There were no apologies for absence.

There were no Substitute Members.

Councillors Burton and Nelson-Gracie were in attendance.

Following the issues raised about the Chairmanship of this Board, Members were reminded of the subsequent advice given by the Monitoring Officer.  Some Members still had concerns over public opinion on the Chairmanship of this Board and asked that this be noted.

RESOLVED: That Councillor Barned be elected Chairman for the remainder of the Municipal Year 2011/12.

Councillor Barned declared a prejudicial interest in Agenda Item 9 – Common Housing Assessment Framework as he is the Vice Chairman of Golding Homes, Chairman of the Board of Golding Vision and an employee of Hyde Housing. 

Councillors Beerling, Mrs Gibson and Hinder declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 9 – Common Housing Assessment Framework as they are former Board Members of Golding Homes.

There were no disclosures of lobbying.

RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the Meeting held on 6 June 2011 be agreed as a correct record and signed.

The Board considered the report of the Director of Regeneration and Communities regarding proposed responses to the consultation on the new mandatory power of possession for Anti-Social Behaviour (“ASB”).

Members asked a number of questions of the Head of Housing and Community Services and raised the need to ensure there is some balance, particularly when the tenant is a vulnerable person.  Members noted that there is currently no definition of “housing related” ASB and that this is something the Court will need to define in time.

RESOLVED: That the Head of Housing and Community Services amends the response to the consultation to show general approval for the change as long as a balance is maintained and that this forms the response recommended to the Cabinet Member for Community and Leisure Services as the Council’s reply to the consultation on new mandatory power of possession for ASB.

The Chairman left the room and the Vice Chairman took the Chair.

The Board considered the report of the Head of Housing and Community Services regarding a draft Common Housing Assessment framework in order that local authorities in Kent can adopt the same method for assessing housing need, in accordance with statutory guidelines, whilst maintaining separate and distinct allocation policies that allow for meeting local needs.

The Head of Housing and Community Services informed Members that this was a first draft and more definition will be added to the document and answered questions raised by Members regarding servicemen, the Data Protection Act and consultation.

RESOLVED:

1.  That the Cabinet Member for Community and Leisure Services be recommended to adopt the proposed Common Housing Assessment framework as the basis for consulting on a revised Allocation Scheme for Maidstone Borough Council, subject to there being no additional cost to the Council.

2.  That the final draft of the Common Housing Assessment framework document to be used for the consultation be circulated to all Members of the Board prior to the consultation.

Following the above decision, the Chairman returned to the room and took the Chair.

6.30 p.m. to 7.45 p.m.