Agenda and minutes

Agreed.

Received a report on a proposal for the Council’s Development Control Board to be responsible for determining certain types of planning applications which are currently delegated to officers.

Agreed, in order to assist the Council to achieve its Community Priority of ‘Regenerating the Local Economy’, to:

(i)  Planning applications for the following categories being considered by the Development Control Board:

·  All conversions of residential properties to flats;

·  Erection of single, infill, dwelling houses which, in the opinion of the Head of Planning and Transportation, would have a detrimental impact on the amenity of the surrounding locality; and

(ii)  Recommend the Assembly that the appropriate changes are made to the Council’s Scheme of Delegation (Part C of the Constitution).

Received a report on attendance at the 2006 Delivering Sustainable Communities Conference to be held in Birmingham from 13 - 15 February 2006.

Agreed to the attendance of the Lead Member for Regeneration, the Acting Director of Regeneration and the Head of Regeneration Implementation at the 2006 Delivering Sustainable Communities Conference at a total approximate cost of £1,770, to be funded from within existing budgets.

Received a report in respect of a proposed Planning Advice Note (PAN) in relation to refuse and recycling provisions in new and refurbished residential developments.  This PAN will act as the Council’s guidance document to developers and architects on the waste and recycling facilities expected to be provided in future residential developments.

Agreed, in order to assist the Council to achieve its Community Priorities of ‘Making Barking and Dagenham Cleaner, Greener and Safer’ and ‘Raising General Pride in the Borough’, to adopt the Refuse and Recycling Provisions in New and Refurbished Residential Developments Planning Advice Note as attached to the report.

Received a report on the inspection of the Council’s Adoption Service carried out by the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) during August 2005.

Noted the key findings from the CSCI’s inspection and its recognition of the improvements that have been made and, in particular, the emphasis by the CSCI of the commitment of the Adoption Service’s senior management and staff to providing the best possible service to looked-after children.

Agreed, to assist the Council to achieve its Community Priority of ‘Improving Health, Housing and Social Care’ and respond to the statutory inspection by the CSCI, to:

(i)  Note the findings of the Adoption Service Inspection Report, attached at Appendix A to the report;

(ii)  Adopt the Council’s Adoption Service Action Plan which responds to the CSCI’s findings, attached at Appendix B; and

(iii)  Note the Adoption Service’s updated Statement of Purpose, the Business Plan for 2005/06 and the Annual Report for 2004/05 (attached at Appendices C, D and E respectively).

Received a report on the Mayor of London’s proposals to revise aspects of the London Plan, which he published in February 2004, in relation to ‘Housing Provision Targets’ and ‘Waste and Minerals’.

Agreed, in order to assist the Council to achieve all of its Community Priorities and to ensure that the regeneration of the Borough is undertaken in a sustainable manner that best meets the needs of the existing and future communities, to:

(i)  The Council’s response to the Mayor’s Draft Alterations to the London Plan as set out in Appendix A to the report; and

(ii)  Authorise the Head of Planning and Transportation to make any non-material amendments to the response prior to its submission to the Mayor by the deadline of 20 January 2006.