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.

To approve the Minutes of the meeting held on 14 February 2024 (Minute Nos. 631 - 635) as a correct record.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 14 February 2024 (Minute Nos. 631 - 635) were taken as read, approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

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.

In introducing the report, the Head of Housing and Communities explained that at the last sub-committee held in February 2024, it was agreed to pause any further work due to viability issues but grant funding opportunities should continue to be sought. She explained that the Swale Rainbow Homes (SRH) Board had continued to meet and planning permission had been granted for the Cockleshell Walk site in May 2024. This had enabled more detailed discussion with Homes England (HE) in respect of grant funding via their affordable homes programme.

The Head of Housing and Communities said the three key areas that were looked at were interest rates, local housing allowance rates and the actual build costs which were provided by the appointed quantity surveyor. HE had confirmed the gap to make the scheme viable was still too large but they encouraged the inclusion of more social housing in the scheme so that a larger grant may be offered. She said that whilst the income stream from social housing would be lower, a higher grant might be offered.

The Head of Housing and Communities said that the unknown variables were the build costs of the scheme, it was common for quantity surveyors to include a tolerance in their estimates, and HE suggested that some costs were high.

In conclusion, the Head of Housing and Communities said the fee to fund the procurement process and construction tender to include more detailed costs such as architectural assessments and surveys, was approximately £65k.

A Member said the process had come so far and the procurement work should be carried out. 

Resolved:

(1)  That the use of funds to progress the construction tender be approved.