Decisions

Councillor Geach left the meeting at 22:06

The Committee considered the Terms of Reference for the HSR/SLR Working Group.

The Committee were advised that at the first meeting of the Working Group, Councillor Bateson had been elected as Chair.

Councillor Bateson informed the Committee that they would be aiming to have a recommendation no later than September 2025

The Committee resolved to agree the Terms of Reference for the HSR/SLR Working Group.

The meeting ended at 22:11

The minutes of the meeting held on 12 September 2024 and the Extraordinary meeting held on 16 September 2024 were confirmed as a correct record.

Apologies were received from Councillor Burrell and Councillor Clarke. Councillor Geach attended as substitute for Councillor Burrell while Councillor Saliagopoulos was substitute for Councillor Clarke.

The Committee resolved to recommend to Council that it approves progressions of an assets disposal programme of Council owned land and property in order to generate capital receipts.

The Committee considered a report from the Group Head – Assets on disposal options for Ashford Victory Place. Under Standing Order 35, the Chair allowed Group Leaders to attend and take part in the debate but not vote.

The Group Head – Assets advised the Committee that the recommendation to dispose of the Ashford Victory Place site had arisen over the past 12 – 15 months as part of the Development Delivery Strategy which set out timescales and the rationale for prioritisation. A full marketing exercise had been carried out and the offers received had been scored in line with the Development Delivery Strategy criteria to identify the preferred bidder. The proposal from the preferred bidder would be to proceed with the existing planning permission, for 127 units, with 22 of those being affordable.

The Committee queried how the proposed disposal of Ashford Victory Place and Thameside House aligned with the Local Plan and were advised that both sites were in the Local Plan Housing Trajectory for years 1 – 5, as such the proposals were in alignment.

The Committee expressed doubt that any affordable units would be included in the final development. Councillor Boughtflower suggested that any Community Infrastructure Levy funds from the development be ringfenced for projects in Stanwell. The Group Head Place, Protection and Prosperity advised that CIL funds should be spent where the development took place however decisions could only be made on the bids submitted.

The Committee requested that after any property sale a post-sale report is produced which would include a ‘lessons learnt’ section.

The Committee expressed disappointment over the limited amount of affordable units and queried if there was any way to progress the site with either more affordable or key worker units. The Group Head – Assets advised that two bids had been received which offered key worker housing or 100% affordable but both had conditions attached which made them unsuitable and neither offers had been able to secure a Registered Provider to partner with.

It was proposed by Councillor Boughtflower, seconded by Councillor Bateson and resolved to exclude the public and press for the following agenda items, in accordance with paragraph 3 of part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended) because it was likely to disclose information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information) and in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information because disclosure to the public would prejudice the financial position of the authority in being able to undertake even-handed negotiations and finalising acceptable contract terms.

The meeting was adjourned at 20:27

The meeting reconvened at 20:37

It was proposed by Councillor Bateson, seconded by Councillor Boughtflower and resolved to suspend Standing Order 38.3 to continue the meeting beyond three hours.

The Committee returned to open session.

Councillor Boughtflower requested a recorded vote. The Chair advised the Committee that the two recommendations from the report would be voted on separately.

Recommendation 1:

Committee resolved to not recommend to Council to approve the disposal of Ashford Victory Place in Ashford to the preferred bidders as set out in the appendices attached to the report

Recommendation 2:

Committee resolved to note the current marketing approach and offers received in relation to Thameside House, Staines which will form the basis of a further report to be brought to the Business, Infrastructure & Growth Committee in the early part of calendar year 2025.

Councillor Gyawali arrived at 19:03

The Chair proposed adding the following items as standing agenda items:

HSR/SLR Working Group Updates

Waterfront Development Update

The Committee resolved to note the Forward Plan with the addition of the above items.

The Committee resolved to approve:

1.    The gross Council Tax Base for 2025/26 is determined at 41,875.90 as Band D equivalents after taking into account of the Council’s agreed Council Tax Support Scheme; and

2.    The net Council Tax Base for 2025/26 calculated as Band D equivalents, is determined at 40,620 after an adjustment by 3% to allow for irrecoverable amounts, appeals and property base changes.

The Committee resolved to note the report.

The Committee resolved to note the revenue impacts of the Eclipse Leisure Centre for the outline budget period.

Committee resolved to:

1.    Note the Annual Report of Knowle Green Estates Ltd; and

2.    Set up a Task & Finish Group to consider the future Council representation on the Board following the Chief Finance Officer of the council stepping down and to consider how the Council wishes to move Knowle Green Estates forward.

The Committee resolved to note the report.

The Committee resolved to:

1.    Approve the Safeguarding Children and Adults at Risk Policy 2024-28; and

2.    Approve to delegate authority to the Strategic Safeguarding Lead in consultation with the chair of the Community Wellbeing & Housing Committee to approve minor amendments and updates to the Policy

The Committee resolved to:

1a. note the proposed Outline Budget parameters for 2025-28 to 2028-29 and the issues and challenges raised in the report,

1b. note the current projected Budget shortfalls over the outlined periods set out in the report,

1c. subject to a recommendation of the Commercial Assets Sub-Committee, agree in principle to the use of £1m per annum in 2026/27 up to £5m per annum in 2030/31 revenue income from investment assets to accelerate the building up of the investment sinking fund reserves, resulting in less income to support annual service provision,

2a. agree the Outline Corporate Transformation Programme covering the year 2025-26 to 2028-29 to ensure he ongoing financial viability of the Council; and

2b. agree to set up a Members Transformation Board, with draft Terms of Reference to be brought back to the next meeting of the Committee.

The Committee resolved to approve the appointment of June Stillwell as a Charity Trustee

The Committee resolved to:

1.    Approve a net budget of up to £739,000 to undertake improvement mechanical and electrical plant replacement works at Sunbury Leisure Centre,

2.    Approve a contingency budget in the amount that equals 10% of the total project cost,

3.    Delegate authority to the Group Head of Assets in consultation with the Chair and Vice Chair of the Corporate Policy & Resources Committee to agree requests for expenditure from the contingency budget,

4.    Delegate authority to the Group Head of Assets in consultation with the Chair and Vice Chair of Corporate Policy & Resources Committee to appoint the preferred bidder as set out in this report to undertake the mechanical and electrical plant works; and

5.    Delegate authority to the Group Head of Corporate Governance to enter into necessary legal documentation to formalise the appointment of the Contractor.

The Committee resolved to approve the appointments of Barry Morgan and Jo Smith as a Charity Trustees.

The Committee resolved to recommend to Council that it approves the appointment of Mark Bunney as the Independent Member of the Commercial Assets Sub-Committee.

The Committee resolved to:

1.    Note the forecast Council Reserves balances for the four years ending 31 March 2029,

2.    Note a further report will come to the Committee in February once the final budget has been finalised,

3.    Agree to repurpose £8.71m of earmarked Revenue Reserves to offset abortive project management costs on Council housing regeneration site, that must be re-charged from Capital to the Revenue Budget,

4.    Repurpose the Green Belt fighting fund reserve (£900k) to become a Local Plan Resources Funding Reserve to be applied in 2025-26 and 2026-27 to help fund Strategic Planning; and

5.    To apply a further £700k of Social Housing Initiatives Reserve in 2025-26 to offset revenue pressures arising from homelessness.

There were none.

The minutes of the meeting held on 29 October 2024 were agreed as a correct record.

The Committee resolved to:

1. approve the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Policy 2024-2029 following consultation

2.    recommend to Council for the scheme of delegations to include the Chair of Licensing with the Senior Environmental Health Manager to make minor amendments to the policy.

The Committee resolved to confirm agreement with the proposed taxi and private hire fees noting the consultation responses and undertake to bring forward reviews of the policies expressly referred within a reasonable timeframe pursuant to meaningful consultation.

The Committee resolved to:

1.    Agree the publication of the updated Local Development Scheme

2.    Agree to delegate authority to the Group Head of Place, Protection and Prosperity in consultation with the Chair of the Environment and Sustainability Committee, to agree any modifications to Local Plan policy wording and its supporting text, and any minor modifications, to propose to the Inspector.

The Committee resolved to note the Annual Planning Development Management Performance Report 2023.

The Committee resolved to

1.    Approve the 2025/26 Budget, Fees and Charges, Capital Bids, Revenue Growth and Savings Proposals for Environment and Sustainability Committee

2.    Recommend to Corporate Policy and Resources Committee that they approve the proposed 2025/26 Budget, Fees and Charges, Capital Bids, Revenue Growth and Savings proposals for Environment and Sustainability Committee.

The Committee resolved to:

1.    Note the Air Quality Action Plan consultation report and

2.    Approve the adoption of the final Air Quality Action Plan.

The Committee resolved to adopt the updated Local Planning Enforcement Policy.

It was proposed by Councillor Beatty, seconded by Councillor Chandler and resolved to exclude the public and press for the following agenda items, in accordance with paragraph 3 of part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended) because it was likely to disclose information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information) and in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information because disclosure to the public would prejudice the financial position of the authority in being able to undertake even-handed negotiations and finalising acceptable contract terms.

The Sub-Committee received a report from the Principle Asset Manager on the Half Year Portfolio Review. The Sub-Committee were advised that the South East market remains challenging and that the investment market was still quiet. The retail market was faring better with spending up by 2% with £1.1b in retail sales within the first six months of 2024.

The Sub-Committee requested clarification on the private and public version of the report and were advised that the changes were in section 4 and the summary.

It was proposed by Councillor Beecher, seconded by Councillor Beatty and resolved to exclude the public and press for the remainder of the item, in accordance with paragraph 3 of part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended) because it was likely to disclose information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information) and in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information because disclosure to the public would prejudice the financial position of the authority in being able to undertake even-handed negotiations and finalising acceptable contract terms.

The Sub-Committee returned to open session.

The Sub-Committee resolved to note the report.