At Annual Council on 15th May 2019, the terms of reference for each committee for the municipal year 2019/2020 were approved.

Cllr Poppy MOVED the motion and Cllr Mrs Tierney SECONDED the recommendations in the report.

A vote was taken by a show of hands and it was RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY:

1.    That the Committee notes the Terms of Reference (Appendix A) of the Community & Health Committee.

2.    That any amendments addressed by the Committee are reported to Chief Operating Officer/Corporate and Democratic Services Manager and a report to be taken to appropriate Ordinary Council Meeting for approval.

Reasons for Recommendation

The Council operates a committee system form of governance and is required by law to establish certain committees and has discretion to appoint other committees to facilitate the effective conduct of business under that   committee system.

In 2018 the Council refurbished the Play area in Warley Playing Fields and in 2019 commenced the installment of an outdoor gym on the site. The site was also used by football and rugby teams. The parking opposite the play area had a parking order to restrict it to residents parking only Monday to Friday. It was proposed that a 20-space car park be created on the site which would create parking for the play area, outdoor gym but also supported parking for football and rugby.

Members discussed possible options for the materials used for the parking such as Greencrete and queried the number of spaces.  Mrs Anderson had said that all factors around the car parking were dependent on planning permissions.

Cllr Poppy MOVED the motion and Cllr Mrs Tierney SECONDED the recommendations in the report.

A vote was taken by a show of hands and it was RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY:

1.    That Members note the proposal for a 20-space car park on Warley Playing Fields as indicated on the site map (Appendix A); and that

2.    Officers prepare a report for submission to Policy, Resources and

Economic Development Committee setting out the costs, resources and planning application required to complete the installation of the car park for the Committee’s approval.

Reasons for Recommendation

As part of the delivery of the Leisure Strategy, the Council needed to ensure that there was easy and accessible access to its facilities. The car park would support not only the refurbished play area and new outdoor gym it would also support the needs of the rugby and football clubs that also utilised the site.

A report to the 5 March 2018 Community Health and Housing Committee (min.ref. 292) and 4 July 2018 Community Health and House Committee (min.ref. 68) considered options for Brentwood Youth Athletic Football Club

around their occupation of Larkins Playing Fields. Larkins Playing Fields is designated public open space and has a number of restrictive covenants placed on it as part of the deed of gift when the site was given to the Council by the Larkin family. The Council had drawn a draft partnership agreement (Appendix A) which set out the roles and responsibilities for the club and Brentwood Borough Council. The partnership agreement would also help secure external funding through joint applications to improve the facilities on the site.   It was also recommended that the Council prepare and submit a planning application to increase the available car parking on the site.

Members shared views that parking was very important and should be policed by the Club. 

Cllr Aspinell requested that the Club would ensure the area was clean after use and should be included in the agreement. 

Cllr Poppy MOVED the motion and Cllr Mrs Tierney SECONDED the recommendations in the report.

A vote was taken by a show of hands and it was RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY:

1.    That Members agree the draft 5 year partnership agreement between Brentwood Borough Council and Brentwood Youth Athletic Football Club; and for officers to implement the partnership; and that

2.    Subject to that agreement, Officers prepare report for submission to Policy Resources and Economic Development Committee setting out the costs, resources and planning application required to complete the extension to the existing car park for Committee’s approval.

Reasons for Recommendation

One of the key recommendations in the Council’s Leisure Strategy was the improvement to leisure facilities across the Borough and working in partnership to deliver the expected outcomes from the Strategy. Comments received from Sport England as part of the Local Development Plan consultation, stated that a Leisure Strategy was required that assessed Council owned sports and leisure facilities in order that the Council can continue to work with partners to ensure that appropriate provision was made for the residents of Brentwood. The strategy would not only consider how the Council can provide services, but also how other partners could. The strategy would also use current sports facility evidence to identify strategic priorities to then inform what would be included in the Council’s Infrastructure Delivery Plan.  Following the feasibility work, the Council would then be able to determine which projects would be funded by the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) and those funded by planning obligations.

The Council’s Asset Management Strategy 2014/15 also set out the need to obtain maximum income where possible from its asset portfolio.

The report highlighted the health and wellbeing workplan, projects that were delivered during 2018-2019 and the planned projects for 2019-20.

Cllrs Sanders and Davies praised the work from Jo Cory, Public Health Improvement Practitioner, who since starting in the role had been very proactive and made great improvements.       

Cllr Poppy MOVED the motion and Cllr Mrs Tierney SECONDED the recommendations in the report.

A vote was taken by a show of hands and it was RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY:

That Members note the report detailing the work undertaken by Livewell Brentwood, the Health and Well-being Board for Brentwood in 2018-19 and the planned projects for 2019-20.

Reasons for Recommendation

The Health and Wellbeing Workplan needed to reflect the priorities of the strategy, the available health data and the Essex County Council Health and Wellbeing Strategy to ensure the health and wellbeing of Brentwood residents is maintained and improved.

To consider and note the Food Service Plan for 2019-2020 which set out details of the planned food inspection and other interventions including a review of the year 2018 -2019.

Cllr Mrs Davies congratulated the achievements recognised.    

Cllr Poppy MOVED the motion and Cllr Mrs Tierney SECONDED the recommendations in the report.

A vote was taken by a show of hands and it was RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY:

That the Food Service Plan for 2019-2020 be agreed.

Reasons for Recommendation

The service plan encompassed the requirements of the Food Standards Agency Framework agreement.

An application had been received for a summary review of the premises license in respect of The Swan, 123 High Street, Brentwood, CM14 4RX and the licensing sub-committee that had heard the case on 21.6.19 had decided that as an interim step the premises  licence should be suspended until the full hearing on 18 July 2019.

A representation had been made against the interim steps and this hearing had been convened to consider the representation.

The sub-committee heard from the Licensing Officer, the legal representative for the licensee then Essex Police and retired to consider their decision.

The Committee was of the opinion that the short suspension had had the desired effect and that the conditions offered at appendices D, E (i) and E (ii) to the report addressed the licensing objectives. However the Committee felt that to address the crime and disorder objective condition 3 at Appendix D had to come into effect before suspension was lifted. The Committee decided to delate the final sentence of this condition and to insert the following words to replace it -

The suspension will remain in place until such time as this condition is fulfilled to the satisfaction of the Principal Licensing Officer.

______________________________

At Annual Council on 15th May 2019, the terms of reference for each committee for the municipal year 2019/2020 were approved.

A motion was MOVED by Cllr Hossack and SECONDED by Cllr Kerslake to agree the recommendations in the report.

A vote was taken by a show of hands and it was RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY:

1.    That the Committee notes the Terms of Reference (Appendix A) of the Environment, Enforcement and Housing Committee.

2.    That any amendments addressed by the Committee are reported to Chief Operating Officer/Corporate and Democratic Services Manager and a report to be taken to appropriate Ordinary Council Meeting for approval.

Reasons for Recommendation

The Council operates a committee system form of governance and is required by law to establish certain committees and has discretion to appoint other committees to facilitate the effective conduct of business under that committee system.

The report set out proposals to adopt a formal capital receipts expenditure mechanism relating to Right to Buy (‘RTB’) sales. The mechanism would allow for a more focussed and transparent approach to expenditure of monies from the sale of HRA housing stock (known as ‘RTB capital receipts’)

The mechanism was a high-level approach to ensuring that capital receipts were retained by the Council and allocated to garage site re-developments with outline planning permission. The purpose was to increase efficiency and to provide improved value for money through site-specific building projects.

The mechanism would adopt the procedure of seeking outline planning permissions and then linking earmarked capital receipts. Protection of the receipts in a timely manner would allow for subsequent approval of site specific projects by Committee and consideration of detailed feasibility reports.

Members requested that an updated HRA Capital Receipt Expenditure Tracker (Appendix A of the report) be brought to future committees.

A motion was MOVED by Cllr Hossack and SECONDED by Cllr Kerslake to agree the recommendations with a slight amendment (see below).

A vote was taken by a show of hands and it was UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED:

1. That the Committee formally approve Option 1 (to implement the capital receipts expenditure mechanism.

2. That the Committee formally approves delegated authority for the Housing Services Manager in consultation with the Chair and/or Vice Chair of Environment, Enforcement and Housing Committee to designate sites for re-development and submit outline planning permission for those sites.

3. That if agreed, the proposal is referred to the Council’s Policy, Resources and Economic Development Committee for approval.

Reasons for Recommendation

Option 1 was recommended as the most transparent option for the Council and supports the ‘Getting our House in Order’ transformation programme for Housing Services. It would work towards ensuring financial stability and revenue protection.

Taking no further action would fail to advance corporate priorities and would be counter to our modernisation approach and monetary responsibilities.

At the meeting of the Environment and Housing Management Committee in September 2017 Members adopted the Empty Homes Strategy 2017 – 2020 (Appendix A) which proposed measures to try to reduce the number of empty homes in the Borough.

The Strategy set out the powers available and proposals to contact and engage with the owners of long-term empty properties in the Borough.

The report outlined the current position and proposals for next steps.

A motion was MOVED by Cllr Hossack and SECONDED by Cllr Kerslake to agree the recommendations.

A vote was taken by a show of hands and it was RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY:

1. That Members note the Empty Homes Strategy (Appendix A) and consider further actions to tackle empty homes in the Borough.

2. Officers are instructed to identify opportunities to work collaboratively with other Essex authorities to achieve outcomes

3. Officers seek to engage other agencies or authorities to assist where current staff resources limit progress on measures to encourage reuse of empty homes.

4. Officers report back to future Committees on actions to engage with partners.

Reasons for Recommendation

To ensure that some action was taken to identify, contact and encourage the reduction of the number of empty homes in the Borough within the limited resources available, and to identify what resources would be needed or could be made available.

To seek to ensure that the costs of enforcement action was recovered where possible.

The report followed the decision of the Environment and Enforcement Committee on March 20th Min 395. This gave authority for officers to commence working up a business case and implementation plan for the introduction of a revised method to collect recycled waste and in doing so make environmental improvements whilst reducing the service cost of the operation.

The report confirmed the approach to the revised collection service including financial information identifying a cost benefit.

The information within the report and the business case at Appendix A identified the scope, procurement and communication plan.

It provided further details on the scheme and how the waste will be split from one recycling bag in to two which is beneficial to both the Council financially and the environment as a whole.

The Chair requested an update into what could be done for commercial collections. 

A motion was MOVED by Cllr Hossack and SECONDED by Cllr Kerslake to agree the recommendations.

A vote was taken by show of hands and it was RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY:

That the committee approve the:

·         redesigned recycling scheme

·         to carry out an Equality Impact Assessment,

·         draft communications plan and

·         timescales for implementation.

That final draft calendar and guidance information to be published to residents be consulted with members prior to release.

Reasons for Recommendation

The benefits and non-benefits include ‘inter alia’:

·         Increase in revenue and a reduction in costs.

·         Improvement in the quality of recycling collected.

·         Minimal change in the service provided to residents.

·         Manageable budgetary pressures.

Members are requested to agree to the recommendations as they will enable the evolution of the Council’s Waste Management Service to meet current and future challenges.

The Council owns a range of garage sites across the Borough, including those that are disused and hard to let. Members previously agreed that Officers should identify the potential redevelopment of sites that provided an immediate opportunity for new affordable housing.

Officers had identified two potential sites. One site was at Brookfield Close, Hutton and the second at Sir Francis Way, which is located in Brentwood, very close to the Town Centre. Both sites provided excellent potential for redevelopment.

At the Community, Health & Housing Committee on the 5th March 2019, delegated authority was approved for the Housing Services Manager to commission an architect to prepare a feasibility report for both sites to establish the viability of each which will outline potential on both sites, and inform in terms of quantum and tenure mix.

A motion was MOVED by Cllr Hossack and SECONDED by Cllr Kerslake to agree the recommendations with a slight amendment (see below).

A vote was taken by a show of hands and it was RESOLVED UNANIMOSLY:

1. That the Committee formally approves delegated authority for the Housing Services Manager in consultation with the Chair and/or Vice Chair of Environment, Enforcement and Housing Committee to submit outline planning permission for both sites at Brookfield Close, Hutton and Sir Francis Way.

2. That the feasibility report outcomes are reported to the next appropriate Environment, Enforcement & Housing Committee.

3. That if agreed, the proposal is referred to the Council’s Policy, Resources and Economic Development Committee for approval.

Reasons for Recommendation:

The mechanism proposed front-loads the procedure for allocating RTB monies to site-specific construction projects with outline planning proposals, without Committee approval at the initial stage. It would allow for a more streamlined and efficient method of retaining the RTB monies for use within the Borough.

Option 1 was recommended as the most transparent option for the Council and supported the ‘Getting our House in Order’ transformation programme for Housing Services. It worked towards ensuring financial stability and revenue protection.

The report provided the committee with a progress update on matters in relation to the following:

·         Axis Contract

·         Stock condition survey

·         Planned Maintenance programme

·         Compliance

·         Keystone

·         Snakes Hill

The update report followed on from the previous progress report on these matters which were provided to the 5th March 2019 Community, Health & Housing Committee.

A presentation was given by Steve Summers. 

The Chair requested an update for Snakes Hill and the stages of procurement for the next committee.    

A motion was MOVED by Cllr Hossack and SECONDED by Cllr Kerslake to agree the recommendations.

A vote was taken by a show of hands and it was RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY:

To note the contents of the report. 

Reasons for Recommendation

The report highlights progress on Asset Management, Capital Programme and Compliance in Housing. Members were invited to comment on the report contents.

The report was intended to update the Environment, Enforcement & Housing Committee of the progress of the 2016/17 and 2017/18 Audit reviews for Housing Services. Those Audits were included in the Council’s approved Audit plans for 2016/17.

The outcome of the 2016/17 internal audit review was originally reported to the Audit Committee on the 27th September 2017 (“Audit Report 1 –May 2017”).

The outcome of the 2017/18 internal audit review was originally reported to the Audit Committee on the 14th December 2017 (“Audit Report 2 – November 2017).

Both Audit reports would enable the Housing Service to concentrate on specific areas highlighted by the Audit recommendations to implement essential service improvements as part of the transformation programme ‘Getting Our House in Order’.

A presentation was given by Stuart Morris. 

A motion was MOVED by Cllr Hossack and SECONDED by Cllr Kerslake to agree the recommendations. 

A vote was taken by a show of hands and it RESOLVED:

1.    That the Committee receives and notes the progress made from the 5th March 2019 committee report as outlined in both Audit Reports (as summarised in Appendix A).

2.    That the Committee agree that a further report on progress made on implementing the recommendations is presented to the next Committee.

Reasons for Recommendation

To monitor the progress of work against the highlighted actions arising from the two Audit Reports and the management actions in response to those recommendations.

The report set out a proposal to co-opt representatives of Tenants Talkback into the Environment, Enforcement and Housing Committee for housing related items, in accordance with the Council constitution.

A motion was MOVED by Cllr Hossack and SECONDED by Cllr Kerslake to agree the recommendations in the report.

A vote was taken by a show of hands and it was RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY:

1. Tenant Talkback be invited to send two representatives to each meeting of the Environment, Enforcement and Housing Committee where housing items are to be discussed.

2. The representatives of Tenants Talkback be co-opted onto the committee for the duration of the consideration of these items, and have the right to speak, but not vote.

3. The Housing Manager be requested to arrange appropriate training of the representatives.