Agenda item

8.1

It was formally moved by Councillor Sophie Thornton, and formally seconded by Councillor Mike Levery, that:-

This Council notes:-

(a)      the national housing crisis, with the housing shortage elevating private rent costs;

(b)      housing becoming increasingly unaffordable, particularly for lower-income, vulnerable and younger households;

(c)      concern for the numerous families currently in temporary accommodation;

(d)      the Council’s current policy which applies the Long-Term Empty Premium to Council Tax (LTEP) on properties left empty;

(e)      that in Sheffield, 1317 properties have been empty for 1-2 years, 973 properties are currently subject to the LTEP, and 295 properties are second homes;

(f)       the lack of incentives to renovate and retrofit empty properties;

(g)      the need for considered and sensitive policy-setting, considering complex circumstances that can leave homes empty for long periods, including: bereavement, declining or ill-health, diminished capacity, a building’s listed status and delays in planning permission;

(h)      the hard work of teams across the Council working to ensure fit and proper private rental property in the city, supporting credible and responsible landlords;

This Council believes:-

(i)       the housing crisis requires urgency and a strategic approach to prevent wasted property;

(j)       this Council has a duty as a responsible local authority to increase affordable rental accommodation;

(k)      incentives and support should be developed to encourage renovating and retrofitting empty homes;

(l)       that people purchasing empty homes should not be liable for increased council tax rates predating their ownership;

(m)     that tackling empty homes is vital for tangible climate action, with the benefits of retrofitting existing properties over the pressures on land use and materials that come with new builds;

This Council therefore resolves to:-

(n)      support responsible and credible landlords;

(o)      request the Strategy and Resources Policy Committee to consider adding to its work programme:-

(i)       investigation of ways to increase council tax on empty properties and second homes, ensuring thorough consideration for complex circumstances; and

(ii)       formulating policy to incentivise the renovation and retrofit of empty homes, such as resetting to standard council tax rates upon sale;

(p)      request the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Policy Committee to consider adding to its work programme, investigation of ways to tackle unnecessary delays in obtaining planning permission in the city; and

(q)      write to the Government to:-

(i)       advocate for reform to end discounts for empty and derelict properties;

(ii)       seek support for the Liberal Democrat policy of restricting the sale of newbuilds as second homes; and

(ii)       request support for local authorities to ensure they have the skills and resources to maximise economic benefits from tackling empty homes.

8.2

Whereupon, it was formally moved by Councillor Fran Belbin, and formally seconded by Councillor Zahira Naz, as an amendment, that the Motion now submitted be amended by:-

1.       the deletion of paragraphs (o) and (p) and the re-lettering of paragraphs (n) and (q) as new paragraphs (r) and (s); and

2.       the addition of new paragraphs (n) to (q) as follows:-

          This Council:-

(n)      notes that a decision on implementing applying the LTEP at 100% to properties empty and unfurnished over 12 months and on second homes, will be taken by the Finance Committee on 19^th February 2024, with the Council only gaining the power to do so given recent changes to national legislation, and so further notes that this matter does not need to be referred to the Strategy and Resources Policy Committee;

(o)      notes, furthermore, that the Chair of Finance Committee and Labour councillors have been clear in their support for implementing the changes and doing everything we can to incentivise empty properties coming quickly back into use;

(p)      notes the strain placed upon local authority planning departments following 14 years of government cuts, but highlights the considerable success of the Council’s Planning Service, with applications reaching a successful outcome higher than the national average and metropolitan area averages;

(q)      welcomes Labour’s commitment to reforming the planning system and to improve the capacity in the system by hiring more than 300 planners in the public sector;

8.3

It was then formally moved by Councillor Douglas Johnson, and formally seconded by Councillor Brian Holmshaw, as an amendment, that the Motion now submitted be amended by:-

1.       the addition (at the end of the section “That this Council notes”) of a new paragraph (i) as follows, and the re-lettering of the original paragraphs (i) to (n) as new paragraphs (j) to (o):-

(i)       that Green Party councillors have previously proposed to invest in additional empty homes officers, who do excellent work in bringing empty properties back into use, creating new homes and reducing the blight on residential streets;

2.       the deletion of the original paragraph (o);

3.       the addition of new paragraphs (p) and (q) as follows, and the re-lettering of original paragraphs (p) and (q) as new paragraphs (r) and (s):-

(p)      support the principle of making use of new powers to maximise the charge of council tax on empty properties and second homes;

(q)      endorse the response of the Local Government Association to the Government’s consultation on social housing allocations, in particular with regard to the call for reform of the Right to Buy system which has destroyed a large part of the country’s social housing;

4.       the deletion, in the new paragraph (s) [original paragraph (q)], of the words “Liberal Democrat”; and

5.       the addition of new paragraphs (t) and (u) as follows:-

(t)       request the Chair of the Housing Policy Committee to write to the Local Government Association to express this Council’s support for its call for reform of the Right to Buy system; and

(u)      support investment in further action on empty homes, including expanding the Council’s housing acquisitions to help alleviate the homelessness crisis.

8.4

The amendment moved by Councillor Fran Belbin was put to the vote and was carried, but in part.  Part 1 and paragraphs (n) and (p) in Part 2 of the amendment were carried, and paragraphs (o) and (q) in Part 2 of the amendment were lost.

8.4.1

(NOTE: The result of the vote was FOR - 36 Members; AGAINST - 26 Members; ABSTENTIONS – 6 Members.  Although Green Group Members voted for, they voted against paragraphs (o) and (q) in Part 2 of the amendment.)

8.5

The amendment moved by Councillor Douglas Johnson was then put to the vote and was carried, but in part.  Part 1 of the amendment was lost and Parts 2 to 5 of the amendment were carried.

8.5.1

(NOTE: The result of the vote was FOR - 36 Members; AGAINST - 25 Members; ABSTENTIONS – 6 Members. Although Labour Group Members voted for, they abstained from voting on Part 1 of the amendment. Although Liberal Democrat Group Members voted against, theyvoted for Part 3 and paragraph (t) in Part 5, and abstained from voting on paragraph (u) in Part 5 of the amendment.)

8.6

The original Motion, as amended, was then put as a Substantive Motion in the following form and carried:-

RESOLVED: That:-

this Council notes:-

(a)      the national housing crisis, with the housing shortage elevating private rent costs;

(b)      housing becoming increasingly unaffordable, particularly for lower-income, vulnerable and younger households;

(c)      concern for the numerous families currently in temporary accommodation;

(d)      the Council’s current policy which applies the Long-Term Empty Premium to Council Tax (LTEP) on properties left empty;

(e)      that in Sheffield, 1317 properties have been empty for 1-2 years, 973 properties are currently subject to the LTEP, and 295 properties are second homes;

(f)       the lack of incentives to renovate and retrofit empty properties;

(g)      the need for considered and sensitive policy-setting, considering complex circumstances that can leave homes empty for long periods, including: bereavement, declining or ill-health, diminished capacity, a building’s listed status and delays in planning permission;

(h)      the hard work of teams across the Council working to ensure fit and proper private rental property in the city, supporting credible and responsible landlords;

this Council believes:-

(i)       the housing crisis requires urgency and a strategic approach to prevent wasted property;

(j)       this Council has a duty as a responsible local authority to increase affordable rental accommodation;

(k)      incentives and support should be developed to encourage renovating and retrofitting empty homes;

(l)       that people purchasing empty homes should not be liable for increased council tax rates predating their ownership;

(m)     that tackling empty homes is vital for tangible climate action, with the benefits of retrofitting existing properties over the pressures on land use and materials that come with new builds;

this Council:-

(n)      notes that a decision on implementing applying the LTEP at 100% to properties empty and unfurnished over 12 months and on second homes, will be taken by the Finance Committee on 19th February 2024, with the Council only gaining the power to do so given recent changes to national legislation, and so further notes that this matter does not need to be referred to the Strategy and Resources Policy Committee;

(o)      notes the strain placed upon local authority planning departments following 14 years of government cuts, but highlights the considerable success of the Council’s Planning Service, with applications reaching a successful outcome higher than the national average and metropolitan area averages;

this Council therefore resolves to:-

(p)      support responsible and credible landlords;

(q)      support the principle of making use of new powers to maximise the charge of council tax on empty properties and second homes;

(r)       endorse the response of the Local Government Association to the Government’s consultation on social housing allocations, in particular with regard to the call for reform of the Right to Buy system which has destroyed a large part of the country’s social housing;

(s)      write to the Government to:-

(i)       advocate for reform to end discounts for empty and derelict properties;

(ii)       seek support for the policy of restricting the sale of newbuilds as second homes; and

(ii)       request support for local authorities to ensure they have the skills and resources to maximise economic benefits from tackling empty homes;

(t)       request the Chair of the Housing Policy Committee to write to the Local Government Association to express this Council’s support for its call for reform of the Right to Buy system; and

(u)      support investment in further action on empty homes, including expanding the Council’s housing acquisitions to help alleviate the homelessness crisis.

8.6.1

(NOTE: The result of the vote on the Substantive Motion was FOR - 66 Members; AGAINST - 0 Members; ABSTENTIONS – 0 Members.  Although Labour Group Members voted for, they voted against paragraph (l) of the Substantive Motion. Although Liberal Democrat Group Members voted for, they abstained from voting on paragraphs (n) and (u) of the Substantive Motion. Although Sheffield Community Councillors Group Members voted for, they voted against paragraph (l) and sub-paragraph (s)(ii), and abstained from voting on paragraphs (n), (o), (q), (r), (t) and (u) of the Substantive Motion.)