Agenda, decisions and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence and declarations of interest.

Apologies were received from Councillors Howell and Lodge.

To consider the minutes of the meeting held on…

The minutes of the meeting held on 12 July 2018 were received and signed by the Chairman as a correct record, subject to Councillor Dean being added to the minutes as present.

To receive any reports from the Refugee Working Group.

The Portfolio Holder for Housing said another property had been offered to a refugee family. The Council were just waiting on confirmation of school places from Essex County Council.

To consider the report on Section 106 affordable housing contributions.

RESOLVED to:

1.    Note the current position regarding funding capacity in the HRA to support the council’s HRA new build programme.

2.    Approve the use of £942,200 Section 106 affordable housing contributions to replace the HRA funding on the schemes at Newton Grove and Frambury Lane as described in the report.

Members considered the report of the Portfolio Holder for Housing which sought authority to utilise Section 106 affordable housing contributions for the council’s own development programme in addition to HRA funding.

In response to a Member question, the Assistant Director – Housing, Health and Communities said she would look into whether any Section 106 affordable housing contributions were still available to spend.

RESOLVED to

1)    note the current position regarding funding capacity in the HRA to support the  Council’s HRA new build programme

2)    approve the use of £942,200 Section 106 affordable housing contributions to replace the HRA funding on the schemes at Newton Grove and Frambury Lane as described in the report.

To consider the Additional HRA Borrowing Headroom report.

Members considered the report of the Portfolio Holder for Housing informing the Cabinet of the Government’s announcement to make up to £1 billon additional Housing Revenue Account borrowing headroom available in areas of high affordability pressure for local authorities that are ready to start building new homes and asking the Cabinet to note the proposed submission of a bid from the council for £3 million additional borrowing headroom.

In response to a Member question, the Portfolio Holder for Housing said the deadline for submitting bids to use the additional borrowing approvals to build new rented housing had been extended to 28 September.

To consider the community led housing grant criteria.

RESOLVED to:

1)    Approve the awarding of small grants to groups for Community Led Housing projects from grant funding received from the Governments Community Housing Fund

2)    Grant authority to the Director - Public Services in consultation with the Housing Portfolio Holder to determine the eligibility criteria and to allocate grants to groups

Members considered the report of the Portfolio Holder for Housing seeking authority to establish a scheme to award small grants for community led housing projects out of a residual budget of £25,000 from funding provided by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Members discussed that it was important for the Council to look into drumming up interest in the scheme.

The Chief Executive said mention of the scheme could be made at the Local Councils’ Liaison Forum the following week.

RESOLVED to:

1)    approve the awarding of small grants to groups for Community Led Housing (CLH) projects from grant funding received from the Governments Community Housing Fund

2)    grant authority to the Director of Public Services in consultation with the Housing Portfolio Holder to determine the eligibility criteria and to allocate grants to groups.

To consider the report on fixed penalty notices for environmental offences.

RESOLVED to

1)    Agree the use of the penalty charge notices as identified within the report with immediate effect.

2)    Agree new penalty charge sums as outlined within Appendix 1.

3)    Authorise the Assistant Director Housing Health and Communities to issue fixed and civil penalty notices with immediate effect.

4)    Delegate the authority to add new fixed and civil penalty charges as may be prescribed in legislation to the Portfolio Holder for Environmental Services.

Members considered the report by the Portfolio Holder for Environmental Services recommending that the scope of fixed penalty notices be expanded to include littering from vehicles, vehicle engines left running unnecessarily whilst stationary (“idling”) and smoking in cars and other vehicles with someone under 18 present. The report also recommended the level of fixed penalty for these offences and increases to the level of penalty for other environmental offences.

In response to a Member question as to whether the cost charged by the Council for removing large domestic waste was prohibitively expensive and therefore encouraged fly tipping, the Portfolio Holder for Environmental Services said she would look into this issue further.

RESOLVED to

1)    agree to the use of the penalty charge notices as identified within the report with immediate effect.

2)    agree new penalty charge sums as outlined within Appendix 1.

3)    authorise the Assistant Director Housing Health and Communities to issue fixed and civil penalty notices with immediate effect.

4)    delegate the authority to add new fixed and civil penalty charges as may be prescribed in legislation to the Portfolio Holder for Environmental Services.

To consider the report on changes to mandatory licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation.

RESOLVED to approve the proposed fees as outlined within the report.

Members considered the report of the Portfolio Holder for Environmental Services which set out the proposed new level of licence fees for Houses in

Multiple Occupation (HMOs). 

In response to a Member question, the Environmental Health Manager (Commercial) said a public register system would be in operation for this scheme.

RESOLVED to approve the proposed fees as outlined within the report.

To consider the Planning Service Peer Review action plan.

RESOLVED to approve the Planning Service Action Plan (relating to resources).

Members considered the report of the Portfolio Holder for Environmental Services which set out an action plan for improvements to the service made in the light of the recommendations of a peer review. The report was also being considered by the Governance, Audit and Performance Committee and by the Planning Committee. 

In response to a Member question, the Portfolio Holder for Environmental  Services said the review was not to assess public views on how the Council dealt with planning applications at, but was to gauge the quality of performance and decision-making from a professional point of view.

RESOLVED to approve the Planning Service Action Plan (related to resources).

To receive an update on the Garden Communities Delivery Member Governance Board.

Members received an update on the Garden Communities Delivery Governance Board from the Chairman describing the work of the Garden Communities Delivery Member Governance Board and the progress made over the last three months.

The meeting ended at 7.55pm.