Agenda and minutes

(Head of Research and Democratic Services)  To report the appointment of any substitute members for the meeting.

The panel noted that Councillor D Stallan was substituting for Councillor Mrs J Lea.

(Head of Research and Democratic Services). To declare interests in any items on the agenda.

In considering whether to declare a personal or a prejudicial interest under the Code of Conduct, Overview & Scrutiny members are asked pay particular attention to paragraph 11 of the Code in addition to the more familiar requirements.

This requires the declaration of a personal and prejudicial interest in any matter before an OS Committee which relates to a decision of or action by another Committee or Sub Committee of the Council, a Joint Committee or Joint Sub Committee in which the Council is involved and of which the Councillor is also a member.

Paragraph 11 does not refer to Cabinet decisions or attendance at an OS meeting purely for the purpose of answering questions or providing information on such a matter.

Pursuant to the Council Code for Members Conduct, Councillors K Angold Stephens and Mrs C Pond declared a personal interest in agenda item 8 (Increasing the amount of Affordable Housing in the District) by virtue of being members of Loughton Town Council. They declared that their interests were not prejudicial and that they would remain in the meeting for the duration of the consideration and voting on the item.

Attached.

Noted.

(Chairman/Lead Officer) The Overview and Scrutiny Committee has agreed the Terms of Reference of this Panel and associated Work Programme. This is attached. The Panel are asked at each meeting to review both documents.

Noted that paragraph 3(v) is to be deleted, and item 14 should be raised to a higher priority level.

With the meetings agreement agenda item 8 (Increasing the amount of affordable Housing in the District) was taken next.

To consider the options outlined in the attached report.

Alan Hall took the meeting through the report, which was written as a result of a request by the panel for a report that looked at ways of increasing the amount of affordable housing in the district.

It was estimated that approximately 1000 affordable houses a year was needed which, as a council, we were never going to satisfy. It particularly affected the younger set of the local community who having grown up here could not find affordable housing in the area – this was a matter of local public concern.

It was noted that a definition of affordable housing is hard to come by. One definition could be, “subsidised housing for rent” and another could be defined as “intermediate housing with shared ownership, shared equity and/or shared renting”.

The panel also considered the possibility of allowing some residential housing on Metropolitan Green Belt land, subject to it providing significant levels of affordable housing on the basis that it would constitute very special circumstances and an exceptional reason for not applying the Council’s normally strict policy of restraint, in view of the high affordable housing need. It was noted that the green belt was first established in the 1930’s, but having a greater impact after the war to fix the urban area boundary of London.

The council already gives careful consideration to any development schemes that involved the creation of affordable housing within so-called ‘brownfield sites’ but does not actively seek out these types of development. A member asked if any residential (affordable) housing could be put on old/redundant farm buildings. It was pointed that that farms tended to be in out of the way places and not ideally suited for housing development. The government now suggests that land banks should be provided by local councils that are located at sustainable locations (where there is access to public transport etc.).

The Housing Portfolio Holder made a plea that any new housing should be built in the existing towns and villages, derelict farms etc should given back to the countryside and not used to create new settlements.

Agreed that Green Belt land should not be developed on at this time.

The Panel then considered whether or not there was any merit in exploring the possibility of part of one or more urban open spaces in Loughton accommodating development to provide significant levels of affordable housing as well as enhancing the open spaces. Six sites were considered in detail. The panel were not comfortable with giving up public parcels of land where the amenities could not be recovered once lost.

Agreed that amenity spaces located in Loughton should not be considered for development.

The Panel then considered if there should be a recommended minimum limit that the council should set for affordable housing that could be negotiated by officers on Section 106 sites. Currently the council seeks 30% (which may rise to 40% in certain cases) of affordable housing on Section 106 sites. The panel members did not want to hinder officers  ...  view the full minutes text for item 50.

To consider the attached strategies on Allocations and Advice (attached) and provide comments to the Head of Housing Services before they are presented to the Housing Portfolio Holder for formal consideration.

Marion Pearce introduced her report on Housing Service Strategies – Housing Allocations and Housing Advice. The Chairman took the opportunity to announce Marions’ imminent retirement, he thanked Marion for all her hard work, excellent advice and level of replies given to the panel, and the other members echoed this.

The report informed the panel on the recent updates made to the strategies.

Noted that:

• paragraphs 1.2 and 1.3 of the strategy on Housing Advice was to be deleted;
• the figure in paragraph 1.4 should read £102,500 and not as printed £120,500;
• the word ‘formal’ in the first line of paragraph 1.5 be deleted; and
• the figures for the 2005/06 column in the table in paragraph 12.5 be reassessed.

To consider the Local Supporting Strategy 2006-2010 report (circulated separately) and to provide comments to the Head of Housing Services before they are presented to the Housing Portfolio Holder for formal consideration and endorsement.

Roger Wilson introduced the Local People Strategy to the panel.

Noted that on page 77 it should refer to Children’s Centres and not Youth Centres.

Report noted by the panel.

The Panel to note the progress made on the implementation of the Choice Based Lettings Scheme for all the Council’s vacant social rented properties.

The panel received a progress report on choice based lettings. It was noted that:

• A consultancy Brief had been set up;
• The selection process was to begin in May; and
• An extra item to be added into the timescale list in section 6 that implementation was wanted by April 2007.

To consider which reports are ready to be submitted to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee at its next meeting.

None discussed.

To consider the forward programme of meeting dates for the Panel.

The next meeting of the Housing Scrutiny Standing Panel is to be held on 27 April 2006 starting at 5pm.