Agenda item

Presented by the Head of Housing

Mr Lambert, Head of Housing presented the report to the Committee. He took Members through the report in detail and emphasised the challenges, all of which were set out in the report.

The Chairman thanked Mr Lambert for his comprehensive report and took questions and comments from Members by inviting each one in turn to speak.

Councillor Benfield asked about the housing needs of the local residents and whether any consideration had been given to modular housing. Mr Lambert referred to paragraph 4.2 of the report which explained that housing needs in the village were not excessive due the level of recent historic development, and that the council was looking for ways to introduce modular housing into our new build programme in the future. Councillor Bridgen asked if the scouts were happy with option D as well as option E to which he was advised that the scouts wanted certainty so by accepting option E, it would provide them with security and an option for an improved facility to be developed. Councillor Clarke asked if there was a risk that the existing five tenants would decrease in number further and thus any re-modelling would be undertaken with no residents on site. Mr Lambert advised that the tenancies could not be terminated by the council, and that the residents could sell the sites on which their caravan sits by assignment. He reassured the Committee that all those in situ were intent on remaining for the foreseeable future. Councillor Geary reported his dismay at his view of the site during a recent visit. He likened it to a refugee camp and argued that the Council should never have allowed it to get into such a state. Mr Lambert advised that he could not argue with this view and repeated that he was not proud of this site but that we were now moving forwards to do something about it.

Other Members echoed the comments made and the support of Option E as set out in the report. They felt it was a well argued report and hoped that the residents would be pleased to see the Committee’s support of their preferred option.

The Chairman invited Councillor Bayliss as the Portfolio Holder to speak. Councillor Bayliss reiterated some of the points raised by Mr Lambert and thanked the Committee for its valued input, the findings and conclusions of which would be reported to Cabinet on 26 May. 

The Chairman advised that, as the recommendation was simply asking the Committee to note and comment on the report ahead of its submission to Cabinet, which included a recommendation that Option E be supported. He advised that he would take it by affirmation of the meeting that Members were happy to do this unless anyone objected.   He asked if there were any objections. There were none.

The recommendation as set out on page 9 of the report was moved, seconded and by affirmation of the meeting it was

RESOLVED THAT:

The report be duly noted and Option E be supported.  The comments made at this meeting will be reported to cabinet ahead of its meeting on 26 May where a decision would be made.