Decisions

The Leader of the Council will be asked to extend and vary the current contract pending the contract renewal which is expected for decision at January Cabinet.

The Leader of the Council is asked to note how the Council plans to use funding of an estimated £1.6m allocated to it by the Department of Health and

Social Care and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

from 2 December 2020 to 31 January 2021.

The Director will be asked to make a Direct Award through a framework.

To accept the recommendation to commit existing budget to support the application for GLA Grant Funding.

Cabinet will be asked to approve the membership and budget of Capital Letters, a Company jointly owned by the London Councils.

Cabinet:

1.    Agreed to join Capital Letters (London) Limited, a company limited by guarantee established by the London boroughs, as a member. This will procure or lease accommodation for the benefit of those London boroughs that become members of the company including signing the relevant Membership Agreement and Deed of Adherence.

2.    Agreed to pay the annual sum of £100,000 from the Flexible Homelessness Support Grant to Capital Letters.

3.    Agreed that the Council is represented  as a Member by Cllr Chapman  and note that this can be changed subject to availability for any Member Meetings.

Cabinet will be asked to approve the HRA Business Plan 2020-50.

Cabinet:

Noted the proposed income and expenditure for the housing revenue account business plan up to 2050.

Cabinet will be asked to approve an amendment to section 4.2.2 of the current allocations policy for an additional exception to be granted to allow for applicants from the gypsies and travelling communities, and those who can prove refugee status, to have their residency time spent in the borough reduced from six years to four years pending proof of continual residency and proof of positive community contribution in the Borough.

The original intention was for the matter to be resolved as part of the review of the overall allocations policy that is currently taking place. However the court has set a deadline of the 30th September 2020 for the amendment of the scheme to be agreed. The review of the allocation scheme is currently being reviewed by counsel to ensure that it meets the legal requirements and therefore the council is required to agree these minor revisions to alleviate the need for further legal action, and costs.

Cabinet:

Agreed the statutory consultation on the draft Housing Allocation Scheme attached as appendix 1 of the Cabinet report.

To suspend library services at the five branch libraries (Collier Row, Elm

Park, Gidea Park, Harold Wood, South Hornchurch) for a period of at least

six weeks to allow mass covid-19 testing sites to operate at those places.