Decision details

Thameside House - Staines Ward Councillors Development Meeting - Update

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Decision Maker: Development Sub-Committee

Decision status: Recommendations approved

Is Key decision?: Yes

Is subject to call in?: Yes

Decisions:

[See separate exempt minutes.]

The committee agreed to proceed on the basis of Block A being 11, 9 and 7 storeys in height and Block B being 8, 6 and 5 storeys in height.

Report author: Nick Cummings

Publication date: 16/11/2021

Date of decision: 15/11/2021

Decided at meeting: 15/11/2021 - Development Sub-Committee

Effective from: 20/11/2021

This decision has been called in by:

Councillor Chris Bateson who writes Purpose of call in 1. To discuss and decide by recorded vote whether the full Council endorses the decision taken by the Development Sub-Committee regarding the Councils development, Thameside House. The Cllrs making this referral hold the view that decision reached by the Sub-Committee did not give due consideration to the following: a) Governance and audit: To ensure the full Council has a complete understanding of the business case set out that sought approval for purchasing Thameside House (i.e. to refurbish the building for affordable housing only) and how, since the acquisition approval was given, the Councils intentions for Thameside House have changed. Ensuring there is a complete audit trail and timeline of ALL decisions taken before and after the purchase (including when and by whom these decisions were taken). This is critically important given the current Waterfront inquiry reference. b) Officers of the Council did not provide reasonable consideration to a counter proposal for the site: Dismissal of a counter suggestion put forward by the majority number of Staines cllrs, on the grounds that this was not financially viable, with no explanation, discussion or debate by officers. c) Lack of clarity of information from Officers of the council: Finance and asset departments have provided conflicting information to Staines Cllrs regarding the financial aspects of Thameside house, affordable housing calculations and floor sizes Context At the most recent Parliamentary Select Committee on Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (broadcast on the BBC Parliament channel), Secretary of State Michael Gove said it was important for local authorities to take their community with them as they develop their plans to ensure residents understand and have confidence in four key aspects: 1) That what is being proposed is not out of sympathy with the local area. 2) That there is a credible plan for the provision of the infrastructure required to support any new development plan. 3) That environmental issues have been properly addressed, including “putting beauty at the heart of new developments”. 4) That local communities genuinely feel their voice is being listened to. This is consistent with the Council’s own Constitution whose declared purpose is: - to enable the Council to provide clear leadership to the Spelthorne community and work in partnership with residents, businesses and other organisations to make Spelthorne a place where people are fully engaged; - to support and encourage the active involvement of the Spelthorne community in the decisions which affect them; - to help councillors represent their constituents more effectively. It is our view that the decision made by the sub development committee on 15 November 2021 falls very short of meeting the above Government guidelines and requirements of the Councils’ own Constitution."
Councillor Malcolm Beecher who writes Purpose of call in 1. To discuss and decide by recorded vote whether the full Council endorses the decision taken by the Development Sub-Committee regarding the Councils development, Thameside House. The Cllrs making this referral hold the view that decision reached by the Sub-Committee did not give due consideration to the following: a) Governance and audit: To ensure the full Council has a complete understanding of the business case set out that sought approval for purchasing Thameside House (i.e. to refurbish the building for affordable housing only) and how, since the acquisition approval was given, the Councils intentions for Thameside House have changed. Ensuring there is a complete audit trail and timeline of ALL decisions taken before and after the purchase (including when and by whom these decisions were taken). This is critically important given the current Waterfront inquiry reference. b) Officers of the Council did not provide reasonable consideration to a counter proposal for the site: Dismissal of a counter suggestion put forward by the majority number of Staines cllrs, on the grounds that this was not financially viable, with no explanation, discussion or debate by officers. c) Lack of clarity of information from Officers of the council: Finance and asset departments have provided conflicting information to Staines Cllrs regarding the financial aspects of Thameside house, affordable housing calculations and floor sizes Context At the most recent Parliamentary Select Committee on Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (broadcast on the BBC Parliament channel), Secretary of State Michael Gove said it was important for local authorities to take their community with them as they develop their plans to ensure residents understand and have confidence in four key aspects: 1) That what is being proposed is not out of sympathy with the local area. 2) That there is a credible plan for the provision of the infrastructure required to support any new development plan. 3) That environmental issues have been properly addressed, including “putting beauty at the heart of new developments”. 4) That local communities genuinely feel their voice is being listened to. This is consistent with the Council’s own Constitution whose declared purpose is: - to enable the Council to provide clear leadership to the Spelthorne community and work in partnership with residents, businesses and other organisations to make Spelthorne a place where people are fully engaged; - to support and encourage the active involvement of the Spelthorne community in the decisions which affect them; - to help councillors represent their constituents more effectively. It is our view that the decision made by the sub development committee on 15 November 2021 falls very short of meeting the above Government guidelines and requirements of the Councils’ own Constitution."
Sinead Mooney who writes Purpose of call in 1. To discuss and decide by recorded vote whether the full Council endorses the decision taken by the Development Sub-Committee regarding the Councils development, Thameside House. The Cllrs making this referral hold the view that decision reached by the Sub-Committee did not give due consideration to the following: a) Governance and audit: To ensure the full Council has a complete understanding of the business case set out that sought approval for purchasing Thameside House (i.e. to refurbish the building for affordable housing only) and how, since the acquisition approval was given, the Councils intentions for Thameside House have changed. Ensuring there is a complete audit trail and timeline of ALL decisions taken before and after the purchase (including when and by whom these decisions were taken). This is critically important given the current Waterfront inquiry reference. b) Officers of the Council did not provide reasonable consideration to a counter proposal for the site: Dismissal of a counter suggestion put forward by the majority number of Staines cllrs, on the grounds that this was not financially viable, with no explanation, discussion or debate by officers. c) Lack of clarity of information from Officers of the council: Finance and asset departments have provided conflicting information to Staines Cllrs regarding the financial aspects of Thameside house, affordable housing calculations and floor sizes Context At the most recent Parliamentary Select Committee on Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (broadcast on the BBC Parliament channel), Secretary of State Michael Gove said it was important for local authorities to take their community with them as they develop their plans to ensure residents understand and have confidence in four key aspects: 1) That what is being proposed is not out of sympathy with the local area. 2) That there is a credible plan for the provision of the infrastructure required to support any new development plan. 3) That environmental issues have been properly addressed, including “putting beauty at the heart of new developments”. 4) That local communities genuinely feel their voice is being listened to. This is consistent with the Council’s own Constitution whose declared purpose is: - to enable the Council to provide clear leadership to the Spelthorne community and work in partnership with residents, businesses and other organisations to make Spelthorne a place where people are fully engaged; - to support and encourage the active involvement of the Spelthorne community in the decisions which affect them; - to help councillors represent their constituents more effectively. It is our view that the decision made by the sub development committee on 15 November 2021 falls very short of meeting the above Government guidelines and requirements of the Councils’ own Constitution."

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