Resolved

1.           That the contractually committed schemes that have been let and have commitments in 2010-11 and 2011-12, as set out in paragraph 7.2 of the report (CAB 030/101) and Appendix A to the report, be noted;

2.           That the capital estimates for those schemes set out in Appendix B to the report (CAB 030/101) be adopted and authority delegated to the Corporate Director, Development and Renewal, after consultation with the Lead Member – Housing, Heritage and Planning, to progress, subject to clarification on the funding for 2011-12 and resources being made available, as set out in paragraphs 7.4 and 7.5 to the report;

3.           That a capital estimate of £500,000 be adopted within the 2010 -11 capital programme to establish a contingency provision for urgent works, as set out in paragraph 7.6 of the report (CAB 030/101);

4.           That capital estimates of up to £2,000,000, as outlined in Appendix D of the report (CAB 030/101) be adopted, to allow the commencement of the Decent Homes programme to be funded under the Accelerated Delivery of Key Priorities as agreed by Cabinet on 4 November 2009, as set out in paragraph 8.1 of the report;

5.           That a capital estimate of £100,000 to incorporate additional Aids and Adaptations funding into the Housing Investment Programme be adopted, noting that these resources were also approved under the Accelerated Delivery of Key Priorities as agreed by Cabinet on 4 November 2009, as set out in paragraph 8.2 of the report (CAB 030/101); and

6.                  That the capital receipt of £800,000 from the sale of 9 ex-short life properties to Network Housing Association be used to part fund the Network scheme at 14-20 Alie Street, as outlined in Section 9 of the report (CAB 030/101).

Action by:

CORPORATE DIRECTOR DEVELOPMENT AND RENEWAL (A. DALVI)

Service Head - Strategy, Innovation & Sustainability, Development and Renewal (J. Odunoye)

Finance Manager, Development & Renewal (P. Leeson),

Councillor Francis, Lead Member Housing Heritage and Planning, at the request of the Chair, in introducing the report summarised the key points contained therein, highlighting in particular:

·                    The Housing Investment Programme (HIP) had been very successful in 2009/10, and a great deal of work was underway on schemes within this capital programme, which had been previously agreed by Cabinet.

·                    The 2010/11 HIP had been submitted to and agreed by Cabinet early (March 2010), to minimise delay in starting work on agreed schemes at the start of that financial year, and it had been intended that an updated programme would be submitted to Cabinet in Summer 2010. This report, and to some extent schemes within the HIP, had been delayed due to the uncertainty around the level of resources available to Tower Hamlets, as a consequence of cuts in public expenditure imposed feom the Coalition Government. There was now more certainty around the resources available for the HIP in 2011/12 and the associated impact on 2010/11.

·                    Remaining Council owned housing stock required a huge level of investment to achieve the Decent Homes standard for example carrying out works to install new kitchens and bathrooms.  The Council had submitted a resource bid to Government for £120 million, to which the previous Labour Government had given a commitment, but the Coalition Government position was very uncertain. Other works to communal areas: new lifts, door entry systems, new windows and roofs, had been planned in an ambitious programme for 2010/11. The Council still hoped to bring forward priority schemes which could be undertaken without compromising its financial position and the report proposed that £2 million be allocated for the extension of the Decent Homes Pilot scheme for this purpose. Decent Homes work would be rolled out on estates from 2011 onwards where resources were available, but it was clear that the mainstream programme would not commence in April 2011.

Mr Holme, Service Head Resources, Development and Renewal subsequently addressed the matters raised by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, held on 7^th September 2010, in relation to the report; as set out in the tabled sheet of questions and comments presented by the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee earlier in the proceedings.

A discussion followed, during which the proposals in the report were broadly welcomed, and which focused on the following points:-

·                    Clarification/ assurance was sought and given in relation to schemes in Bow West Ward, in particular the Malmesbury Estate, which had been in the 2010/11 HIP Programme but were not in the prioritised programme; and the process for informing residents that the schemes would be brought forward as funding became available. Following Cabinet agreement of the proposals in the report and the outcome of the Coalition Government Comprehensive Spending Review in October 2010 residents would be informed of the position regarding relevant schemes. Should resources be available the schemes would be prioritised, as there was no intention to renege on commitments.

·                    Welcomed the proposals relating to properties in Ropery Street detailed in the report, commenting that the derelict properties were an eyesore/ nuisance which had ruined quality of life for residents in the vicinity; and consequently had generated detailed Member correspondence with the Lead Member Housing Heritage and Planning. Residents hopes had been dashed previously because the timescale for addressing the issue had not been achieved. Clarification/ assurance was therefore sought regarding the timeline for delivery of the proposed scheme for Ropery Street. Councillor Francis responded that he was aware of the distress to local residents arising from the derelict properties, and it was right for Members to seek assurances on their behalf. He had strongly advocated the scheme because of this distress and would like it progressed expeditiously as it would generate resources that were to be utilised for another scheme in Alie Street. He undertook to respond to Councillor Saunders in writing with regard to the exact timeline.

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

Resolved

1.           That the contractually committed schemes that have been let and have commitments in 2010-11 and 2011-12, as set out in paragraph 7.2 of the report (CAB 030/101) and Appendix A to the report, be noted;

2.           That the capital estimates for those schemes set out in Appendix B to the report (CAB 030/101) be adopted and authority delegated to the Corporate Director, Development and Renewal, after consultation with the Lead Member – Housing, Heritage and Planning, to progress, subject to clarification on the funding for 2011-12 and resources being made available, as set out in paragraphs 7.4 and 7.5 to the report;

3.           That a capital estimate of £500,000 be adopted within the 2010 -11 capital programme to establish a contingency provision for urgent works, as set out in paragraph 7.6 of the report (CAB 030/101);

4.           That capital estimates of up to £2,000,000, as outlined in Appendix D of the report (CAB 030/101) be adopted, to allow the commencement of the Decent Homes programme to be funded under the Accelerated Delivery of Key Priorities as agreed by Cabinet on 4 November 2009, as set out in paragraph 8.1 of the report;

5.           That a capital estimate of £100,000 to incorporate additional Aids and Adaptations funding into the Housing Investment Programme be adopted, noting that these resources were also approved under the Accelerated Delivery of Key Priorities as agreed by Cabinet on 4 November 2009, as set out in paragraph 8.2 of the report (CAB 030/101); and

6.                  That the capital receipt of £800,000 from the sale of 9 ex-short life properties to Network Housing Association be used to part fund the Network scheme at 14-20 Alie Street, as outlined in Section 9 of the report (CAB 030/101).