considered that we should be building more than the 141 properties that we have permission for.  He said he was neither endorsing nor disapproving of Housing Associations, but that for every example of people who do not want to leave Council housing, he could provide an example of people who would be happy to move out.  He stated that as a Council we need to explore every single angle as to what is best for us and our residents, working in partnership where relevant.

In accordance with paragraph 3.2 of Part H of the Council Constitution, it was agreed to suspend paragraph 9.7 of Article 1 of Part B of the Council Constitution and vote by way of a show of hands.

The motion was put to the vote and unanimously agreed.