To receive apologies for absence (to include reasons, where appropriate) from Members/Officers

Apologies for absence were received from the following Member for the reason so stated:-

Councillor G Phillips - Holiday

To receive declarations of personal and prejudicial interest (if any) from Members/Officers in accordance with the provisions of the Members’ Code of Conduct adopted by Council from 1 September 2008 (including Whipping declarations)

The following declarations of personal interest were made:-

Councillor J C Spanswick Agenda item 4 – As he was a Board Member of V2 Coast

Councillor C L Jones Agenda item 8 – As reference was made in the report to his employer

To receive for approval the Minutes of a meeting of the Community, Environment and Leisure Overview and Scrutiny Committee dated 10 June 2015

RESOLVED:                            That the Minutes of a meeting of the Community, Environment and Leisure Overview and Scrutiny Committee dated 10 June 2015, be approved as a true and accurate record.

Invitees:

M Shephard – Corporate Director Communities

S Pryce – Head of Regeneration and Development

A Bowen – Group Manager Housing and Community Regeneration

Councillor P White – Cabinet Member Adult Social Care and Health and Wellbeing

The Chairperson welcomed the Invitees to the meeting for this item, including the Registered Social Landlords (RSL’s).

The Corporate Director Communities advised that the report was a good example of Overview and Scrutiny looking into an important area of work. He added that the purpose of the report was to update Committee on the factors that led to the implementation and development of the Social Housing Allocation Policy (SHAP) and the Common Housing Register (CHR); what it was intended to achieve and what had been the result.

He added, that the report also advised Members of how the service and its Registered Social Landlords (RSL’s) partners had reviewed the SHAP, and how they intend to manage the increased demand for housing solutions services, in a period of budget cuts.

A Member asked if RSL’s were reluctant to provide accommodation for people who were on benefits, due to the fact that they may be less likely to get in arrears with their payments for being provided housing accommodation as oppose to individuals who were employed.

The Group Manager Housing and Community Regeneration confirmed that this was obviously the case, as there was a greater risk of unemployed tenants who claimed benefits having more difficulty keeping up with their rental payments than those who were in full time employment. However, there was set-up, a Panel consisting of key Officers from BCBC and each RSL, where ideas were exchanged, and where possible money was given in advance via the Housing Benefit system (or in the way of a Bond) as an incentive for RSL’s to take up tenancies from people who required to be housed, but were unemployed and therefore on a low income.

A Member felt that there was definitely a lack of Social Housing within the BCBC, probably at the cost of there being too much private accommodation. She felt that this could be addressed through the examination of land uses in key schemes and plans, such as for example, the Local Development Plan. She felt that Housing and Planning Officers together with RSL’s should look to provide Social Housing where it was most required, and within locations that had sufficient access to public transport..

The Group Manager Housing and Community Regeneration advised Members that there were a number of different approaches to take in order to develop Affordable Housing, for example through a developer perhaps wishing to construct private housing, but as part of these proposals providing monies through a Section 106 Agreement where further land could be utilised for the purpose of providing Social or Affordable Housing thereon.

She added that RSL’s could also approach the local authority and discuss and conduct a market analysis of the Housing Register in order to ascertain areas of land where there was a lack of Social Housing, as well as to establish if these and other areas were suitable to accommodate such developments.

A Member referred to Paragraph 4.4 of the report (page 20) and requested further details as to reasons  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.

The Scrutiny Officer presented a report, the purpose of which, was to present the items due to be considered at the Committee meeting scheduled for 8 October 2015, as well as seeking confirmation of the information required for the subsequent scheduled meeting to be held on 1 December 2015..

RESOLVED:                    (1)   That the Committee noted the report

                                         (2)   That Members also, should they so wish, give consideration to revising the list of future potential items for its Forward Work Programme, and re-prioritising these should this be felt appropriate.

To consider any other item(s) of business in respect of which notice has been given in accordance with Rule 4 of the Council Procedure Rules and which the person presiding at the meeting is of the opinion should by reason of special circumstances be transacted at the meeting as a matter of urgency

None

The report relating to the following item is not for publication as it

contains exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 14 and 16 of Part 4 and Paragraph 21 of Part 5, Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) (Wales) Order 2007. If following the application of the public interest test Committee resolves pursuant to the Act to consider this item in private, the public will be excluded from the meeting during such consideration.

RESOLVED:               That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) (Wales) Order 2007, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item of business as it contains exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 14 and 16 of Part 4, and Paragraph 21 of Part 5 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

                                   Following the application of the public interest test it was resolved that pursuant to the Act referred to above, to consider the item in private, with the public being excluded from the meeting, as it was considered that in all the circumstances relating to the item, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information, because the information is commercially sensitive and it relates to the business and financial affairs of the Council and other parties. In addition the report contains information in respect of which a claim to legal professional privilege could be maintained in legal proceedings.

Invitees:

M Shephard – Corporate Director Communities

Z Shell – Head of Neighbourhood Services

Councillor P White – Cabinet Member Adult Social Care and Health and Wellbeing