Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor N Dixon.

There were no substitute Members appointed.

To receive any declarations of interest from Members in respect of business to be transacted on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest made by Members.

To confirm the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 6 June 2018 (attached), 4 July 2018 and 12 September 2018 (to follow).

The Minutes of the meeting held on 6 June 2018 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Please note that in accordance with the agreed Protocol for Public Speaking at Overview and Scrutiny, the right to speak does not apply to any items on the agenda.

The right of the public to speak does not apply to the following agenda items: Apologies, Appointment of Substitute Members, Declarations of Interest, Minutes, the Forward Plan, the Scrutiny Work Programme, any agenda item that is not accompanied by a written report and items that are exempt business.

The Democratic Services Manager advised that no members of the public had registered to speak on items on the agenda to which the public speaking protocol applied.

The following decisions were taken by the Cabinet at its meeting held on 1 October 2018in respect of recommendations from the Scrutiny (Community and Regeneration) Committee:

·         Gypsy, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople Accommodation Assessment

The Committee’s recommendations made on 12 September 2018 (Minute No. 33) to Cabinet were rejected at its meeting held on 9 October as the matters were being addressed as part of the Local Plan Review.

There were no items for consideration.

(a)    Items placed on the agenda by a Member of the Committee or any individual Non-Executive Member

       Any individual Councillor may request that a matter is placed on the agenda of one of the Council's Overview and Scrutiny Committees.

       There are no items for consideration.

(b)    Call-In

       Executive Decisions may be called-in by the Chairman or Spokesperson of the Scrutiny (Policy and Performance) Committee or any three non-executive members. Call-Ins are heard by the Scrutiny (Policy and Performance) Committee unless it decides to refer the matter to the Scrutiny (Community and Regeneration) Committee.

       There are no items for consideration.

(c)    Public Petitions

       There are no items for consideration.     

There were no items for consideration.

The Democratic Services Manager presented the Notice of Forthcoming Key Decisions to the Committee for its consideration.

RESOLVED:     That the Notice of Forthcoming Key Decisions be noted and that the Purchase of Affordable Housing in Aylesham item be added to the Work Programme.

The Democratic Services Manager presented the Scrutiny Work Programme to the Committee for its consideration. Members were asked to provide key questions for:

·             South Kent Coast Clinical Commissions group and East Kent Hospitals for the next meeting in November; and

·             Private Sector Landlords for the meeting in December.

RESOLVED:  That the Work Programme be noted.

It was moved by Councillor T A Bond, duly seconded and

RESOLVED:       That, under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the remainder of the business on the grounds that the items to be considered involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part I of Schedule 12A of the Act.

To consider the attached report of the Director of Environment and Corporate Assets.

The Head of Assets and Building Control and Senior Architect were in attendance to present the Redevelopment of William Muge and Snelgrove Sites report to the Committee. The report had been considered at the meeting of Cabinet on 1 October 2018 where it was agreed:

CAB 48

       (i)              That the William Muge and Snelgrove sites be appropriated to be held for the purposes of Part IX of the Town & Country Planning Act 1990, pursuant to s.122 of the Local Government Act 1972, and that the Director of Environment and Corporate Assets be authorised to re-appropriate the land for the purposes of the Housing Act 1985 on completion of the development.

       (ii)             That the remainder of the William Muge and Snelgrove sites be appropriated to be held for the purposes of the Housing Act 1985 pursuant to s.122 of the Local Government Act 1972.

       (iii)            That the Director of Environment and Corporate Assets, in consultation with the Director of Finance, Housing and Community, be authorised to take all necessary actions to deliver the construction phase of the project, including awarding the construction contract, approving variations to the project sum if required and, if circumstances warrant, to cancel the project.

       (iv)            That the Residential Investment Project Advisory Group be assigned to oversee the project and advise on key issues.

       (v)             That the undertaking of the relevant accounting transactions during the 2018/19 financial year to reflect the transfer of the assets from the General Fund (GF) to the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) be authorised.

       (vi)            That the Director of Finance, Housing and Community, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Resources and Performance, be authorised to take all decisions on the financing of the project.

(b)   It was agreed to recommend to Council that the Budget and Policy Framework be amended to include this project in the capital programme.

Members were provided with background to the site. In 2008 and 2009, William Muge and Snelgrove House were no longer fit for purpose and did not meet statutory standards. Both properties were decanted and demolished.

Following Cabinet approval in March 2018 to progress a new residential development on the site, a planning application was submitted on 19July 2018 with a decision expected on 25 October 2018. Following viability assessments the following proposal was submitted for planning permission:

12 No. 3 bed 5 person commercial units;

24 No. 1 and 2 bed affordable housing units; and

29 No.1 and 2 bed shared ownership units.

Members were satisfied with the development overall and encouraged by the number of 1 and 2 bed units which were in need amongst the young and the elderly (who were in need of downsizing). Following discussions around the types of units that would be available, Members were keen to ensure there would be protection for those who entered into shared ownerships to protect the monies they had paid for their share of the property if they were evicted for rent arrears.

Members thanked the officers for their  ...  view the full minutes text for item 45.