Agenda and minutes

To be announced at the meeting.

In the absence of the Chairman, Councillor H Whitbread, who had tendered her apologies, it was proposed that Councillor A Patel be Chairman for the duration of the meeting.

Resolved:

That Members agreed that Councillor A Patel would assume the role of Chairman for the duration of the meeting.

This meeting is to be webcast.

The Chairman will read the following announcement:

“I would like to remind everyone present that this meeting will be broadcast live to the Internet and will be capable of subsequent repeated viewing, with copies of the recording being made available for those that request it.

By being present at this meeting, it is likely that the recording cameras will capture your image and this will result in your image becoming part of the broadcast.

You should be aware that this may infringe your human and data protection rights. If you have any concerns then please speak to the Webcasting Officer.

Please could I also remind Members to activate their microphones before speaking.”

The Chairman made a short address to remind everyone present that the meeting would be broadcast live to the internet, and would be capable of repeated viewing, which could infringe their human and data protection rights.

To report the appointment of any substitute members for the meeting.

The Cabinet Committee noted that Councillor C Whitbread would substitute for Councillor H Whitbread at the meeting.

To declare interests in any item on the agenda.

The were no declarations of interest pursuant to the Council’s Code of Member Conduct.

To confirm the minutes of the last meeting of the Cabinet Committee held on 28 September 2021as attached.

Resolved:

That the minutes of the Council Housebuilding Cabinet Committee held on the 28 September 2021 be taken as read and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

That the Housing Services Manager – Development to present a report to the Council Housebuilding Cabinet Committee with regard to updating the Committee on the progress of the Council House Building Programme, Phases 4 to 5.

Rochelle Hoyte, Service Manager, Housing Development presented a report to the Cabinet Committee and recommended that the Council House Building Progress Report - Phases 3 to 5 be noted. She advised that the report set out the progress that had been made across Phases 3 to 5 of the Council House Building Programme and that they were either completed, on-site or were currently being procured. The report was as set out in the Agenda on pages 11-90.

Phase 4

Phases 4.1 and 4.2 were currently on-site and were expected to reach practical completion between January and March 2022. Phases 4.3 and 4 would start on site in 2022.

Phase 5

R Hoyte advised that her team were continuing to work with the architects on the design stages for the proposed developments in Phase 5 and stated that early in 2022 she would be able to continue to consult with the Ward Councillors on the relevant schemes under Phase 5.

Councillor N Bedford referred to the recent houses that had been released in North Weald and asked why there was no consideration to put in any electrical car charging points in the houses as one of the residents had bought an electric vehicle and had been making enquiries of getting a charging point installed.

R Hoyte advised that she was aware and believed that it was being dealt with by the sustainability team who were looking to see if one could be installed. She stated that she was unaware if it had been resolved but she would make enquiries and report back to Councillor Bedford.

Councillor N Bedford thanked the officer for the update and asked if assurances could be given for the future at the planning stages and not after the developments had been finished.

R Hoyte assured Councillor Bedford that everything that was being worked on at present including Phase 5 and beyond would include electrical vehicle charging points. She also advised that when the North Weald development was planned quite a few years ago electrical vehicles were at the very early stages and stated that things had greatly improved since as electrical vehicles were becoming more common and affordable.

Councillor D Wixley advised he had a question regarding Chester Road, Loughton which was in Phase 4.1 and asked if there were any particular problems with this site and it was taking a long time for the build to complete. He stated that he had looked at this site a year ago and when work had been going on for several months. He also asked if there were going to be an electrical charging points installed on that site.

R Hoyte advised that all of the schemes in Phases 4.1 and 4.2 had been affected by the issues surrounding the supply of materials and labour supply. Covid had impacted on all the services to the sites in Phase 4. Some of the schemes that were due to be handed over this year will now be delayed until January-March 2022.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 23.

Section 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972, together with paragraphs 6 and 25 of the Council Procedure Rules contained in the Constitution require that the permission of the Chairman be obtained, after prior notice to the Chief Executive, before urgent business not specified in the agenda (including a supplementary agenda of which the statutory period of notice has been given) may be transacted.

In accordance with Operational Standing Order 6 (non-executive bodies), any item raised by a non-member shall require the support of a member of the Committee concerned and the Chairman of that Committee. Two weeks’ notice of non-urgent items is required.

The Cabinet Committee noted that there were no other matters of urgent business for consideration.

Exclusion

To consider whether, under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public and press should be excluded from the meeting for the items of business set out below on grounds that they will involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the following paragraph(s) of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act (as amended) or are confidential under Section 100(A)(2):

The Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006, which came into effect on 1 March 2006, requires the Council to consider whether maintaining the exemption listed above outweighs the potential public interest in disclosing the information. Any member who considers that this test should be applied to any currently exempted matter on this agenda should contact the proper officer at least 24 hours prior to the meeting.

Background Papers

Article 17 - Access to Information, Procedure Rules of the Constitution define background papers as being documents relating to the subject matter of the report which in the Proper Officer's opinion:

(a)        disclose any facts or matters on which the report or an important part of the report is based;  and

(b)        have been relied on to a material extent in preparing the report and does not include published works or those which disclose exempt or confidential information and in respect of executive reports, the advice of any political advisor.

The Council will make available for public inspection one copy of each of the documents on the list of background papers for four years after the date of the meeting. Inspection of background papers can be arranged by contacting either the Responsible Officer or the Democratic Services Officer for the particular item.

The Cabinet Committee noted that there was no business for consideration which would necessitate the exclusion of the public and press from the meeting.