Agenda and minutes

Members are asked to declare any interests in the items under consideration and in doing so state:

(1) the type of interest concerned either a

(a)   personal interest

(b)   prejudicial interest

(c)    disclosable pecuniary interest (DPI)

and

(2) the nature of the interest concerned

If any member requires advice on declarations of interests, they are advised to contact the Head of Democratic Governance in advance of the meeting.

There were no declarations of interest on this occasion.

The Advisory Board agreed that under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the restricted set of minutes within Item 3 ‘Minutes of the last meeting held on 23 September 2020’, and the whole of Items 4 ‘Review of Blackpool Coastal Housing Management Agreement’ and 6 ‘Blackpool Housing Company’ on the grounds that they would involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

To agree the minutes of the last meeting held on 23 September 2020 as a true and correct record.

(This item contains commercially sensitive information which is exempt from publication by virtue of Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972).

The Advisory Board considered the minutes of the last meeting held on 23 September 2020, noting that there was a public and restricted version.

The Advisory Board agreed the minutes of the meeting be signed by the Chairman as a true and correct record.

To review the Blackpool Coastal Housing Management Agreement.

(This item contains commercially sensitive information which is exempt from publication by virtue of Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.)

(The press and public were excluded prior to the consideration of this item as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act).

Mr Alan Cavill, Director of Regeneration and Communication presented the report to the Board.

The Board resolved to approve the recommendations as set out in the report.

(Mr Alan Cavill left the meeting following the conclusion of this item.)

To update the Shareholder’s Advisory Board on the current status of the company and to provide a summary of performance.

(Mr John Donnellon, Chief Executive, Blackpool Coastal Housing and Councillor Gillian Campbell, Chair of the Blackpool Coastal Housing and Blackpool Housing Company Boards entered the meeting for this item.)

Mr John Donnellon, Chief Executive, Blackpool Coastal Housing (BCH) provided an overview of the recent work of BCH noting that the Company had provided a wide range of help and support to both tenants and residents of Blackpool during the lockdown phase of the pandemic. There had been an impact on development activity due to work ceasing during the early stages of the pandemic, which was now being recovered as much as was possible.

Mr Donnellon highlighted that rent arrears had slightly increased for a number of reasons and resources were being made available to provide financial advice to tenants. It was noted that measures to tackle rent arrears had been put on hold by the Government during the pandemic and therefore no action could be taken at this time.

Councillor Gillian Campbell, Chair, BCH and Mr Donnellon expressed their thanks to all BCH staff for their hard work and resilience during the pandemic.

The Advisory Board noted the report.

(Mr John Donnellon, Chief Executive, Blackpool Coastal Housing left the meeting following the conclusion of this item.)

To update the Shareholder’s Advisory Board on the current status of the company and to provide a summary of performance.

(This item contains commercially sensitive information which is exempt from publication by virtue of Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972).

(The press and public were excluded prior to the consideration of this item as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act).

(Mr David Galvin, Managing Director, Blackpool Housing Company entered the meeting for this item.)

Mr David Galvin, Managing Director, Blackpool Housing Company (BHC) provided an update on the company’s current status, financial position and key peformance indicators.

The Advisory Board discussed the information provided in detail and agreed to note the update.