Agenda and draft minutes

Contact: Martin Bradford x 6950 

Items
No. Item

1.

Webcasting

Please note: This meeting may be filmed for live or subsequent broadcast via the Council's internet site - at the start of the meeting the Chair will confirm if all or part of the meeting is being filmed. The images and sound recording may be used for training purposes within the Council.

 

Generally the public seating areas are not filmed. However, by entering the meeting room and using the public seating area, you are consenting to being filmed and to the possible use of those images and sound recordings for webcasting and/or training purposes.

 

If you have any queries regarding this, please contact the Scrutiny Support Officer at the meeting.

 

2.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

Apologies were received from Cllr Bull, Cllr Bloch, Cllr Stanton and Cllr Gibson.

 

3.

Urgent Business

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.  New items will be dealt with at the end of the agenda.

Minutes:

None.

4.

Declarations of Interest

A member with a disclosable pecuniary interest or a prejudicial interest in a matter who attends a meeting of the authority at which the matter is considered:

 

(i) must disclose the interest at the start of the meeting or when the interest becomes apparent, and

 

(ii) may not participate in any discussion or vote on the matter and must withdraw from the meeting room.

 

A member who discloses at a meeting a disclosable pecuniary interest which is not registered in the Members’ Register of Interests or the subject of a pending notification must notify the Monitoring Officer of the interest within 28 days of the disclosure.

 

Disclosable pecuniary interests, personal interests and prejudicial interest are defined at Paragraphs 5-7 and Appendix A of the Members’ Code of Conduct.

Minutes:

None.

5.

Deputations

To consider any requests received in accordance with Part 4, Section B, paragraph 29 of the Council’s constitution.

Minutes:

None.

6.

Trust for Conservation Volunteers

Chris Speirs & Clif Osborne on the work of this environmental charity in Haringey (This is the second of three environmental community groups to present to the panel)

Minutes:

Officers from the Trust for Conservation Volunteers (TCV) gave a presentation to the panel on the work of the organisation in Haringey.   The panel noted the vision and the purpose of TCV was:

·        VISION- An abundance of safe and accessible outdoor places for everyone to use and enjoy

·        PURPOSE- Work together with people and communities to transform their health, prospects and outdoor places for the long term.

 

The panel noted that TCV work in a number of different settings and with a range of local groups to support socioeconomic and environmental regeneration across the borough.  TCV works closely with Green Flag parks and support the creation of a Conservation Action Plan (a project management plan for environmental improvement) in each.  This is a new model for the management of the parks to help facilitate local involvement, develop local partnerships and improve accountability.

 

The panel noted that TCV was currently working across 20 sites in Haringey of varying size and with different community emphasis.  These included:

·        Board walk construction at  Coldfall Woods;

·        Removing a fallen holly at Queens Woods;

·        Wildflower bed creation and pond clearance;

·        Creating homes for Wildlife.

 

A key aim of the approach of TCV is to recruit local volunteers and to support them in local environmental projects. The panel noted that TCV recruit Haringey volunteers, which in total have contributed over 1,241 volunteers workdays to date.  It was estimated that this was of a net value of £80,990 to the borough.

 

The panel noted that TCV also undertakes education projects with both young people and adults.  Here it was noted that at the Railway Fields site in Harringay:

·        20 different school groups had received educational input;

·        1,327 children studied environmental education  topics;

·        An adult education programme is supported.

 

TCV works with local groups to support environmental projects particularly local Friends of Parks groups (FoP), which offer an important link to local residents associations and other local residents.  TCV offers free training and support to local FoP groups, and aims to develop skills, knowledge and confidence to undertake local environmental work.

 

The panel noted that in the restructuring of environmental support In Haringey, TCV funding was reduced from £130k to £50k, which has consequently reduced its capacity to support local environmental projects.   The panel noted that for every £1 of funding received by TCV, more than £2 is received back in terms of hours supplied by volunteers.  TCV also brings in additional funding via external partnerships and bids for outside funding.

           

Green Gym

TCV also support the Green Gym initiative which is a programme to help improve the physical activity and mental health of those referred.  The panel noted that participants can be referred by health services or via self-referral to 3 hour sessions based in local green spaces. There are 14 Green Gyms across London, 3 of which are in Haringey including Broadwater Farm. The panel noted that TCV were also offering a Blue Gym programme for environmental work focused on waterways. In Haringey, the Green  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

7.

Cabinet Q & A

Cllr Ejiofor Cabinet Member for Planning and Enforcement

Minutes:

The Cabinet Member for Planning and Enforcement attended to respond to questions from the panel on services within his portfolio which has four main strands:

·        Planning applications;

·        Planning and licensing policy;

·        Planning and licensing Enforcement;

·        Housing with Multiple Occupancy.

 

Planning Enforcement

The panel noted a number of local case studies in which unauthorised development was perceived to have gone unchecked by the planning authority. The perceived lack of action taken by the planning authority was felt to undermine confidence in local planning enforcement processes and future compliance with planning regulations.  The panel noted that there were a number of contributory factors:

·        An information gap within the community about what is permitted development and what needs planning authority authorisation;

·        The exploitation of planning processes (e.g. retrospective applications, appeals, certificates of lawfulness).

 

It was noted by the panel that Planning Officers had been specifically tasked to look at planning enforcement to ensure that the appropriate authorisations are communicated to applicants at each stage of the planning process and that there was a much clearer understanding within the community about was is permitted development.

 

The panel noted that there would be a more robust planning enforcement response in the future to help restore greater confidence in the system.  This would include the following:

·        A tasking group to undertake a visible manifestation of physical enforcement;

·        Prioritisation of planning enforcement cases, which will be supported by:

·        Direct action (where necessary) by the Council to uphold enforcement decisions.

 

It was hoped that the above would send a clear message to those developers seeking to exploit planning processes that the Council would not be a ‘soft touch’ and that enforcement will be a priority.

 

It was important to note that planning enforcement relied on intelligence and reports from within the community and that where planning breaches were indentified or suspected, these should be reported promptly to the planning service. 

 

The panel noted that there had been an increase in unauthorised living in industrial areas.  Further investment in planning, housing and legal support to address this issue had been approved in budget proposals for 2014/15.

 

Planning Performance (Development Management Improvement Programme (DMIP)

The panel noted the improved performance for strands within the Development Management Improvement Programme (DMIP).  The panel noted that regular updates on the implementation of recommendations within this report were regularly provided to Regulatory Committee.

 

Site Allocation Plan Document and Tottenham Area Action Plan

The panel noted that these documents provide a framework for the future regeneration and development of the borough.  Both documents identify potential strategic sites and suggest what form development may take.  The consultation opened on 17th January and local residents, business and other local stakeholders would be invited to respond. Both documents are subject to consultation and the plans for each will go to every Area Forum.

 

The panel noted that there was a target of developing 1,500 homes per annum which would be challenging given the pressures for possible redevelopment sites.  Both plans, once agreed, will provide a clearer framework  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

8.

Registered Housing Provider - Partnership Agreement pdf icon PDF 143 KB

To note and comment on the proposed partnership agreement between the Council and local Registered Housing Providers. To follow

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Officers from the Housing Enablement Team presented the draft Partnership Agreement.  The purpose of the agreement is to establish a framework to ensure consistency in how providers deliver new housing, make allocations and manage their stock to ensure that they meet local needs.  The Council does not have any regulatory authority over registered providers and the agreement is voluntary.

 

The panel noted that as a result of earlier scrutiny, the role of elected members had been developed within the partnership agreement with local registered housing providers. Similar additions have included:

·        New requirement for 12 month programme of estate inspections;

·        A commitment to develop a stock rationalisation policy;

·        The provision of performance data to the Council;

·        A new role for scrutiny in addressing poor performance.

 

It was noted that the Homes and Community Agency is the sole regulator of registered housing providers.  The HCA replaced the Tenants Service Authority as regulator and now provides ‘back stop’ regulation, the expectation being that local stakeholders will play a more active role in regulation (of tenants issues) with the HCA only becoming involved in serious concerns relating to governance and financial viability.

 

The final consultation document and Partnership Agreement will be sent to all Chairs and Boards of registered providers which own or manage housing stock inn Haringey.  Based on previous agreements, it is expected that 90% of providers will sign up to the new agreement.

 

9.

Update on Strategic Enforcement Project pdf icon PDF 59 KB

To note and discuss:

 

1)    Evidence and outline recommendations collected to date (sessions 1-4 attached)

2)    Future evidence gathering sessions

3)    Developing conclusions and recommendations

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The panel noted that an evidence gathering session was held with officers from representing corporate services (Communications, Audit and IT).  A further two evidence sessions were planned for:

·        Other Local Authorities;

·        Local partners – Fire Service & Police.

 

10.

Update on Community Engagement with Planning Project pdf icon PDF 61 KB

To note and discuss:

 

a)    Work completed to date

b)    Future plan of work

c)    Conclusions and recommendations

Minutes:

It was noted that an evidence gathering session had been held with officers from both the Development Management and Planning Policy teams to ascertain local policy and practice for community engagement and involvement.   A further two evidence sessions were planned:

·        Comparative policy and practice – Planning Advisory Service, Planning Aid for London and Islington and Camden Councils;

·        Community involvement – a consultative session with local community groups to feedback on their experience within local planning consultations.

 

11.

Minutes

Minutes of 19th November -  to follow

 

Minutes of 2nd December – to follow

Minutes:

These were deferred to the next meeting.

12.

Feedback from Area Chairs

Minutes:

None.

13.

Forward Plan pdf icon PDF 50 KB

To note planned meeting schedule for remainder of 2014.

Minutes:

The panel noted work to be completed in this years municipal cycle.

14.

Date of future meetings

Minutes:

This was confirmed as 20th March.