Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

The Chair will read out the following statement:

“This meeting is being webcast live to our website (https://harlow.public-i.tv/core/portal/home) and will be available for repeated viewing after the meeting has ended.

By continuing to attend this meeting, you are consenting to being filmed and to appearing in the webcast.

I would like to remind all those participating in the meeting to use their microphones when they speak, and to turn them off once they have finished talking.”

The Leader said the meeting was being webcast live and would be available for repeated viewing after the meeting has ended. By continuing to attend the meeting, you were consenting to being filmed and to appearing in the webcast.

None.

Councillors’ declarations of interest (if any) in relation to any items on the agenda.

None.

Cabinet agreed to consider the Housing Regulator – Update as the next item.

RESOLVED that:

A    Cabinet noted the progress being made against the actions agreed with the Regulator for Social Housing to manage and improve our ongoing social housing compliance.

B    Cabinet endorsed the draft Improvement Plan for all compliance areas as set out in Appendix A and notes the ongoing work with the Regulator for Social Housing to finalise the Improvement Plan.

C    Cabinet noted that progress against the draft Improvement Plan will be reported to Cabinet on a monthly basis.

D    Cabinet kept under review the option of making a voluntary undertaking to the Regulator for Social Housing as work on finalising and implementing the improvement plan continues.

Cabinet received an update report on works agreed with the Regulator of Social Housing.

Proposed by Councillor David Carter (seconded by Councillor Dan Swords) it was:

RESOLVED that:

A    Cabinet noted the progress being made against the actions agreed with the Regulator of Social Housing to manage and improve our ongoing social housing compliance.

B    Cabinet endorsed the draft Improvement Plan for all compliance areas as set out in Appendix A and notes the ongoing work with the Regulator of Social Housing to finalise the Improvement Plan.

C    Cabinet noted that progress against the draft Improvement Plan will be reported to Cabinet on a monthly basis.

D    Cabinet keep under review the option of making a voluntary undertaking to the Regulator of Social Housing as work on finalising and implementing the improvement plan continues.

RESOLVED that Cabinet recommended to Full Council to:

A    Delegate authority to the Managing Director, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, the S151 Officer and the Monitoring Officer, to finalise proposals for the purchase of Harlow Quarter by private treaty.

B    Delegate authority to the Managing Director, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, the S151 Officer and the Monitoring Officer to, in parallel with negotiations to acquire by private treaty, finalise proposals to acquire Harlow Quarter using compulsory purchase powers.

C    Allocate the maximum budget set out in confidential Appendix B to this report, to fund the acquisition of Harlow Quarter including all costs associated with the acquisition and/or compulsory purchase process, and delegate authority to the S151 Officer to amend the Council’s Capital Strategy and Treasury documents accordingly.

D    Note that final authority to proceed with an acquisition by private treaty (pursuant to A above) or to exercise compulsory purchase powers (pursuant to B above) will be subject to a future Cabinet decision.

Cabinet received a report on the acquisition, or use of a Compulsory Purchase Order, for the site known as Harlow Quarter.

Proposed by Councillor Dan Swords (seconded by Councillor James Leppard) it was:

RESOLVED that Cabinet recommended to Full Council to:

A     Delegate authority to the Managing Director, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, the S151 Officer and the Monitoring Officer, to finalise proposals for the purchase of Harlow Quarter by private treaty.

B     Delegate authority to the Managing Director, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, the S151 Officer and the Monitoring Officer to, in parallel with negotiations to acquire by private treaty, finalise proposals to acquire Harlow Quarter using compulsory purchase powers.

C     Allocate the maximum budget set out in confidential Appendix B to this report, to fund the acquisition of Harlow Quarter including all costs associated with the acquisition and/or compulsory purchase process, and delegate authority to the S151 Officer to amend the Council’s Capital Strategy and Treasury documents accordingly.

D     Note that final authority to proceed with an acquisition by private treaty (pursuant to A above) or to exercise compulsory purchase powers (pursuant to B above) will be subject to a future Cabinet decision.

Such other business which, in the opinion of the Chair, should be received as a matter of urgency by reason of special circumstances to be specified in the minutes.

None.