Minutes
of a
meeting of the
Scrutiny
Committee
|
|
held
on Monday, 31
July 2023at
7.00
pm
at
Abbey
House, Abbey Close, Abingdon OX14 3JE
Open to the public, including the
press
|
Present in
the meeting room:
|
Councillors: Katherine Foxhall
(Chair), Judy Roberts
(Vice-Chair),
Hayleigh Gascoigne,
Ron Batstone, Oliver Forder and
Robert Maddison
|
Officers:
Adrianna Partridge (Deputy Chief Executive – Transformation
and Operations) and Candida
Basilio (Democratic Services
Officer)
Cabinet member:
Councillor Sue Caul (Affordable Housing)
|
Also present:
|
Officer: Paul
Fielding (Head of Housing and Environment) and Suzanne Malcolm
(Deputy Chief Executive – Place)
<AI1>
1.
Apologies for
absence
There were no apologies for absence.
</AI1>
<AI2>
2. Urgent
business and chair's announcements
There was no urgent business or
announcements.
</AI2>
<AI3>
3.
Declaration of interests
There were no declarations of interest.
</AI3>
<AI4>
4. Minutes
of the last meeting
Resolved:
The minutes of the meeting on 12th
July 2023 were agreed as a correct record, and the chair will sign
them as such.
</AI4>
<AI5>
5. Work
schedule and dates for all Vale and Joint scrutiny
meetings
The committee noted the work programme.
A report was requested on the Beacon. Deputy
Chief Executive for Transformation and Operations would follow up
with the relevant officers on what could come forward and when.
</AI5>
<AI6>
6. Public
participation
There were no public speakers.
</AI6>
<AI7>
7. Section
106 affordable housing funding
Cabinet member for affordable housing
introduced the report. This was a requested refresh of the strategy
for applications for bids for affordable housing. Aims to ensure
bidders are clear on requirements before applying, and criteria
will be given which will be used by officers for bid
assessment.
The committee considered the report and policy
document (plus application form) for Section 106 affordable housing
funding.
The committee asked questions of the cabinet
member (Cllr Sue Caul) and officers Paul Fielding and Suzanne
Malcolm.
There was understanding that the policy was
designed to encourage applications and ensure the funding was used
up, not deterring smaller and different types of bidder.
The committee did make a range of observations
on the report to Cabinet, and the policy. Although members did not
vote on a recommendation, they were in agreement that officers and
the cabinet members should action where possible the following
suggestions that Scrutiny offer for improvement. It was noted that
South Oxfordshire’s scrutiny committee would being doing the
same exercise and there would be joint discussions between south
and vale cabinet members, in order to agree the best wording that
would encourage bidders and stand by the aims of the councils.
Officers and the cabinet member explained that the aim was to get
the money spent and keep the policy open to many types of developer
and not deter schemes that could potentially be worthwhile. Ensure
that smaller bidders can access support to develop suitable
schemes. The points below summarise the suggestions to be taken
forward.
- It was requested that wording was
strengthened in the report to emphasise that the money for bids was
ringfenced
- Paragraphs 20-21 in the report –
clarity requested on the spend limits for full council
approval
- Paragraph three of the policy – clarify
wording to explain this applies to housing sums only
- Paragraph four of the policy – wording
to be amended to explain the delivery of affordable housing and
that affordable housing in perpetuity was a requirement
- Paragraph four of the policy – it was
asked that officers distinguish between essential and desirable. It
was confirmed that this was in line with the Housing Strategy but
officers agreed to streamline the wording.
- Wording requested in the policy to explain
that a report on the assessment of the bid would be shared with the
applicant.
- Members felt that criteria from page two of
the policy could have more explanation, but officers did explain
that the purpose was to not be overly prescriptive, as this would
deter some bidders.
- Please remove undefined acronyms or provide
explanation – as it was a public facing document
- A discussion was had on what “low
cost” housing meant. Officer to add a line of wording on
asking bidders to explain what the resident’s experience
would be for utilities/ low-cost housing.
- Make “low running costs” a
markable criteria. This would include non-carbon utilities such as
water.
- Explanation wanted of what “adding
social value” was
- On page three of the policy, committee were
in agreement that the wording suggested for South Oxfordshire
District Council (SODC) on gas boilers being given a rating of zero
should be replicated for Vale of White Horse District Council
(VOWH), but with reconsideration of the wording. It was agreed that
the cabinet member would discuss with her counterpart at SODC to
come up with suitable wording that aligns for SODC and VOWH. The
committee were keen to balance encouraging bids with the commitment
the council has to climate, noting that officers were intending to
not exclude potential properties that already had gas boilers
installed, but would work with bidders to move towards efficient
carbon zero options that have low running costs. Committee felt
that if gas boilers scored low, it was one of many criteria and
shouldn’t deter bidders if the wording was considered
carefully.
- Officer will check whether bidders would need
to provide architect’s drawings at this stage
- A member asked a question about paragraph 23
of the policy with reference to ‘an indication of
timescale’, and whether more detail can be given. Chair
suggested that this was something picked up in the communications
on the website. Committee members noted the officer response as to
why it would difficult to provide clarity within the policy as each
case will vary.
</AI7>
<TRAILER_SECTION>
The meeting closed at 8.33 pm
|
Chair:
Date:
</TRAILER_SECTION>
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