Agenda and draft minutes

No apologies for absence were submitted for the meeting.

No declarations of interests were made.

[For approval]

Resolved:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 12 November 2014 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

[To consider any matters arising from the minutes of the previous meeting]

There were no matters arising from the minutes of the previous meeting.

[To recommend proposed revisions to the scheme to Council for approval]

Cllr Andrew Johnson presented a report on the outcome of the comprehensive public consultation on proposed revisions to the local council tax reduction scheme. A positive level of support and agreement had been shown to the principles of the scheme during the consultations. It was therefore recommended that the proposed revisions to the scheme be referred to Full Council for adoption from 1st April 2015.

Resolved:

1.      That the consultation feedback and equalities analysis be received and noted.

2.    That the Local Council Tax Discretionary Discount Policy be approved.

3.    That Full Council be recommended to:

(a)       Note the feedback from consultation.

(b)       Note the equality analysis.

(c)       Approve a revision to the local council tax reduction scheme so that the basis on which support is calculated is revised from 88% to 78% of gross liability.

(d)       Approve that within the scheme, households with the following characteristics are protected and will continue to have their entitlement calculated on 88% of gross liability.

·           where the claimant or their partner is severely disabled

·           where there is a severely disabled child

·           a single person under 25 years of age without dependents

(e)       Approve that for 2015/16 and each subsequent year needs allowances, premiums and non-dependent deductions used to calculate entitlement are uprated using the percentages set by Government for the Prescribed Scheme.

(f)        Approve the revised scheme for adoption from 1 April 2015.

(g)       Authorise the Cabinet Member for Resources in consultation with the Managing Director, to make any consequential amendments to the Council’s Constitution.

[To approve further changes to the housing allocations policy and the nominations agreement]

Cllr Peter Bilson presented the report a minor change to the Housing Allocations Policy to deal with an issue of succession and changes to the Nominations Agreement to ensure they are up to date and fit for purpose. The report also contained a proposal to consult with tenants and ward councillors on a review of the age designation to council flats across the city to ensure that any age designation is legally compliant with the Equalities Act 2010.

Resolved:

1.    That further changes to the Housing Allocations Policy in response to local housing need, making best use of stock and best practice relating to the Welfare Reform Act and the Localism Act 2011 be approved.

2.    That the revised Nominations Agreement be approved.

3.    That the consultation strategy for reviewing the age designation for council flats across the city with Councillors and tenants be approved.

4.    That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration and Prosperity in consultation with the Strategic Director for Education and Enterprise to agree revisions to the existing age designations following a review of consultation on a block by block basis.

5.    That it be noted that consultation on further proposed amendments to the Housing Allocations Policy in relation to the age designation of council flats would commence and that further reports would be brought to Cabinet during 2015.

[To approve the draft plan as the basis of consultation and approve arrangements to proceed to Publication Stage subject  to no major changes arising from the consultations]

Cllr Peter Bilson outlines the salient points of a progress report on the City Centre Area Action Plan (AAP), and the essence of the draft plan.  Approval was requested for the AAP to proceed to draft plan consultation stage.  Subject to no major changes being suggested as a result of the consultations, approval was also sought for the AAP to proceed to Publication Stage.

Resolved:

1.    That the draft City Centre Area Action Plan be approved as the basis for public and stakeholder consultation.

2.    That subject to no major objections being received to the draft plan during the consultation, authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration and Prosperity, in consultation with the Strategic Director for Education and Enterprise, to approve the response to comments made to the draft plan and to approve the Publication Stage of the AAP.

3.    That a further report be received to consider the formal submission version of the AAP.

4.    That the progress made with the preparation of the City Centre Area Action Plan be noted.

[To pass the following resolution:

That in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business as they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information on the grounds shown below.]

Resolved:

That in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item(s) of business as they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information falling within the paragraphs of Schedule 12A of the Act set out below:

[To approve expenditure from the fund towards a conversion project in the All Saints area]

Cllr Peter Bilson presented the report on the current position within the Housing Capital Programme where funds were set aside for investment in the All Saints area as part of the All Saints and Blakenhall Community Development (ABCD) exit strategy.  He requested approval to utilise part of the fund for a scheme to convert an empty commercial unit at 25/27 Vicarage Road into residential property.

Resolved:

            That expenditure of £174,000 from the All Saints Legacy Fund in the Housing Capital Programme for the commercial conversion scheme at 25/27 Vicarage Road be approved.

[To receive an update on progress at Westside and approve the proposed strategy]

Cllr Peter Bilson presented the update report on progress at Westside following the outcome of the soft marketing testing of Westside 1 and 2 (along with Southside 3).  Cabinet approval was sought to the proposed delivery strategy for Westside.

Resolved:

1.    That the proposed delivery strategy and next steps for taking forward the Westside project be approved, in particular:

(a)      The early marketing of Westside 1 and 2 in advance of a development opportunity at Southside, and;

(b)       The appointment of professional advisors through the Homes and Communities Agency developer panel.

(c)       The strategy detailed for the closure of the indoor market and relocation to Market Square.

2.    That the progress on the delivery strategy for Westside since the last report to Cabinet on 26 March 2014 including progress on decanting Heantun House and the relocation of the Urban Traffic Control (UTC) and the indoor and outdoor markets be noted.

3.    That the summary of the soft market testing process and the outlined responses from the private sector to the development opportunities at Westside be noted.

[To receive an update on progress at Southside and to approve the proposed delivery strategy for Southside 3]

Cllr Peter Bilson presented an update report on progress at Southside.  Following the outcome of a soft market test on the release of Southside 3 (alongside Westside 1 and 2), as agreed by Cabinet on 26 March 2014, he sought approval to the proposed delivery strategy for Southside 3.

Resolved:

1.    That the proposed delivery strategy and next steps for taking forward the Southside project be approved, in particular:

(a)       The release of a development opportunity at Southside after the release of Westside 1 and 2.

(b)       The appointment of professional advisors through the Homes and Communities Agency developer panel.

(c)       The proposed demolition strategy, reprioritisation of previously approved capital provision, acceptance of the associated tenders and proposed interim uses.

2.    That the progress on the delivery strategy for Southside since the last report to Cabinet on 23 July 2014 be noted.

3.    That the summary of the Soft Market Testing process and the outlined responses from the private sector to the development opportunities at Southside be noted.