Issue - meetings

(NOTE: In light of the discussion and in accordance with the Members’ Code of Conduct, Councillor Hussain declared a non-pecuniary interest in the following item as a landlord of business premises, albeit not a Council property.  The interest was such that speaking and voting on the item were permissible.)

The Council considered a Notice of Motion submitted by Councillor Ali seeking a review of the increases in rent and building insurance for local businesses following concerns raised by Council business tenants.  The Motion had been referred to the Executive at its meeting on 28 March 2019 but had not been discussed as Councillor Ali had not been in attendance.  Accordingly, no recommendation had been drawn up by the Executive.  Councillor Azad, Portfolio Holder, introduced the item.

Councillor Ali was asked by the Mayor whether he wished for the Motion to be considered by the Council in its original form.  Councillor Ali moved and Councillor Raja seconded the Motion and Councillor Ali spoke in support of the proposal.

The proposal was debated by the Council before Councillor Ali was given the opportunity to sum up his arguments in favour of a review.  The Mayor referred the Council to the proposal set out in the Motion and in accordance with Standing Order 10.8, the names of Members voting for and against the Motion were recorded.

In favour:                                Councillors M Ali, T Aziz, J Bond, A Boote, M Bridgeman and M I Raja.

Total in favour:                       6

Against:                                  Councillors H Addison, S Ashall, A Azad, D Bittleston, A Bowes, G Chrystie, G Cundy, K Davis, D Harlow, Mrs B Hunwicks, S Hussain, I Johnson, C Kemp, N Martin, R Mohammed, C Rana and M Whitehand.

Total against:                         17

Present not voting:                 Councillors A-M Barker, I Eastwood, K Howard, D Hughes and L Morales,

Total present not voting:        5

The motion was therefore lost by 6 votes in favour to 17 votes against.

RESOLVED

That the motion be not supported.

Reporting Person – Corporate Management Group

At its meeting on 13 February 2019, the Council referred the following Notice of Motion to the Executive.

Councillor M Ali

Rents and Building Insurance for Local Businesses

“Increased rents for local business – despite our promises and pledges and claims of supporting local business we have seen many shut and now we have seen their rents and insurances gone up. As an example I have been informed by some council tenants that:

a.  The building insurance has been forced upon them which normally a landlord pays. But WBC has put it on them with no option to shop around and the cost is as much as approximately £800 / year

b.  The rent in some cases was increased by approximately 31% when the lease was renewed! This is exorbitant! Small business can’t afford this. For some this means they must have almost 30 extra customers / month to enable them to pay for this. How can they cope? So in line with our claims let’s review these increases and bring them in line with CPI.”

The Leader of the Council proposed that the Motion not be discussed by the Executive as Councillor Ali was not in attendance.  The Motion would therefore go forward to Full Council on 4 April 2019 for determination.