Agenda item

Councillor Forster, Portfolio Holder for Special Projects, introduced the recommendations of the Executive in respect of the Sheerwater Regeneration Scheme.  In July 2023, the Council had agreed that the Development Agreement with Thameswey for the delivery of the Scheme should be brought to an end, with no new phases to commence.  The Council had submitted a business case to the Government for the release of £57m from pre-approved loans from the Public Works Loan Board (PWLB) for the completion of the three phases which had started construction – Copper, Red and Yellow.

The Government had subsequently confirmed that funds could be released for the Scheme and a further report would be presented to the Executive in November on the completion of the three phases.  For the remaining areas of the regeneration scheme, a public consultation had been held to which a good response had been received.  The residents had been clear that a smaller regeneration scheme should be constructed, with fewer existing properties demolished and a greater level of refurbishment carried out.  Refurbishment of existing properties would bring 106 homes back into available accommodation.

The proposals were debated by the Council, and a concern was expressed that the business case to the Government had not first been considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, and that a briefing paper had been solely provided to the Liberal Democrat Group.  It was further felt that the report before the Council did not address the controls and milestones that were to be put in place for the Scheme.

Reference was made to the public consultation which had identified the key priorities for the local community – to complete the existing phases and bring homes back into use, priorities which the Council could only achieve with the completion of the part completed phases through the PWLB loan.  In considering the consultation results, the Council was advised that, although over 500 responses had been received, the response from the Asian community had been low.  Ways of improving the response level from minority communities in future consultations would be explored.

The remaining spend on the regeneration scheme would be carefully monitored, though the decision by the Government demonstrated its confidence in the business cases submitted by the Council.  The remaining work would provide essential housing, recognising the shortage in affordable homes in the Borough. 

Following the debate, the Portfolio Holder responded to the key points raised, noting that, whilst the business case to the Government had not be brought before the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, it had been reviewed by Commissioners.  It was further emphasised that the money sought through the PWLB had been previously approved; the request to the Government was to draw down the sum of £57m of the funds following the issue of the S114 Statement.

The Mayor referred the Council to the recommendations before them and, at the request of a Member, took a named vote on recommendation (i) before seeking approval of recommendations (ii) to (v).

In accordance with Standing Order 10.8, recommendation (i) was put to a vote and the names of Members voting for and against were recorded as follows:

In favour:                           Councillors A-M Barker, A Caulfield, W Forster, P Graves, S Greentree, A Javaid, I Johnson, A Kirby, R Leach, L Lyons, C Martin, L Morales, J Morley, S Mukherjee, E Nicholson, L Rice, D Roberts, T Spenser and M Sullivan.

Total in favour:                  19

Against:                             Councillors H Akberali, J Brown, K Davis, S Dorsett, S Hussain and D Jordan.

Total against:                     6

Present not voting:            The Mayor and Councillor S Oades.

Total present not voting:   2

Recommendation (i) was therefore carried by 19 votes in favour and 6 votes against.

The Mayor referred Members to the remaining recommendations and in accordance with Standing Order 10.8, recommendations (ii) to (v) were put to a vote and the names of Members voting for and against were recorded as follows:

In favour:                           Councillors H Akberali, A-M Barker, J Brown, A Caulfield, K Davis, S Dorsett, W Forster, P Graves, S Greentree, S Hussain, A Javaid, I Johnson, A Kirby, R Leach, L Lyons, C Martin, L Morales, J Morley, S Mukherjee, E Nicholson, S Oades, L Rice, D Roberts, T Spenser and M Sullivan.

Total in favour:                  25

Against:                             Councillor D Jordan.

Total against:                     1

Present not voting:            The Mayor.

Total present not voting:   1

Recommendations (ii) to (v) were therefore carried by 25 votes in favour and 1 vote against.

RESOLVED

That  (i)    the progress on Red, Yellow and Copper phases be noted;

          (ii)   the Council retains and refurbishes circa 106 homes within the Sheerwater Regeneration area as set out in Section 5 of the report;

          (iii)  the costs of refurbishment, estimated at £2.9 million, be covered by capital receipts and Local Authority Housing Funding (if appropriate);

          (iv)  the Strategic Director – Communities, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Key Projects, be authorised to agree proposals to consolidate ownership of vacant housing assets between ThamesWey and the Council; and

          (v)   the residual land and properties within the Sheerwater Regeneration area (excluding those to be retained) continue to be vacated and offered to the market for disposal, as set out in Section 4.7 of the report, to maximise the capital receipt.