Issue - meetings

Report of the Head of Legal and Governance/ Head of Procurement and Director for Housing Regeneration and Planning. To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Planning, Licensing and Housing Services.

To seek Cabinet approval for Haringey to withdraw from the London Housing Consortium (LHC) Joint Committee and, in the case of its disbandment, to agree to consider at a future meeting options for the Council’s continued participation in a new LHC corporate entity.

The Cabinet Member for Planning, Housing, and Licensing Services introduced the report which sough Cabinet approval for Haringey to withdraw from the London Housing Consortium (LHC) Joint Committee and, in the case of its disbandment, to agree to consider at a future meeting options for the Council’s continued participation in a new LHC corporate entity.

RESOLVED

1.    To agree that Haringey, as one of the ten Constituent Authorities of the London Housing Consortium (LHC) Joint Committee, withdraws from the LHC Joint Committee, resulting in its potential disbandment in December 2022 at the earliest.

2.    That Haringey notifies LHC of this decision by 25th February 2022 at the latest.

3.    To agree that Haringey will consider at a future meeting, the options for continued participation in the new LHC corporate entity when the options are known.

Reasons for decision

Recommendation 3.1 takes forward the decision reached by all 10 constituent boroughs, including Haringey, on the 3rd of December that the Joint Committee be disbanded and a new corporate entity explored.

Members of the LHC Joint Committee recognised that the dynamic nature of LHC as a commercial enterprise is also at odds with the democratic and regulatory processes that are required by local authorities. It is felt that LHC would benefit from having more autonomy around:

·         Governance and organisational design

·         Job design and reward

·         Future provision of pension

·         Financial modelling and risk management.

Recommendation 3.3 indicates that LHC would encourage current Constituent Authorities to consider participation in the new corporate entity. LHC officers indicated there would still be potential, with this decision to explore partnership related working with neighbouring boroughs and maintain the principle of collaborative working.

Alternative options considered

To continue as a Joint Committee which would require two or more Constituent Authorities with one of them acting as lead authority. This was not considered as Haringey voted to withdraw from the Joint Committee and new corporate entity be explored.

Please note in the unlikely event Hillingdon decides not to withdraw, the Joint Committee will continue (provided that at least one other Constituent Authority also decides not to withdraw).