Agenda, decisions and minutes

There were no declarations of interest made in accordance with the Code of Conduct.

To confirm as a correct record the Notes of the meeting of the Communities and Housing Advisory Board held on 8 June 2016

RESOLVED:  That the notes of the meeting of the Communities and Health Advisory Board held on 8 June 2016 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

The report of the Director of Planning, Housing and Environmental Health outlined the results of the recent review of the Housing Assistance Policy to ensure that it met corporate priorities and reflected current budgetary pressures.  The report set out details of proposed amendments to the eligibility criteria and the level of budget provided by the Borough Council and made particular reference to the implications this would have on the administration of Disabled Facilities Grants (DFGs) by allowing the introduction of additional discretionary grants from the increase in funding for the DFG element of the Better Care Fund.

RECOMMENDED:  That the Council be asked to

(1)          approve the proposed amendments to the Housing Assistance Policy and associated budget adjustments;

(2)          approve the proposed amendments to the Disabled Facilities Grants Policy and associated budget adjustments; and

(3)          agree that a budgetary provision of up to £10,000 be set aside in each of the next three years, fully funded from the Housing Assistance Reserve, in order to modernise the Housing Service. 

*     Referred to Cabinet

Decision Notice D160058MEM

The report of the Director of Street Scene, Leisure and Technical Services brought forward the Capital Plan Post Implementation Reviews in respect of Tonbridge Swimming Pool – Changing Village Floor; Leisure Centres – Energy Saving Measures Phase 3; Tonbridge Racecourse Sportsground – Floodlighting and Haysden Country Park – Improvements.  It was noted that all of the schemes had been within or below budget. 

RECOMMENDED:  That the Post Implementation Reviews outlined in the report be endorsed. 

The report of the Director of Street Scene, Leisure and Technical Services provided details of the results of the latest Active People Survey undertaken by Sport England to measure sports participation rates across all local authority areas within the UK.  The report highlighted the position within Kent and provided examples of a number of sports initiatives within the Borough.

The report of the Director of Planning, Housing and Environmental Health provided an update on affordable housing provision within the Borough.  Members’ attention was drawn to the current challenges facing the Strategic Housing Authority and the Board noted that a letter encapsulating these challenges and highlighting the Borough Council’s concerns would be sent from the Leader of the Council and the Cabinet Member for Housing to the local Members of Parliament.

The Chairman to move that the press and public be excluded from the remainder of the meeting during consideration of any items the publication of which would disclose exempt information.

There were no items considered in private.