Agenda and draft minutes

RESOLVED that Councillor Adefiranye be elected as Chair and Councillor

Alan Till be elected as Vice-Chair for the municipal year 2015-16.

In the absence of the Chair, the meeting was chaired by the Vice-Chair.

None were made.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 20 October 2011 be

confirmed and signed as a correct record.

RESOLVED that in accordance with Regulation 4(2)(b) of the Local

Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to

Information)(England) Regulations 2012 and under Section 100(A)(4) of the

Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the

meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve

the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs [3, 4 and

5] of Part 1 of Schedule 12(A) of the Act, and the public interest in maintaining

the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information

5.         Milford Towers Lease Extension.

The meeting was convened as the Executive Director for Customer Services

had advised a decision was required before the Council meeting in

September. This was because the leasing arrangement was to expire in

December and sufficient time was required to apply to the Secretary of State

for permission to extend. Meeting urgently greatly reduced the risk that

permission would not be received in time.

The Executive Director for Customer Services representative presented the

confidential report. He recalled that in 2011 the Mayor had agreed to decant

the Milford Towers block above the shopping centre in Catford, and

subsequently entered into a leasing arrangement so that the homes that had

been decanted could be made available on a short term basis to local

residents at an intermediate rent. He stated the leasing arrangement was

initially scheduled to complete at the end of 2015, as demolition in advance of

the long term regeneration of the town centre was expected to start in 2016.

However, as a result of an on-going options review, including into the potential

to re-site the South Circular road, this date has now been moved back and

vacant possession is no longer required at the end of 2015.Therefore on 15

July 2015 the Mayor had considered an update on the operation of the leasing

scheme in place at Milford Towers and agreed that the leasing scheme should

be extended for three years, with an annual review arrangement, subject to

the Council receiving Secretary of State’s consent to do so under Section 32

of the Housing Act 1985.

The Urgency Committee was advised that any application for disposal

consent under Section 32 required Council approval. Following questioning of

officers the Urgency Committee, acting for the Council, agreed that an

application be made to the Secretary of State for permission under Section 32

of the Housing Act 1985.

RESOLVED that:

(1) the environmental and financial benefits of the leasing arrangement with

Notting Hill and the rationale for extending the current arrangements be noted;

(2) the decision made by the Mayor on 15 July 2015 to approve the extension

of the leasing arrangement for up to a further three years to December 2018,

with reviews to be held annually, and the ability for both parties to end the

arrangement at the annual review stage be noted;

(3) the Mayor’s recommendation to Council that an application to the

Secretary of State for permission under Section 32 of the Housing Act 1985 to

extend the leasing arrangement in this manner be noted; and

(4) the Council should apply to the Secretary of State for permission under

Section 32 of the Housing Act 1985 to extend the leasing arrangement in the

manner set out.

The meeting closed at 6.38pm.