Agenda and minutes
PDF 90 KBVenue: Morecambe Town Hall
Contact: Liz Bateson, Democratic Services - telephone (01524) 582047 or email ebateson@lancaster.gov.uk
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Minutes To receive as a correct record the minutes of Cabinet held on Tuesday, 2 September 2014 (previously circulated). Minutes: The minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 2nd September 2014 were approved as a correct record.
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Items of Urgent Business Authorised by the Leader To consider any such items authorised by the Leader and to consider where in the agenda the item(s) are to be considered. Minutes:
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Declarations of Interest To receive declarations by Members of interests in respect of items on this Agenda. Members are reminded that, in accordance with the Localism Act 2011, they are required to declare any disclosable pecuniary interests which have not already been declared in the Council’s Register of Interests. (It is a criminal offence not to declare a disclosable pecuniary interest either in the Register or at the meeting). Whilst not a legal requirement, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 10 and in the interests of clarity and transparency, Members should declare any disclosable pecuniary interests which they have already declared in the Register, at this point in the meeting. In accordance with Part B Section 2 of the Code Of Conduct, Members are required to declare the existence and nature of any other interests as defined in paragraphs 8(1) or 9(2) of the Code of Conduct.
Minutes: No declarations were made at this point.
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Public Speaking To consider any such requests received in accordance with the approved procedure.
Minutes:
Members were advised that there had been 3 requests to speak at the meeting from members of the public in accordance with Cabinet’s agreed procedure, as set out in Cabinet Procedure Rule 2.7, with regard to Delivering New Council Housing in the District (Minute 45 refers).
Christine Bailey addressed Cabinet with specific regard to proposals for Honister Road, Lancaster. Tom Phillips and Julia Russell spoke regarding Charnley and Furness Street, Lancaster.
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Delivering New Council Housing in the District - update (Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Leytham)
Report of Chief Officer (Health & Housing) Minutes: (Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Leytham)
Cabinet received a report from the Chief Officer (Health & Housing) which provided an update on the progress being made to establish a council house building and acquisition programme, and sought Cabinet approval to move to a detailed appraisal of potential development sites.
The options, options analysis, including risk assessment and officer preferred option, were set out in the report as follows:
Approval of Council owned sites for Stage 2 appraisal
Acquisition of land for council housing
Establishing a “delivery team” – SmartBuild™
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Housing Allocation Policy (Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Leytham)
Report of Chief Officer (Health & Housing)
Additional documents: Minutes: (Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Leytham)
Cabinet received a report from the Chief Officer (Health & Housing) which sought approval to adopt a new Housing Allocation Policy.
The options, options analysis, including risk assessment and officer preferred option, were set out in the report as follows:
Option 1 as described above is the officer preferred option. The disadvantages associated with option 1 and the advantages for option 2 are minimal. By adopting the new Housing Allocation Policy the Council can ensure that social housing in the district is allocated in accordance with the latest guidance from the Department for Communities and Local Government. There are currently 797 applicants who are currently placed in Band E. Of these applicants 28% have no local connection to the Lancaster district, 35% are owner-occupiers without a high medical and/or support need, 36% are social housing tenants who are adequately housed (who can look for a move via our mutual exchange scheme) and 1% have sufficient financial resources to be able to rent or buy a home in the private sector. The majority of our low demand properties are sheltered housing flats and owner-occupiers and applicants with no local connection and/or sufficient financial resources will still be able to join the housing register and bid on these properties. Of the 797 applicants currently in Band E, 43% of them would be eligible to bid for sheltered housing flats.
Councillor Leytham proposed, seconded by Councillor Hanson:-
“That the recommendations, as set out in the report, be approved.”
Councillors then voted:-
Resolved unanimously: (1) That the new Housing Allocation Policy to reflect local priorities and meet statutory guidance, attached to the report, be approved. (2) That delegated authority be given to the Chief Officer (Resources) to update the Housing Revenue Account budgets.
Officers responsible for effecting the decision:
Chief Officer (Health & Housing) Chief Officer (Resources)
Reasons for making the decision:
The decision fits with the ensuring Council ethos, particularly with regard to social justice and stewardship and supports the ‘improving access to housing’ as part of the health and wellbeing priority.
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Empty Homes Strategy (Cabinet Members with Special Responsibility Councillors Hanson and Leytham)
Report of Chief Officer (Regeneration & Planning) Additional documents:
Minutes: (Cabinet Members with Special Responsibility Councillors Hanson and Leytham)
Cabinet received a report from the Chief Officer (Regeneration & Planning) which sought approval to formally adopt the Lancaster District Empty Homes Strategy 1 (July 2013 – 30 June 2015) and consider the options available to resource this area of work in the future.
The options, options analysis, including risk assessment and officer preferred option, were set out in the report as follows:
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Exclusion of the Press and Public This is to give further notice in accordance with Part 2, paragraph 5 (4) and 5 (5) of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012 of the intention to take the following item(s) in private.
Cabinet is recommended to pass the following recommendation in relation to the following item(s):-
“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, on the grounds that they could involve the possible disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of that Act.”
Members are reminded that, whilst the following item(s) have been marked as exempt, it is for Cabinet itself to decide whether or not to consider each of them in private or in public. In making the decision, Members should consider the relevant paragraph of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, and also whether the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information. In considering their discretion Members should also be mindful of the advice of Council Officers. Minutes: It was moved by Councillor Hamilton-Cox and seconded by Councillor Bryning:-
“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 of business, on the grounds that it could involve the possible disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of that Act.”
Members then voted as follows:-
Resolved unanimously:
(1) 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 of business, on the grounds that it could involve the possible disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of that Act.
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Land forming part of Lancaster Leisure Park, off Wyresdale Road, Lancaster
(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Hamilton-Cox)
Report of Chief Officer (Resources) Minutes: (Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Hamilton-Cox)
Cabinet received a revised report from the Chief Officer (Resources) to report back detailed terms for the completion of the sale and the lease renewal of land forming part of Lancaster Leisure Park for a final decision. The report was exempt from publication by virtue of Paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.
The options, options analysis, including risk assessment and officer preferred option, were set out in the revised exempt report.
Councillor Hamilton-Cox proposed, seconded by Councillor Leytham:-
“That the recommendation, as set out in the revised exempt report, be approved.”
Councillors then voted:-
Resolved unanimously: (1) That the land off Wyresdale Road, Lancaster, as shown hatched red on the plan attached to the exempt report, be disposed of on the terms and conditions as set out in section 2 of the exempt report. Officer responsible for effecting the decision:
Chief Officer (Resources)
Reasons for making the decision:
The Corporate Property Strategy requires that the Council review its asset base and only retain those assets required to meet its agreed objectives and priorities. Where assets are not required for this purpose they should be disposed of at best value. This is an opportunistic sale, allowing the Council to improve the management of its assets.
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