Issue - meetings

The Chair, or their nominee, to answer any questions raised by members of the public in accordance with Standing Order 40.

At the time of publication of this agenda no questions were received.

The Chair reported that, under Standing Order 14, two questions had been received from a member of the public.

Question from K Sanders:

“Given recent world events, cost inflation and other economic shocks, how can the Council be sure that costs won't keep spiralling or there won't be any other unfortunate events? E.g. what if the Council can't secure Homes England funding or NHS funding for the Cavell Centre? What if flood risk proves to be an insurmountable issue for Thameside House?

Has the Council already gone past the point of no return on Thameside House and the Oast House developments and is the only hope really to keep borrowing more (and building higher) in the hope that they will eventually come good?”

Response to Question:

“The Council has no control over external forces which impact on inflation and other economic pressures, but what we can do and do well is consider the financial viability of each of our own schemes at key milestone through out the scheme design process.  Understanding the viability is an evolving process with the more detail we have as the scheme progresses, meaning greater certainty of the financial end position.

There will always be challenges with new development that the Council needs to overcome.  We do this by understanding and utilising all initiatives available to assist with ensuring schemes are deliverable from a financial and operational perspective. This is not only about employing external funding, but value engineering schemes, looking at different funding models including partnership working within the public sector, other private partner ventures, disposals, packaging schemes together to deliver different outcomes where costs and benefits offset each other between the schemes.

Each of these approaches offer differ solutions to tackling the economic and financial challenges we face with the schemes. Every scheme is only moved forward to a commencement on site, when Councillors’ approval is received.  Part of the Councillor approval process includes a full understanding of a range of options, which may include where appropriate partnering opportunities, disposals and a range of income options for each scheme.  Each option presented is supported with a range of financial information to inform understanding and decision making. 

We continue to have positive engagement with Homes England, but if funding is not available for our schemes we will consider utilising the alternative options, just outlined to support the objectives of each development. The Council already has a proven track record with Homes England as it acquired for itself Registered Provider status and obtained grant funding to part fund the Whitehouse homeless hostel and Harper House emergency family accommodation. Indeed at the time Homes England did not have a funding category for homeless hostels and we worked with them to help them create a new funding scheme.

Homes England is extremely keen on supporting our affordable and keyworker delivery pipeline as there is very limited such provision being delivered in this part of the South East and Homes England is struggling to distribute its full allocation of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 63