Agenda and minutes

To identify items which have been admitted to the agenda by the Chair for consideration.

(The special circumstances shall be specified in the minutes.)

There were no late items of business to consider, however the Chair agreed to accept the replacement of pages 13 to 18 of the agenda, which had been circulated in error with a document marked appendix a, Board’s terms of reference  (Agenda item 7) (Minute 5 refers).

To disclose or draw attention to any disclosable pecuniary interests for the purposes of Section 31 of the Localism Act 2011 and paragraphs 13-16 of the Members’ Code of Conduct.

There were no declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests.

To receive any apologies for absence and notification of substitutes.

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillor J Cummins and Councillor S Lay.  Councillor C Macniven was in attendance as a substitute Member for Councillor Cummins.

An apology was reported from Councillor B Atha that he would be late attending the meeting due to a prior engagement.

To confirm as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting held on 30^th April 2013.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 30^th April 2013 be confirmed as a correct record.

To receive a report from the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development presenting the Board’s terms of reference.

The report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development presented the terms of reference for the Scrutiny Board, which remained unchanged. 

In line with the Scrutiny Board’s role as critical friend to the Housing and Regeneration Partnership Board, the report also presented a summary of the Scrutiny Board’s observations and recommendations following its assessment of the Partnership Board in March 2013.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To receive a report from the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development on the appointment of co-opted Members to Scrutiny Boards.

The report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development sought the Board’s formal consideration for the appointment of Co-opted Members.

The Board was informed that they could appoint the following:

-  Up to five non-voting co-opted members for a term of office that does not go beyond the next Annual Meeting of Council; and/or

-  Up to two non-voting co-opted members for a term of office that relates to the duration of a particular and specific scrutiny inquiry.

In consideration of this report, the Board agreed to consider the appointment of co-opted members on an ad-hoc basis for any inquiries where it was deemed appropriate.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Deputy Chief Executive summarising the quarter 4 performance data relevant to the Scrutiny Board.

The report of the Deputy Chief Executive provided a summary of performance against the strategic priorities for the Council and city related to the Scrutiny Board (Housing and Regeneration).

The following officers were in attendance:

-  Paul Maney, Head of Strategic Planning Policy and Performance

-  Maggie Gjessing, Housing Investment Manager, City Development

-  Debra Scott, Head of Performance and Service Review

-  John Statham, Head of Housing Partnership, Environment and Neighbourhoods.

In consideration of this report, a number of issues were discussed which included:

·  Empty private and Council properties.

·  Council tax payments on empty properties.

·  Delivery of affordable housing where in respect of the Housing Association programmes the Council anticipates that delivery will be back loaded towards the end of the spending review period i.e. up to 2015 but still expect the properties to be delivered.

·  Housing supply and the range of activities that the City Development and Environment and Neighbourhoods Directorates were undertaking to maximise and accelerate housing growth.

·  Easel and the developer bringing forward a planning application at Spofforth Hill.  Reference was made to the discussions taking place around the possibility of taking the affordable homes contribution as a commuted sum in another part of the city and concern that ward Members had not been consulted on the proposals.

·  Confirmation that review of the membership and process of the Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) had been completed and that Councillors J Procter and C Campbell had been appointed to this body.  The Chair reported that developers had been given notice that they would now be required to submit detailed viability assessments for all brown field sites to the SHLAA which they considered to be economically unviable.

·  Clarification as to responsibility for the collection of housing data including house completions and its importance.  Reference was made to the fact that persistent under delivery of homes could result inmore land being zoned for housing  as the 5% buffer as detailed in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) guidance could be increased to 20% in certain circumstances.

·  Reference to the review being undertaken to ensure performance reports continue to be fit-for-purpose and the consequent suspension of the next quarter 1 performance report.  Members reiterated the fact that they wanted more meaningful data and which was not purely based on relevant priorities in the Council Business Plan and City Priority Plan.

RESOLVED – 

(a)  That the report be noted

(b)  That details of empty Council properties going through repairs prior to letting broken down by ALMO and those which are for sale or disposal be circulated to Members of the Board for information. 

(c)  That a joint report of the Director of City Development and Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods be submitted to the Board on the Council’s policies and approach to determining when an affordable homes contribution from a development is taken as a commuted sum in another part of the city and who is consulted on the proposal.

(d)  That the Director of City Development  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

To receive a report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development on potential sources of work for the Scrutiny Board.

The report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development provided information and guidance on potential sources of work and areas of priority within the Board’s terms of reference. 

Apologies for absence were reported from Councillor P Gruen, Executive Board Member, Neighbourhoods, Planning and Support Services and Neil Evans, Director Environment and Neighbourhoods.

The following officers were in attendance to share their views on potential areas of work for the Board this year:

-  Martin Farrington, Director City Development

-  Mr Paul Maney, Head of Strategic Planning Policy and Performance

-  John Statham, Head of Housing Partnership, Environment and Neighbourhoods.

The following issues were identified as areas for Scrutiny involvement this year:

·  Review the impact and policy implications for the city later in the year of the Government’s decision to allow home extensions of a specified size under permitted development for a three year period from May 2013.

·  Consider the Council’s policies and approach to determining when an affordable homes contribution from a development was taken as a commuted sum in another part of the city and who is consulted on the proposal.

·  Review the enforcement process for the removal of gypsies and travellers on illegal sites in the city to ensure it continues to be fit for purpose.

·  Receive regular updates on the implementation and operation of the new housing management arrangements agreed by the Executive Board in June 2013.

·  Consider how the self-financing Housing Revenue Account was being used to stimulate investment in Council housing and particularly affordable housing?

·  Consider and respond to the review by the Communities and Local Government’s Select Committee on empty properties to be published later this year.

·  Review how Section 106 agreements were constructed, formulated and implemented to ensure the process was fit for purpose.

·  Review the Council’s policy of not providing gas or electric cookers to its tenants from a health and inequality perspective.

·  Undertake site visits to developments which include the provision of affordable homes to review the quality and location of these within the site.

RESOLVED – That the report and issues identified be noted.

To consider a report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development on draft terms of reference for an inquiry on student accommodation in the city.

The Chair referred to the report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development on proposed draft terms of reference for an inquiry on student accommodation in the city which had been requested by the Scrutiny Board at its meeting on 30^th April 2013.

The Chair advised the Board that since this report had been circulated he had had discussions with the Executive Board Member, Neighbourhoods, Planning and Support Services on the proposed inquiry.  He reported that in order to avoid duplication of effort it was proposed that the working group established by the Executive Board Member reviewed the issues of student accommodation in the city.  It was further proposed that a number of Members of this Scrutiny Board be co-opted on to that working group to represent this Board’s views and concerns.

RESOLVED – That a number of Members from this Board be co-opted on to the working group to review student accommodation in the city.

To consider the Board’s work schedule for the forthcoming municipal year.

The report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development presented the draft work schedule for the forthcoming municipal year. 

RESOLVED – That the Board’s work schedule be updated to reflect the key issues discussed during today’s meeting and identified in minute nos. 7 and 8 above.

Tuesday, 30^th July 2013 at 10.00am (Pre-meeting for all Board Members at 9.30am)

Tuesday, 30th July 2013 at 10.00 a.m. (Pre-meeting for all Board Members at 9.30 a.m.)

(The meeting concluded at 12.00 noon).