Agenda item

Councillor Rachael Robathan (Cabinet Member for Finance, Property and Regeneration) to update the Committee on current and forthcoming issues in her portfolio.

4.1       Councillor Rachael Robathan (Cabinet Member for Finance, Property and Regeneration) highlighted the success of the event “Ebury on Sea” at Ebury Bridge that had taken place in August. There had been a positive mood at the event, with the community fully engaged. The Futures Group was also providing considerable input in helping to shape the regeneration of Ebury Bridge.

4.2       The Committee sought an update in respect of the Fair Funding Review and the Spending Review. It was asked in what ways the Budget Task Group could assist and what processes would be involved in setting the Budget. Members welcomed the 200 homes allocated for the Infill Programme and asked when the first new homes would be built.  An update was sought on how much money had been raised to date in in respect of the Community Contribution. With regard to the London Living Wage (LLW), Members asked what steps were being taken to improve contract monitoring to ensure that external organisations were adhering to what they had promised to undertake and could the Council insist that the LLW be mandatory for all new contracts. An update was also sought in respect of the review of W/C provision.

4.3       Members enquired how the housing developments impacted upon temporary accommodation in Westminster and was a residents’ ballot being considered in respect of the Ebury Bridge renewal project. Updates were sought in respect of Farm Street, proposals involving the Jubilee Community Sports Centre, Cosway Street, Beechcroft and whether negotiations with regard to Luton Street had resulted in any material changes to the scheme. A Member welcomed the support the Council and Westminster Citizens’ Advice Bureau was providing for residents. He asked whether the Council could do more to build bridges between residents and pro bono organisations like the Free Representation Unit, which provided residents with support for their benefit appeals.

4.5       In reply to the issues raised, Councillor Robathan advised that the Fair Funding Review would not be completed this year, whilst there were no major implications for the Council in respect of the Spending Review. The Council was continuing with its three year savings plans, taking a strategic approach. In respect of the Infill Programme, some new homes had already opened and a further set of homes were shortly due to go to the planning permission stage. Good engagement between the Council, ward councillors and residents was also taking place in helping to move this programme forward. The number of families on housing waiting lists in Westminster was a real issue, and every effort was being made to provide as much affordable housing as possible. With regard to Ebury Bridge, Councillor Robathan stated that the ongoing consultation and engagement with residents was more productive and more fruitful than a one-off ballot.

 4.6      Councillor Robathan advised that around £800,000 had been collected from the Community Contribution to date. Councillor Robathan stated that every effort was being made to promote implementation of the LLW. She advised that steps would be taken to ensure that contract monitoring was as robust as possible and organisations would be informed that it would be expected that they would implement the LLW for staff for organisations who had contracts with the Council, however legally the Council could not make the LLW mandatory. The need to provide community W/Cs was recognised, however some had closed due to assaults on staff and anti-social uses. The W/C review was being finalised and Members would be updated on this. The Committee heard that the development at Farm Street had been delayed due to issues to be resolved with the contractors, whilst 19 affordable homes would be onsite at the Jubilee Sports Centre by the end of the year. In respect of Luton Street, a 50/50 split agreement had been agreed with the developer, however the allocation would remain unchanged. Councillor Robathan advised that the homes at Beechcroft were being soft marketed and there had been a number of expressions of interest. Further consideration would also take place in respect of working with community organisations supporting residents with benefits issues.