Agenda and minutes

That the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 23 April 2012 be confirmed and signed as an accurate record of the proceedings, and that the outstanding actions be noted.

Apologies for Absence were received from Councillor Nicholas Botterill.

If a Councillor has any prejudicial or personal interest in a particular report he/she should declare the existence and nature of the interest at the commencement of the consideration of the item or as soon as it becomes apparent.

At meetings where members of the public are allowed to be in attendance and speak, any Councillor with a prejudicial interest may also make representations, give evidence or answer questions about the matter. The Councillor must then withdraw immediately from the meeting before the matter is discussed and any vote taken, unless a dispensation has been obtained from the Standards Committee.

Where members of the public are not allowed to be in attendance, then the Councillor with a prejudicial interest should withdraw from the meeting whilst the matter is under consideration, unless the disability has been removed by the Standards Committee.

There were no declarations of interest.

That the proposal to renew data centre network equipment, at a total cost of up to £180,000 with on-going annual charges of approximately £35,000 for three years, with the overall and ongoing costs being negotiated dependant on the level of control required over content, to be funded from the IT infrastructure projects revenue budget, be approved.

That the Hammersmith Broadway footway Improvements works at a total cost of £434,977 as set out in paragraph 6 of the report be approved.

1.      That the provisions of Contract Standing Orders in relation to authority to award contracts be waived.

2.      That delegation be granted to the Executive Director of Finance and Corporate Governance and the Assistant Director for Building and Property Management the authority to enter into contracts with utility companies following competitive procurement exercises via a Central Purchasing Body (currently LASER operated by Kent County Council) to take effect in October 2012 for 4 years, be approved.

3.      That Members receive an annual report on the contracts let by officers and proposals concerning the procurement of energy by the Council for the following year be agreed.

In light of the Government’s funding proposals, Councillor Cowan asked what was the Council’s strategy for managing the Housing Revenue Account.  In response, it was noted that the Council will continue to effectively manage its asset, reduce the overall debt levels and level of interest paid.  It is anticipated that the level of capital investment over the three years would be broadly in line with the current level.  In response to another question, it was noted that 58 units had been sold during the year.  Any property which meets the Expensive Voids Strategy criteria will be considered for disposal.

1.      That the re-procurement of housing repairs and maintenance contracts and market testing as outlined in section 5 of the report be approved.

2.      That the proposed market testing of a number of housing management services as set out in section 5 of the report be approved.

3.      That the provisions of Contract Standing Orders (Section 3, paragraph 9.2) be waived and authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Housing, in conjunction with the Executive Director for Housing and Regeneration, to progress the related procurement processes up to but not including Contract Award. 

4.      That subsequent decisions relating to the entering into of contractual arrangements will be the subject of further reports back to Cabinet, be noted.    

Members considered a report seeking approval and endorsement of the Building a Housing Ladder of Opportunity strategy paper incorporating the draft Housing Strategy, draft Tenancy Strategy, draft Scheme of Allocation and draft Homelessness Strategy.

Councillor Aherne expressed concern that the withdrawal from the “LOCATA”  will put H&F tenants in a worst position to access social housing.  People will have less choice under the proposed allocation policy.  He inquired, who was the reported person on the waiting list since 1976?.  He noted that the Westfield development phase 2 planning application provided for 95 homes for rent.  However, the document had indicated 25% of new homes built should be for rent.

In response, it was stated that the system of Choice based lettings through  “LOCATA” had failed.  The inefficient Housing Register created false hopes and expectations and withdrawing from LOCATA will provide a better system for applicants through assisted choice.  The Council is still a member of the West London Housing Partnership.  A person being on the waiting list for over 35 years without qualifying for social housing justifies the reason to pull out of the “LOCATA”.  The new Scheme of Allocation will give a greater priority to those who are working, those in training leading to employment and those making a significant contribution to the community.  A significantly higher proportion of lettings will go to such groups.

As part of the strategic plan, the Council was relying on 25% of houses to be built within the White City area not just by Westfield.  It was explained that there was a complicated calculation attached to the number of homes for rent to be built by Westfield.  95 new homes for rent is the minimum guaranteed figure. Any additional homes built for rent would be determined by the level of public subsidy available and some other conditions. In the majority of cases, the 5 year limit on tenancies will not affect existing tenants.  The proposals will clarify that this does not affect statutory tenants

Councillor Cowan asked for clarification of the term a realistic chance of getting a home.  He also requested for the analysis and methodology used to calculate the impact of the policy and how the £40,000 income threshold for access to social housing was determined.

The meeting as informed that 95% of those on the waiting list fell within Band D, therefore, they would not qualify for a home.  Under the new proposals only people with a reasonable prospect of being housed will be accepted onto the Register.  The Choice based letting system will be replaced with an “Assisted Choice” offering applicants a more realistic opportunity to secure social housing.  In order to increase the number of larger properties available, some tenants will be incentivised to downsize and the Council will look at expanding the size of some existing properties.   The Council’s current stock meets the urgent housing needs of residents.  It accepts that it cannot re-house everyone on the housing waiting list.

RESOLVED:

That the Draft Housing Strategy,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 240.

The Forward Plan was noted.

The summary was noted.

The Cabinet is invited to resolve, under Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, that the public and press be excluded from the meeting during the consideration of the following items of business, on the grounds that they contain the likely disclosure of exempt information, as defined in paragraph 3of Schedule 12A of the said Act, and that the public interest in maintaining the exemption currently outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

That under Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public and press be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the remaining items of business on the grounds that they contain information relating to the financial or business affairs of a person (including the authority) as defined in paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of the Act, and that the public interest in maintaining the exemption currently outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

[The following is a public summary of the exempt information under S.100C (2) of the Local Government Act 1972.  Exempt minutes exist as a separate document.]

That the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 23 April 2012 be confirmed and signed as an accurate record of the proceedings, and that the outstanding actions be noted.

That  the report be noted.

The summary was noted.

The summary was noted.