Agenda and draft minutes

The Chairperson noted the sad passing of Councillor Filmer who was a valued member of the Committee and the Committee had benefitted greatly from his experience. Councillor Filmer will be sadly missed and the Committee shared their condolences with his family and friends.

Apologies were received from Councillors Vye and Williams.

To approve the Record of the Meeting held on 24 March 2026.

The record of the meeting held on 24 March 2026 was agreed and signed by the Chairperson as correct.

The Chairperson will announce any late items which do not appear on the main agenda but which he/she has agreed should be considered by reason of special circumstances to be specified in the report.

There were none.

Members are invited to disclose any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests or Other Significant Interests in accordance with the Member Code of Conduct. Guidance on this is set out in agenda item 4.

Disclosable pecuniary interests

There were none.

Other significant interests (OSIs)

There were none.

Other interests

There were none.

This report advises the Committee of a notice of call-in received from six Members of the Council regarding the Cabinet decisions made on 7 April 2026 relating to the HRA acquisition of Registered Providers residential stock profile in Medway.

Discussion:

The Chairperson noted the decisions that had been subject to call-in (60, 62 and 63 2026) which referred to the HRA acquisition of Registered Providers residential stock profile in Medway and set out the process for the meeting.

The opposition spokesperson explained that the decisions had been called in due to the lack of rigorous scrutiny and the delegation of the decision to individuals before due diligence had been undertaken. Concerns were raised regarding the interest rates and lack of stress testing, the lack of stock condition surveys for the units being acquired and the potential for rising capital works costs.

The Portfolio Holder for Housing and Homelessness explained that high level due diligence had been undertaken and that the decisions taken by Cabinet would now allow for detailed financial and regulatory due diligence to commence. The Committee were informed that if the due diligence illustrated that the acquisition was not viable then it would not be progressed.

The Committee agreed to exclude the press and public from the meeting and then discussed and debated exempt information in closed session. The discussion included private information subject to a non-disclosure agreement, budget sensitivities and stress testing, value for money, the impact of Local Government Reorganisation, the impact on and engagement with existing tenants and the due diligence that would take place. Following this discussion the Committee then resumed the meeting in open session.

A proposal was put that the decisions be referred back to Full Council for reconsideration, asking for decisions to be deferred until due diligence had been completed, however on being put to the vote the proposal was not agreed. 

A proposal was then put that having considered the call in, the Committee agreed to accept Cabinet decisions 60, 62 and 63/2026 and therefore take no further action, and on being put to the vote the proposal was agreed.

Decision:

The Committee agreed to accept Cabinet decisions 60, 62 and 63/2026 and therefore take no further action.

This report summarises the content of the appendices to agenda item 5, which, in the opinion of the proper officer, contain information within one of the categories in Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972. It is a matter for the Committee to determine whether the press and public should be excluded from the meeting during consideration of documents. 

The Committee agreed to exclude the press and public when considering the contents of the appendices to agenda item 5 (Call-in: HRA Acquisition of Registered Providers residential stock profile in Medway) as they contained information within one of the categories in Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.