Agenda and minutes
Venue: Hendon Town Hall, The Burroughs, London NW4 4BG
Contact: Jan Natynczyk 020 8359 5129 Email: jan.natynczyk@barnet.gov.uk
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Chairman's Introduction Minutes: The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting. He explained that the meeting was being recorded and that the running order had been changed with the Grenfell Tower item being discussed first in tandem with the questions and public speakers on this item. |
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Minutes of the Previous Meeting PDF 72 KB Minutes: RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 8 February, 2017 be agreed as a correct record, subject to Councillor Houston’s interest being amended from ‘Barnet Homes Board’ to ‘Barnet Group Board’. |
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Absence of Members Minutes: Councillor Roberts, with Councillor Mittra acting as his substitute. |
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Declarations of Members Disclosable Pecuniary Interests and Non-Pecuniary Interests Minutes:
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Report of the Monitoring Officer (if any) Minutes: None. |
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Public Questions and Comments (if any) PDF 72 KB Minutes: The Committee received the list of public questions, all in relation to the Urgent Business Item on Grenfell Tower, noted the answers and noted the Chairman’s responses to supplementary questions. |
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Any Other Items that the Chairman Decides are Urgent - Grenfell Tower PDF 30 KB Additional documents:
Minutes: Prior to this item being considered, the Chairman thanked Barnet Council and Barnet Homes Officers for all their hard work on this matter.
Cath Shaw, Deputy Chief Executive, stated that this report set out fire safety arrangements for residential accommodation in Barnet and specific measures that the Council and Barnet Homes were taking in response to the tragic fire at Grenfell Tower earlier this month.
Members raised several issues for Officers to action outside of the formal Committee process, but also requested that there be a progress report back to this Committee, with a special meeting being convened, if necessary, on Fire Brigade consultation, fire wardens, assisting vulnerable tenants and the situation relating to contractors.
RESOLVED
1. That the Committee note the contents of this report and appendix, and in particular that all Barnet Homes properties have up to date Fire Risk Assessments and comply with fire safety legislation, and the decision to remove cladding on three tower blocks at Granville Road;
2. That the Committee instructs Barnet Homes to carry out a review of fire safety measures in the Council’s twenty eight high rise blocks to identify any measures that are required to move beyond legislative compliance to deliver best practice in fire safety including the consideration of sprinkler systems, improved fire and smoke alarm systems and other measures;
3. That the Committee agrees that, subject to agreement by Policy and Resources Committee on 27th June, an initial £10 million is allocated from the Council’s Housing Revenue Account to meet the cost of fire safety improvements;
4. That the Committee delegates authority to the Deputy Chief Executive in consultation with the Chairman of the Committee to approve a programme of fire safety enhancement works with an initial budget of up to £10m, to begin as soon as practical;
5. That the Committee requests that a report is brought to its next meeting with an update on delivery of the programme; and further requests that if measures identified exceed £10m that the further report makes proposals for extending the programme beyond the initial allocation.
6. That the Committee instructs officers to revise the Housing Revenue Account 30 year business plan to accommodate this programme of fire safety enhancements, for approval at the next meeting of the Committee;
7. That there be a progress report back to this Committee, with a special meeting being convened, if necessary, on Fire Brigade consultation, fire wardens, assisting vulnerable tenants and the situation relating to contractors.
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Members' Items (if any) PDF 256 KB Minutes: The Committee considered the following Members Items:
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Housing Commissioning Plan - 2017/18 addendum PDF 197 KB Additional documents:
Minutes: The Committee received the report.
Members commented that the report outlined the situation, prior to the Grenfell Towers tragedy and requested that the report be updated to reflect the potential impact, post Grenfell, on the Plan and reported back to the next meeting of this Committee.
It was also requested that Officers report back to the Chairman of the Committee and Councillors Houston and Langleben with regard to the concourse at Grahame Park.
Members vote on the recommendations in the report:
RESOLVED
1. That the Committee note progress against the Housing Committee Commissioning Plan in 2016/17 (Appendix A); 2. That the Committee approve the addendum to the Housing Committee Commissioning Plan for 2017/18 (Appendix B);
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Barnet Homes 2017/18 Delivery Plan PDF 253 KB Additional documents: Minutes: The Committee received the report.
A vote was taken on the recommendations in the report:
RESOLVED that the Barnet Homes 2017/18 Delivery Plan be noted and approved. |
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Best Practice in Regeneration PDF 348 KB Additional documents: Minutes: The Committee received the report.
A vote on the recommendation in the report was taken:
RESOLVED that the report be noted. |
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Introducing a Local Lettings Policy in Barnet PDF 268 KB Minutes: The Committee received the report.
The Committee voted on the recommendations in the report:
RESOLVED
1. That the Housing Committee approves for a consultation and Equality Impact Assessment (EIA) to be carried out, at the appropriate time, to consider the introduction of a local lettings policy (LLP) approach whereby existing Council tenants with an established housing need under the Council’s Housing Allocations Scheme (in Band 1 or Band 2) whose existing home would become available for reallocation are given priority for new-build properties on in-fill developments on their estate;
2. That the findings of the consultation and EIA be brought back to the Housing Committee with a recommendation as to whether to adopt the LLP approach and an amended Housing Allocation Scheme as appropriate. |
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Minutes: The Committee received the report.
Members requested that in future, monthly rent levels or service charges be included in the figures.
The Committee voted on the recommendation in the report:
RESOLVED that the report be noted. |
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Private Sector Housing Financial Assistance Policy 2017 PDF 351 KB Minutes: The Committee received the report.
A vote was taken on the recommendations in the report:
RESOLVED
1. That the Committee approve the amendments to the Private Sector Housing Financial Assistance Policy;
2. That the authority for future minor amendments to this policy be delegated to the Commissioning Director, Growth and Development in consultation with the Chairman of the Housing Committee.
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Committee Forward Work Programme PDF 198 KB Minutes: Noted. |