Agenda item

The Committee received the minutes of the Dispensations Sub (Standards) Committee meeting held virtually on 18 September 2020.

A Co-opted Member commented that she was assuming that the dispensations granted were in line with the Dispensations Policy but that, if so, that did not seem to be what was recorded here as what the decision appeared to do was to grant a dispensation to speak on general housing matters without saying what they are and cross referencing the definition as set out within the Policy. The decision also did not appear to limit the right to speak in any way whereas the policy limits it to housing matters that affect all of the Corporation’s tenants or leaseholders on a particular estate equally. She went on to argue that, without those elements explicitly included, the dispensation granted would appear to be unlawful as per the advice of Leading Counsel and asked that they therefore be included within the decision and public minutes.

The Chair agreed that it was preferable for the decision to be explicit in terms of compliance with the Policy and asked that the amendment be made with the final version of the minutes referred back to the members of the Sub-Committee for approval ahead of publication.  

RECEIVED.