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AGAIN LABOUR COUNCILLORS BREAK RANK AND CHALLENGE CLLR STEVE CURRAN AND CABINET. This is the third time in three months – unprecedented since her took over.Two groups of councillors have called in Cabinet decisions to be examined by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.The first call-in – next Wednesday – is supported by the 12 councillors below, with the lead being Cllr Unsa Chaudri. It concerns the Cabinet's decision to purchase affordable homes in developments in Brentford, Hounslow High Street and Feltham, at a cost of £82m.The second call-in – to be heard one week later – concerns the Cabinet's decision regarding Council Tax Support. It is led by Cllr Theo Dennison and proposes consultation on cuts of up to £7.8m in support for the Borough's poorest households. Fuller details of this call-in are not yet available.These follow one last November regarding traffic changes – when Cllr Richard Eason called for the resignations of two Cabinet members, Cllr Katherine Dunne and Hanif Khan.Details of next Wednesday's call-in became available today and are as follows:What Decision is to be Called-In: Council Housing Building Programme Update “ ...approved the following purchase schemes to be included within the approved Council Housing Building Programme:1. 50 homes from Network Homes in Fern Grove, Feltham.2. 55 homes from Barratt Homes at High Street Quarter, Hounslow.3. 164 homes from Berkeley Homes/St Edwards at the Homebase site in Syon, Brentford.”Whose Decision is being called in: Affordable Housing Committee (Councillor Steve Curran –Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Corporate Strategy, Planning and Regeneration)Reason(s) for Call-In (Continue on a separate sheet if required):1 Inadequate consultation with stakeholders prior to the decision;· This item did not appear on the Forward Plan for a clear 28 days.· There has been no consultation with ward councillors in respect of majorproposals likely to impact the immediate area.· The Ward location of one site was incorrectly stated.· The status of at least one of these sites is otherwise described in the LocalPlan and consultation does not appear to have been considered to begin to resolve this.2 Inadequate evidence on which to base a decision;· The report contains assumptions of outcomes from a yet to be decided planning application.· The decision allows for procurement, agreeing terms, associated costs, without detailing or showing these costs.· The report does not refer to any agreement for future costs and charges to the authority or potential tenants should the report be agreed.3 Contrary to the budget or policy framework;· This decision does not adequately explain the financial implications of these proposed purchases.· There is insufficient shared Background Information to explain processes, unit costs, specifications and the appropriateness of the mix of purchase being sought.A key decision but not treated as such;With an estimated cost c.£81.9m plus transaction costs and ongoing revenue costs this must a key decisionInsufficient consideration of legal and financial adviceThe report contains no information on future financial implications (revenue costs) of purchasing leasehold properties within a larger development There is no evidence of any legal advice on the implications of making this decision prior to the authority making a decision on Planning Permission

Vanessa Smith ● 1163d5 Comments

Is it possible other members are beginning to question the autocrratic style of the Leader?Agenda itemCouncil Housing Building Programme UpdateMeeting of Affordable Housing Committee, Tuesday, 5 January 2021 6:30 pm (Item 18.)Report by Councillor Steve Curran, Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Corporate Strategy, Planning and Regeneration. Minutes:Please see the report by Councillor Steve Curran,Leader of the Council andCabinet Member for Corporate Strategy, Planning and Regeneration (agenda item 2) Andrew Smith, Assistant Director Housing, Development & Supply, presented the report and gave an overview of the key points to consider. He advised that three of the four development schemes had been submitted for planning determination, the exception being Clements Court which was due to be submitted later in January. Mr Smith stated that there was a typographical error in paragraph 16 (page 21) of the report, reading “start on sites commencing summer 2024.” This should read “summer 2021.” Following questions from Committee members, Mr Smith also advised that the recommendations on appropriating the land for planning purposes was required to amend legal interests in the land to a right to compensation. The Heathrow flight path touched one edge of the site at Clements Court but did not prevent building on the site. The Council owned car park at Orchard Road would have to be closed before development commenced. Members expressed approval of the carbon neutral scheme and asked why this was not always possible. Mr Smith advised that it was relatively easy for small developments of houses but much less so for larger developments and/or blocks of flats. The 94% targeted on the remaining schemes was extremely good, however with improved technology he had no doubt this could be bettered. Cllr Lily Bath was very positive about training for tenants to make the most of low carbon development and Mr Smith stated that it was vital that the right level of engagement with prospective tenants was achieved to ensure that the tenants get the best out of the energy efficiencies within their home, which was the aim of the training. Cllr Steve Curran asked for homes provided by the Council to be called “council housing” rather than being lumped together with other forms of social housing as Hounslow were among London’s top builders of council homes, which he believed was a matter of great pride for the authority that should be publicised. Peter Matthew agreed, while stressing the need to be careful that the term was only used correctly, for council provided social housing. Members considered the report and all the issues contained therein and the recommendations were agreed unanimously. Resolved: Regarding the following schemes within the approved Council Housing Building Programme: That the Affordable Housing Committee: 1.    approved the demolition and redevelopment of Everglades, Hounslow to create 33 new homes at a total scheme cost detailed in confidential Appendix 1; 2.    approved the closure of the public car park at the corner of Windmill Road/Orchard Road, Brentford to deliver a fully Zero Carbon scheme. This scheme will create 5 family houses at a total cost detailed in confidential Appendix 1; 3.    approved the development of 74 homes at Clements Court, Hounslow for a total scheme cost detailed in confidential Appendix 1; 4.    approved the demolition and redevelopment of 57-66 and 67-73 Rose Gardens, and garage court between 9-16 and 17-28 Rose Gardens, Feltham to create 42 new homes at a total scheme cost detailed in confidential Appendix 1; 5.    authorised the Executive Director of Housing Planning and Communities in consultation with the Lead Member for Corporate Strategy, Planning and Regeneration, to appropriate the garage/parking areas within schemes 1-4 above for planning purposes, once planning permission has been determined, for development. The purposes of each appropriation, made pursuant to Section 122 Local Government Act 1972 and Section 19 Housing Act 1985, is to engage Section 203 Housing and Planning Act 2016, which converts any private third-party rights (other than rights belonging to public utilities or rights of a public nature), which might otherwise impede redevelopment, into a right to compensation; 6.    granted delegated authority to the Executive Director of Housing, Planning and Communities, in consultation with the Lead Member for Corporate Strategy, Planning and Regeneration, to undertake the necessary legal processes to deliver the proposals; to finalise the terms of the works contracts; extend current consultant appointments if required, to progress the planning, tendering and construction phases in accordance with the Council’s contract standing orders; 7.    granted delegated authority to the Executive Director of Environment, Culture and Customer Services, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Transport and One Hounslow, to initiate and take all legal steps required to close the Windmill Road/Orchard Road car park; 8.    granted delegated authority to the Executive Director of Environment, Culture and Customer Services to initiate such legal steps as may be required to extinguish or divert any highway or other public rights which might otherwise impede development in accordance with the Council’s own constitution and other statutory requirement. Transfer of Council Small Sites Regarding the transfer of small sites the Affordable Housing Committee: 9.    approved the transfer of ownership of 15 small sites listed in Appendix 2 – Small Sites Programme from the Council to various Registered Providers. The transfer of the sites will be on the condition that the Registered Provider will develop the sites for 100% social housing, which will be available to the Council to help meet housing needs in perpetuity; 10.granted delegated authority to the Executive Director of Housing, Planning and Communities, in consultation with the Lead Member for Corporate Strategy, Planning and Regeneration, to agree the final terms and conditions of each small sites transfer. Action: Housing provided by the Council for Council social rent to be accurately called Council Housing. Correction: The start date for work is summer 2021, not 2024 as stated in the report.Supporting documents:AHC Council Housing Build Programme Update 5th Jan 20 final, item 18. pdf icon PDF 341 KBRestricted enclosure View the reasons why document 18./2 is restrictedAHC Council Housing Build Programme Update Jan 2021 Appendicies 2 to 6, item 18. pdf icon PDF 5 MB Legal NoticesHow to use this websiteFeedbackSite PerformanceAccessibility© Copyright London Borough of Hounslow 2008

Vanessa Smith ● 1162d