Agenda and minutes

Agreed.

Received a report on the East London Housing Partnership’s “Thames Gateway Vision Document”.

Agreed, in order to allow the Council to progress with the sub-regional agenda and joined up approach to achieving sustainable development in the Borough as part of the Thames Gateway, to:

1.  Adopt the Thames Gateway Vision Document, which will be used in discussions with Government, the Urban Development Corporation and other stakeholders; and

2.  The Vision Document being tested in the forthcoming developments at the Lintons, London Road / North Street and in the plans to regenerate the Gascoigne Estate.

Further to Minute 268 (27 January 2004), received a report on the improved position with regard to empty Council-owned garages and proposals to further relax the Council’s garage use policy in order to encourage an even greater reduction in the number of empty garages.

Agreed to further relax the existing policy around garage usage to include the storage of certain household items, as detailed in the report.

Received a report on issues relating to the provision of temporary accommodation to meet the Council’s statutory homelessness obligations.

Agreed, in order to best meet the growing needs for temporary accommodation and at the same time further reduce usage of bed and breakfast, thereby providing better accommodation for homeless people, lower costs to the Council and continued compliance with Government targets, to:

1. Retain the Boundary Road emergency hostel for use as a first stage homelessness hostel;

2. A revised rent structure at the Boundary Road hostel to reflect the size of accommodation with effect from 1 November 2004, as set out in the report;

3. The carrying out of all necessary repair and redecoration works to the Boundary Road hostel at an approximate cost of £30,000, this sum to be met from the Minor Improvements budget; and

4. A further report being presented on the proposed medium-term disposal of the Boundary Road hostel to the Council’s preferred housing association partner, Look Ahead Housing & Care.

Agreed to exclude the public and press for the remainder of the meeting, as the business was confidential.

* Items considered as a matter of urgency with the consent of the Chair under Section 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972.