Social Value Ideas for Waltham Forest London Borough Council

Planning permission granted

The committee resolved to grant planning permission for the revised Barclays Bank redevelopment, subject to Stage 2 GLA referral, conditions, informatives and completion of the Section 106 agreement. …

“Overall, the public benefits are judged to outweigh the identified harms in line with the NPPF and when the Development Plan is considered as whole, t…”

Approval of James Yard scheme

The committee approved the James Yard mixed-use scheme despite objections over height, design, parking and viability. Officers and the design lead emphasized the site's allocation, the neighboring app…

“On balance, having regard to the benefits of the development, it's recommended for approval. Let's pass on to Connor.”

Section 73 permission and S106 variation agreed

The committee agreed the officers' recommendation to grant planning permission for the Leebridge Gasworks amendment, subject to conditions, a deed variation linked to the existing Section 106 agreemen…

“Speaker 8: So officers' recommendations of grant planning permission subject to planning conditions, informatives and the completion of the DD variati…”

Grant permission with conditions

The officer recommendation was to grant planning permission subject to conditions and informatives, and members agreed to accept that recommendation. This effectively authorises the council-led redeve…

“Overall, it's Officer recommendation to grant permission subject to conditions and informatives.”

Budget and council tax rise adopted

The council approved an unamended budget, including a 4.99% council tax increase, higher fees and charges, use of reserves only at a reduced level, and identified savings including a voluntary redunda…

“We're taking tough decisions now, but we will continue to look for opportunities for more savings in 2425 when responsible and deliverable. By taking …”

Fees and charges increase

Cabinet approved a review of fees and charges to ensure services recover costs, with a proposed total increase of £1.5m from £49.8m to £51.3m effective 2026-01-02, subject to exemptions such as educat…

“A review of all fees and charges was undertaken by services earlier in the autumn. The objective was to ensure that all relevant services cover all co…”

Fees and charges uplift approved

Cabinet agreed to increase fees and charges, with implementation allowed as early as 2024-01-02 and no later than 2024-01-04. The rationale was to reduce the current in-year overspend and protect serv…

“Thanks Grace. I make no apologies for the fact that I'm going to slightly repeat myself. Local government finances are in crisis. Up and down the coun…”

Severe budget gap and savings need

The council faces a major funding crisis, with a projected gap of around £20m by 2026/27 and an immediate need for around £12m in the current budget, alongside demands to find further savings in futur…

“Nothing can sugarcoat that, And in and no small pots of money can make up for that shortfall. Our priorities are clear. Residents. Residents. Resident…”

Repairs and safety investment

The HRA budget prioritises repairs and maintenance, building safety, damp and mould remediation, regulatory compliance, estate regeneration and reduced non-decent homes. This is a clear ongoing spendi…

“The budget prioritizes repairs and maintenance, building safety, tackling damper mould and meeting our strengthened regulatory obligations with major …”

Second Mears housing JV

Cabinet agreed to proceed with a second joint venture with Mears to procure up to 400 homes, supporting the council's need for settled accommodation and temporary accommodation options. The report als…

“Speaker 0: So I think what I really want to draw people's attention to is the fact that this is our second long term joint venture with MERS. It's bee…”

Sutherland Road redevelopment

Permission was granted for redevelopment of 22 Sutherland Road into 14 flats, including a £500,000 off-site affordable housing contribution secured through Section 106. The proposal also includes land…

“Speaker 9: Item 4.3 relates to Planning Application two hundred forty one thousand six zero eight, at 22 Sutherland Road relating to the demolition of…”

Leyton Green Road homes acquired

Cabinet agreed a Housing Revenue Account purchase of 17 private sale homes at Leyton Green Road for £6.755m and agreed tenure changes for 17 of the remaining 30 flats from private sale to shared owner…

“So this is again it's another really exciting project where we have been working very hard over a number of years to complete this project which is a …”