Agenda, decisions and minutes

All Members who believe they have a Disclosable Pecuniary or other Interest in any matter to be considered at the meeting must declare that interest and, having regard to the circumstances described in Section 4 paragraph 4.6 of the Councillors’ Code of Conduct, leave the meeting while the matter is discussed.

Councillors Swindlehurst and Nazir declared personal interests in relation to item 6 – Chalvey ‘Extra Care’ Housing Scheme.

Councillor Swindlehurst declared a personal interest in relation to item 6 – Chalvey ‘Extra Care’ Housing Scheme in that he had met a director of the Bharani Enterprises and received a small number of meals from him.

Councillor Nazir declared a personal interest in relation to item 6 – Chalvey ‘Extra Care’ Housing Scheme in that a director of Bharani Enterprises was known to him.

To note the Terms of Reference as agreed by Cabinet.

The Sub-Committee received the terms of reference as had been agreed by Cabinet on 16^th September 2019 which set out the remit and membership of the group.

The purpose was to maximise existing and future commercial and business development opportunities within the Council.  The Sub-Committee would be chaired by the Leader of the Council and would comprise three additional Cabinet Members, which for 2019/20 would be the Lead Members for Governance & Customer Services; Sustainable Transport & Environmental Services; and Housing & Community Safety.  The main officers supporting the Sub-Committee were listed in the membership section and it was agreed that deputies would be identified in the event that they would be required to attend future meetings.

Resolved –  That the Terms of Reference as agreed by Cabinet be noted.

That the principles of the Housing Development Housing Strategy as set out in section 3 and 5 of the report be accepted as the basis for strategic delivery of affordable housing and to be incorporated and adopted within the housing and regeneration strategies.

The key decisions be approved as detailed in the report at:

·  5.4 (i)  Tower & Ashbourne

·  5.4 (ii)  Weekes Drive

·  5.4 (iii)  General Programme and Specialist Housing Sites

·  5.5  Estate Development and Asset Review

·  5.6  Financial Planning and Procurement

·  5.7  Procurement

A report was considered that updated Members on the progress on the delivery of the current housing development programme and to request support for the principles of a Housing Development Strategy to provide opportunities for residents to access a broad range of affordable housing.  The report contained a number of specific proposals that the Sub-Committee was requested to approve as detailed in paragraphs 5.4 to 5.7 of the report.

The Sub-Committee noted the approach with regards to collaborative working to help alleviate significant budget and accommodation pressures in adult social care, youth provision and homeless families by providing a range of specialist provision.  Specific recommendations were made in the report including for Tower & Ashbourne Houses; the site at Weekes Drive and the financial and procurement strategy to delivery the programme.  Members discussed the categorisation of sites listed in the appendix to the report.  Each site would have a feasibility study and site assessment before being assigned a RAG status.  The Lead Member for Housing & Community Safety would receive regular updates on the progress of this work.  The programme would be aligned with the Council’s Localities Strategy which would deliver hubs and community facilities and services across the borough.

At the conclusion of the discussion, the recommendations in section 2 of the report, including the detailed proposals in paragraphs 5.4 to 5.7 were agreed.

Resolved – 

(a)  That the principles of the Housing Development Housing Strategy as set out in section 3 and 5 of the report be accepted as the basis for strategic delivery of affordable housing and to be incorporated and adopted within the housing and regeneration strategies.

(b)  That the key decisions as detailed in the report be approved as at:

·  5.4 (i)  Tower & Ashbourne

·  5.4 (ii)  Weekes Drive

·  5.4 (iii)  General Programme and Specialist Housing Sites

·  5.5  Estate Development and Asset Review

·  5.6  Financial Planning and Procurement

·  5.7  Procurement

It is recommended that the Press and Public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the item in Part 2 of the Agenda, as it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the Authority holding the information) as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (amended).

Agreed.

Resolved –  That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the items in Part II of the agenda as they involved the likely disclosure of exempt information relating to the financial and business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information) as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 the Schedule 12A the Local Government Act 1972.

Below is a summary of the matters considered during Part II of the agenda.

Part II

An update on the progress of Herschel Homes was received and a proposal was agreed in principle to make specified purchases and restructure the company board.

Part II

A number of decisions were taken on the future operational structure of Development Initiative for Slough Housing Ltd to enable it to progress a number of strategically significant development schemes through the most advantageous funding and operational mechanism for the Council.

Part II

Approval was given to proceed with the development of 60 ‘Extra Care’ homes in Chalvey to help meet the acute need for such accommodation in Slough.