Councillor Watson was appointed chair of the Delivery of Private and Housing Stock Task and Finish Group.

Councillor Redsell was appointed vice chair of the Delivery of Private and Housing Stock Task and Finish Group.

The aim of the Task Force Group is to create a responsive working group to discuss Thurrock Council’s capacity to deliver major projects in regard to private and housing stock houses. To discuss major new builds, look at those partnerships who successfully delivered homes, those partnerships that were non-successful, look at examples of what went well v. not so well and analyse the differences. To work alongside the Planning Transport and Regeneration Overview and Scrutiny Committee members in achieving this. To recommend findings of the task and finish group and report back to the main committee. Final report to be presented to the Housing and Planning Transport and Regeneration Overview and Scrutiny Committees.

To receive additional items that the Chair is of the opinion should be considered as a matter of urgency, in accordance with Section 100B (4) (b) of the Local Government Act 1972.

There were no items of urgent business.

There were no declarations of interest.

Members noted the terms of reference and agreed these would need to be updated to reflect the points discussed at Item 7.

Members were provided with a PowerPoint on housing development in regard to what projects had gone well and those not less so. The PowerPoint can be viewed as part of the recording of the meeting from the link below:

Delivery of Private & Housing Stock Task & Finish Group - Wednesday 16 August 2023, 6:00pm - Thurrock Council committee meeting webcasts (public-i.tv)

The following points were raised:

·       Members agreed this task and finish group should be linked more with the Planning Transport and Regeneration Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

·       Members agreed that further members of that committee should play a role within this task and finish group.

·       Members agreed that specific officers should be invited to this task and finish group.

·       Members agreed that all products of housing should be discussed at this task and finish group including shared ownership.

·       Members agreed the work undertaken should be dovetailed with the Local Plan.

·       Members agreed that following the council’s intervention there were a lot of uncertainties.

·       Members agreed that governance processes needed to be more streamlined.

·    The Task Group was keen to look at good housing schemes that could be translated into Thurrock quickly.

·       Members agreed more engagement was required with developers.

At 7.05pm, Councillor Halden left the meeting.

ACTIONS

1.       Councillor Watson to speak with the Director of Place and extend the invitation to the next meeting for a presentation to be undertaken on major projects that include housing.

2.       Councillor Watson to speak with the Chair of Planning Transport and Regeneration Overview and Scrutiny Committee in regard to a further member of that committee to sit on the task and finish group.

3.       The Terms of Reference will be updated to reflect the above.

4.       The Task and Finish Group will meet in six weeks, democratic services to advise of date and time.

Members agreed the next meeting date as the *.

The items of this agenda are as follows:

-