Agenda item

9.24pm – Councillor Steve Hamilton moved, seconded by Councillor Greg Smith, the special motion in their names:

 

“This Council notes:

1.    The decision of Transport for London, with the support of the Mayor of London, not to renew Uber London Ltd’s private hire operating licence.

2.    The contribution of Uber to the London economy, creating some 40,000 jobs, mainly amongst disadvantaged and minority communities, including many hundreds in Hammersmith and Fulham.

3.    That Uber provides choice for our residents. 

 

This Council recognises:

1.    The concern and distress a ban on Uber will have for residents of Hammersmith and Fulham who currently drive for Uber and/or use Uber as customers.

2.    The importance of providing a level playing field across the private hire market.

3.    That a ban on Uber will cause massive inconvenience to millions of Londoners including many of our residents here in Hammersmith and Fulham.

 

This Council:

1.    Expresses its regret that the Mayor of London and the Labour Party are (once again) closed to business and innovation.

2.    Calls on the Mayor and Transport for London to reconsider the ban on Uber, subject to addressing safety concerns.”

 

Speeches on the special motion were made by Councillors Steve Hamilton and Greg Smith (for the Opposition).

 

Under Standing Order 15(e) 6, Councillor Larry Culhane moved, seconded by Councillor Iain Cassidy, an amendment to the special motion as follows:

 

“Delete everything after ‘This Council’ and insert:

 

·         Welcomes the Labour administration’s new borough Industrial Strategy and its determination to make Hammersmith & Fulham the best place for businesses and business growth in Europe.

 

·         Welcomes the business strategy produced by the independent Business Commission which formed a critical part of the borough’s Industrial Strategy

 

·         Welcomes the work of the council’s current leadership in introducing a new reach-out programme to local businesses, of all sizes, which involved meeting with them, hearing about the issues they face and thanks those businesses for their advice as the administration developed the borough’s Industrial Strategy and its approach to supporting businesses.

 

·         Supports the new measures being introduced by the Labour administration to help make it easier for entrepreneurs to start a business in H&F by creating affordable workplaces, exploring business rate cuts for key sectors and creating a new venture capital fund to support new businesses.

 

·         Recognises the contribution that Uber has made to the economy within London, and recognises that many of our residents value its ease of use and speed of service. This is especially true for those travelling alone at night who may otherwise feel unsafe using public transport.

 

·         Recognises that all businesses must act responsibly and must abide by all the relevant regulations governing the safety of their customers and the rights of their employees.

 

·         Welcomes the news that Uber’s CEO has recently met with Transport for London to discuss TfL’s concerns about safety and corporate responsibility.

 

·         Notes that the decision to not renew Uber’s license is subject to appeal, a process which is currently underway and means that Uber can continue to operate in the meantime.

 

·         Hopes that Uber and TfL will work together to address these concerns so that Uber will continue operating responsibly with its focus firmly on passenger safety.

 

·         Notes the rate of technological change means there will be many new businesses that develop innovative new services that benefit consumers - including in the taxi sector. The Council supports this and calls on government at all levels to work efficiently with those new businesses so they are quickly able to operate within the legislation and take their services to the marketplace.

 

·         Notes that the Conservative government’s changes to business rates has caused that tax to rise by as much as 400% on some local businesses and that the way the tax is structured prohibits business growth. The Council recognises the government’s approach to hiking up business rates is damaging to many businesses and calls on the government to urgently review this mistaken policy.”

 

Speeches on the amendment to the special motion were made by Councillors Larry Culhane, Iain Cassidy, and Stephen Cowan (for the Administration) – and Councillor Jacqueline Borland (for the Opposition) who made her maiden speech.

 

The amendment to the special motion was then put to the vote:

 

FOR                            24

AGAINST                   15

NOT VOTING            0

 

The amendment was declared CARRIED.

 

Councillor Steve Hamilton made a speech on the special motion as amended before it was put to the vote:

 

FOR                            24

AGAINST                   15

NOT VOTING            0

 

The special motion as amended was declared CARRIED.

 

9.56pm – RESOLVED

 

This Council notes:

1.    The decision of Transport for London, with the support of the Mayor of London, not to renew Uber London Ltd’s private hire operating licence.

2.    The contribution of Uber to the London economy, creating some 40,000 jobs, mainly amongst disadvantaged and minority communities, including many hundreds in Hammersmith and Fulham.

3.    That Uber provides choice for our residents. 

 

This Council recognises:

1.    The concern and distress a ban on Uber will have for residents of Hammersmith and Fulham who currently drive for Uber and/or use Uber as customers.

2.    The importance of providing a level playing field across the private hire market.

3.    That a ban on Uber will cause massive inconvenience to millions of Londoners including many of our residents here in Hammersmith and Fulham.

 

This Council:

 

·         Welcomes the Labour administration’s new borough Industrial Strategy and its determination to make Hammersmith & Fulham the best place for businesses and business growth in Europe.

 

·         Welcomes the business strategy produced by the independent Business Commission which formed a critical part of the borough’s Industrial Strategy

 

·         Welcomes the work of the council’s current leadership in introducing a new reach-out programme to local businesses, of all sizes, which involved meeting with them, hearing about the issues they face and thanks those businesses for their advice as the administration developed the borough’s Industrial Strategy and its approach to supporting businesses.

 

·         Supports the new measures being introduced by the Labour administration to help make it easier for entrepreneurs to start a business in H&F by creating affordable workplaces, exploring business rate cuts for key sectors and creating a new venture capital fund to support new businesses.

 

·         Recognises the contribution that Uber has made to the economy within London, and recognises that many of our residents value its ease of use and speed of service. This is especially true for those travelling alone at night who may otherwise feel unsafe using public transport.

 

·         Recognises that all businesses must act responsibly and must abide by all the relevant regulations governing the safety of their customers and the rights of their employees.

 

·         Welcomes the news that Uber’s CEO has recently met with Transport for London to discuss TfL’s concerns about safety and corporate responsibility.

 

·         Notes that the decision to not renew Uber’s license is subject to appeal, a process which is currently underway and means that Uber can continue to operate in the meantime.

 

·         Hopes that Uber and TfL will work together to address these concerns so that Uber will continue operating responsibly with its focus firmly on passenger safety.

 

·         Notes the rate of technological change means there will be many new businesses that develop innovative new services that benefit consumers - including in the taxi sector. The Council supports this and calls on government at all levels to work efficiently with those new businesses so they are quickly able to operate within the legislation and take their services to the marketplace.

 

·         Notes that the Conservative government’s changes to business rates has caused that tax to rise by as much as 400% on some local businesses and that the way the tax is structured prohibits business growth. The Council recognises the government’s approach to hiking up business rates is damaging to many businesses and calls on the government to urgently review this mistaken policy.