Agenda item
PRE-DECISION SCRUTINY OF UNRESTRICTED CABINET PAPERS
- Meeting of Overview & Scrutiny Committee, Wednesday, 26th October, 2016 6.00 p.m. (Item 10.)
- View the background to item 10.
To consider and agree pre-decision scrutiny questions/comments to be presented to Cabinet.
Minutes:
Item 5.3 Housing Strategy 2016-2021
The Chair thanked Martin Ling who was in attendance to discuss the Housing Strategy with particular reference to the strengthening of the relationship with Registered Social Landlords, the impact of welfare reform. There was also a discussion on how to improve ‘intermediate offer’ options for residents who did not qualify for social housing but who could not afford market rents
A summary of the questions and comments from Members is outlined as followed:
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Comment: |
There needs to be development of inclusive models for regeneration across both Council and ex Council estates, building on the lessons learnt from the regeneration of the Ocean Estate and Blackwall Reach |
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Comment: |
The reduction of the benefit cap has impacted especially hard on households living in particularly high cost areas such as Tower Hamlets. Therefore, what is being done to mitigate this? |
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Response: |
Effectively addressing the impact in the reduction of the benefit cap goes beyond addressing immediate issue and requires a sustained commitment to help these households get out from under the cap e.g. provision of appropriate support to get them into employment through the raising of skills levels. |
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Comment: |
What is the current position on succession rights? |
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Response: |
There will be a report coming to the Committee on succession rights. |
Item 5.5 Our Borough, Our Plan: A New Local Plan Consultation Document
The Chair welcomed Councillor Rachel Blake who had come to the meeting to talk about the consultation on the new Local Plan, looking at the 15 year vision on how to deliver for the community and local economy. It was noted that there was a particular role to place for local ward councillors particularly around issues such as town centres and local infrastructure.
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Question: |
Will there be programme of digital engagement as part of the consultation and what structures are in place to allow comments to be fed into the process? |
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Comment: |
The infrastructure (e.g. schools; transport and health centres) needs to be able to meet the growing community. |
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Response:
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There will be programme of digital engagement as part of the consultation and there will be an opportunity for both the community and council committees to submit comments. |
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Comment: |
Need to ensure the provision suitable green space and to maintain and develop social housing. |
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Response: |
Discussions are taking place on the provision of affordable homes to meet the needs of the communities that we seek to serve e.g. Family homes being a priority. |
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Comment: |
The consultation process needs to be able to reach out to local communities; partner agencies and relevant stake holder groups. Consideration also needs to be given to ensure that the services being developed are accessible to all; meet the needs and aspirations of all our residents; utilising must be made of the findings of the Somali Task Group; use must be made of councillors local knowledge so as to extend the councils reach into those hard to hear groups and the Plan needs to be made available in community languages |
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Response: |
Work is being undertaken to look at how data collection is managed and imaginative ways developed to reach out to all groups within Tower Hamlets. |
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Comment: |
What will the Local Plan do to provide local people the opportunity for employment with the major companies based in Tower Hamlets. |
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Response: |
Work is being undertaken to ensure local people will have the required skill sets to secure employment with these employers. |