Members are reminded to consider the categories of interest in the Code of Conduct for Members to determine whether they have an interest in any agenda item and any action they should take. For further details, please see the attached note from the Monitoring Officer.

Members are reminded to declare the nature of the interest and the agenda item it relates to. Please note that ultimately it’s the Members’ responsibility to declare any interests and to update their register of interest form as required by the Code.

If in doubt as to the nature of your interest, you are advised to seek advice prior to the meeting by contacting the Monitoring Officer or Democratic Services

There were no declarations of interest.

Nominated by Councillor Victoria Obaze and seconded by Councillor Andrew Wood, it was:

RESOLVED that Councillor Marc Francis is appointed vice chair of the sub committee for 2021-22.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the sub committee, 15 April 2021 were approved as a correct record of the proceedings.

Matter arising

3.1 - Social Landlords Performance Report – Councillor Marc Francis asked if the new performance targets be made available to the sub committee once agreed by the THHF sub group.

3.2 - Fire Safety progress report – Councillor Marc Francis emphasised that the council must be willing to exercise the leverage it has over RPs that fail to meet its expectations.

RESOLVED that the sub committee:

1.    Noted its terms of reference, membership and quorum, and rules of procedure (including dates of 2021/22 meetings) as set out in appendices 1, 2 and 3 of the report.

To note the attached draft work plan for 2021-22, which is subject to apporoval by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 28 June 2021.

Some members of the sub committee indicated they would welcome additional items on (1) social housing white paper and (2) housing ombudsman changes.  The chair welcomed the suggestions, but stressed that the scope/remit of the sub committee is very broad and it should strive to focus on those areas where it can add value.

RESOLVED that the sub committee’s draft work programme 2021/22 as set out in the report is noted, subject to the following minor additions:

·         Social Landlord Report September 2021, Spitalfields Hosing Trust to be invited.

·         Exploring whether a challenge session or similar could be arranged between the December 2021 and March 2022 meeting.

The chair introduced the Fire Safety Scoping Session. He explained that today’s session was prepared in response to the fire in May 2021 at New Providence Wharf (NPW) and would seek to identify the lessons that need to be learnt on improving fire safety in tall buildings across the borough. The Chair explained that today’s session would be an evidence gathering exercise, primarily looking at the residents’ perspective and the evidence collected at this meeting would help to inform a ‘deep dive’ into fire safety at the September sub committee meeting.

At the request of the chair, Mayor John Biggs addressed the sub committee. Mayor Biggs set the context of future fire safety work by the council, particularly regarding private buildings. Mayor Biggs provided information on:

·         Where responsibility lies for remedial works to buildings to improve fire safety. In short, the owner of the building bears ultimate responsibility.

·         The Councils role and powers in promoting fire safety in private buildings. The council has constrained ability to intervene directly in most cases but has a lobbying/brokering and community leadership role. The Mayor explained how the council has been performing this role to date.

·         Partnership work and initiatives the council has undertaken, including with the government, building owners and managers, and residents groups.

·         The scale of fire safety and cladding risks in LBTH. The borough has more at-risk buildings than anywhere else in the country.

·         Work undertaken to date by council to build and maintain a database on fire safety data and challenges around this, including financial challenges.

In response to questions from the sub committee, Mayor Biggs summarised the outcome from meetings and correspondence between the council and the NPW developer (Ballymore) and government representatives.

At the request of the chair, Ruth Bravery, lead volunteer of Friends in High Places residents group, addressed the sub committee. Ruth provided more context on the issue of fire safety from resident’ perspective, including:

·         The difficulty in calculating the scale of fire safety risk in high rises in LBTH.

·         Impact of government guidance and unfair allocation of resources.

·         The various practical and financial obstacles to building owners and leaseholders getting fire safety surveys and remedial works initiated.

·         Difficulties leaseholders face when applying for national grants funding.

·         Limited options and risks of homelessness, health and relationship breakdown for those faced with high repair bills.

Ruth then explained what residents in her organisation would like the council to do to address the situation. The initiatives proposed included:

·         stop approving developments where developers haven't remediated existing buildings

·         continue to meet and communicate with leaseholders; provide services to signpost affected residents to help and support, perhaps funding an advice service

·         create a multi agency task force involving the Fire Brigade, managing agents and leaseholders

·         gather economic evidence that might be used to lobby the government into more supportive action

·         work with other London boroughs in the GLA to enable a louder London voice on this issue nationally

·         stop approving HMO licences where they are in breach  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

Jennifer Peters, Divisional Director of Planning and Building Control, provided a brief presentation on the ‘Planning for the Future’ white paper. Jennifer explained that the document, which was released in August 2020, proposed a large scale reform of the English planning system and current methods of calculating housing need. Jennifer then outlined each of the three ‘pillars’ of the white paper: Pillar One – Planning for development; Pillar Two – Planning for beautiful and sustainable places; and Pillar Three – Planning for infrastructure and connected places. Finally, Jennifer outlined the likely impact of the paper’s proposals on Tower Hamlets, as:

·         Infrastructure Levy – a new national levy may impact on income raised compared with the current system

·         Engagement of residents and councillors – anticipate reduced opportunities for engagement at application stage

·         Cost of delivery – more costly to produce a local plan related to a reduced timescale to do so.

Further to questions from the sub committee, Jennifer:

·         Provided details of the council’s response to the initial consultation. It was agreed a copy of the council’s response would be sent to the members of the sub committee.

·         Provided details of work being done in advance/anticipation of the new requirements.

·         Explained that to date no resident engagement had been undertaken by the council on the white paper, but early engagement would be undertaken on preparation of any local plan.

Further to the presentation and questions, the sub committee:

Expressed concern that the proposals formed a ‘developers charter’: a permissive approach which would reduce involvement of local people and elected members and would allow inappropriate and over-development in the borough. The council should be vocal in its rejection of the proposed policies and join with the various groups opposing these proposals. 

There was no other business discussed.