This has been added to the agenda under Access to Information Procedure Rule 5.2, which states ‘Where there are special circumstances requiring an item to be added to the agenda after publication, the revised agenda will be open to inspection from the time the item was added to the agenda.’
Minutes:
Adjourned Special Full Council meeting from 1 December 2020 restarted at 8.00 pm.
During the discussion, the following points were raised:-
· Councillor Fran Smith proposed amended wording for the additional recommendation 2.8 which had been proposed by Councillor Gwil Wren, as follows:-
To set up a cross party working group of councillors to work constructively with officers to look at an options appraisal for Housing to be delivered by the Housing Revenue Account. The group must consider the North Taunton Woolaway project first, as a matter of urgency. Any recommendations or observations from the working group about this project would be sent to Scrutiny, Executive and Full Council for consideration and endorsement.
· The wording was accepted by Councillor Gwil Wren and by the seconder Councillor Janet Lloyd.
· Councillors wanted the project to be delivered on time and on budget for the community.
· Councillor Martin Hill withdrew his proposed deferment of the project.
· Councillors requested clarification on the amended wording.
Clarification was given.
· Councillor Benet Allen proposed that they moved straight to vote on the recommendations, which was seconded by Councillor Mark Lithgow and was carried.
· Councillor Roger Habgood requested a recorded vote be used, which was seconded by Councillor Federica Smith-Roberts and was carried.
Resolved that Full Council:-
1) Allocated a total scheme budget and borrowing requirement for Phases B-E and the conclusion of all phases of the regeneration scheme as set out in confidential Appendix A;
2) Delegated authority to the Section 151 Officer to determine the final funding profile for each future phase once the finalised designs had been received for Phases B-E and any relevant planning approval and contract costs had been received;
3) The decant of tenants within Phases B which would allow Gold band status in the Homefinder Somerset allocations system for tenants in this Phase and allow those who wished to move outside the regeneration area sufficient priority to move home;
4) Delegated authority to the Director of Housing and Communities in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Housing authority to approve future decanting and demolition for future phases;
5) That all new build properties (Phase A-D) would be set at affordable rents in line with the 2020 Rent Setting Policy. The affordable rents would be set to ensure scheme viability at between 60% and 80% of market rates. However, all NTWP SWT secure tenants who lived within the NTWP (Phases A-D) at February 2019, when the Council made its decision to regenerate the neighbourhood, would have their rents capped at the equivalent social rent if being rehoused in the new NTWP development. These rents would remain with the tenant as long as they retained their tenancy. No current NTWP SWT tenant would be required to pay above the equivalent social rent and service charge for their home in line with the Council Shadow Full Council approval to allow existing SWT tenants to remain on a social rent level; and
6) That a formal annual review of the project is undertaken to ensure that the project continues to deliver its objectives, positive outcomes for the community, our promises to tenants and value for money. That the report will be presented annually to Scrutiny Committee and Executive Committee.
7) To set up a cross party working group of councillors to work constructively with officers to look at an options appraisal for Housing to be delivered by the Housing Revenue Account. The group must consider the North Taunton Woolaway project first, as a matter of urgency. Any recommendations or observations from the working group about this project would be sent to Scrutiny, Executive and Full Council for consideration and endorsement.
Those voting FOR the MOTION: Councillors I Aldridge, B Allen, L Baker, M Blaker, C Booth, D Darch, C Ellis, H Farbahi, E Firmin, R Habgood, J Hassall, R Henley, Mrs M Hill, Mr M Hill, M Kravis, R Lees, S Lees, M Lithgow, J Lloyd, D Mansell, A Milne, D Perry, P Pilkington, H Prior-Sankey, A Pritchard, S Pugsley, M Rigby, F Smith, F Smith-Roberts, V Stock-Williams, P Stone, A Sully, R Tully, S Wakefield, A Wedderkopp, D Wedderkopp, B Weston and G Wren.
Those voting AGAINST the MOTION: Councillors H Davies and L Lisgo.
Those ABSTAINING from voting: Councillors S Buller, N Cavill, A Hadley and L Whetlor.