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Agenda, decisions and minutes
Venue: This meeting will be taking place digitally on our website. A link to this will be posted nearer the time.
Contact: Democratic Services on 01424 451484 email: democraticservices@hastings.gov.uk
Note: Due to technical issues the video stream stopped. We will reschedule the meeting as soon as practical.
Items No. Item Apologies for Absence
Minutes:
No apologies received.
Declaration of Interests
Minutes:
Councillor
Minute
Declaration
O’Callaghan
258
Prejudicial – Lives near the property.
Minutes of Last Meeting PDF 469 KB
Minutes:
RESOLVED – that the minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 23rd March 2020 be approved as a true record.
Councillor Forward, Leader of the Council, announced that Bottle Alley had been lit in purple in memory of George Floyd and to show support for the Black Lives Matter movement. Councillor Forward said that racism has no place in society and it is important that everyone challenges all forms of discrimination and injustice.
In the absence of an Annual Council meeting the Leader of the Council announced the following changes to Cabinet and Committee membership:
Cabinet Appointments
Cllr Kim Forward, Leader of the Council: Strategy and Partnership Working
Cllr Colin Fitzgerald, Deputy Leader of the Council: Regeneration, Culture and Tourism
Cllr Peter Chowney: Financial Management and Estates
Cllr Judy Rogers: Equalities, Organisational Well-Being & Performance
Cllr Paul Barnett: Urban Environment and Community Safety
Cllr Maya Evans: Natural Environment and Leisure
Cllr Andy Batsford: Housing and Homelessness
Cllr Margi O’Callaghan: Chair of the Charity Committee
Councillors S Beaney, Lee and Patmore leave the Cabinet. The Leader of the Council thanked them for their service.
Committee Appointments
Councillors S Beaney and Webb join the Overview and Scrutiny Committee replacing Councillors Barnett and O’Callaghan.
Councillor Turner joins the Standards Committee replacing Councillor O’Callaghan.
Councillors S Beaney and Sinden join the Licensing Committee replacing Councillors Bishop and O’Callaghan.
Councillor Scott comes off the Working Arrangements Group, replaced by Councillor Webb.
Councillor Webb comes off the Planning Committee, replaced by Councillor Bacon.
Councillor Forward joins the Audit Committee and Councillors Berelson and Chowney come off.
COVID-19 response update PDF 928 KB
(Jane Hartnell, Managing Director)
(Cabinet Decision)
Minutes:
The Managing Director presented the report to update cabinet on the response to the Covid-19 pandemic and changes to service delivery and the business operation of the council.
The Managing Director confirmed that the community hub will be continuing to operate until at least 31st August even though demand is reducing. There are a small number of ongoing cases which do require very complex interventions.
In terms of Business Support Grants 1634 grant applications have been processed to date and over £19 million has been distributed to local businesses.
On the homelessness response it was noted that there are 236 households still in emergency accommodation. The Council received 25 new homelessness applications over the last 2 weeks. A full report from homelessness recovery sub-group will be presented to the July cabinet meeting. The Council is submitting a bid to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government for capital funding to provide further temporary accommodation for rough sleepers.
The Assistant Director, Regeneration and Culture informed the cabinet that the Council is working with East Sussex County Council to develop an economy recovery plan. Feedback from the Council and partners has been returned to East Sussex County Council. A final report is expected to be presented to Team East Sussex at the beginning of July. The Assistant Director confirmed that the County Council had an indicative allocation of about £500,000 in tranche 1 for the Emergency Active Travel Fund. Hastings Borough Council have submitted proposals for the fund and East Sussex County Council have submitted a county wide proposal.
The Leader of the Council thanked officers for a comprehensive report which is testament to the Council’s commitment to stand with the people of Hastings and support them through the most difficult of times.
Councillor Rogers thanked officers for their efforts in keeping Council services functioning in what has been an incredibly stressful period.
Planning Enforcement Policy Updated PDF 133 KB
(Andrew Palmer, Assistant Director, Housing and Built Environment)
(Cabinet Decision)
Additional documents:
Minutes:
Due to technical difficulties with the streaming service which interrupted the live broadcast of the meeting this item was not called and will be discussed at the next available meeting of cabinet.
Dangerous Structure at 2 - 12 Battle Road
- View the reasons why item 258. is restricted
- View the background to item 258.
- View the decision for item 258.
(Andrew Palmer, Assistant Director, Housing and Built Environment)
(Cabinet Decision)
Decision:
1. Cabinet agree that the Council should undertake works in relation to the dangerous structure at 2 – 12 Battle Road should an Order served on the owners of the premises under section 77 of the Building Act 1984 not be complied with.
2. Cabinet agree that a budget of £ 300,000 is allocated from the general reserve.
3. Cabinet agree the appointment of EAR SHEPPARD Consulting Civil and Structural Engineers Ltd to prepare a schedule of demolition and act as contract administrator for works.
Minutes:
This item was discussed in private session as the Assistant Director’s report contained exempt information as defined in Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.
Due to a prejudicial interest Councillor O’Callaghan left the meeting for the duration of this item.
The Assistant Director, Housing and Built Environment, presented the report to advise Cabinet of the latest engineering information on the property and the legal position regarding the future of the structure.
Councillor Forward proposed approval of the recommendation of the Assistant Director’s report, seconded by Councillor Rogers.
RESOLVED (unanimously) that:
1. Cabinet agree that the Council should undertake works in relation to the dangerous structure at 2 – 12 Battle Road should an Order served on the owners of the premises under section 77 of the Building Act 1984 not be complied with.
2. Cabinet agree that a budget of £300,000 is allocated from the general reserve.
3. Cabinet agree the appointment of EAR SHEPPARD Consulting Civil and Structural Engineers Ltd to prepare a schedule of demolition and act as contract administrator for works.
Reason for the decision
- Following a complaint about a possible dangerous structure at 2
– 12 Battle Road EAR SHEPPARD Consulting Civil and Structural
Engineers Ltd were appointed to assess the structural stability of
the property. EAR SHEPPARD identified that the structure is not in
danger of imminent collapse, however collapse cannot be entirely
ruled out at some point and therefore it remains at risk. As such
an Order under section 77 of the Building Act 1984 has been
obtained to mandate the owners of the properties to take action. Should the owners not comply with the
order the Council can undertake works to make the premises safe and
seek to recover the cost.
- No
expenditure is presently included in the Councils budget for these
works.
- In order to be able to progress works as soon as reasonably practicable the appointment of EAR SHEPPARD Consulting and Structural Engineers Ltd. is necessary due to their existing familiarity with the site and preparatory work already completed.
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