Agenda and draft minutes

Venue: Havering Town Hall, Main Road, Romford

Contact: Anthony Clements 01708 433065  Email: anthony.clements@oneSource.co.uk

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Items
No. Item

23.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND ANNOUNCEMENT OF SUBSTITUTE MEMBERS

Apologies have been received from Councillors Dilip Patel and Philip Ruck.

Minutes:

Apologies were received from Councillors Mandy Anderson (Jane Keane substituting) Dilip Patel and Philip Ruck (John Tyler substituting).

24.

DISCLOSURE OF INTERESTS

Members are invited to disclose any interest in any of the items on the agenda at this point of the meeting.

 

Members may still disclose any interest in an item at any time prior to the consideration of the matter.

 

Minutes:

5. 2025/26 BUDGET SETTING CYCLE.

Councillor Jane Keane, Non Pecuniary, Trustee of Havering Museum..

 

25.

MINUTES pdf icon PDF 289 KB

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meetings of the Board held on 12 December 2024 and 8 January 2025 and to authorise the Chairman to sign them.

 

Note: Exempt minutes of 8 January 2025 meeting not available to press or public.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 12 December 2024 and the open and exempt minutes of the meeting held on 8 January 2025 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

26.

2025/26 BUDGET SETTING CYCLE pdf icon PDF 275 KB

Available reports (Budget, Capital Programme Strategy and Treasury Management Strategy Statement) attached, remainder to follow.

 

Please note that, whilst the reports are correct at the time of publication, it is possible that they may change significantly by the time they are presented to Cabinet and Council.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Havering Wates

 

Officers advised that all shared ownership units at the New Green development had now been sold. Thirteen units had thus far been sold at the Park Rise later living development with a further thirty-six units for open market sale. Sales were monitored regularly at the Joint Venture Board. Sales levels had been slightly slower than hoped but were at a similar rate for the sector. The Joint Venture allowed the Council to purchase units at a discount. Park Rise was supported housing for older people so it was not thought to be advisable to offer these units to younger families. A Member suggested that occupants of nearby under-occupied flats could be moved to Park Rise, thus allowing large accommodation to be freed up for families. Officers were happy to investigate this.

 

Schemes in the design stage included Chippenham Road and Farnham/Hilldene. The Waterloo Road/Queen Street development had been paused to allow the meeting of the requirements of the Building Safety Act.

 

As regards supporting infrastructure for the developments, a three-form of entry school had been identified for the Bridge Close development. It was accepted that future developments would require a large amount of planning applications and discussions were in progress with the Head of Planning to ensure sufficient planning resources were available.

 

While it was noted that the new schemes were not at the formal consultation stage yet, Members requested more information on the social value aspects of the schemes and how s. 106 funding could be used for the needs of the local community. Information on this prepared by Wates could be shared with the Board.

 

It was confirmed that work on the Waterloo Estate would include upgrades to roads and pavements in this area.

 

Housing Revenue Account

 

The proposed Housing Revenue Account (HRA) and Capital budgets were presented to the Board for scrutiny. Rent levels in Havering were lower compared to most of London. The HRA business plan included funding for affordable housing in areas such as Bridge Close and Hilldene. It was confirmed that the costs of the CCTV upgrade would be added back into service charges. No costs however from meeting the new building safety requirements would be added on to service charges. Few challenges from tenants had been received re the level of service charge. More were received from leaseholders and Members wished to see figures for these.

 

Estate services were not contracted out and housing management staff were directly employed by the Council. Government guidance was awaited clarifying the public sector exemption from recent changes to National Insurance.

 

The Havering level of Decent Homes (96.3%) was relatively high. Interest rates on borrowing to meet these standards had risen but had now fallen again. The Council’s treasury management strategy had been followed and it had not been necessary to borrow more than expected. Purchased properties were surveyed to establish the level of work needed to bring a property up to standard. Any changes in the amount of National Insurance charges would have to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 26.