Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of 14 January 2015 and to authorise the Chairman to sign them.

The minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 14 January 2015 was agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman

The report of Landlord Accreditation Topic Group was presented by the Housing Strategy Manager.

The report detailed that at the initial meeting on 1 July 2014, the Towns & Communities Overview and Scrutiny Sub Committee agreed to set up a Landlord Accreditation Scheme Topic Group to consider the options of introducing methods to monitor and control the activity of private rented sector landlords in the borough.

The Topic Group aimed to understand licensing schemes, the process that would be taken in Havering and understanding current practice in other boroughs.

The Topic Group had explored the main recognised means of private rented regulation currently operating in some local authorities and considered the different approaches as potential solutions in Havering.

Following a brief discussion, the sub-committee supported the principles of the scrutiny but decided to refer the report back to the Topic Group for additional information and evidence to back its recommendations:

·         details of costs of implementing and funding,

·         enforcement scheme

·         housing standards that apply to HMOs

·         case studies” relating to the schemes in operation in Barking & Dagenham and Redbridge

The sub-committee was informed that a data collection exercise was currently on the way and that the evidence collated from the exercise would inform on the decisions the service would look to consider.

The Committee is to receive an update presentation to the Cabinet Report.

In accordance with the Council’s Continuous Improvement Model, the sub-committee received a presentation update on the Havering Business Growth Programme that was considered by Cabinet in April 2013 from the Head of Economic Development, Culture & Community and the Business Development Manager.

The sub-committee was informed that Cabinet had agreed the three year Business Growth Programme in April 2013 to deliver the following benefits:

·         Improvement in the reputation of Havering as a place to do business

·         Greater prosperity

·         Higher employment levels

·         Improved quality of life

The proposals to deliver these four objectives were set out under three themes:

·           Promoting investment in Havering

·           Encouraging existing businesses to grow

·           Transforming customer services for the business community

The following key achievements were detailed to the sub-committee:

That the service had been able to work closely with partners to promote the borough and focus on key sites and opportunities for growth. The development a new inward Investment Website with commercial property database that was launched in 2014 to grow awareness.

The service was currently jointly promoting available sites in London Riverside with GLA, over 124 Business enquiries had been dealt with in the last two years.

•      Four Commercial Agents forums held

•      Romford Development Framework was also prepared

The LEP Funding and business case were being prepared for diversifying the offer on South Street and Business incubator in Romford to bring empty floor space back into use.

The service had also completed work on the London Riverside BID Development Opportunity Study.

•      Work on Salamon’s Way (London Riverside) initiated

•      London Riverside BID area Opportunity Study completed, and await appointment of GLA development partner for next steps

A two year business Start-up programme delivered by Kingston Smith had provided opportunities for 186 individuals to be engaged in thirty-five propositions going forward to next stage of business development process.

The sub-committee was informed that future plans and opportunities within theme included for the Romford Development Framework to be taken forward as part of the Local Plan and promoted to private sector investors

The developing of an action plan for the Office Quarter including encouraging the availability of more serviced office accommodation

The service would seeking to identify and leasing or acquire low value and empty units in South Street using GLA LEP funding and High Streets funding

The presentation informed the sub-committee that the second theme was seeking to encourage existing businesses to grow by the following:

·         Promoting Local Procurement

·         Improving Borough Infrastructure

·         Improved management of Business Rate Collection

·         Enhanced Business Support Services Programme

·         Realising the potential of the planning system for business growth

·         Promoting Town centres

·         A skilled workforce

·         Business Improvement Districts

·         Helping businesses to be compliant and self-regulatory with targeted enforcement

The sub-committee was informed that future plans and opportunities within theme included:

·         Using LEP funding to develop a new Business Support programme

·         To bring forward Local Plan and CIL in line with Local Development statement

·         To develop further  Section 106 policies to ensure local employment and skills opportunity as part of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 24.

The Committee is to receive a verbal update to the Cabinet Report.

In accordance with the Council’s Continuous Improvement Model, the sub-committee received a presentation update on the Nature Conservation and Bioversity Strategy from the Head of Culture and Leisure Service.

The Sub-Committee was informed that Cabinet had agreed a three year Nature Conservation and Biodiversity Strategy in January 2014.

The Sub-Committee noted the progress against the objectives and targets that had been included in the Action Plan, which formed part of the agreed Strategy.

The Sub-Committee was advised that the following positive progress had been made in relation to:

1.    Increasing the amount of natural space in the borough

2.    The management of wetlands

3.    The management of woodlands

4.    The management of grasslands, meadows and pastures

5.    The restoration of landscapes

6.    The management of gardens

7.    The protection of significant species

8.    Volunteering

9.    Publicity and Promotion

10.   Tourism

The Sub-Committee was advised that whilst some progress had been made, there were more work to be done in relation to:

1.    Wildlife corridors and ecological networks;

2.    Eutrophication

3.    Education

4.    Natural products / sustainable management

5.    Planning 

The Sub-Committee was informed that work was yet to begin in relation to the objectives on “Major roads as barriers to movement”.

The Sub-Committee noted the update.

The Committee without discussion agreed to note the 2014/2015 Annual Report and refer the report to Overview & Scrutiny Board.

The Committee is invited to review the report and note its content on the Corporate Performance information for Quarter Two and Three that was presented to Cabinet at its meeting on 10 December 2014 and 18 March 2015 respectively.

The Sub-Committee without any discussion agreed to note the Performance Indicators report that set out the Council’s performance against the Living Ambition Goal for Quarter Two and Three 2014/15.