The Place Overview & Scrutiny Sub-Committee met to discuss and note the updated Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plans (CAAMPs) for Romford, Rainham and Gidea Park, and to receive an update on the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), including income, allocations, and spending. The committee was asked to provide comments on the allocations and discuss the implications of a Neighbourhood Plan on CIL.

Here's a breakdown of the key discussion points:

Adoption of Conservation Area Appraisals and Management Plans

The committee reviewed the updated CAAMPs for Romford, Rainham, and Gidea Park. These plans, prepared with the help of heritage consultants Purcell, aim to preserve and enhance the special architectural and historic interest of these areas.

Key aspects of the updated CAAMPs:

• Legal Duty: The council has a legal duty to review and manage conservation areas, including updating CAAMPs as required by the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990.
• Public Consultation: Public consultation on the draft CAAMPs took place earlier in 2025, and the final versions reflect the comments received. The Consultation Statement details the consultation process, comments, and changes made.
• Boundary Changes: The updated CAAMPs propose boundary changes for all three conservation areas, detailed in Appendix 5 - CA Boundary changes 2:
  • Romford: The boundary will expand significantly, extending further along South Street to Romford station. This expansion was previously suggested in the 2008 appraisal but never implemented.
  • Rainham: The boundary will expand to include the whole garden area at Rainham Hall, while a small area in the north will be removed.
  • Gidea Park: A small expansion is proposed to include the Interwar parade of shops with flats above at 142-156 Balgores Lane, to better encompass the townscape composition at the base of the conservation area where Balgores Lane and Crossways meet.
• Managing Change: Each CAAMP provides detailed guidance for the council and developers on how to manage change while protecting the historic character of the area.
• Future CAAMPs: Cabinet will be recommended to delegate authority to the Director of Planning and Public Protection for adoption of future CAAMPs, if there are no boundary changes proposed.

Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Update

The committee received an update on the council's CIL, a levy charged on new developments to fund infrastructure improvements.

Key points from the CIL update:

• Income and Allocations: As of 29 August 2025, the council had received £9.98 million in CIL since 2019. Of this, £9.173 million was Strategic CIL, £0.498 million was allocated to the Admin Fund, and £0.309m was allocated to Neighbourhood CIL. £7.17 million of Strategic CIL has been allocated to projects, with £1.899 million already spent.
• Strategic CIL Projects: 24 Strategic CIL-funded projects have been approved to date, including:
  • Beam Parkway A1306 Active Travel/Linear Park: £1 million
  • Liveable Neighbourhoods NW Romford Roundabout: £1.2 million
  • Brittons Playing Field 3G Hub: £1.2 million
  • CCTV Control Room at Romford Central Library: £0.75 million
  • Romford Market redesign: £1 million A brief description of all 24 projects is included in Public reports pack 09th-Sep-2025 19.00 Place Overview Scrutiny Sub Committee.
• Neighbourhood CIL (NCIL): From 2024/25, Havering implemented Neighbourhood CIL (NCIL). 15% of CIL receipts are allocated to NCIL, which can be spent on a wider range of projects to support the development of an area. Currently, NCIL funds are being used towards funding S92 Police officers over 2 years.
• CIL Forecasting: Forecasting future CIL income is challenging due to factors outside the council's control, such as development activity, payment phasing, viability, and exemptions. Based on current development activity, CIL income of around £1.6 million per annum would be a reasonable expectation.
• Neighbourhood Plans: The report noted that the introduction of a Neighbourhood Plan entitles qualifying areas to receive 25% of CIL receipts generated within the plan boundary, increasing local influence on infrastructure spend. At present, there are no designated Neighbourhood Forums or Plans in Havering.

Councillor David Taylor, Chairman of the committee, asked members to note the details provided in the report, consider and provide comments on the allocations, and discuss the implications of a Neighbourhood Plan on CIL.

Previous Meeting Minutes

The minutes from the Place Overview & Scrutiny Sub Committee meeting on 1 July 2025 were approved as a correct record and signed by Councillor David Taylor, Chairman of the committee.

The previous meeting included discussion of:

• Addressing Damp and Mould: The Assistant Director of Housing Property Services provided an overview of the council's Damp and Mould Policy and revisions related to Awaab's Law¹. The sub-committee made several recommendations, including data analysis and predictive modelling, councillor training, annual resident communication, review of housing policy, follow-up reporting, communication strategy, exploration of additional metrics, and an annual follow-up strategy.
• Voids Overview: The Assistant Director of Housing Property Services provided an overview of the council's management of void properties. The sub-committee made several recommendations, including key-to-key process data, scale of works – voids classification, assessment of works required (basket of works), cost recovery from former tenants, 360° property viewings, and feasibility of early tenant move-in.