Agenda and minutes

To approve the minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on 13 July 2017 as published.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on 13 July 2017 be approved and signed as a true and correct record.

To receive declarations of disclosable pecuniary and other interest from Members in respect of any item to be considered at the meeting.

In accordance with the Members’ Code of Conduct, the Leader of the Council, Councillor D J Bittleston, Councillor Mrs B A Hunwicks and Councillor C S Kemp have declared a non-pecuniary interest in Agenda Items 11, 13 and 14 arising from their positions as Directors of the Thameswey Group of Companies.

In accordance with Officer Procedure Rules, the Chief Executive, Ray Morgan, the Deputy Chief Executive, Douglas Spinks, and Strategic Director, Sue Barham, have declared an interest in Agenda Items 11, 13 and 14 arising from their positions as Directors of the Thameswey Group of Companies.

In accordance with Officer Procedure Rules, the Chief Executive, Ray Morgan, has declared an interest in Agenda Items 13 and 14 arising from his position as a Director of Bandstand Square Developments Limited.

In accordance with Officer Procedure Rules, the Deputy Chief Executive, Douglas Spinks, will declare an interest in any item in which Brookwood Cemetery is referred to arising from his position as a Director of Woking Necropolis and Mausoleum Limited, Brookwood Park Limited and Brookwood Cemetery Limited.

In accordance with the Members’ Code of Conduct, the Leader of the Council, Councillor D J Bittleston, Mrs B A Hunwicks and C S Kemp declared a non-pecuniary interest in minute item 9 – Performance and Financial Monitoring Information, minute item 11 – Land Management – Former Planets Site and minute item 12 – Land Management – Acquisition of Woking Town Centre Property arising from their positions as Directors of the Thameswey Group of Companies.  The interests were such that speaking and voting were permissible.

Councillor S Hussain declared an interest in minute item 4 – Licensing Private Rented Accommodation – Proposal to make a selective licensing designation in part of Canalside Ward arising from his position as a small landlord.  As Councillor Hussain was a landlord of a property not in the Canalside Ward, the interest was not a formal interest under the Members’ Code of Conduct.  Councillor Hussain would, if advised to do so by the Chief Executive, leave the Chamber if the debate became a wider discussion on landlords.

In accordance with Officer Procedure Rules, the Chief Executive, Ray Morgan, Deputy Chief Executive, Douglas Spinks, and Strategic Director, Sue Barham, declared an interest in minute item 9 – Performance and Financial Monitoring Information, minute item 11 – Land Management – Former Planets Site and minute item 12 – Land Management – Acquisition of Woking Town Centre Property arising from their positions as Directors of the Thameswey Group of Companies.  The interests were such that speaking was permissible.

In accordance with Officer Procedure Rules, the Chief Executive, Ray Morgan, declared an interest in minute item 11 – Land Management – Former Planets Site and minute item 12 – Land Management – Acquisition of Woking Town Centre Property arising from his position as a Director of Victoria Square Woking Limited. The interest was such that speaking was permissible.

In accordance with Officer Procedure Rules, the Deputy Chief Executive, Douglas Spinks, would declare an interest in any item in which Brookwood Cemetery was referred to arising from his position as a Director of Woking Necropolis and Mausoleum Limited, Brookwood Park Limited and Brookwood Cemetery Limited.

Reporting Person – Sue Barham

The Executive received a report which recommended to Council the adoption of the Private Rented Sector Access Scheme Policy.  Councillor C S Kemp, Portfolio Holder for Private Sector Housing, explained that the Policy set out how the Council intended to assist homeless households access accommodation in the private rented sector to prevent and relieve homelessness, as well as encouraging landlords to engage with the Council.  Following a question regarding the impact on existing tenants and bond holders from April 2018, it was noted that tenants with bonds would be given advice.  The Portfolio Holder confirmed that a holistic approach would be taken when assisting tenants.  The Executive was advised that the report would be reviewed by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee at its meeting on 18 September 2017.

Reporting Person – Sue Barham

The Executive received a report which recommended to Council the proposal to introduce a selective licensing scheme in part of Canalside Ward.  It was noted that the scheme aimed to deliver improvements to the management of private rented accommodation through the imposition of licence conditions.  The Portfolio Holder for Private Sector Housing, Councillor Kemp, reported that there would be opportunities for landlords to join the proposed scheme without paying a fee.  Councillor Kemp advised that the report would be reviewed by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, at its meeting on 18 September 2017, which would provide an opportunity for Members to go through the proposal in detail.  Concern was expressed about the suitability of the scheme, the cost of the scheme, the potential impact on tenants and the consultation responses to the proposal.  Councillor I Johnson commented that information on the schemes used by other Borough’s would be useful when the matter was discussed further at the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Reporting Person – Sue Barham

The Executive received a report which recommended to Council proposed updates to the procedure for consulting Leaseholders for major works and approval for an updated scheme for recharging major works service charges.  It was noted that Leaseholders had been consulted via the Leaseholder Forum held on 6 September 2017.

Reporting Person – Leigh Clarke

The Executive received a report which sought approval of the Council’s Discretionary Business Rates Relief Scheme.  It was noted that the distribution of relief would be to those properties with a rateable value between £20,000 and £200,000 who had received an increase in rates of more than 12.5%.  Officers explained that the reliefs set out in the report aimed to provide businesses with additional time in order to adjust to the new business rates levels.  It was noted that the charges levied had been provided by the Valuation Office.

Reporting Person – Douglas Spinks

The Executive received a report which sought authority to enable Officers to implement the extension of Hearthside Crescent Car Park within the approved budget subject to Planning Consent.  Following a question regarding the impact on pedestrians and cyclists following the new access on White Rose Lane, the Leader of the Council advised that the matter would be for the Planning Committee to consider.  Further concern was expressed at the interaction with traffic in White Rose Lane and assurances were sought that the issues would be addressed as appropriate.  The Executive noted that it had not been possible to provide an entrance and exit on Heathside Crescent due to insufficient space.  Regarding electric vehicle charging points, the Executive was informed that the capacity to install electric vehicle charging points in the future would be installed in the car park.

Reporting Person – Leigh Clarke

The Executive received a report which sought authority to enable Officers to submit funding bids under the Housing Infrastructure Fund.  Following a question regarding the proposed bid for Marginal Viability Funding for the Victoria Square Project, Officers explained that the proposal yet to come forward to Council comprising 38 additional properties would be for Studio and 1 Bed properties and these would not count as affordable housing.  It was noted that the proposed 38 additional properties would be more attainable for people being able to rent.  It was highlighted that the Victoria Square Oversight Panel would be considering a proposal for an additional parking infrastructure of some 400 car park spaces at its next meeting.

Please bring to the meeting your copy of the Performance and Financial Monitoring Information (Green Book) July 2017.

Resolved

That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of items 11 and 12 in view of the nature of the proceedings that, if members of the press and public were present during these items, there would be disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A, to the Local Government Act 1972.

Paragraph 3 - Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

Reporting Person – Ray Morgan

In determining the item, the Executive agreed to set up a cross-party Town Centre Community Leisure Task Group, to be chaired by the Portfolio Holder for Cultural and Community Development, which would report back to the Executive.

Reporting Person – Ray Morgan