Agenda and Minutes

  At the suggestion of the Chairman, the Committee agreed to deal with item 19 (Paper No. 07-1018) after item 5 before returning to the numerical order of the agenda.

To confirm and sign as a correct record the minutes of the Housing Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 20th September 2007.  

  On item 1, it was

  RESOLVED - That the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 20th September 2007 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

To receive any declarations of personal and prejudicial interests in any of the matters to be considered at the  meeting.  

  On item 2, no declarations were made. 

To receive report by the Chief Executive and Director of Administration arising out of proceedings at a meeting of the Borough Residents’ Forum held on 5th November 2007.  (Attached – Paper No.07- 1003  ).    

  On item 3, both the Chairman and Cabinet Member congratulated, on behalf of the Committee, Mrs. M. Price on her re-election as Vice-Chairman of the Borough Residents’ Forum.  The Cabinet Member also referred to the enormous amount of work undertaken by Mrs. Price on behalf of local residents through her membership and participation in numerous other bodies.

  After discussion, item 3 was received as information. 

To consider report by the Head of Professional Services on proposals to identify and amend non-derogation leases held by Council leaseholders.  (Attached – Paper No.07-1004)  

  On item 3 (Paper No. 07-1004), after discussion, it was

  RESOLVED – (By 6 votes to 2) That the Executive be informed that the Committee supports the recommendations in paragraph 3 of Paper No. 07-1004.

To receive report by the Director of Adult Social Services on the implementation of a Strategic Plan for Leaning Disability Services.  (Attached – Paper No.07-974). 

  Item 5 (Paper No. 07-974), after discussion, was received as information. 

To receive joint report by the Directors of Housing and Children’s Services on a Joint Protocol for working together with children, young people and their families between their two Departments. (Attached – Paper No.07-990).     

  Item 6 (Paper No. 07-990), after discussion, was received as information. 

To receive report by the Head of Environmental Services and Community Safety on private sector housing activity during April to September 2007.  (Attached – Paper No.07-1006).   

  On item 7 (Paper No. 07-1006), during discussion, the Head of Environmental Services and Community Safety orally reported that progress on pursing the Compulsory Purchase Order on 45 Sudlow Road, SW18 was being delayed due to a dispute between the Government Office for London and the owner’s solicitors over whether a formal objection to the Order has been lodged on behalf of the owner.  The Cabinet Member also indicated that he hoped to circulate to Committee members shortly a list of those empty properties which the officers were considering bringing to Committee for possible future formal action in the event of the owner’s  etc. not proceeding to carry out improvements etc.

  Item 7 was then received as information.

To consider report by the Head of Environmental Services and Community Safety on two empty properties in Shelgate Road. SW11 (Northcote).  (Attached – Paper No.07-1007).    

  On item 8 (Paper No. 07-1007), after discussion, it was

  RESOLVED – That the Executive be informed that the Committee supports the recommendations in paragraph 3 of Paper No. 07-1007. 

To consider report by the Head of  Environmental Services and Community Safety on an empty property in Lavender Hill SW11 (Shaftesbury).  (Attached – Paper No.07-1008).    

  On item 9 (Paper No. 07-1008), during discussion the Head of Environmental Services and Community Safety orally reported that the owner had now submitted plans for the conversion of the property into four flats.  However, he had been advised to consult with and submit these plans to the Borough Planner and, in view of the history of assurances about works not being fulfilled by the owner, the Head of Environmental Services and Community Safety maintained his recommendations made in Paper No. 07-1008.  It was then

  RESOLVED – That the Executive be informed that the Committee supports the recommendations in paragraph 3 of Paper No. 07-1008. 

To consider report by the Chief Executive and Director of Administration on revised costs for housing capital schemes tendered between 25th August and 18th October 2007.  (Attached – Paper No.07-1009).    

  On item 10 (Paper No. 07-1009), it was

  RESOLVED – That the Executive be informed that the Committee supports the recommendation in paragraph 2 of Paper No. 07-1009. 

To receive report by the Chief Executive and Director of Administration on progress on housing capital expenditure, housing schemes, outstanding policy items and various performance, etc. indicators for housing services.  (Attached – Paper No.07-1010).   

  Item 11 (Paper No. 07-1010), after discussion was received as information.

To consider report by the Director of Finance updating the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) business plan.  (Attached – Paper No.07-1011).     

  On item 12 (Paper No. 07-1011), during discussion, the Director of Finance undertook to circulate to Committee members information on the subsidy position relating to other London Boroughs and to ascertain, and if necessary discuss further with the Cabinet Member for Housing, Chairman and Opposition Speaker on the Committee, what information was available for circulation relating to age and profile of Council housing stock in those Boroughs.

  RESOLVED – (By 7 votes to 2) That the Executive be informed that the Committee supports the recommendation in paragraph 3 of Paper No. 07-1011. 

To consider report by the Director of Housing on housing resources, allocations and vacant properties as at the end of September 2007.  (Attached – Paper No.07-1012).     

  Item 13 (Paper No. 07-1012), after discussion, was received as information. 

To receive report by the Director of Housing on the statutory homeless position in the Borough at the end of September 2007.  (Attached – Paper No.07-1013).     

  Item 14 (Paper No. 07-1013), after discussion, was received as information. 

To consider report by the Director of Housing on a response made by the Council to a Government consultation paper entitled ‘Tolerated Trespassers’.  (Attached – Paper No.07-1014).     

  On item 15 (Paper No. 07-1014), after discussion, it was

  RESOLVED – That the Executive be informed that the Committee supports the recommendation in paragraph 3 of Paper No. 07-1014. 

To receive report by the Director of Housing on his Department’s Annual Equalities Report and Action Plan.  (Attached – Paper No.07-1015).   

  Item 16 (Paper No. 07-1015), after discussion, was received as information. 

To consider report by the Director of Housing on the Mayor of London’s Draft Housing Strategy published in September 2007.  (Attached – Paper No.07-1016).     

  On item 17 (Paper No. 07-1016), after discussion, it was

  RESOLVED – (Councillors Bowes and L. Cooper requesting that their names be recorded as abstentients) That the Executive be informed that the Committee supports the recommendations in paragraph 3 of Paper No. 07-1016. 

To receive report by the Director of Housing on a petition regarding communal heating and hot water systems at Althorpe Estate, SW11 (St. Mary’s Park).  (Attached – Paper No.07-1017).    

  Item 18 (Paper No. 07-1017), after discussion, was received as information.

  (Item 19 was dealt with after item 5).

To consider report by the Director of Housing on a petition concerning the future of Newlonds Hall, Putney Vale Estate, SW15 (Roehampton).  (Attached – Paper No.07-1018).    

  Item 19 (Paper No. 07-1017), during discussion, both the Cabinet Member for Housing and the Director of Housing orally reiterated the assurance given in Paper No. 07-1017, that the Council is committed to maintaining a community facility on or in close proximity to Putney Vale Estate.  The Director of Housing also indicated that a wider consultation exercise would be undertaken with Estate residents following the forthcoming meeting with representatives of the management committees of Newlonds Hall and Stag House and the user groups and that if only one facility was available in future efforts would be made to ensure all users could be accommodated in that building.

  Item 19 was then received as information. 

To consider passing a resolution in the following terms:-

“That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, members of the public and press be excluded from the meeting whilst items 21 and 22 (Papers Nos.07-1004A and 07-1008A) are being considered, because it is likely that exempt information as described in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act would be disclosed to them if they were present; and it is considered that, in all the circumstances of this case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information’  

(Note: In the circumstances of this case, matters which are considered relevant to maintaining the exemption in the public interest include that if the estimated amounts for compensation were to be disclosed, this would prejudice the Council’s position when negotiating claims for compensation and could lead to unjustified financial loss)

  On item 20, on the Motion of the Chairman, it was

  RESOLVED – That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, members of the public and press be excluded from the meeting whilst items 21 and 22 (Papers Nos. 07-1004A and 1008A) are being considered, because it is likely that exempt information as described in paragraph 3 of Part I of Schedule 12A to the Act would be disclosed to them if they were present; and it is considered that, in all the circumstances of these cases, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

  (The matters which are considered relevant to maintaining the exemption in the public interest include that if estimated amounts for compensation were to be disclosed, these would prejudice the Council’s position when negotiating claims for compensation and could lead to unjustifiable financial loss).

To consider report by the Head of Professional Services on non-derogation leases held by Council leaseholders.  (Attached – Paper No.07-1004A – circulated to Housing Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Executive members only). 

  Item 21 (Paper No. 07-1004A) was received as information. 

To receive report by the Borough Valuer and Estate Surveyor on a property in Lavender Hill, SW11 (Shaftesbury).  (Attached – Paper No.07-1008A – circulated to Housing Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Executive members only).       

  Item 22 (Paper No. 07-1008A) was received as information.