Agenda and minutes

Minutes of the Meeting held on 10^th February 2021 (previously circulated). 

The Minutes of the meeting held on 10^th February, 2021 were agreed as a correct record.

The Minutes would be signed in due course.

There were no items of urgent business.

To receive declarations by Councillors of interests in respect of items on this Agenda. 

Councillors 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 9 and in the interests of clarity and transparency, Councillors 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, Councillors 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. 

Councillor David Whitaker declared in an interest in respect of Minute 31 as a member of Acorn.

Cabinet Members with Responsibility for Housing :

·       Council Housing

·       Homelessness

·       Private sector housing

·       Social Housing

·       Caravan sites

·       Traveller sites

·       Refugee housing

·       Household support & resilience

Councillor Jackson has been invited to attend the meeting.

The Chair welcomed Councillor Caroline Jackson, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Housing to the meeting.

An update was provided for the Committee on the newly established LATCo for Housing. The details of the LATCo were now to be worked through such as contracts for Council services - Legal, Human Resources and Housing which the LATCo would pay for providing.  There was also the need for training for the new Shareholder Committee and Directors of the LATCo.

The Committee went on to discuss other areas of the Housing Portfolio including the impact of COVID on the Housing service.

It was suggested that a Housing Recovery Informal Task Group be scoped to consider the impact of COVID. This was unanimously agreed.

Members went on to discuss the Government’s white paper on social housing, the possibility of introducing the Selective Landlord Licensing scheme, Mainway, private landlords relating to antisocial behaviour and the latest position on repairs to Council houses.

It was further agreed that the work of the Task Group should include working with the police on issues regarding anti-social behaviour, drug and alcohol problems and how they impacted on residents and good landlords.

Resolved :-

(1)   That the Cabinet Member with responsibility for Housing be thanked for her attendance at the meeting.

(2)   That a Housing Recovery Informal Task Group be scoped to consider the impact of COVID on housing within the district. To include working with the police on issues regarding anti-social behaviour, drug and alcohol problems and how they impacted on residents and good landlords.

Report of the Chief Executive. 

An update on the Work Programme was provided for the Committee.

It was noted the findings of the People’s Jury on Climate change was now timetabled for September.

It was reported that the Chair had met with the Chair of the Property Portfolio Informal Task Group and officers to discuss the way forward for the Group. The Task Group needed to be rescoped and focused as the circumstances had changed since the Task Group last met.

Members were also reminded that items would be requested for the Work Programme in the annual press release shortly. The Committee was encouraged to forward any suggestions to Democratic Services.

Resolved :-

That the updates be noted.

The Committee is recommended to pass the following recommendations 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 it could involve the possible disclosure of exempt information, as defined in paragraph ???*** of Schedule 12A of that Act.”

Members are reminded that, whilst the following item(s) have been marked as exempt, it is for Committee 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. 

It was proposed by the Chair, seconded by Councillor Stephie Barber and unanimously agreed :

“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 it could involve the possible disclosure of exempt information, as defined in paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of that Act.”

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 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.”

The ‘live’ Teams meeting concluded at 6.40pm and the Overview and Scrutiny Committee convened in a private Teams meeting to consider the exempt item.

Officers will provide a verbal briefing.

The Chairman welcomed the Corporate Director for Economic Growth and Regeneration, the Cabinet Member with responsibility for Sustainable Economic Prosperity and the Cabinet Member with responsibility for Economic Recovery & Resilience to the meeting.

The Corporate Director for Economic Growth and Regeneration provided the Committee with an overview of the recent Future High Street bid for Morecambe.

Members were advised of the application process and the reasons the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government gave for the bid being unsuccessful. The bid was one of many Lancashire bids that were not successful with only one in the county securing funding.

It was suggested that an Informal Task Group be established to consider the bid and report back to the next meeting of the Committee and that the 2 Cabinet Members be invited to the April meeting to consider the Task Group’s findings.

Resolved :-

(1)   That the Corporate Director for Economic Growth and Regeneration and the Cabinet Members be thanked for their attendance at the meeting.

(2)   That an Informal Task Group be established to consider the bid and report back to the next meeting of the Committee.

(3)   That the 2 Cabinet Members be invited to the April meeting to consider the Task Group’s findings.