Agenda and minutes
Venue: MP702 - Town Hall, Mulberry Place, 5 Clove Crescent, London, E14 2BG. View directions
Contact: The Committee Services Officer Tel: 020 7364 5554 E-mail: rushena.miah@towerhamlets.gov.uk
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DECLARATIONS OF DISCLOSABLE PECUNIARY INTERESTS To note any declarations of interest made by Members, including those restricting Members from voting on the questions detailed in Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act, 1992. See attached note from the Monitoring Officer.
Minutes: Councillor John Pierce declared that he is a Board Member of Tower Hamlets Homes and East End Homes.
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MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING Minutes: There was one amendment in reference to page 12 of the agenda pack. It was clarified that it was Sandra Fawcett, not Anne Ambrose, who Chaired an ASB sub-group in the borough.
The minutes of the meeting held on 13 November 2017 were approved and signed by the Chair further to the amendment being made.
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REPORTS FOR CONSIDERATION: Minutes: It was noted that the order of business would be changed as follows: 1. The London Plan 2. Homeless Scrutiny Review Action Plan 3. Spotlight Session from the Lead Member for Strategic Development and Waste.
However for convenience the minutes will follow the order as published on the agenda. |
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SPOTLIGHT SESSION: CABINET MEMBER FOR STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT AND WASTE The Committee will hear a presentation on this topic at the meeting. Minutes: The Committee heard a presentation from Councillor Rachel Blake, Lead Member for Strategic Development and Waste, on housing development and housing delivery vehicles. Councillor Blake began the presentation by listing key housing achievements 2017/18. These included:
· 148 new council homes delivered at Watts Grove and let at social rents and Tower Hamlets Living Rents · Facilitated delivery of 3,326 affordable homes since April 2014 6,879 market (private) units completed since April 2014. · New Build contract let for 5 infill sites. · 132 homes purchased, 83 Poplar HARCA and 49 Council, using £13.8m spend of Right to Buy Receipts (RTB) · Implementation of Affordability Commission recommendations, including new Rent Policy May 2017, introducing Tower Hamlets Living Rent aimed at households on median incomes · 150 resident sign ups on new Self Build & Custom Build register, forum established · New housing vehicles launched including Mulberry Housing Society and Seahorse Homes.
Councillor Blake then moved on to explain some of the risks:
· Financial restrictions – HRA borrowing cap, RTB receipts (30% cap and 3 year deadline) · Brexit and ensuing challenges · Reduced CIL & S106 income for infrastructure and sustainability of residential developments · Availability of land and supporting funds · The affordability of shared ownership schemes
The presentation concluded to state what could be done to mitigate the risks. This included:
· Positive planning – masterplan/development frameworks for growth areas · Infrastructure provision to un-lock difficult sites · Fast tracking schemes that meet the 35% affordable homes policy requirement. · Implementing recommendations of the Fire Safety Scrutiny Review.
Questions from Members:
Members asked if there was an update on the Isle of Dogs and Poplar opportunity Framework. Councillor Blake explained to the Committee that this was a Greater London Authority policy to coordinate the planning and coordination of development on the island. It was noted that it was the first time that such a policy was being applied to a residential space.
When questioned whether the one thousand affordable homes would be delivered via a big scheme, Mark Baigent, Interim Head of Strategy, Sustainability and Housing Options, confirmed that the Council would be welcoming both large and small schemes. Councillor Blake said that the Council had drafted a programme of development so a number of sites have already been identified for development.
It was confirmed that Tower Hamlets Homes would be expected to manage new build affordable properties.
Members highlighted the importance of sufficient and innovative waste management as there had been issues reported in the borough about the difficulty of waste vehicles gaining access to new build properties.
Councillor Blake said that she was aware of the issue and would be eager to return to the Committee to discuss waste management at a later date.
Councillor John Pierce queried who was on the Mulberry Housing Society Board. It was confirmed that the membership of the board consisted of Ken Jones, who has had housing experience from Waltham Forest Council, Sayed Uddin from Deloitte, Ann Sutcliffe from Tower Hamlets Homes and Mark Baigent from Tower Hamlets Council.
The Committee requested to see a trajectory of ... view the full minutes text for item 4. |
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QUARTER 3 PERFORMANCE DATA FOR KEY RESIDENT PROVIDERS The Committee will hear a presentation on this topic at the meeting. Minutes: It was noted that the quarter three performance data would be emailed to Members after the meeting. It was requested that any questions arising from the report should be emailed to Elizabeth Bailey, Senior Strategic Policy Officer, who will collate the responses and share with the Committee.
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THE LONDON PLAN The Committee will hear a presentation on this topic at the meeting. Minutes: The Committee heard a presentation from Ellie Kuper Thomas, Planning Officer, on the new London Plan. The Greater London Authority’s London Plan is being consulted upon until March 2018 for implementation and adoption in 2019. The Tower Hamlets Local Plan will be adopted in autumn 2018.
Ms Thomas explained that the key issues in the London Plan were: · Ensuring good growth that is both sustainable and inclusive · Re-balancing housing delivery · Determining a policy on small site delivery · Determining a policy on the green belt
The London Plan – themes included: 1. Planning London’s Future – target to make 80% of journeys sustainable. 2. Spatial Development Patterns – identifying strategic areas of regeneration. 3. Design – managing the impact of tall buildings and introducing tall building zones. 4. Fire safety. 5. Social Infrastructure – more public toilets 6. Economy – 400m hot food takeaway restriction zone to schools. 7. Pub protection policy, new emphasis in heritage policy 8. Green Infrastructure – new urban green factoring score to be introduced 9. Sustainable Infrastructure – air quality policy and circular economy of recycle and reuse. 10.Transport – target of 80% of all journeys to be made by public transport, bicycle or foot by 2041.
With regard to housing, the London target is to build 660,000 new homes, 65% of which should be affordable. Therefore the new Tower Hamlets housing target has reduced 3,931 to build 3,511 new homes a year.
Ms Thomas explained that eighteen new policies on housing were to be introduced. These included: · Increasing housing supply · Presumption in favour of small site development where no design code is present. · Identifying ‘meanwhile’ use of sites for housing · Increasing affordable housing target to 50% · Threshold approach to applications · Affordable housing tenure · Redevelopment of existing housing and estate regeneration · Ensuring best use of stock – to target voids and holiday let issues · Housing size mix - determining suitable housing unit mix but not setting prescriptive dwelling size mix requirements for market and intermediate homes. · Supporting build to rent and reducing affordable housing targets on such developments. · Widening the definition of gypsy traveller · Student Accommodation – increasing the target to 35% of affordable student accommodation. · Introducing purpose built shared living
Questions and comments from Members
Some Members expressed concern that the increase in development projects would impact urban density, narrow streets, increase pollution levels, impact access to community services such as GP surgeries and negatively impact community cohesion. She elaborated by saying that some of the newer developments seemed to be purposefully segregating its residents from the wider community by restricting the use of the new building’s gyms and swimming pools to residents only.
They also queried why Tower Hamlets was seeing more development compared to outer London. Ms Thomas explained that it was due to a mixture of east London being a popular location and because there were a large number of feasible sites identified for development.
When asked if the Council knew where the 3511 new homes would be built, it was ... view the full minutes text for item 6. |
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HOMELESS SCRUTINY REVIEW ACTION PLAN Additional documents: Minutes: The Committee heard a presentation from Rafiqul Hoque, Service Manager Housing Options and Seema Chote, Housing Options Manager, on the Homeless Scrutiny Review Action Plan.
Key points from the presentation included: · A working group within Housing Options has been formed to implement the Housing Reduction Act 2018, which will come into force from April 2018. · Preventing homelessness has become a statute in law. · A personalised housing plan will be created for people in risk of homelessness. A fresh approach will be required to support people in sustaining their tenancy or to provide secure accommodation. · Staff will be required to do a homelessness assessment and a face to face interview with homeless people. · Housing Options will be delivering to staff motivational interview training. · Greater working with the voluntary sector to provide frontline services, information on benefits and finding employment. · There will be a greater emphasis in recording feedback on what is working and what could be improved.
Questions and comments from Members.
Members asked for clarification on recommendation 9, page 21 of the pack, because it seemed to contradict itself. It stated that those in rent arrears would be considered intentionally homeless but then went on to say that those tenants who signed a tenancy unaware it was unaffordable would not be considered intentionally homeless.
Mr Hoque said that if a tenancy was approved after the Council had done an assessment and it was later discovered the tenant could no longer afford to live in the property, they would not be deemed intentionally homeless as the fault would lie with the Council in not assessing them properly. He went on to say the Council had a duty to support anyone in danger of becoming homeless whether that is to provide advice on money, benefits or issues with their landlord.
A Member raised a concern saying that in their ward they had seen previously decanted buildings being used for temporary accommodation for homeless families. Mr Hoque assured Members that there are quality checks performed on the suitability of the accommodation and some funding available to bring the accommodation up to standard.
Officers confirmed that the Housing Reduction Act is planned to come into force from April 2018 and that the Government will be providing local authorities with transitional money to facilitate implementation.
ACTION: for the Committee to receive an update on the Homeless Reduction Act and Action Plan six months after implementation. Elizabeth Bailey, Senior Strategy Policy and Performance Officer, to add to the Forward Plan.
Members wished to know what role the Council would play in conflicts between tenants and private landlords. Officers said that the Council has a duty to mediate with both the landlord and tenant to come to a resolution.
With regard to street homelessness, Officers confirmed that the new Act requires the team to provide rough sleepers with a personalised housing plan. They said the borough may see an increase in rough sleepers who wish to access the service. In order to facilitate greater access, the ... view the full minutes text for item 7. |
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ANY OTHER BUSINESS Minutes: Ann Ambrose, Tenant Representative, requested the Committee review the Committee’s actions list at a future meeting.
ACTION: Elizabeth Bailey, Senior Strategy Policy and Performance Officer, to add review actions log to the Forward Plan.
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