Agenda, decisions and minutes

(Assistant to the Chief Executive) To declare interests in any item on this agenda.

(a)       Pursuant to the Council’s Code of Member Conduct, Councillor R Bassett declared a personal interest in agenda item 5, Feasibility Studies – b. Whitehills Road, Loughton, by virtue of being related to a property owner in Whitehills Road. The Councillor had determined that his interest was non pecuniary and would remain in the meeting for the consideration of the issue.

(b)       Pursuant to the Council’s Code of Member Conduct, Councillor S Murray declared a personal interest in agenda item 5, Feasibility Studies – a. Kirby Close, Loughton, by virtue of knowing residents and have personal friends living in close proximity to Kirby Close. The Councillor had determined that his interest was non pecuniary and would remain in the meeting for the consideration of the issue.

(c)       Pursuant to the Council’s Code of Member Conduct, Councillor K Angold-Stephens declared a personal interest in agenda item 5, Feasibility Studies – a. Kirby Close, Loughton, by virtue of knowing residents that live in Kirby Close. The Councillor had determined that his interest was non pecuniary and would remain in the meeting for the consideration of the issue.

To confirm the minutes of the last meeting of the Committee held on  21 August 2014.

Resolved:

(1)        That the minutes of the last meeting held on 21 August 2014 be taken as read and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

To note the Terms of Reference of the Cabinet Committee, as amended by a Leaders Decision on the  27 August 2014.

Resolved:

(1)        That the Terms of Reference as amended by a Leader Decision on 27 August 2014 be noted.

(The Director of Communities) To consider the attached report (CHB-007-2014/15).

(1)     That the Cabinet Committee considered the viability of each of the 14 (fourteen) individual feasibility studies taken from the Cabinet approved list of Primary Sites, as listed below, for consideration for inclusion in a future phase of the Council Housebuilding Programme:

(a)        Kirby Close, Loughton - Garages 1-4

That the Cabinet Committee agreed this was a viable site to progress to a detailed planning stage.

(b)        Whitehills Road, Loughton - Garages 354-380

That the Cabinet Committee agreed this was a viable site to go forward to the next stage. However, the final design will require more attention to access for waste collection and emergency vehicles and parking issues. This site was near a busy school which catered for children with special needs.

(c)        Hornbeam Close, Buckhurst Hill (Site A) - Garages 1-24

That the Cabinet Committee agreed this was a viable site to progress to a detailed planning stage.

(d)        Hornbeam Close, Buckhurst Hill (Site B) - Garages 25-38

That the Cabinet Committee agreed this was a viable site to progress to a detailed planning stage.

(e)        Hornbeam House, Buckhurst Hill - Garages 1-22

That Members agreed the Hornbeam House garage site be deferred until the next meeting of the Cabinet Committee on the 18 November 2014 for more information regarding access for emergency vehicles and a revised layout of the site.

(f)         Bourne House, Buckhurst Hill - Garages 12-36

That the Cabinet Committee agreed this was a viable site to progress to a detailed planning stage.

(g)        Pentlow Way, Buckhurst Hill - Garages 1-19

That the Cabinet Committee agreed this was a viable site to progress to a detailed planning stage.

(h)        Loughton Way, Buckhurst Hill - Garages 1-24

That the Cabinet Committee agreed this was a viable site to progress to a detailed planning stage.

(i)         Lower Alderton Hall, Loughton - Garages 440-445

That Members agreed the Lower Alderton Hall garage site be deferred until the next meeting of the Cabinet Committee on the 18 November 2014 for more information concerning the mature trees that were situated on the site.

(j)         Bushfields, Loughton - Garages 51-70

That the Cabinet Committee agreed this was a viable site to progress to a detailed planning stage.

(k)        Marlescroft Way, Loughton - Garages 581-591

That the Marlescroft Way garage site was not viable to go forward for future development due to concerns with this site being on a floodplain. The site should therefore be used to offset displaced garage tenants identified as part of the Oakwood Hill Task Force or demolished and kept as open car parking.

(l)         Chequers Road, Loughton (Site A) - Garages 146-171

That the Cabinet Committee agreed this was a viable site to progress to a detailed planning stage.

(m)      Chequers Road, Loughton  (Site B) - Garages 231-258

That the Cabinet Committee agreed this was a viable site to go forward to a detailed planning stage. Members noted that part of this site could not go forward due to an electricity sub station with  ...  view the full decision text for item 18.

The Assistant Director of Housing (Property) presented a report to the Cabinet Committee with regard to deciding on the feasibility studies of 14 (fourteen) garage sites around Loughton and Buckhurst Hill and to establish if they would go forward to the next stage or not.

The Assistant Director advised Members that each of the 14 sites were presented as individual feasibility studies, which identified the number of units and the mix that was achievable for each site, along with the total scheme cost and the subsidy required to deliver the affordable housing on each site. At this stage, Members were asked to consider the merits of each site and agree which would progress for inclusion in a future phase of the Council Housebuilding Programme in line with the Policy on Prioritisation of Sites.

Decision:

(1)     That the Cabinet Committee considered the viability of each of the 14 (fourteen) individual feasibility studies taken from the Cabinet approved list of Primary Sites, as listed below, for consideration for inclusion in a future phase of the Council Housebuilding Programme:

(a)        Kirby Close, Loughton - Garages 1-4

That the Cabinet Committee agreed this was a viable site to progress to a detailed planning stage.

(b)        Whitehills Road, Loughton - Garages 354-380

That the Cabinet Committee agreed this was a viable site to go forward to the next stage. However, the final design would require more attention to access for waste collection and emergency vehicles and parking issues. This site was near a busy school which catered for children with special needs.

(c)        Hornbeam Close, Buckhurst Hill (Site A) - Garages 1-24

That the Cabinet Committee agreed this was a viable site to progress to a detailed planning stage.

(d)        Hornbeam Close, Buckhurst Hill (Site B) - Garages 25-38

That the Cabinet Committee agreed this was a viable site to progress to a detailed planning stage.

(e)        Hornbeam House, Buckhurst Hill - Garages 1-22

That Members agreed the Hornbeam House garage site be deferred until the next meeting of the Cabinet Committee on the 18 November 2014 for more information regarding access for emergency vehicles and a revised layout of the site.

(f)         Bourne House, Buckhurst Hill - Garages 12-36

That the Cabinet Committee agreed this was a viable site to progress to a detailed planning stage.

(g)        Pentlow Way, Buckhurst Hill - Garages 1-19

That the Cabinet Committee agreed this was a viable site to progress to a detailed planning stage.

(h)        Loughton Way, Buckhurst Hill - Garages 1-24

That the Cabinet Committee agreed this was a viable site to progress to a detailed planning stage.

(i)         Lower Alderton Hall, Loughton - Garages 440-445

That Members agreed the Lower Alderton Hall garage site be deferred until the next meeting of the Cabinet Committee on the 18 November 2014 for more information concerning the mature trees that were situated on the site.

(j)         Bushfields, Loughton - Garages 51-70

That the Cabinet Committee agreed this was a viable site to progress to a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.

Section 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972, together with paragraphs 6 and 25 of the Council Procedure Rules contained in the Constitution require that the permission of the Chairman be obtained, after prior notice to the Chief Executive, before urgent business not specified in the agenda (including a supplementary agenda of which the statutory period of notice has been given) may be transacted.

In accordance with Operational Standing Order 6 (non-executive bodies), any item raised by a non-member shall require the support of a member of the Committee concerned and the Chairman of that Committee. Two weeks’ notice of non-urgent items is required.

The Cabinet Committee noted that there was no other urgent business for consideration.

Members of the Cabinet Committee are asked to note the dates of the next two meetings:

Tuesday 18 November 2014; and

Thursday 18 December 2014.

Members noted the dates of the next two meetings:

Tuesday 18 November 2014; and

Thursday 18 December 2014.

Councillor Bassett gave his apologies for the 18 November 2014 and Councillor Breare-Hall gave his apologies for both meetings.

Councillor Waller advised that he would arrange for substitute members.

The Cabinet Committee noted that there were no items of business on the agenda that necessitated the exclusion of the public and press from the meeting.