Agenda and minutes

To approve as correct the minutes of the meeting held on 28/11/16.

The minutes of the Committee held on 28^th November 2016 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive any declarations of interest from Members of the Committee

There were no declarations of interest.

To receive any announcements from the Chairman of the Committee or the Chief Executive

There were no announcements.

Councillor Philip Circus, Cabinet Member for Housing and Public Protection

The Cabinet Member for Housing and Public Protection was invited to provide Members with their portfolio summary before answering questions raised by the Committee.

1.    Commuted Sums (approximately £11m) were accepted by HDC from developers in lieu of building Affordable Homes. It is suggested that the Homes Company, under consideration by the Council in partnership with a RSL, may use the bulk of the Commuted Sums as seed capital. In that event, will the majority of the dwellings built by the Council’s company be Affordable Homes and with exclusive nomination rights for HDC?

The Cabinet Member for Housing and Public Protection replied as follows:

We already support Housing Associations (RSL’s) with commuted sums payments to maximise delivery of affordable rented accommodation on sites. The intention is definitely for this to continue wherever possible.

Any affordable rented accommodation built by a housing company created by HDC will provide 100% nomination rights to those in housing need on Horsham’s housing register.

2.    Can the Council’s Housing Officers confirm that ex-members of HM Forces are given priority in accommodation allocation when seeking residence in Horsham District? Also, can they indicate how many such applicants have been identified in the past three years?

The Cabinet Member for Housing and Public Protection replied as follows:

We have signed up to the Armed Forces covenant, as such Armed Forces personnel in urgent housing need receive additional preference through the Housing Register and Nominations Policy.

These members of the Armed Forces need to be eligible, qualify and not be disqualified.

The following groups of Armed Forces personnel have an automatic qualification:

•           Be a former or serving member of the armed forces who needs to move because of a serious injury, medical condition or disability sustained as a result of their service or

•           Be a bereaved spouse or civil partner of a member of the armed forces leaving Services Family Accommodation following the death of their spouse or partner or

•           Be a serving or former member of the Reserve Forces who needs to move because of a serious injury, medical condition or disability sustained as a result of his/her service

•           Be a member of the Armed Forces or former service personnel that has been discharged in the previous five years.

3.    As RSLs are now obliged to build the bulk of new homes as Shared Ownership/Starter Homes how do our Housing Officers see their further options for nominated families for Affordable Homes?

The Cabinet Member for Housing and Public Protection replied as follows:

Housing Associations (RSL’s) are not currently required to build the bulk of new homes as shared ownership or starter homes.

The Horsham District Planning Framework (HDPF) currently requires 70/30 split of the 35% affordable in favour of affordable rented accommodation with the remainder being shared ownership.

This can be amended based on specific scheme viability but the starting point is always weighted towards affordable rented properties.

The Housing White Paper is due to be released 6th February 2017. This will provide  ...  view the full minutes text for item SO/46

To receive the response of the Cabinet Member for Planning and Development to the recommendations from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to alter the procedure in relation to how Members are involved in the s106 process. (Item 10a Cabinet Agenda 26/01/17).

The Committee received the reply from the Cabinet Member for Planning and Development to the recommendations from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to alter the procedure in relation to how Members are involved in the s106 process.

RESOLVED

That the reply from the Cabinet Member for Planning and Development to the recommendations made by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee was noted.

REASON

All replies from Council and Cabinet to recommendations of the Committee are to be received.

The Head of Finance provided Members with a summary of the 2017/18 Budget and the Medium Term Financial Strategy to 2020/21. Members noted that there the Budget is forecast to be balanced until 2020/21.

Members discussed the Capital Project budgets and associated figures.

Members concluded that no recommendations were to be made.

The Terms of Reference were approved by the Committee.

Members were in favour of the draft version of the new HDC Scrutiny Guide.

Members agreed that they should be informed of any amendments and updates made to the document going forward.

To appoint a Member of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to represent HDC on the WSCC Health and Adult Social Care Select Committee.

Members agreed to discuss who should be the representative outside of the meeting when all Members have access to their calendars and the schedule of the WSCC Health and Adult Social Care Select Committee.

a)    The Chairman of the Business Improvement Sub-Committee S106 Review Task and Finish Group presented the minutes of the last meeting.

b)    The Crime and Disorder Sub-Committee had not met since the last O&S Committee meeting.

c)    The Chairman of the Finance and Performance Sub-Committee has nothing to report.

d)    The Chairman of the Social Inclusion and Health Sub-Committee presented the minutes of the last SI&H meeting.

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee received a work programme suggestion from the Governance Project Manager. The Suggestion was for the Committee to undertake a Self-Evaluation between February and March 2017. The Committee agreed to the Self Evaluation as soon as possible.

Members asked agreed to look over the HDC Economic Strategy at the next meeting.

Members asked for an update on the air quality of Storrington to be provided at the next meeting.

Items not on the agenda which the Chairman of the meeting is of the opinion should be considered as urgent because of the special circumstances

There was no urgent business.