Issue - meetings

The motion submitted by Councillor Aziz on public consultation around the Housing Infrastructure Fund scheme had been considered by the Executive.  The Executive had not been supportive of the Motion and had recommended an amended Motion to read as follows:

“When the successful Housing Infrastructure Fund bid for £95m was made, the Council did not know it would succeed and therefore did not consult in detail on building the homes in the town centre afforded by the scheme.

In order to address this, this Council agrees:

i)        the HIF scheme housing requirement be part of the Town Centre Masterplan consultation;

This Council also notes:

ii)       the commitment already made by the Council as part of the HIF project; and

iii)      the housing numbers already agreed by the Government.”

Councillor Aziz requested that his motion as originally submitted be debated.  Accordingly, the recommendations of the Executive fell and Councillor Aziz’s original motion, as set out below, became the substantive motion for consideration.

“While we fully believe in development, improvement and raising Woking’s profile it seems odd and contrary to democratic principles that we do not consult public on major plans.

It strikes most odd that the council consulted on building 2180 homes, as in the DPD, but did not consult on 5000+ homes in the town center and simply wishes to adopt the HIF scheme.

This motion calls for:

1)      The HIF scheme housing to be put to public consultation with full honest disclosures.

2)      The council cease to make any further promises on HIF to any bodies until such consultation is complete.

3)      The council re asses the scheme’s housing targets under new market conditions, (especially post COVID) public opinion and if needed is open to renegotiations with central government.”

The Members of the Council debated the proposals, noting the concerns over the HIF scheme and the development of a Town Centre Masterplan which would shape the future of the town centre through public engagement.

The Mayor referred to the motion as originally submitted by Councillor Aziz and in accordance with Standing Order 10.8 the names of Members voting for and against the motion were recorded.

In favour:                                Councillors T Aziz, A-M Barker, A Boote, M Bridgeman, W Forster, K Howard, I Johnson, D Hughes, A Kirby, R Leach, L Morales, M I Raja and D Roberts.

Total in favour:                       13

Against:                                  Councillors S Ashall, A Azad, J Brown, K Davis, S Dorsett, G Elson, D Harlow, S Hussain, C Kemp, R Mohammed, C Rana and M Whitehand.

Total against:                         12

Present not voting:                 The Mayor, Councillor Lyons.

Total present not voting:        1

The motion was therefore carried by 13 votes in favour to 12 votes against.

RESOLVED

That the Motion be supported.

Reporting Person – Corporate Leadership Team

At its meeting on 8 April 2021, the Council referred the following Notice of Motion to the Executive.

Councillor T Aziz

“While we fully believe in development, improvement and raising Woking’s profile it seems odd and contrary to democratic principles that we do not consult public on major plans.

It strikes most odd that the council consulted on building 2180 homes, as in the DPD, but did not consult on 5000+ homes in the town center and simply wishes to adopt the HIF scheme.

This motion calls for:

1)      The HIF scheme housing to be put to public consultation with full honest disclosures.

2)      The council cease to make any further promises on HIF to any bodies until such consultation is complete.

3)      The council re asses the scheme’s housing targets under new market conditions, (especially post COVID) public opinion and if needed is open to renegotiations with central government.”

Councillor Aziz attended the meeting and spoke in support of the Motion.  Attention was drawn to the comprehensive Officer comment and it was noted that there was no requirement for further promises in relation to HIF.  Following a question regarding the details of the agreement with Homes England, Councillor Kemp advised that the Executive at its meeting on 6 February 2020, and Council at its meeting on 13 February 2020, had received a draft copy of the full agreement in Part II.  Councillor Kemp advised that he had asked Officers to check whether there were any differences between the draft and final agreement.

The Leader stated that wider consultation on the town centre would take place through the Town Centre Masterplan process and that it would be appropriate to include the HIF scheme housing requirement as part of that consultation.  It was noted that the development of the Masterplan was underway and would form a key element of the Council’s Big Conversation with all sectors of the community.  In addition, the Council’s consultation on its Housing Strategy was currently live and all Members and residents were encouraged to submit their views.

The Executive was not supportive of Cllr Aziz’s Motion and agreed an amended Motion to read as follows:

“When the successful Housing Infrastructure Fund bid for £95m was made, the Council did not know it would succeed and therefore did not consult in detail on building the homes in the town centre afforded by the scheme.

In order to address this, this Council agrees:

i)        the HIF scheme housing requirement be part of the Town Centre Masterplan consultation;

This Council also notes:

ii)       the commitment already made by the Council as part of the HIF project; and

iii)     the housing numbers already agreed by the Government.”

RECOMMENDED to Council

That the Motion, as amended by the Executive, be supported.