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Agenda and minutes

Contact: Hannah Small  Email: hsmall@westminster.gov.uk

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Items
No. Item

1.

Membership

To note any changes to the Membership.

Minutes:

1.1       No changes were made to the membership of the committee.

2.

Declarations of Interest

To receive declarations by Members and Officers of the existence and nature of any pecuniary interests, or any other significant interest in matters on this agenda.

Minutes:

2.1       There were no declarations of interest made.

3.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 135 KB

To agree the minutes of the Committee’s meeting held on 14th October 2021.

Minutes:

3.1       RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 14 October 2021 would be approved as an accurate record of proceedings. 

4.

Update from the Cabinet Member for Communities and Regeneration pdf icon PDF 708 KB

To update the Committee on current and forthcoming issues in this portfolio.

Minutes:

4.1.      The Committee received an update from Acton, Cabinet Member for Communities and Regeneration, focusing on current and upcoming issues from the portfolio. The Committee discussed matters including:

4.2.      The Autumn nights in Westminster, The Committee queried the outcome of the restricted sale of firework for 5 November (Bonfire Night) and the number of young people involved in incidents during that period.  The Cabinet Member advised the committee that the reports were excellent and that it was one of the quietest autumns nights period on record, however there were some incidents in central London against the Police which involved fireworks.

4.3.      HMO Licensing, The Committee raised queries regarding the decision not to proceeded with the licensing of section 257 and instead focusing on section 254.  The Cabinet member advised that extensive consultation and research was undertaken before taking the decision where they discovered a large number of 254 HMO’s which are occupied by our most vulnerable residents and where 80% of the housing stock has a serious hazard which should be rectified with some urgency.

4.4.      Community Events – Black History Month, The Committee queried if there would be any additional events taken place throughout the year.  The Cabinet Member advised the Committee that there was a number of events planned with the new Director of Communities and the council would continue to celebrate the diversity of our communities across the year.

4.5.      Ebury Bridge Regeneration update, The Committee queried the smoothness of the handover from JF Hunt to Bouygues UK and the impacts of the changes on the local community.  The Cabinet Members advised the Committee that they were happy with the way that JF Hunt had interreacted with the community and they had been very supportive.  The Cabinet Member informed the committee that the council hope to have a similar relationship with Bouygues.

4.6.      Nuisance from vehicles update, The Committee sought clarification of the effectiveness of the acoustic cameras and the data to evidence the cameras effectiveness and enforcement.  The Cabinet Member advised he committee that the cameras are not in use, they are gathering data, but the PSPO has not been signed.  The Cabinet member confirmed that the enforcement had been effective, however, consequently there has been some displacement.

4.7.      Community Protection, The Committee sought clarification on the number of unsavoury businesses and candy stores with out-of-date stock penetrating Oxford Street.  The Cabinet Member advised the committee that enforcement actions against out-of-date products and there is a future operation Jade on Oxford Street which will target these types of businesses.

4.8.      The Committee also raised queries regarding drug dealing/taking and the council’s protocol on dealing with residents who see and report drug incidents. The Cabinet Member advised the committee that it is a Police matter, and the Police need residents to report incidents so that they can collect the data and allocate resources.

5.

Update from the Cabinet Member for Housing pdf icon PDF 722 KB

To update the Committee on current and forthcoming issues in this portfolio.

Minutes:

5.1.      The Committee received an update from David Harvey, Cabinet Member for Housing, focusing on current and upcoming issues from the portfolio. The Committee discussed matters including:

5.2.      Leverage Energy Efficiency Measures in Housing, The Committee sought clarification with regards to the cleaner and greener agenda on the outcome if the council were not awarded the £3m match funding grant for fabric first retrofit works.  The Cabinet Member advised the committee that he was fairly certain that the council would receive the funding.  He noted that if the council did not receive the grant that it did have some money for the works, it would also require some borrowing.

5.3.      The Committee queried PDHU and if there were any plans to reduce its use of gas and diesel.  The Cabinet Member advised the committee that there were a number of initiatives happening to ensure that PDHU is carbon neutral and a keen focus on keeping the cost to residents neutral.

5.4.      Anti-Social Behaviour updates, The Committee queried the number of incidents and how the approach was working.  The Cabinet Member advised the committee that it was using different court orders, more mediation and considering the types of tenancies that could be used to support in dealing with ASB matters. 

5.5.      The Committee raised queries regarding flooding and the impact that it has had on the councils housing stock.  The Cabinet Member advised the committee that there were a number of properties that have water ingress issues and that the council is planning a number of major works programmes between now and 2027 to resolve these problems.

5.6.      The Committee sought clarification with regards to the council’s housing CRM, system for reporting minor and major repairs and adaptations. The Cabinet Member advised that from his knowledge that system should be able to differentiate between the two issues and the major/urgent issue should be prioritised and be dealt with swiftly.

5.7.      The Committee queried Temporary Accommodation, seeking clarification in respect to the increase in homelessness applications and the council’s ability to provide accommodation for those people and whether it meant that those people would be given temporary accommodation outside of the borough.  The Cabinet Member advised the Committee that TA forms an orderly que based on how long the person has been waiting and the greatness of their needs.  The Cabinet Members advised that that the council works with other boroughs to find accommodation to ensure people are housed.

5.8.      The Committee queried how the housing repairs satisfaction survey stats were collated as the numbers were impressive, however did not match up with her case work. The Cabinet

5.9.      The Committee discussed Lisson Grove and the closure of Greenside Community Centre.  The Committee sought clarification of the Cabinet Member’s ability to reopen the Centre.  The Committee also queried the completion dates for the major works programme for Hallfield Estate window replacement.  The Cabinet Member advised that there had been a delay due to Covid, however these delays were now under control and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

6.

Capital Works Programme in relation to Housing - Report pdf icon PDF 923 KB

To receive a report on the management of the Capital Works Programme in relation to housing.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

6.1.      The Committee received a report from Councillor David Harvey (Cabinet Member for Housing) and Jim Paterson (Divisional Head of Housing Property) on management of the Capital Works Programme in relation to Housing. The Cabinet Member also introduced Jeff Tourmentin (Senior Construction Manager), Gavin Ridgewell (Senior Client Programme Manager) and Anthony Jones (Asset Investment Manager). The Committee discussed matters including:

 

6.2.      The arrangements where the council has agreed two preferred contractors and whether this still held value for the HRA and leaseholders.  The Committee also sought clarification in regard to the risk surrounding Axis.  Officers explained that all works under the contract are open book, which allows the council to review and ensure pricing is comparable with market costs, therefore was confident that the contracting arrangements were still delivering value for money.

 

6.3.      The Committee sought clarification on the timescale for the decarbonisation of PDHU.  Officers advised that this would be at least one year away as there is a large amount of investigation that needs to take place before the works can start.

 

6.4.      The Committee queries how the council support sustainability whilst decreasing the carbon footprint of the councils housing stock.  The Committee also queried the agility of the programme when faced with the complexity of Covid, the impact of Brexit on labour and increasing material costs.  With regards to sustainability officers discussed the roof and windows programmes in balance with the council’s future plans.  Officers also discussed the Construction Leadership Council and designing out future risks and using control measures.  Officers also discussed the recruitment and apprenticeship programmes for the construction industry.

 

6.5.      The Committee queried the Capital programme and Fire Safety delays and what was the current status given that the recommendations have been made regarding implementing the fire safety measure to the councils housing stock.  Officers advised that the programme has been reprioritised and there is a separate fire and safety committee.  Officers advised that there is a programme where work is prioritised and is on track.

 

6.6.      The Committee queried service charge and the communication with residents as to how and when the money is being spent. The Cabinet Member agreed that information could be made more clarity for residents, and this was something he was reviewing.

7.

Work Programme pdf icon PDF 261 KB

To consider a report on the Committee’s suggest work programme for the remainder of the municipal year 2021 – 2022.

Minutes:

7.1.      The Committee were advised that the next meeting of the Committee is scheduled for the 26 January 2022.

 

7.2.      The Committee discussed its work programme for the remainder of the municipal year.

 

7.3.      The Committee was informed that the main item for the next meeting would be the Allocation policy and Affordable housing.

 

7.4.      It was agreed by the Committee and Cabinet Members that Anti-Social Behaviour and Rough Sleeping would be heard in March 2022.

 

8.

Church Street - Sites A, B and C Call-in pdf icon PDF 744 KB

To review the Cabinet Member Decision on Church Street – Sites A, B and C after the decision was called in by three ward members. To note that, as some documents relating to this item concern matters under Section 100 (A) (4) and Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended), as per paragraph 3, the public and press will be excluded from the meeting for this item when discussing exempt documents because it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

8.1.      The Committee received a call-in for the Church Steet, Sites A, B and C Cabinet Member Decision which was called in by three ward members for review.  The Chairman advised that, in light of the information before the Committee, the report for Agenda call-in contained confidential appendices concerning matters under Section 100 (A) (4) and paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act (1972) (as amended).

 

8.2.      The Chairman to reminded members that any discussions of or questions relating to the confidential appendices should not take place in the public session; and Committee members should reserve questions relating to the exempt appendices until the private session.

 

8.3.      The Chairman advised that it was the Committees role to scrutinise the reasons for the decision and Committee members had the choice to either confirm the decision or to sent it back to the Cabinet Member for reconsideration. 

 

8.4.      Councillor Nobel presented the reasons for the call-in;

 

8.5.      Height and density – Councillor Nobel explained to the Committee that the scheme proposed buildings of up to 10 storeys along Church Street and up to 13 storeys (all plus barrel vaulting) behind. It was felt that the impact of this is to alter the character of the area almost completely and will have a serious impact on Church Street Market. Although there is a wind microclimate assessment this does not refer to the market at all.

 

8.6.      Councillor Nobel advised the Committee that Church Street was already the most densely populated ward in London, and the number of residents will increase (and therefore density alongside it) substantially as large schemes are constructed. He noted that the population density in the ward receives barely a mention in any of the documents accompanying the cabinet member report. There is ample evidence of increased population density having negative effectives on metrics such as physical and mental health and happiness but also on issues such as crime.

 

8.7.      Church Street is also one of the most deprived wards and therefore the impact will be more keenly felt. Councillor Nobel asked:

           What assessment was carried out of the consequences of further increase in population density in Church Street Ward?

           At any point was consideration given to applying for Mayor of London funding, which would have allowed delivery of more affordable homes without the need for as many private market homes?

 

8.8.      Environmental Impact – Councillor Nobel advised the Committee that the Cabinet Member Report states that the City for All agenda is being enabled by being ‘Cleaner and Greener’, however demolition of 5 entire blocks as well as a number of street properties followed by the construction phase will create significant carbon emissions which are not acknowledged in the EIA or HIA reports. He noted that the HIA states that there will be a shortfall in achieving zero carbon emissions which will have to be met through a cash-in-lieu contribution (one assumes WCC paying WCC).

 

8.9.      Community space inc library –  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.