Agenda item

Joint Report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services and the City Surveyor.

The Committee considered a joint report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services and the City Surveyor updating it on the progress of the housing delivery programme and proposing the creation of a Working Group to assist in delivering the programme.

Members proceeded to discuss the terms of reference of the working group and whether it should include a reference to governance. A Member advised that whilst he did not feel it was necessary to amend the terms of reference, the governance of the City Corporation’s residential housing needed to be examined on a more strategic level with the aim of producing proposals which consolidate the governance of the City Corporation’s residential housing. The Committee supported this view.

Reference was made to the composition of the working group and it was agreed that the three Members of the Court of Common Council should be selected by the Committee. The Chairman also suggested that the Deputy Chairman, Sir Mark Boleat, act as her representative on the working group and that he also chairs the Group. Members supported her suggestion.

RESOLVED – that the progress made on the delivery of existing housing schemes and the successful allocation of grant funding from the GLA be noted, and that:-

1.     a Member Working Group to support the delivery of the Corporation’s target of 3,700 new homes be created and that its composition be as follows:-

·      the Chairman of the Policy and Resources Committee (or his/her representative)

·      the Chairman of Community and Children’s Services Committee (or his/her representative)

·      the Chairman of the Housing Management and Almshouses Sub Committee (or his/her representative)

·      three Members of the Court of Common Council elected by the Policy and Resources Committee

2.     Sir Mark Boleat, the Chairman’s representative on the Working Group, be appointed Chairman of the Housing Delivery Working Group; and

3.     the Town Clerk be requested to examine the governance of City Corporation’s residential housing on a more strategic level with the aim of producing proposals which consolidate the governance arrangements of the City Corporation’s residential housing offer.