Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Alev Cazimoglu, Gina Needs, Mustafa Cetinkaya, Ayten Guzel, and Chris James.

Members of the Cabinet are invited to identify any disclosable pecuniary, other pecuniary or non pecuniary interests relevant to items on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

To note, that no requests for deputations have been received for presentation to this Cabinet meeting.

NOTED that no requests for deputations had been received for presentation to this Cabinet meeting.

To confirm the minutes of the previous Cabinet meeting held on 19 April 2023.

AGREED that the minutes of the previous meeting of the Cabinet held on 19 April 2023 be confirmed as a correct record.

AGREED that the order of the agenda be amended to consider Items 6 and 7 at the beginning of the meeting. The minutes reflect the order of the meeting.

A report from the Executive Director – Housing, Regeneration & Development is attached.  (Key decision – reference number 5600)

Cllr Nesil Caliskan (Leader of the Council) introduced the report of the Executive Director – Housing, Regeneration and Development, seeking approval of the Meridian West Bank Supplementary Planning Document (MW SPD) for adoption in accordance with Regulation 14 of the Town & Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 as amended. This would support co-ordinated development on the site.

Councillor Leaver arrived at the meeting at this point.

Officers confirmed the consultation process undertaken on the MW SPD, and its key principles. Assurance was provided in respect of promotion of good quality green space, and the protections provided by the document and help in shaping possibilities at the site in the future.

DECISION:  The Cabinet agreed to:

I.  Approve the Meridian West Bank Supplementary Planning Document for adoption as set out in Appendix 1 of the report.

The report sets out the options considered, if any, and the reasons for the recommendations and the decision.

(Key decision – reference number 5600)

A report from the Executive Director – Housing, Regeneration & Development is attached.  (Key decision – reference number 5625)

Cllr George Savva (Cabinet Member for Social Housing) introduced the report of the Executive Director – Housing, Regeneration and Development, seeking approval for a new service model and a revised Placement Policy. The current pressures on accessing temporary and affordable housing in the borough were highlighted, and the route proposed was the only way forward for residents to secure an affordable home.

The Leader also emphasized the importance of responding at this time to the significant pressure on the Council’s budget because of the cost of temporary accommodation.

Officers highlighted details of the placement policy and the support to be provided to particularly vulnerable residents and to families with children. The impact on the Council’s budget if the current situation was not addressed was advised, and that temporary accommodation was now top of the budget pressures being faced by councils across London.

DECISION:  The Cabinet agreed to:

I. Note the impact of current housing and welfare benefits policy on residents which is resulting in increased homelessness and residents in hotel accommodation for long periods of time.

II. Agree the response which is to rehouse residents where rents and Local Housing Allowance (LHA) levels converge maximising the choice that is available.

III. Agree the new service model and communications with residents outlined in the report to address this. Delegate authority to the Director of Housing and Regeneration in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Social Housing to develop bespoke support arrangements consistent with the needs of residents and the local areas in which placements are made.

IV. Approve the Placement Policy.

V. To maximise the available accommodation for those in most need, agree to request the Housing Gateway Board to revise its housing policy to offer new tenancies for a two year period at LHA rates and thereafter at market rent levels.

VI. Agree to request the Housing Gateway Board to set rents at market rates for existing tenants from April 2024.

The report sets out the options considered, if any, and the reasons for the recommendations and the decision.

(Key decision – reference number 5625)

Report from the Executive Director – Housing, Regeneration & Development.  (Key decision – reference number 5624)

TO FOLLOW

(This item contains exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 (information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person – including the authority holding that information) of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, as amended).

Cllr Tim Leaver (Cabinet Member for Finance and Procurement) introduced the Part 1 and 2 report of the Executive Director – Housing, Regeneration and Development, seeking approval for the business case and proposed disposal route for the sale of the Claverings Industrial Estate, and providing an update on the initiatives undertaken to date. The broad timetable was set out in the report, and it was hoped that plans would be implemented early in 2024.

The Leader noted that any proposals for the site would be subject to the usual processes and application for planning permission. Community groups at the site would welcome investment to a better location.

Members discussed further details in respect of the information set out in the Part 2 (Confidential) report also found on the agenda, following the resolution excluding the press and public from the meeting.

DECISION:  The Cabinet agreed :

I. To agree the open marketing for sale of The Claverings Industrial Estate.

II. To agree that the decision on the weightings for the assessment of bids be delegated to the Executive Director Place, in consultation with the Executive Director of Resources and Director of Law & Governance, as per the Part 2 report.

III. To authorise the Director of Property to take necessary action to deal with existing third-party rights affecting the site, including terminating leases and licenses, or surrender or variation of leases and licences and other land interests, to facilitate site optimisation, in accordance with the Council’s Property Procedure Rules.

IV. To authorise the Director of Property to agree the final sale terms in consultation with the Executive Director of Resources.

V. To note that all agreements to be entered into as contemplated by this report are to be approved by Legal Services on behalf of the Director of Law and Governance.

The report sets out the options considered, if any, and the reasons for the recommendations and the decision.

(Key decision – reference number 5624)

To note that the next meeting of the Cabinet is scheduled to take place on Wednesday 13 September 2023 at 7.00pm.

NOTED the next meeting of the Cabinet was scheduled to take place on Wednesday 13 September 2023 at 7:00pm.

A resolution was passed under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972 excluding the press and public from the meeting for the items of business listed on part 2 of the agenda on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in those paragraphs of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act (as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006).

Report from the Interim Executive Director – Environment & Communities. (Key decision – reference number 5609)

(This item contains exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 (information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person – including the authority holding that information) of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, as amended).

Cllr Nesil Caliskan (Leader of the Council) introduced the report of the Interim Executive Director – Environment and Communities, seeking approval for the recommendations set out in the Part 2 (Confidential) report.

Cllr Chinelo Anyanwu (Cabinet Member for Public Spaces, Culture and Local Economy) informed the Cabinet that in the interests of openness and transparency she would like to declare that her husband’s company delivered food to young people attending activity sessions at the leisure centres run by Fusion, but did not have any relationship with Fusion, and the Monitoring Officer advised that this was not a pecuniary or other interest.

Cllr Anyanwu and officers highlighted background circumstances and the options for the Council, and responded to Members’ questions and comments.

DECISION:  The Cabinet agreed to approve the recommendations set out in the Part 2 (Confidential) report.

The report sets out the options considered, if any, and the reasons for the recommendations and the decision.

(Key decision – reference number 5609)