Agenda item

Bedroom tax and safe rooms

The motion will be moved by Councillor Williams and seconded by Councillor Penberthy.

Minutes:

Councillor Williams proposed and Councillor Penberthy seconded the following motion –

 

‘One in four women have been the victim of domestic abuse, it accounts for 17% of all crime, two women a week are killed by a partner or former partner and the findings of a number of case reviews into deaths of children in Plymouth have identified domestic abuse as a significant factor.

Women facing some of the worst domestic abuse benefit from the installation of a number of sanctuary scheme measures; which may include the provision of a ‘safe room’; where they and their children can go safely if threatened, which is directly linked to the police.

The government’s bedroom tax however considers these vital safe rooms as a spare room, reducing the amount of housing benefit that can be claimed and putting women in jeopardy of eviction due to non-payment of rent. Evicting women and their children who have been victims of domestic abuse means that not only are they losing their home, they are being penalised for being a victim of domestic abuse, and risk becoming more vulnerable to repeat abuse.

Council notes that Women's Aid and other domestic abuse charities are calling on councils to take action to overcome this issue.

Council resolves to -

 

(1)

Lobby the government to exempt safe rooms from inclusion as bedrooms for the purposes of the bedroom tax;

(2)

Make Discretionary Housing Payments available in Plymouth to cover reductions in housing benefit applied under the bedroom tax for safe rooms, subject to periodic review.’ 

 

Councillor Williams informed the City Council that it was the international day for elimination of violence against women and that they had a duty to talk about it. 

 

Councillor Mrs Beer moved the following amendment which was seconded by Councillor Mrs Bowyer –

 

‘To add:

 

(3)

Seek out those victims who are entitled to discretionary payments so that they can be helped and supported at their time of need; 

(4)

Put pressure on housing associations to hasten moves to enable victims to feel safe.’

 

Councillor Mrs Beer indicated that a safe room was usually the principal bedroom, not a spare room, and that funding was available to Councils for claimants in terms of transitional payments and housing discretionary payments.

 

During the debate the issues highlighted included that –

 

(a)

the aim of the original motion was to exempt safe rooms from bedroom tax;

(b)

the Council worked in partnership with housing associations; 

(c)

housing associations funded installations of safe rooms in their properties and the council should be working with partners to identify those rooms which qualified for discretionary payments; 

(d)

housing associations were not responsible for hastening moves and that there was a process for victims to ensure that the right action was taken depending on their wishes.

 

Following a vote, the amendment was not agreed.

 

Councillor McDonald moved and Councillor Lowry seconded a further amendment as follows –

 

‘Council notes that Women's Aid and other domestic abuse charities are calling on councils to take action to overcome this issue.

Council resolves to –

 

(1)

Lobby the government to exempt safe rooms from inclusion as bedrooms for the purposes of the bedroom tax;

(2)

Make Discretionary Housing Payments available in Plymouth to cover reductions in housing benefit applied under the bedroom tax for safe rooms, subject to periodic review.’ 

(3)

Work with the police and housing associations to identify those victims who are entitled to Discretionary Housing Payments identified in (2) above;

(4)

Continue to work with housing associations to enable victims to feel safe.’

 

The City Council was advised that a safe room was not a bedroom and that a Sanctuary Scheme was provided by Homesafe which allowed children to stay in schools.  

 

Councillor Williams moved, Councillor Rennie seconded and it was agreed that that the vote was taken without further debate.

 

Following a vote, the amendment was agreed. 

  

The motion, as amended, was debated further and the City Council was informed of the following helplines:

 

Plymouth Domestic Abuse Services: 01752252033

Plymouth Refuge: 01752562286

24 hour helpline:  08082000247

Information at: plymouth.gov.uk /domestic abuse

 

Following a vote, the motion as amended was agreed.

 

(Councillors Mrs Beer, Darcy, Jordan. Nicholson and Stevens declared  interests in the above item)

 

           

Supporting documents: