Councillors Rofique. U. Ahmed and A. Ullah declared a prejudicial interest in Agenda Item 6.4 “Housing Priority Areas 2008/10” shortly after commencement of Cabinet consideration of this item of business, and withdrew from the proceedings for the remainder of the consideration of this item of business, being 6.45pm.

Councillor Rofique. U. Ahmed declared a prejudicial interest in Agenda item 6.4 “Housing Priority Areas 2008/10”. The declaration of interest was made on the basis that the report contained recommendations relating to London Borough of Tower Hamlets leaseholders and Councillor Rofique U. Ahmed was an LBTH leaseholder.

Councillor A. Ullah declared a prejudicial interest in Agenda item 6.4 “Housing Priority Areas 2008/10”. The declaration of interest was made on the basis that the report contained recommendations relating to London Borough of Tower Hamlets leaseholders and Councillor A. Ullah was an LBTH leaseholder.

Resolved:

That the proposals set out in section 4 of the report (CAB 021/089) be agreed.

Action by:

INTERIM CORPORATE DIRECTOR DEVELOPMENT & RENEWAL

(P. EVANS)

Interim Service Head Housing Strategy & Development, Development & Renewal (J. Odunoye)

Interim Housing Strategy Manager (A. Cahill)

Councillors Rofique. U. Ahmed and A. Ullah re-entered the proceedings following the conclusion of the Cabinet deliberations in respect of this item, being 6.50pm.

Councillors Rofique. U. Ahmed and A. Ullah declared a prejudicial interest in Agenda Item 6.4 “Housing Priority Areas 2008/10” shortly after commencement of Cabinet consideration of this item of business, and withdrew from the proceedings for the remainder of the consideration of this item of business, being 6.45pm.

Councillor Rofique. U. Ahmed declared a prejudicial interest in Agenda item 6.4 “Housing Priority Areas 2008/10”. The declaration of interest was made on the basis that the report contained recommendations relating to London Borough of Tower Hamlets leaseholders and Councillor Rofique U. Ahmed was an LBTH leaseholder.

Councillor A. Ullah declared a prejudicial interest in Agenda item 6.4 “Housing Priority Areas 2008/10”. The declaration of interest was made on the basis that the report contained recommendations relating to London Borough of Tower Hamlets leaseholders and Councillor A. Ullah was an LBTH leaseholder.

Councillor Francis, Lead Member Housing and Development:

·                    Commented that members of the Cabinet would recall that at their last meeting, held on 2^nd July 2008, their deliberations had included discussion of ways in which to invest approximately £4 million, of the identified increase in Housing Revenue Account reserves, with a view to delivering transformational change on estates and emergency measures to alleviate the worst aspects of housing need in Tower Hamlets; and the report before them set out costed proposals as to how to do so.

·                    Highlighted the key points contained in the report as follows:-

o          Additional resources for initiatives to relieve overcrowding including:

¨    Targeted knock-throughs to proactively increase the supply of larger homes

¨    Increased incentivisation for under-occupying tenants to move to a smaller home, including increased cash incentive payments.

o          Additional resources for the Estate Improvement Programme encompassing an expansion of the block cleaning programme (a “deep clean”), painting of stairwells, lighting improvements, environmental works to play areas, improved paving and roads and improvements to bin stores and sheds.

o          Additional resources for estate/ block security improvements with Members suggestions welcomed as to how this might be prioritised.

o          Additional resources for improved horticultural maintenance, including revised performance monitoring arrangements to assess the capacity of the Authority’s contractor to deliver the intense programme of work envisaged, and termination of the contract if appropriate.

o          Additional resources for adaption of homes for the disabled and elderly, with consideration to be given to funding additional internal decoration for the elderly, the current policy being 2 rooms for those over 80 years of age.

o          A further rebate for Tower Hamlets leaseholders, in relation to the administration charge in 2007/8, in recognition that services delivered have not been of an appropriate standard nor delivered sufficient value for money.

·                    Concluded that the programme of housing initiatives set out in the report were short term and it was his intention to bring forward a longer term strategy with particular reference to the provision of social for rent homes in three months time.

Councillor O. Ahmed, Lead Member Regeneration, Localisation and Community Partnerships commented that the relief of overcrowding was one of the most serious issues facing the residents of the Borough, and considered the allocation of £1million for overcrowding reduction initiatives, proposed in the report, was insufficient to achieve a significant impact. Councillor Ahmed considered that an additional £500,000 should be earmarked for relief of overcrowding and the allocation for estate improvements reduced by a similar amount.

Councillor A. Ali, Lead Member Health and Wellbeing, concurred with the sentiment expressed by Councillor Ahmed, also considering overcrowding to be the most substantive issue requiring action in Tower Hamlets and that £2million of the available resources should be earmarked for the relief of overcrowding.

The Chair, thanked Councillor Francis for the excellent work undertaken in developing the proposals set out in the report, commenting that these comprised a short term programme of initiatives which would yield immediate improvements, reflected the Administration’s aspirations for investment in decent homes for the Borough’s residents, and was first in a series of initiatives that the Labour Administration would bring forward over the next two years demonstrating a commitment to investment of resources in the local community. The Chair also commented that a more ambitious long term strategy to mitigate overcrowding would be brought forward in the near future, although Members recognised that there was no immediate panacea.

Councillor Francis, Lead Member Housing and Development, responded that:

·                    He concurred with the sentiment expressed by Cabinet colleagues in relation to overcrowding and would press ahead with work aimed at its relief, with particular focus on targeted knock throughs.

·                    The report also gave a degree of flexibility within the available resources of approximately £4 million, but aimed to maximise investment achievable within the year, as it was key to achieve the spend and not set aside resources that could not be used in year.

·                    It was also important to note that the Authority was also submitting an additional bid to the Greater London Authority for Targeted Funding Streams capital resources to fund further knock-throughs and the activities proposed in the report were only intended to supplement this.

·                    He could give a commitment that an ambitious longer term housing strategy, which examined all options to alleviate overcrowding including further knock-through, additional resources for the Cash Incentive Scheme and other support to reduce under occupancy, would be brought forward in the early Autumn.

·                    The proposed focus of the programme of initiatives being considered should remain that of the Estate Improvement Programme which would yield immediate improvements.

The Chair Moved the recommendations as set out in the report and it was: -

Resolved:

That the proposals set out in section 4 of the report (CAB 021/089) be agreed.

Councillors Rofique. U. Ahmed and A. Ullah re-entered the proceedings following the conclusion of the Cabinet deliberations in respect of this item, being 6.50pm.