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Agenda and minutes
Venue: Muriel Matters House, Breeds Place, Hastings, East Sussex, TN34 3UY. Please enter the building through the Contact Centre entrance via the seafront.
Contact: Democratic Services on 01424 451484 email: democraticservices@hastings.gov.uk
Items No. Item Apologies for Absence
Minutes:
Apologies received from Councillors Bacon and Turner
Declarations of Interest
Minutes:
Councillor
Item
Interest
Cllr Carr
4
Personal – Member of Steering group for Eagle House
Cllr Hilton
4
Personal – Member of Garden Town Team
Minutes of the Previous Overview and Scrutiny Committee PDF 85 KB
Minutes:
Councillor Hilton asked when will the Head of Housing’s report be available. The Chief Executive answered the report is being prepared and will be shared soon.
RESOLVED – that the minutes of the meeting held on 19th September 2023 be approved as a true record.
Hastings Town Deal Programme Update PDF 184 KB
(Victoria Conheady, Deputy Chief Executive & Director of Place)
Additional documents:
- Appendix 1 - Programme project summary , item 4. PDF 113 KB
- Appendix 2 - Hastings TIP presentation October 2023 (002) , item 4. PDF 2 MB
Minutes:
Given the issues around Owens including it appears, no final sign off of the building for safety and local builders being left with significant debts as well as the sudden closing of the business resulting in many people losing their jobs, what auditing processes are in place to ensure work is completed satisfactorily before payment is made from the Town Deal funds.
The Economic Development Manager explained that Owens plan to rebrand and reopen in 2024. The building safety is dealt with by building control and the Fire Brigade.
For all future projects it is being reviewed to request relevant building and safety certificates before making the last stage payments. These will have to be accepted on face value as the responsibility for satisfactory building works is that of the owners of the building or the operators / users.
Councillor Sinden asked if surveys were completed prior to work starting. The Town Fund Project and Finance Officer answered that building regs are in in place for the separation of the two buildings for the two projects, the building was structurally sound, and the owners conducted a full structural survey prior to buying the site.
Councillor Patmore asked how have Owens received towns deal money when they owe payments to local contractors. The Economic Development Manager explained it is disappointing that Owens hasn’t paid their contractors and that disputes within projects will in future will need to be highlighted as risks by the project leads. Councillor Patmore asked who signed off the business cases? The Economic Development Manager answered the project leads produce business cases which is the presented to the Town Board investment panel for full consideration. There is also an independent consultancy assessment of the business which the panel also takes into consideration. Business cases may also be called in by DLUHC when they are approving the ‘summary documents’ for the project submitted. Councillor Hilton suggested having experts in their field to review the business cases. The Economic Development Manager explained this will be considered for future projects.
Priory Meadow – Job Centre Plus was in the building for a very short time, this again indicates a failure in the business case. What reasons were given firstly for moving into the building and then very quickly moving out?
The Economic Development Manager explained the New Look building project was for both changing the ground floor and the first floor where the Gym group located. The DWP had funding to open an extra Job Centre Plus as a response to the ‘covid crises. It was expected to be open longer but they vacated early. The floor is let to Instant Offices who are working with New River REIT to find a new tenant. Rent is still being paid for the ground ... view the full minutes text for item 4.
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