Agenda item

Motions

Meeting of Council, Tuesday, 17th November, 2020 6.30 pm (Item 41.)

1) To consider the following motion received from Councillor S Sheahan:

“This Council notes that Commonwealth and Nepalese veterans have a long and proud history of service in the British military. From conflicts of old, such as World War Two, to recent conflicts such as Iraq and Afghanistan, these veterans have served with distinction alongside British-born veterans.

However when their service is complete, many are left with extortionate charges to remain in the UK. This Council also notes many such veterans state that the Army failed to inform them that they needed to make an immediate application to the Home Office for leave to remain in the UK when their service was complete. Many thought the process was automatic yet this is not the case.

Fees for indefinite leave to remain have also dramatically increased. Since 2015, fees for indefinite leave to remain have increased by 127% from £1,051 to £2,389, with a family of four having to pay nearly £10,000 to remain in the UK. This figure doesn’t include the associated legal fees that some, who have struggled with immigration applications, have to pay. Many face spiralling debt and uncertain immigration status because failing to pay leaves their immigration status in doubt, and the very real prospect of deportation. Whilst their applications are ongoing, they are also unable to seek employment or claim benefits.

In cases which were reported on by the BBC, Taitusi Ratucaucau, a veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, was handed an NHS bill for £50,000, whilst Filimone Lacanivalu was 48 hours away from being deported in 2013, despite serving two tours of Afghanistan. Sadly, there are hundreds of cases such as these, and with recruitment from the Commonwealth increasing, this injustice will continue to linger for the foreseeable future.

This Council believes this to be a poor reward for people we persuaded to leave their countries in order to serve in the British armed forces. It is a poor reward for those who have been willing to put their lives on the line in service of this nation and we believe that they deserve better.

This Council resolves to make their Armed Forces Champion and lead officers aware of the difficulties experienced by Commonwealth and Nepalese veterans, and to ensure that those who are currently experiencing problems, whether financial or immigration difficulties, are not disadvantaged whilst their applications are ongoing.

This Council calls upon the Leader of the Council to write to the Prime Minister, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Future Borders and Immigration,) Kevin Foster MP and the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Defence People and Veterans,) Johnny Mercer MP, outlining this Council's support for all Commonwealth and Nepalese veterans who have served a minimum of 4 years to be granted the automatic and free of charge right to remain in the UK, and that any veteran who completes 12 years of service to be automatically given British Citizenship.

Furthermore, This Council calls upon the Leader of the Council to write to Andrew Bridgen MP for North West Leicestershire, on the behalf of this Council, to ask that he press the Government for a change in the legislation that affects those that have served diligently and honourably for this Country.”

2) To consider the following motion received from Councillor D Everitt :

“That this Council -

recognises that there is a housing crisis with too few genuinely affordable homes to rent and buy;

further recognises that the number of new social rented homes built in recent years has been too low;

notes that the Government has set a target to build 300,000 homes a year, which is unlikely to be achieved without building more social homes;

further notes that Shelter’s recent report, A Vision for Social Housing, concluded that 3.1 million new social rented homes need to be built over the next 20 years;

and calls on the Government to adopt a target of building 155,000 social rented homes, including at least 100,000 council homes, each year from 2022.”

Minutes:

The Chairman advised that he had received two motions for consideration at the meeting and that he would take them in the order they had been received.

(1) Councillor S Sheahan moved the following motion, the wording of which had changed from that which was published in the agenda and was circulated in the additional papers.

However when their service is complete, many are left with charges to remain in the UK, which in some cases are extremely high. This Council also notes many such veterans state that the Army failed to inform them that they needed to make an immediate application to the Home Office for leave to remain in the UK when their service was complete. Many thought the process was automatic yet this is not the case.

This Council acknowledges the excellent campaign organised by the Royal British Legion to resolve such cases and agree a fairer system for the future, which has gathered all party support. Whilst welcoming the fact that the Ministry of Defence is in communication with the Home Office on this matter, this Council resolves to make their Armed Forces Champion and lead officers aware of the difficulties experienced by Commonwealth and Nepalese veterans and to ensure that those who are currently experiencing problems, whether financial or immigration difficulties, are not disadvantaged whilst their applications are ongoing.

This Council requests that the Leader of the Council write to the Prime Minister, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Future Borders and Immigration,) Kevin Foster MP and the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Defence People and Veterans,) Johnny Mercer MP, outlining our support for all Commonwealth and Nepalese veterans who have served a minimum of 4 years to be granted the automatic and free of charge right to remain in the UK.

This motion was second by Councillor K Merrie

A full debate was held which received full support for the motion.

The Chairman invited Councillor Sheahan to respond to exercise his right to reply.

Councillor Sheahan thanked Members for their supportive comments and hoped that by accepting this motion it would make a real difference.

By affirmation of the meeting, the motion was carried.

(2) Councillor D Everiit moved the following motion

“That this Council -

recognises that there is a housing crisis with too few genuinely affordable homes to rent and buy;

further recognises that the number of new social rented homes built in recent years has been too low;

notes that the Government has set a target to build 300,000 homes a year, which is unlikely to be achieved without building more social homes;

further notes that Shelter’s recent report, A Vision for Social Housing, concluded that 3.1 million new social rented homes need to be built over the next 20 years;

and calls on the Government to adopt a target of building 155,000 social rented homes, including at least 100,000 council homes, each year from 2022.”

This motion was second by Councillor S Sheahan.

A full and lengthy debate was held which received mixed views both in favour and against the motion.

An amendment to the motion asking that the social housing be carbon neutral, both in terms of embodied energy and operation energy, was moved by Councillor C Benfield and seconded by Councillor D Bigby.

The Chairman put the amendment to the vote and subsequently declared it LOST with a vote of 24 against and 12 for.

The Chairman invited Councillor Everitt to respond to exercise his right to reply and he challenged some of the views made by members and echoed those which supported the motion.

The Chairman then put the original motion to the vote and subsequently declared it LOST with a vote of 24 against, 11 for and 1 abstention.

Supporting documents:

Motion for Council - Amended Motion, item 41. PDF 313 KB