Issue - meetings

Councillor Vaughan requested officers to keep him informed of the progress on the Becklow Gardens and Emlyn Gardens schemes.  He was of the view that the residents’ and stakeholders’ consultation between July and August was inappropriately timed.  He requested for the consultation to be put back or moved forward to encourage a higher response rate.  Furthermore, he expressed his concerns that housing officers have not been seen to build good working relations with Genesis Housing Association.  Improved working relationships were required to support the establishment of a play scheme for the residents on the Factory Quarters scheme.

Cabinet agreed that the consultation should be moved to a time outside July and August to encourage a better response.  Officers are to look into the concern raised about working relations and open further dialogue with Genesis to explore any outstanding issues.

RESOLVED:

1.1.            That, subject to section 20 leaseholder consultation, the full scope of works for Fulham Court and Barclay Close Estates as described in section 5 and Appendix 1 and to the allocation of a further £1.82m from the total budget for this project held in the Decent Neighbourhoods fund of £3.469m to deliver phase two of the works and that Cabinet notes that the first phase of works came in £0.15m under budget. (Cabinet should note that the £3.469m represents the balance remaining of the original budget of £4.057m approved by Cabinet on 11 January 2010 following the construction of the Tudor Rose Centre), be approved.

1.2.            That, with the exception of lighting and CCTV improvements, work in phase two of the Fulham Court and Barclay Close project will be delivered by Mitie under the existing Planned Maintenance contract. Lighting and CCTV elements of the scheme will be taken forward by the appropriate council departments, be noted.

1.3.            That the development of draft investment plans for Sulivan Court, Becklow Gardens and Emlyn Gardens as phase 2 estates for HEIP investment and a budget of £50,000 funded from the 2013/14 Housing Services Budgets held in the Housing Revenue Account to develop proposals for the three estates with residents, be approved.