Visitors and members of the public who are unfamiliar with the building and procedures are advised that:

(a)      The fire alarm is a continuous loud ringing. In the event that a fire drill is planned during the meeting, the Chair will advise of this.

(b)      Exit routes from the chamber are located on each side of the room, one directly to a fire escape, the other to the stairs opposite the lifts.

(c)      In the event of the alarm sounding, leave the building via the nearest safe exit and gather at the assembly point on the far side of the car park. Do not leave the assembly point or re-enter the building until advised to do so. Do not use the lifts.

(d)      Anyone unable to use the stairs should make themselves known during this agenda item.

The Chair outlined the emergency evacuation procedure.

The Chair announced that Councillor Peter MacDonald had replaced Councillor Ann Cavanagh on the Sub-Committee.  She reminded Members that, as agreed by the Housing and Health Committee on 4 July 2023, Shareholder Training was mandatory for all members of the Sub-Committee.  Councillor MacDonald had not yet been trained, but the Chair allowed him to speak at the meeting, but not vote.  She suggested that a further training session be made available for all councillors in the new Municipal Year.

Councillors should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their families or friends.

The Chair will ask Members if they have any disclosable pecuniary interests (DPIs) or disclosable non-pecuniary interests (DNPIs) to declare in respect of items on the agenda. Members with a DPI in an item must leave the room for that item and may not participate in the debate or vote. 

Aside from disclosable interests, where a fair-minded and informed observer would think there was a real possibility that a Member might be biased or predetermined on an item, the Member should declare this and leave the room while that item is considered.

Members who are in any doubt about interests, bias or predetermination should contact the monitoring officer for advice prior to the meeting.

No interests were declared.

The Head of Housing and Community Services explained that her role at this meeting was dual-hatted, as she, together with Councillors Ben J Martin and Monique Bonney and the Director of Regeneration and Neighbourhoods, were directors of Swale Rainbow Homes (SRH) Ltd.   She explained that her main role at the meeting was as a director, and she would feed-back the views of the Sub-Committee to the SRH Board.

To decide whether to pass the resolution set out below in respect of the following item:

That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3.

3. Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

Resolved:

(1)      That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3:

3. Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

Remote attendees were removed from the meeting at this point.

The Head of Housing and Communities introduced the report as set out in the agenda papers.  This included an update from the SRH Board on progress to date and the current viability issues being experienced to bring the scheme forward.  She sought direction from the Shareholder Panel on how to proceed based upon the options set out in the report.

The Head of Housing and Communities confirmed that although three sites had been agreed to be passed to SRH, the board would not be able to develop them out and therefore the Council might wish to consider future use of these sites.

The Head of Housing and Communities gave some background information and spoke on one of the sites, including its scheme design and planning permission; scheme costs and appraisal; grants and other funding; loan financing and cash flow; and partnerships.  She went through each of the four potential options, with their advantages and disadvantages and Members were invited to ask questions and make comments.

Members spoke in praise of the report and the work that had been carried out so far.  The Head of Housing and Communities answered Members questions and after much discussion, Members provided a steer for the SRH Board on the way forward.

The Chair requested that the Sub-Committee be kept up-to-date with any progress.

Recommended:

(1)      That the revised direction be Option 2 – Pause the scheme.

(2)      That it be noted that SRH no longer required all three sites.