Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Conneely (Chair), Maurice, Molloy and Shah.

Members are invited to declare at this stage of the meeting, the nature and existence of any relevant disclosable pecuniary or personal interests in the item on this agenda and to specify the item(s) to which they relate.

Councillor Lorber declared a personal interest in respect of Agenda Item 3: Call-In: Barham Park Trust Committee decisions (10 September 2024) - Strategic & Operational Property Matters relating to Barham Park Estate as a Director and Trustee of the Friends of Barham Library who occupied Unit 4 in the Barham Park building.  In addition, he advised he was also a Trustee of the Friends of Barham Park and had a close association with other tenant organisations currently occupying the Barham Park building including Barham Veterans Club and Tamu Samaj UK.  He also advised he had previously been approached by the applicant in relation to the planning application for the site at 776 & 778 Harrow Road.

Referring to advice he had received in advance of the meeting from the Corporate Director Law & Governance, Councillor Lorber advised that having spoken to present the call-in he would then withdraw from the meeting for the duration of the item.

Councillor Georgiou declared a personal interest as one of the Councillors who had signed the call-in request.

No other interests were declared at the meeting.

To consider a call-in in respect of the following decisions taken by Barham Park Trust Committee on 10 September 2024:

(a)        Strategic Property Matters relating to Barham Park; and following on from this report

(b)        Operational Property Matters relating to Barham Park

In opening the item, the Chair advised that the meeting had been arranged, in accordance with Standing Order 14, to consider a call-in submitted by five members of the Council in relation to decisions made by the Barham Park Trust Committee on 10 September 2024 regarding the following items:

(a)       Strategic Property Matters relating to Barham Park; and following on from this report

(b)       Operational Property Matters relating to Barham Park

In considering the call-in, the Chair reminded the Committee that the line of questioning must remain specifically within the remit of the call-in and that issues raised on anything wider would not be valid and ruled out for consideration.

Having clarified the basis of the call-in, the Chair then proceeded to invite Councillor Lorber to outline the reasons for the call-in as representative of the members who had supported its submission.

In presenting the call-in, Councillor Lorber highlighted the following key issues as the basis for which the decision had been called-in:

·            The call-in had related to all of the decisions made in relation to the Strategic Property review and six out of the nine subsequent decisions taken in relation to the Operational Property review.

·            The Members who had submitted the call-in felt strongly that the advice provided to the Trust Committee was inadequate and that Trustees had not been provided with information that they had previously requested in relation to provision of a Business Plan, detailed costings, Investment Plan and analysis of any legal risks associated with the development option identified.

·            In presenting the proposals to the Trust Committee, Trustees had been advised that 2031 would be the key date for achieving vacant possession of the various units, effectively deferring the implementation of the proposals until that year, which appeared to have been accepted with no challenge or questions asked.

·            The report provided had also not included reference to any potential risk relating to Sure Start grant clawback in relation to Unit 8 being vacated given that grant agreement was not due to expire until 2034 which it was felt required further consideration given the potential financial impact and delay in being able to achieve vacant possession.

·            Concern was also expressed at the decision seeking to develop proposals to expand the Trusts charitable purpose for submission to the Charity Commission in order to allow broader use of the Barham Park building as part of the process in taking forward the Strategic element of the property review, which it was highlighted would be strongly opposed by local residents.  It was pointed out that no representations had been permitted from stakeholders or members of the public at the Trust Committee meeting on 10 September 2024 despite clear guidance from the Charity Commission, which stated that not only did Councils have particular and specific responsibilities when dealing with a charity, but a Council who is effectively a Trustee had an extra responsibility to ensure that it properly engaged with members of the public and local community.  Councillor Lorber highlighted what was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

Notice of items to be raised under this heading must be given in writing to the Deputy Director Democratic Services or their representative before the meeting in accordance with Standing Order 60.

No items of urgent business were identified.