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Agenda and minutes
Venue: Council Chamber, Upper Ground Floor, Aquila House, Breeds Place, Hastings, East Sussex, TN34 3UY
Contact: Michael Courts on 01424 451764 email mcourts@hastings.gov.uk
Note: The recording of this meeting is available to view online at www.hastings.gov.uk/my_council/cm/?video=194646765
Items No. Item Minutes of the meeting held on 7 November 2016 PDF 82 KB
Minutes:
RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 7 November 2016 be approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record
RESOLVED the Chair called over the items on the agenda, under rule 13.3 the recommendations set out in minute number 54 were agreed without being called for discussion
Petition in relation to Dog Control Orders and Public Space Protection Orders PDF 126 KB
(Cabinet Decision)
Minutes:
The Environment and Natural Resources Manager presented a report in response to a petition the council had received calling for a change in the times that dogs can be exercised off leads in St Leonards Gardens.
The petition was supported by 56 signatures. The lead petitioner, Mr Andy Cullis, presented the petition to Cabinet. He explained that the petitioners were seeking for the council to allow dogs to be exercised off leads in St Leonards Gardens throughout the day from 1 October to 1 May. Under the current framework, the Dogs on Leads (Borough of Hastings) Order 2008, dogs must be kept on leads in St Leonards Gardens between 9.00am and 6.00pm every day.
The Environment and Natural Resources Manager explained that the council was currently reviewing the way it deals with dog related offences. The council intended to replace all Dog Control Orders with Public Space Protection Orders by October 2017. This proposal would be subject to a full public consultation, and the report recommended that the council did not take any immediate action to change the times for dogs exercising off leads in any parks and open spaces before the consultation had been undertaken.
Cabinet thanked the petitioners for raising this matter.
Councillor Davies proposed approval of the recommendations to the Assistant Director, Environment and Place’s report, which was seconded by Councillor Cartwright.
RESOLVED (unanimously) that Cabinet:
1. Acknowledge the petition;
2. Recognise the council is currently working to replace Dog Control Orders with Public Space Protection Orders, and;
3. Inform the petitioner that no immediate action will be taken before full public consultation on Public Space Protection Orders has taken place at the appropriate time in the review
The reason for this decision was:
The petition has been received whilst the council are in the process of changing from its current system of Dog Control Orders to Public Space Protection Orders.
Due process of review, including public consultation should be completed before action is taken on the request in the petition.
Hastings Local Plan – Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) Update PDF 116 KB
(Cabinet Decision)
Additional documents:
Minutes:
The Assistant Director, Regeneration and Culture, presented a report to advise of updates to the Hastings Local Plan Statement of Community Involvement (SCI).
The SCI, which sets out the council’s approach to community involvement and describes how and when people can get involved in both the plan making and development management process, forms part of a wider suite of documents which make up the Local Plan.
It was necessary to amend the SCI to reflect a decision made as part of the 2016/17 budget setting process, in respect of the methods the council will use to publicise planning applications. It had been agreed to replace the existing process of sending out neighbourhood notification letters with site notices, once an effective alerts and online system had been developed. The council recently launched an online self-service system, My Hastings Online, which enables interested parties to search for information about planning applications in their area and register for email updates.
Councillor Lee proposed an amendment to the SCI, seconded by Councillor Patmore, as follows:
“Amendment to statement of community involvement bullet point 1 paragraph 5.42 delete the words "and where necessary advertisements in the locally media" and add after the word " and adverts in the local media, we will also send letters of notification to owners and occupiers of neighbouring properties and have internal standards setting out how this is determined."
For ease 5.42 will now read as followsIn accordance with statutory requirements, notification of applications made to Hastings Borough Council will be done via sites notices and adverts in the local media, we will also send letters of notification to owners and occupiers of neighbouring properties and have internal standards setting out how this is determined”
The proposed amendment was lost by 2 votes for to 6 against.
The Director of Corporate Services and Governance commented that monitoring would be undertaken on the take-up of the new online offer.
Councillor Poole proposed approval of the recommendations to the Assistant Director, Regeneration and Culture’s report, which was seconded by Councillor Cartwright.
RESOLVED (by 6 votes for, 1 against with 1 abstention) that Cabinet adopts the updated SCI incorporating the changes as set out in appendix A to the Assistant Director, Regeneration and Culture’s report
The reason for this decision was:
To ensure that the adopted SCI is fully up-to-date and reflects the council’s current procedures relating to the publicity for applications for planning permission.
Financial & Legal Business Case for Local Housing Company
(Cabinet Decision)
Additional documents:
- Restricted enclosure 8 View the reasons why document 53./2 is restricted
- Restricted enclosure 9 View the reasons why document 53./3 is restricted
- Restricted enclosure 10 View the reasons why document 53./4 is restricted
Minutes:
The Assistant Director, Housing and Built Environment, presented a report which sought an in principle agreement to create a Housing Company, which will be wholly owned by the council.
The purpose of the Housing Company will be to generate additional income for the council. The report noted that a number of other local authorities had adopted similar models as a vehicle for property investment. The council had appointed consultants to carry out initial investigations of the legal and financial considerations involved in setting up the Housing Company. Once an in principle agreement to establish the company had been given, a detailed business case would be developed.
The Housing Company would be designed initially to acquire and provide housing for both sub-market and market rent in the Borough, but with the potential to undertake development activities (and provide housing for sale or rent) either inside or outside the Borough.
The Assistant Director, Financial Services and Revenues, said that the Audit Committee and ultimately Full Council would need to consider the appropriate level of investment in the company and the risks to the council, based on the business plan, as part of the budget setting process.Councillor Forward proposed approval of the recommendations to the Assistant Director, Housing and Built Environment’s report, which was seconded by Councillor Cartwright.
RESOLVED (by 6 votes for, 0 against, with 2 abstentions) that:
1. The principle of establishing a local housing company is supported on the basis of the governance and constitutional arrangements set out in the Assistant Director, Housing and Built Environment’s report;
2. A detailed company business plan and governance arrangements are developed for a wholly owned Housing Company and implemented subject to final approval by Full Council, and;
3. Funding from the council be determined following production of a viable and long term sustainable business plan
The reason for this decision was:
By agreeing to the recommendations, the council would be improving access to existing housing and delivering additional homes. This is key to the council’s regeneration plans and there are established corporate commitments covering the council’s housing and regeneration ambitions for the town.
There is also a necessity to generate new income streams to safeguard future service provision for residents, which has also been identified as a key corporate aim.
Land at Churchwood Drive
(Cabinet Decision)
Minutes:
The Assistant Director, Financial Services and Revenues, submitted a report which sought approval to settle a rent review.
RESOLVED that the rent review be settled for the amount set out in the Assistant Director, Financial Services and Revenues, report
The reason for this decision was:
There is no evidence for increasing the rent.
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