Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillors David Carter, Joel Charles, Nick Churchill, Manny Doku, Shona Johnson, Patrick McCabe, Russell Perrin and Bill Pryor.

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

None.

To agree the minutes of the meeting held on 24 September 2015.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 24 September 2015 are agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

The Chairman gave a report on his recent visit to the Mayflower Project in Harwich, Essex where a full size authentic replica of the Mayflower Ship, which carried the Pilgrims to America to a better life in the New World, is being built.  There are more than 500 young apprentices working on the build currently and it is hoped that the project will attract more than one million visitors by the time the anniversary comes around in 2020. 

The Chairman noted the success of the Freedom Parade which had taken place that day whereby the Royal Anglian Regiment exercised its right for the very first time to march through Harlow.  The Chairman reported that the event was very well attended and he took the opportunity to thank Officers for their hard work.

None.

Proposed by Councillor Ian Beckett and seconded by Councillor Rod Truan it was agreed that Council Procedure Rule 10.12 (Questions by Public) be suspended for questions 1 through 8, to allow the Portfolio Holder for Housing to read a statement and refer questioners to that statement, or parts of it, as necessary.

The statement, questions and the answers are appended to these minutes.

None.

None.

Any reference arising from Committee or Cabinet meetings held after the publication of this agenda will be circulated separately.  This is likely to include the following references from the Cabinet meeting on 15 October 2015:

Cabinet recommended to Council that it approves:

(i)    The Corporate Anti-social Behaviour Policy 2015, attached at Appendix 1 of the original report to Cabinet.

(ii)   The addition to the Scheme of Delegation to Officers as set out in paragraph 16 of the original report to Cabinet.

The Council received a report from the Cabinet that recommended that it approves the following:

(i)    The Corporate Anti-social Behaviour Policy 2015, attached at Appendix 1 of the original report to Cabinet.

(ii)  The addition to the Scheme of Delegation to Officers as set out in paragraph 16 of the original report to Cabinet.

Proposed by Councillor Emma Toal and seconded by Councillor Rod Truan.

RESOLVED that the above recommendation from Cabinet is approved.

Noting recent Government announcements, Cabinet recommended to Council that the Housing Revenue Account Business Plan is finalised to include the following key assumptions:-

(i)    Implement legislation to reduce dwelling rents annually by 1% in each of the four years commencing 2016/17.

(ii)  Renew the Public Works Loan Board (PWLB) debt of £209m upon maturity of each loan and that repayment be kept under review as outlined in paragraph 25 of the original report to Cabinet.

(iii)Maintain the minimum HRA working balance at 31 March 2016 at £2.727m.

(iv)Revise the housing asset management plans as outlined in paragraphs 21 and 22 of the original report to Cabinet.

(v)  Assume annual increases of at least 5% per year for garages and increases / decreases in service charges related to changes in expenditure.

The Council received a report from the Cabinet that recommended that the Housing Revenue Account Business Plan is finalised to include the following key assumptions:-

(i)    Implement legislation to reduce dwelling rents annually by 1% in each of the four years commencing 2016/17.

(ii)  Renew the Public Works Loan Board (PWLB) debt of £209m upon maturity of each loan and that repayment be kept under review as outlined in paragraph 25 of the original report to Cabinet.

(iii)Maintain the minimum HRA working balance at 31 March 2016 at £2.727m.

(iv)Revise the housing asset management plans as outlined in paragraphs 21 and 22 of the original report to Cabinet.

(v)  Assume annual increases of at least 5% per year for garages and increases / decreases in service charges related to changes in expenditure.

Proposed by Councillor Rod Truan and seconded by Councillor Jon Clempner it was:

RESOLVED that the above recommendation from Cabinet is approved.

None.

These minutes remain draft until agreed to at the next ordinary meeting

of the relevant Committee or Cabinet.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the following meetings are noted:

None.