Agenda and minutes

With the agreement of the Panel, Councillor J Wyatt was appointed Vice Chairman for the duration of the meeting.

RESOLVED:

That, Councillor J Wyatt be appointed Vice Chairman for the meeting.

(Assistant to the Chief Executive)  To report the appointment of any substitute members for the meeting.

Noted that Councillor R Frankel was attending the meeting as a substitute for Councillor Mrs J Whitehouse.

To agree the minutes of the last meeting.

The minutes of the Housing Scrutiny Standing Panel from 18 March 2008 had not been agreed and were tabled at this meeting.

RESOLVED:

(a)               That, the minutes of the Housing Scrutiny Standing Panel of 18 March 2008 be agreed; and

(b)        That, the minutes of the Housing Scrutiny Standing Panel of 3 July 2008 be agreed, subject to the substitution of the words “the 6 metre rule should be doubled,” for “the 6 metre rule should not be doubled,” in paragraph 8 of minute 8.

(Assistant to the Chief Executive). 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.

There were no declarations made pursuant to the Member’s Code of Conduct.

(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.

This item was noted.

(Director of Housing Services). To consider the attached report.

The Assistant Director of Housing Services, presented a report to the Panel regarding Parking Enforcement on Housing Estates.

At its last meeting in July 2008, the Housing Scrutiny Panel considered a report on options to resolve the problems with parking and congestion on housing estates. The Housing Portfolio Holder and the Panel had agreed that the following recommendations should be made to the Cabinet at its September 2008 meeting.

(1)        That the maximum amount of grassed verge to be removed in order to construct a vehicular crossover to allow residents to park their vehicles in their front garden be increased from 6 metres to 12 metres in length; and

(2)        That the additional £300,000 budget available in the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Capital Programme from 2009/2010 be made available to fund further off-street parking schemes match funded from the General Fund.

It had further been agreed that where any vehicular crossover had removed between 6 and 12 metres of grass verge in length, ward members should be consulted as well as neighbours.

The Panel had also considered the increase in complaints from the public about unauthorised parking. The complaints were from residents unhappy that more vehicles were being parked on grass verges causing damage to the open green spaces. In response, when enforcement action was taken by the Council, other residents had complained about having nowhere to park with cars being displaced into already heavily congested side streets. There had been mixed responses from elected members, some had asked that action be taken to prevent vehicles from parking on the grassed verges, while other members had asked officers not to take action as it displaced vehicles and caused problems inside streets.

A policy had been drafted on the recommendation of officers, on the approach to be taken on unauthorised parking. The draft had been attached to the agenda.

The Tenants and Leaseholders Federation were consulted on the report at their meeting in September 2008. Their comments were as follows:

(a)        Any policy could prove to be inconsistent and costly should any car owners be taken to court for continually parking on grassed verges without permission; and

(b)        More clarification should be given within the policy on matters relating to safety, including sight lines, etc; and

(c)        Parking on grass verges should not be allowed where damage could be caused to underground utilities; and

(d)        Consideration could be given to parking permits.

Although the above comments on the policy had been put forward the Tenants and Leaseholders Federation, by a majority of 5 to 2, had concluded that unauthorised parking on housing-owned grass verges, should generally not be permitted across the district.

The two Area Housing Managers responsible for housing management in the north and south of the district had been consulted on the draft enforcement policy. They had asked that the Panel consider their concerns which were:

(i)         Any enforcement policy would be difficult to apply, as it was always going to be unclear and difficult to interpret; and

(ii)  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.

(Director of Housing Services). To consider the attached Cabinet report and appendix.

The Assistant Director of Housing, Mr R Wilson, presented a report for Cabinet approval to the Panel for comment. It concerned a Review of the Allocations Scheme 2008.

The Review of the Allocations Scheme was legally required for the Council. It set out the procedures for allocating its housing accommodation and making nominations to Registered Social Landlords. Each year the Cabinet considered the Council’s Allocations Scheme and reviewed changes following detailed consideration by this Panel. Mr R Wilson briefly outlined the amendments to the Panel.

There was a tabled amendment to Appendix One regarding Band One (c) of the Housing Allocations Scheme which concerned homeless applications. If no successful expressions of interest had been made by a homeseeker, the Council would then express an interest in a maximum of three suitable properties for a further 4 weeks (two cycles) on behalf of the homeseeker, if the homeseeker was still unsuccessful then the Council would make one offer of suitable, secure accommodation.

This amendment had been designed to deter some homeless applicants from not expressing an interest in suitable properties during the 8 week (4 cycles) period and waiting for a direct offer of a house. This additional period proposed would ensure that homeless applicants were prioritised along with other homeseekers, allowing them to compete for the more desirable properties which would ensure a fairer process.

RESOLVED:

That, the Housing Allocations Scheme, with tabled amendments, be recommended to the Cabinet.

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

It was reported that there were no reports going to the next Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

To note the forward programme of meeting dates for the Panel. They are:

8 January 2009; and

26 March 2008

The next meetings of the Panel were noted as follows:

8 January 2009; and

26 March 2009