Agenda item

To consider any requests received in accordance with Standing Orders.

Deputation 1 - Item 10 – Appointment of a preferred bidder for the Haringey Development Vehicle.

The Leader invited Paul Burnham, representing Defend Council Housing, to put forward his deputation to Cabinet. The representations were concerning the decision at item 10, appointment of a preferred bidder for the Haringey Development Vehicle.

Mr Burnham began his deputation by asking Cabinet to not set aside the Scrutiny Panel  review and recommendations and to not appoint a preferred bidder for the Haringey Development Vehicle. The deputation party  felt that this was a privatisation scheme and highlighted the following concerns:

• No adequate risk assessment had been made available to provide residents with any assurances about this joint venture scheme
• Potential Council loss of control over the company
• The lack of guarantees for the local authority in this type of arrangement
• The potential to demolish Council and Housing Association  homes and replace them with profitable housing
• The lack of guarantees for council  tenants and the terms and conditions that they can return to their homes on
• Apparent democratic deficit with no consultation with residents and no potential decision at full Council
• Some residents did not want re – development of their estates and wanted  retention of good council  housing
• Questioned the appropriateness of the preferred bidder and their effects on the social environment

The Cabinet Member for Housing, Regeneration and Planning responded to the deputation‘s concerns and highlighted the significant work undertaken by procurement, legal and finance professionals to assess the risk in taking forward this joint venture scheme. The Cabinet Member stressed, that it was not the case that the Council’s land would automatically be passed over to the developer on the first day of the partnership. Decision making on land transfer would be on a phase by phase basis with these decisions taken by the Cabinet. The Cabinet Member provided assurance that there had been significant discussion on this issue.

The Cabinet Member emphasised, that it was not the case that Council homes would be demolished by the vehicle and replaced with profitable homes. The Council did not have the capacity and expertise to deliver the regeneration plans on its own and were seeking a partner to deliver the much needed homes and regeneration for the borough. Any future decisions on demolition would be consulted upon and made by the Council.

The Cabinet Member advised, the Haringey Development Vehicle would provide clear guarantees for tenants, more affordable housing and there was no race for profit being pursued by this model.

In relation to the concerns raised on the democratic deficit, there had been significant consultation and this was still ongoing in Northumberland Park and on Broadwater Farm. This consultation had included the site allocations Development Plan Documents, the Tottenham Area Action Plan and in relation to Northumberland Park, the development plans had been agreed with residents.

The Cabinet Member advised that the referenced practices of the subsidiary company had already ceased when the preferred bidder had took control. The preferred bidder had a strong record of working in the public sector and had contracts with the BBC, Parliament and in Liverpool where they had two trade union academies.

In reference to the relationship between Southwark Council and the preferred bidder, the Cabinet Member stressed the difference in approach and financial arrangements being taken forward by the Council. Notwithstanding this, the Council would still take lessons from this previous arrangement.

Deputation 2 - item 11 - Medium Term Financial Strategy 2017/18 – 21/22 – proposal to reduce Library Opening Hours.

The Leader invited David Bennie of the Friends of Reading and Education Group to put forward their representations to the Cabinet meeting.

The group were pleased to note acceptance of Scrutiny recommendations, at appendix 7 section 6.6, to not proceed with the cuts to Library opening hours and would not be putting forward arguments for this change. Instead, the FORE  group were seeking understanding on how this proposal had been made and to avoid this type of proposal coming forward in the future. Mr Bennie pointed to the important role of Libraries in the community and the false economy in making cuts to Libraries. Mr Bennie further expressed surprise, on behalf of the group, in the consultation of this saving being taken forward and referred to recent lack of contact with the FORE group as a possible indication of the reason for this.

The deputation suggested improved communication routes with meetings between Councillors and the FORE group to try to ensure they work together to manage issues on Library provision in the future.

The deputation highlighted recent resource issues experienced in Libraries with newspapers not supplied, and no functioning printers in some smaller Libraries.

The deputation felt it was essential to ensure Libraries were supported and provided for as they made valuable contributions to the community.

In response, the Leader explained that a Council wide internal stop on spending had impacted on ordering of newspapers but this has now been rectified.

The Deputy Leader thanked for deputation for putting forward their representations. The proposal to reduce the Library hours was put forward in an effort to ensure Libraries remain open in the future. Haringey was one of a few boroughs to invest in Libraries, in a time when other boroughs had been closing Libraries. The Council would continue to invest in Libraries and invest in increasing books and CD’s.

The Deputy Leader was happy to meet with the group and their comments had been noted.