The Chair invited Councillor Ojetola to introduce the Call-In and asked him to briefly introduce the reasons for the Call-In. The Call-In referred to Cabinet Decision 01104415 – Housing Estate Regeneration. Councillor Ojetola stated that the Cabinet Decision failed to take into account how the Council would find £6 million to maintain the tower blocks at ‘decent home’ standard. Councillor Ojetola also questioned why the council was proposing to undertake more consultation if the majority of residents already expressed a view to regenerate the area.

The Chair invited the Cabinet Member for Housing, Councillor Worrall, to respond to the Call-In and advise the committee of any points that were relevant. Councillor Worrall outlined her reasoning for proposing the original decision stating that the consultation sat within the wider work of the South Grays master plan and it was clear that residents had requested more information on what future regeneration would look like before they gave a final opinion on the future of the tower blocks. Therefore more consultation was required. Councillor Worrall added that 40 per cent of residents did not want to see the tower blocks go and this was a significant amount of people for the Council to take note. The consultation had been of good quality and there would be no funding gap as the improvements to the flats had already been factored into the Transforming Homes Programme. Those residents wishing to move away from the tower blocks had the opportunity to move to a new development nearby called The Echoes.

The Chair invited comments from third parties. Three residents who had previously spoke at the Cabinet meeting were asked to make further representations and each took this opportunity, some in favour of keeping the tower blocks and some keen to start regeneration. Those that spoke were:

•           Ms Rachel Low – Seabrook Rise Resident. In favour of demolishing Butler, Davall and Greenwood High Rise blocks in Grays

Ms Low read out her statement to the Committee which she had made previously to Thurrock Council Cabinet on 14 October 2015.

            The committee received a written statement prior to the meeting.

•           Mr Gerry Calder – Seabrook Rise Residents Steering Group. Against the demolishing of Butler, Davall and Greenwood High Rise blocks in Grays

Mr Calder handed out to the Committee his statement made to Thurrock Council Cabinet on 14 October 2015 and emphasised that it was wrong that residents should not be able to speak out about other developments. Residents receiving offers of a new home only raised the aspirations and hopes of young families.

Mr Calder stated that there was no good reason to knock down the youngest block of flats in Grays.

Mr Calder finished his statement made by previous Director of Housing that the land was a valuable piece of land in Grays.

•           Ms Marian Harries – Seabrook Rise Resident. Against the demolishing of Butler, Davall and Greenwood High Rise blocks in Grays

Ms Harries explained to the Committee that a survey undertaken independently resulted in 64 per cent of residents were against the demolishing, this survey was undertaken with no harassment to residents. Concluding that it should be the people who live in the flats should have their say.

Ms Harries also stated the building was still structurally sound and that nobody had actually said how much it would cost to pull down and rebuild.

Ms Harries further explained to the committee that residents do not want to be housed outside the borough and that The Echoes was not suitable for all as there was only one lift, which would not be ideal for the disabled or mums with prams.

Ms Harries finished her statement by asking the Councillors how many of them would like to be in her position.

The Chair invited Councillor Snell, as Group Leader for UKIP, the opportunity to speak. Councillor Snell stated that there had been plenty of opportunity for Conservatives or other Councillors to ask questions at the Cabinet meeting in October. Councillor Snell felt there was a win-win situation as those who wanted to stay could and those residents that wished to leave the blocks had the opportunity to move to The Echoes.

The Chair asked Councillor Ojetola to summarise the Call-In and that he stated that simply wanted long term certainty for the residents.

The Chair asked Committee Members for questions and debate. The Members discussed the lifespan of the tower blocks and some councillors felt there should not have been a consultation if there were still decades of longevity left in the tower blocks. Officers clarified the use of a thirty year appraisal was not a comment on the lifespan of the blocks but for the purpose of measuring financial costs of demolition verses maintaining the flats to decent homes standard.

A recorded vote then took place:

Accept :           Councillors Redsell and Ojetola (2)

Reject:             Councillors C. Kent, C Baker, Jan Baker and Liddiard (4)

The Chair confirmed that the results of the vote were in favour to reject the Call-In with four votes to two with the prevailing viewpoint that Cabinet had made a sound decision with the information available at its October meeting. 

RESOLVED:

That the Committee reject the call-in for the reasons that the committee were satisfied that the cabinet made the sound decision based on the information available to them at the October Committee.