Agenda and minutes

Agreed.

Received a report on proposals to help address the level of off-street parking without a properly constructed footway crossing through the introduction of revised Front Garden Parking criteria and a new charging policy which represents a reduced fee for residents.

Agreed, in order to assist the Council to achieve its Community Priority of ‘Making Barking and Dagenham Cleaner, Greener and Safer’ and reduce the need for the Council to take enforcement action, to:

(i)  Adopt the revised charging policy in respect of the installation of footway crossings as detailed in the report; and

(ii)  Adopt the revised Front Garden Parking criteria as attached at Appendix A to the report.

Received a report on the current position of the Council’s revenue and capital budgets for the period 1 April to 31 October 2005 and the proposed reprofiling of a number of schemes within the Council’s 2005/06 Capital Programme.  Also considered a proposal for additional funding for the Thameside City Farm in the current financial year while discussions continue between representatives of the Farm, the Council and other stakeholders on issues including the Farm’s management arrangements, its location and its long-term future as a self-sustaining organisation.

Agreed to:

(i)  Note the current position of the Council’s 2005/06 revenue and capital budgets as at 31 October 2005;

(ii)  Note the action being taken by Chief Officers to ensure a balanced position by the year end;

(iii)  Note the position and projected out-turn for the Housing Revenue Account 2005/06;

(iv)  The reprofiling of Capital Programme schemes as detailed in Appendix E to the report; and

(v)  The allocation of an additional £8,265 revenue funding for the Thameside City Farm in 2005/06.

Received a report setting out the calculation of the Council Tax Base for 2006/07 and the powers available to the Council to reduce discounts for second homes and long-term empty properties and to award locally determined discounts.

Agreed, in order to comply with statute and assist in the calculation of the Authority’s Council Tax for 2006/07, to recommend the Assembly:

(i)  That, in accordance with the Local Authorities (Calculation of Tax Base) Regulations 1992, the amount calculated by the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham as its Tax Base for the year 2006/07 shall be 50,648.40 Band D properties;

(ii)  That the discounts for second homes or long term empty properties are not reduced for 2006/07; and

(iii)  That locally determined discounts should not be awarded for 2006/07.

Further to Minute 321 (8 March 2005), received a report on proposed amendments to the Council’s ‘More Choice In Lettings’ (MCIL) housing allocations policy.  The proposed changes have arisen from operational experience since MCIL came into effect on 4 April 2005 and also respond to new legislation and recent guidance from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Discussed issues relating to the inclusion of fostering families in the categories that qualify for priority rehousing and the definition of “persistent rent arrears” in respect of those applicants that would be disallowed from making a bid for a property.

Agreed, in order to ensure that the Council’s MCIL policy best serves the needs of clients and makes best use of the Council’s housing stock, and to assist the Council to achieve its Community Priority of ‘Improving Health, Housing and Social Care’, to the proposed amendments to the Council’s ‘More Choice In Lettings’ housing allocations policy as set out in the report, subject to a further report on the proposed definition and application of the “persistent rent arrears” bidding disqualification clause.