Agenda and minutes

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 29 March 2022 as a correct record.

Minutes of the meeting held on 29 March 2022 were approved as a correct record of the proceedings.

The Committee are asked to note the responses to questions raised at the previous meeting of the Committee on 29 March 2022.

The Committee resolved to note the written responses to questions raised at the previous meeting of this Committee.

To receive any disclosures of interest from Councillors in accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct for members.

There were none.

The Chair, or his 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.

There were none.

To consider any issues raised by ward councillors in accordance with Standing Order 34.2

At the time of publication of this agenda no ward issues were received.

There were none.

To consider a report from the Strategic Lead, Housing that seeks approval of the revised Allocation Policy.

Councillor Harvey joined the meeting at 19:17

Councillor Saliagopoulos joined the meeting via Teams at 19:19

The Committee considered a report form the Strategic Lead, Housing that sought approval of the revised Allocation Policy.

The Committee were advised that a public consultation had taken place on the revised policy and that the Registered Providers, with portfolios in Spelthorne and Knowle Green Estates were also to be consulted with.

Proposed by Councillor N Gething

Seconded by Councillor H Harvey

The Committee resolved to approve the revised Allocation Policy

To consider a report from the Housing Benefit Manager and to make a decision on which option Spelthorne Borough Council should adopt in the administration of the Discretionary Energy Rebate Scheme.

The Committee considered a report from the Housing Benefit Manager that was presented by the Deputy Chief Executive, Terry Collier that sought agreement from the Committee as to the best way to distribute the £309,000 funding Spelthorne had received from Central Government to fund discretionary payments.

The Committee were asked to consider the 6 options outlined in the report and agree which one/s provided the best way of distributing the £309,000. The Deputy Chief Executive stated that a scheme would need to be agreed and procedures put in place to distribute the money as quickly as possible to assist those residents struggling financially.

After consideration of all the options the Committee resolved to approve options 1 & 5 as outlined in the report but agreed that the £45 top up in option 5 be increased to £50.

To consider a report from the Deputy Chief Executive which seeks approval to:

1.    note the allocation Spelthorne received from Surrey County Council and the proposed allocation basis are both in line with national parameters and a Surrey wide agreed approach,

2.    have the scheme open to individual applications for people who are not just in receipt of council tax support but receive an income based DWP benefit, and

3.    agree the proposed payment option for pensioner households or a combination of bank transfers for those households we have bank account details and posting out cheques for those we do not have details for.

4.    Agree that in the event of any funds being unallocated in the ‘General Allocation Pot’ as at the end of August that the decision as to how to apply those funds through voluntary sector partners will be made by the Deputy Chief Executive in consultation with the Chair and Vice Chair of the Committee.

The Committee considered a report from the Deputy Chief Executive, Terry Collier that sought approval of the recommendations outlined in the report.

The Committee were advised that the funding received under Phase 1 had all been allocated and that in line with the Government’s steer emphasis was placed on supporting households with children, with at least 50% of the funding going to these households.

Under Phase 2 Spelthorne Borough Council had received funding totalling £265,313. £182,866 of this funding will be going to pensioner households with the remainder (£82,447) being distributed to support working age households. All Surrey Authorities had agreed that they would all aim to pay £100 per household with pensioners.

The Committee resolved to approve the four recommendations outlined in the report.

Report to follow.

The Committee were advised that this report had been removed from the agenda and would not be discussed at this meeting.

Report to follow.

The Committee considered a report that sought a recommendation from the Community Wellbeing & Housing Committee to Corporate Policy & Resources Committee to approve the Disabled Facility Grant and Better Care Funding Policy for disabled residents.

The Committee were advised that under the existing Disabled Facility Grant the Council means test all applications with the exception of those submitted  for meeting the needs of disabled children and those where the applicant is in receipt of qualifying benefits. The revised Disabled Facility Grant will, in line with other neighbouring authorities, remove the requirement to means test applicants if they are applying for funding to instal stairlifts and level access showers

The Committee resolved to recommend to the Corporate Policy & Resources Committee that the Disabled Facility Grant and Better Funding Policy for disabled residents be approved. This was subject to paragraphs 1.9 and 1.10 being removed from the report as this issue was to be brought back to the committee at a later date.

To consider the Forward Plan for committee business.

The Committee resolved to note the Forward Plan for the business of the committee and were asked to advise the Chair or Vice-Chair if they wanted any item added to the plan to be discussed at future meetings.

To move the exclusion of the public and press in order to discuss the next item in view of the likely disclosure of exempt information within the meaning of Paragraph 3 or Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

Proposed by Councillor N Gething

Seconded by Councillor C Barratt

The Committee resolved to move the exclusion of the public and press in order to discuss the next item in view of the likely disclosure of exempt information within the meaning of Paragraph 3 or Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

To consider a report from the Leisure Facilities and Projects Manager, the Strategic Lead, Leisure and Community Wellbeing and the Group Head Community Wellbeing on the Leisure Operator Contract Specification.

The Committee considered a report that sought approval of Option 2 as outlined in the report in respect of the proposed concessions price categories.

To consider any business deemed as urgent by the chair.

The Committee were advised that a member of the Community Wellbeing & Housing Committee was invited to sit on the UK Shared Prosperity Fund Working Group to represent the Committee.

Councillor Gething put his name forward and this was seconded by Councillor Barratt.

Councillor Dunn put her name forward and this was seconded by Councillor Vinson.

A vote was taken resulting in 5 votes for each candidate. The Chair used her casting vote and the Committee resolved to elect Councillor Gething to represent the Committee on the UK Shared Prosperity Fund Working Group.