Agenda and minutes

Agreed.

Received the submission version of the Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) which set out:

·  The Council’s vision and standards for community involvement

·  A description of the local community, identifying groups who may have been under represented

·  How the community will be involved in preparing Local Development Framework (LDF) documents

·  Suitable methods for involving the community in each LDF document

·  How the community will be involved in decisions on planning applications

·  What resources will be provided to carry out community involvement on the LDF

Agreed, in order to ensure that the Council can progress its strategy for increasing community and stakeholder participation in the planning process, and that the Council stays on track with the milestones agreed in the Council’s Local Development Scheme, that:

1)  The submission version of the SCI, the summary of the submission version of the SCI and its accompanying consultation statement be approved and submitted to the Secretary of State, after which it will then be subject to a statutory public consultation period of six weeks.

2)  The Corporate Director of Regeneration be authorised to make any minor amendments as may be necessary to the SCI, its summary and accompanying consultation statement.

Received a report seeking approval to update the three-year rolling work programme for the Local Development Framework (LDF), known as the Local Development Scheme (LDS).  The revised LDS identifies the planning documents that the Council intends to produce as part of its LDF over the next three years.  It also sets out key milestones for each document.  It must be submitted to and approved by the Secretary of State to be signed off and thereafter be kept up to date (any subsequent changes to the LDS must also be approved off by the Secretary of State). 

Agreed, in order to ensure that the Council has an up-to-date work programme for the LDF which is a requirement of the Planning & Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 and will ensure that the Council is meeting its milestones which it will be assessed against in relation to the allocation of Planning Deliver Grant, that:

1)  The Revised Local Development Scheme be submitted to the Secretary of State and brought into effect from the date at which the Government Office for London notifies the Council that the Secretary of State has signed it off.

2)  The Corporate Director of Regeneration be authorised to make any minor amendments as may be necessary to the revised LDS, including any minor amendments which may be recommended by the Secretary of State.

Received a report detailing Transport for London’s (TfL) proposals to implement a high-quality bus service operating between Ilford and Dagenham Dock, via Barking Town Centre and Barking Riverside. This is the East London Transit (ELT) scheme – Phase 1a. The ultimate vision is for a network of high-quality bus routes in East London, both north and south of the river. Phase 1a is the first of a number of routes that are planned to serve the Borough.

The scheme is characterised by high quality buses and stops with high levels of on street bus priority to give an attractive; reliable and fast service.  However, there are two significant issues the opening up of the pedestrian parts of Station Parade and Ripple Road, which will impact on the street market and in turn the town centre.

Agreed, that Transport for London be informed that the Council is supportive of better connectivity (e.g. buses) in the Borough, but not supportive of a scheme running through the town centre unless it conforms to the original aspirations of a high quality link (e.g. trams).

Received a report concerning the provision of daycare, out-of-school and crèche services in Council-operated facilities.

Agreed, in order to assist the Council in achieving its Community Priorities of ‘Better education and learning for all’ and ‘Regenerating the local economy’, to:

1)  Approve the appointment of Places for Children as its preferred provider of daycare service in children’s centres;

2)  Approve the appointment of Romford YMCA as its preferred provider of out-of-school childcare services in extended schools.

Received a report detailing the first overarching strategy for older people produced by the borough. It brings together the key services for older people and sets out the borough’s aim of improving the independence, wellbeing and choice for older people.

The strategy has been developed through a joint working group consisting of representatives from the Council, Primary Care Trust and the Community Empowerment Network.  There has also been consultation with key partners and officers.

Agreed, in order to achieve significant improvements in performance for the CPA using the Key Lines of Enquiry framework, to approve the Older People’s Strategy.

Received a report concerning the possible use of a Council dwelling as a Resource Centre for the Tenants and Residents Federation, as the current arrangement of a room in Roycraft House is no longer available.

There is an urgent need to find alternative accommodation for the Resource Centre and although there will always be issues with any location or style of accommodation, 598 Rainham Road South has been identified as providing a very good alternative to the present arrangements and at a lower cost.  These premises, which were long ago converted as a Doctor’s surgery, are ideally placed and could be used with virtually no expenditure on alterations or repairs.

Agreed, in order to assist the Council in achieving its Community Priority of ‘Developing Rights and Responsibilities with the Local Community’, that 598 Rainham Road South be made available as office accommodation for the local Tenants and Residents Federation on the terms set out in the report.

Received a report detailing the Council’s revenue and capital position from the beginning of April to the end of May 2006/07.

The position for revenue expenditure indicates that currently budget pressures exist across all four main service departments. These pressures will be addressed as part of the Council’s ongoing budget monitoring process and departments are currently preparing the necessary action plans to ensure that the Council meets its overall budget for the year and produces the necessary balanced budget by the year end.

Agreed, that as a matter of good financial practise, to:

1)  Note the current position of the Council’s revenue and capital budget;

2)  Note the position and projected out-turn for the Housing Revenue Account;

3)  Note that departments are preparing the necessary action plans where budget pressures exist.  These will be reported back regularly to the Executive in future Budget Monitoring reports to ensure that the Council meets its approved budget and the necessary balanced budget for the Council is achieved by year end;

4)  Approve the use in 2006/07 of the financial provision made in the HRA to fund Private Finance Initiative (PFI) consultants costs in order to bring the Council’s Housing Stock up to Decent Homes standard as per the Housing Futures Financial Model for the PFI.

Received a report seeking authority to the exercise by the Council of its Compulsory Purchase Order making powers to secure outstanding interests in the land needed to allow the redevelopment of The Lintons to proceed in a timely manner.

Agreed, in order to assist the Council in achieving its Community Priorities of “Regenerating the Local Economy”, and to assist in the good planning of the area and to promote the social, economic and environmental well-being of the area, to:

(1)  Authorise the use by the Council of its Compulsory Purchase Order making powers pursuant to Section 17 of the Housing Act 1985 for the acquisition of the outstanding leasehold interests in the properties outlined in the report, for the purposes of securing a mixed use housing scheme as part of The Lintons development;

(2)  Authorise the Corporate Director of Regeneration, or her nominated Officer to take all necessary steps to secure the making, confirmation and implementation of a Compulsory Purpose Order including the publication and service of all Notices and the presentation of the Council’s case at any public inquiry following the making of the Compulsory Purchase Order for the properties outlined in the report; and

(3)  Authorise the appropriation of the land owned by the Council (the area within the broad line shown on the plan on Appendix B of the report) for the purpose of bringing forward The Lintons scheme) in accordance with Section 122 of the Local Government Act 1972.

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