Agenda and minutes

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at the meeting.

Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Councillor Alexandra, for whom Councillor Edge was substituting, Councillor Adamaou for whom Councillor Kober was substituting, and from Councillor Dodds for whom Councillor C. Harris was substituting.

NOTED

The Chair will consider the admission of any late items of urgent business. Late items will be considered under the agenda item where they appear.

There were no items of urgent business.

NOTED

A member with a personal interest in a matter who attends a meeting of the authority at which the matter is considered must disclose to that meeting the existence and nature of that interest at the commencement of that consideration, or when the interest becomes apparent.

A member with a personal interest in a matter also has a prejudicial interest in that matter if the interest is one which a member of the public with knowledge of the relevant facts would reasonably regard as so significant that it is likely to prejudice the member's judgment of the public interest and if this interest affects their financial position or the financial position of a person or body as described in paragraph 8 of the Code of Conduct and/or if it relates to the determining of any approval, consent, licence, permission or registration in relation to them or any person or body described in paragraph 8 of the Code of Conduct.

Councillors Bull and Winskill declared personal interests as LB Haringey Leaseholders, in respect of Item 5 on the agenda.

NOTED

i)                    Report of the Monitoring Officer

TO FOLLOW

ii)                  Report of the Director of Urban Environment

TO FOLLOW

iii)        Appendix (For information only):

a)     Copy of the ‘call in’

b)     Draft minutes of meeting of the Cabinet of 15 July 2008 (Subject to confirmation by the Cabinet)

c)      Service Improvement Initiatives for Leaseholders report from the Cabinet of 15 July 2008.

A decision on the above item was taken by the Cabinet on 15 July 2008. The decision has been called in, in accordance with the provisions set out in the Constitution, by Councillors Wilson, Gorrie, Whyte, Weber and Oatway.

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee is requested to decide what further action it wishes to take regarding the Call In.

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee may deal with the Call-In in one of three ways:

i)                    The Overview and Scrutiny Committee may decide not to take any further action, in which case the decision is implemented immediately.

ii)                  The Overview and Scrutiny Committee may decide to refer the decision back to the decision taker, in which case the decision taker has 5 working days to reconsider the decision before taking a final decision.

iii)                The Overview and Scrutiny Committee may decide to refer the decision to Full Council.

It is proposed that consideration of this item be structured as follows:

(i)         A brief outline by the above Members on the reasons for the Call In.

(ii)        Response by the Cabinet Member for Housing.

(iii)       Debate by Members on action to be taken.

(iv)       Decision.

Note: Under Standing Order 32.6 no other business shall be considered at the meeting.

The Chair outlined the procedures for the meeting whereby he would firstly allow Councillor Wilson, as the first signatory on the call-in to address the meeting, followed by Legal Services, and then allow Homes for Haringey and the Cabinet member for Housing to respond, followed by questions from the Committee and then general discussion.

As Chief Signatory, Councillor Wilson referred the Committee to the content of the call-in and the stated reasons as circulated.  He also stated to the committee widespread concerns raised by leaseholders with regards to service charges.

Councillor Wilson referred the Committee to the report before them that had been considered by the Cabinet.  He stated that the concerns expressed in the call-in were contingent on each of the recommendations in regard to proposed fundamental changes in leaseholder charging without full and effective consultation with leaseholders, and it was stated that the effects of the change would have a worsened effect on methods of payment for leaseholders, whilst seemingly benefiting only the Council.

The Committee was referred to tabled comments of the Haringey Leaseholders Association in terms of the effects of the proposed policy, and the issues contained therein.  The signatories to the call-in believed that  it was evident that there had been an insufficient number of answers to concerns expressed and questions asked, which in his view begged the question as to the level of consultation and explanation.  It was the case that whilst the proposals for doors and windows were an acceptable one, the remainder of the proposals were not well though through.

The representative from Legal Services responded to a number of points raised in relation to enforcement and interim invoices, in accordance with the terms of leaseholder leases and recovery of payments. It was stated that the Council was well within its rights to recover monies based on estimate invoices and that it had been doing so.  It was generally the case that whilst action could be taken on behalf of the Authority to recover based on interim invoices, by the time this action was being commenced it was likely that a final certificate be required to be issued.

The Committee received a brief outline from officers from Homes for Haringey in relation to consultation process conducted and were informed that there had been clear information circulated to all leaseholders with workshops organised which outlined the payment proposals and the various options of advance payment and discount.  The comments and views expressed had been clearly minuted and circulated.  In terms of the repayment of charges Haringey was the only London Borough to offer an interest free 36 month loan to cover the repayment of major work charges. There was also a process of mediation through the leaseholders’ advisory service which had been in existence since 2002 and the options open for leaseholders if they used this were explained. In respect of actual proposed works the process of engaging with Leaseholders was also outlined and the point at which the Section 20 notice was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.