Agenda item
Cabinet Member Update
The Cabinet Member(s) will update the Panel on any relevant issues. Panel members may ask questions on the update(s) provided.
Minutes:
Councillor Bob Goodman, Cabinet Member for Development and Neighbourhoods addressed the Panel, a summary of his update is set out below.
Joint Spatial Plan – The Plan has been submitted and the inspectors are already engaged with our officers and asking questions. It is expected that the examination in public will take place in September / October.
Local Plan – Members of the Local Development Framework Steering Group have been working hard on this matter, especially with regard to Student Accommodation, Affordability and provision for Elderly People.
Councillor Barry Macrae said that there was a need for substantive documents to be in place. He asked with regard to housing units, who is analysing the needs of the people wanting this provision.
He added that the Council should endeavour to clarify and help to better quantify (with Developers) that future housing provision should be of more direct value to ...and in locations better suited to.... a wider range of potential occupier “demographics” - such as empty-nesters, elderly-singles, newly-weds, working couples - rather than relying only upon only commercial house developers’ aspirations of ‘three-bed-semis-with-gardens’.
And furthermore, that NEW housing provisions be built primarily in locations where local jobs, leisure and health/community services already exist & are accessible, rather than continue to impose them upon remote green-field, small rural/village locations which currently exacerbates the debilitating and environmentally damaging daily commuting and then requires subsequent significant new, rate-payer funded, transport/care/education infrastructure & other community resources to support it.
Councillor Goodman replied that this would be addressed through the work on the Local Plan.
The Chairman commented as to whether it was right that units designed for younger people are often of a smaller size.
Councillor Paul Myers, Cabinet Member for Economic and Community Regeneration addressed the Panel, a summary of his update is set out below.
Housing
· Ministry of Housing Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) Rough Sleeper Bid – B&NES has been invited to work with MHCLG on enhancing our response to rough sleeping with the aim of reducing the numbers of individuals resorting to sleeping out this coming winter. Officers have been meeting with MHCLG representatives to co-produce a bid that will seek to build on local good practice. The bid is currently being worked up with input from partner-providers and MHCLG in preparation for the 18 May deadline for submission.
· End of programme Affordable Housing delivery – As forecast, the 2016-2018 affordable housing programme target of 465 new affordable homes has been exceed quite significantly to 527. This was largely due to the Council and its partners securing additional affordable housing funding for specialist schemes and the activity of our housing association partners in securing additional affordable housing opportunities.
· Consultation on expansion of Additional HMO Licensing Scheme – The 10 week consultation (due to close on 25th May 2018), on the proposal for a new City wide additional HMO licensing scheme, is still live which includes on-line surveys, interviews and 2x public events which took place on:
o Thursday 19th April 5.30-7pm (Brunswick Room, Guildhall)
o Wednesday 25th April: 3.30-5pm (Lansdown Hall, All Saints Centre, Weston, Bath, BA1 4BX)
More information can be found on our website: http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/consultations/additional-hmo-licensing-consultation
It is important that Councillors, residents and other interested parties are encouraged to respond.
Bath Enterprise Zone
Bath Quays North
· The determination process for the Outline Planning Application for comprehensive redevelopment of the Avon St coach and carpark progresses, with initial response clarifications received from the LPA.
· OJEU procurement progressing well with first stage scheme tenders and bidder presentations delivered end of February. Tenders largely scored with decision notices to be issued to bidders Q1 2018, following which 3 of the 5 bidders will move to the next round.
Bath Quays South
· Strong market response received during soft marketing phases for Council delivered commercial office. Commercial Estate Investment SMD paper approved.
· Enabling works commenced on-site. Trees and vegetation removal largely complete; archaeology works commencing May 2018.
Bath Quays Bridge
Tenders returned for works associated with BQS sub-structure and river wall delivery, and steel tonnage order relating to super-structure fabrication. Expected to open Spring 2019.
Funding - £12.5m of Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF) funding secured following successful bid to Homes England. Bid supports longer-term housing and economic growth objectives by enabling relocation of the City’s waste transfer station and strategic land to come forwards for residential development.
Economy & Culture
· Business Growth team officers have continued to support local independent business and retailers with a structured visit programme to the Guildhall, Green Park Station and Moorland Road, along with its continued support of the Bath Independent Business Forum and Keynsham Business Group.
· Commissioned arts activity, targeted to areas which will most benefit – We have reviewed the first three months of work. In Foxhill, 111 people have participated or engaged to date, and a ‘taster’ day of arts & creative activity will take place on Sat. 12 May. In Somer Valley, 224 people have participated or engaged to date, plus 1,200 attending the ‘Man Engine’ event on the College campus (this was not funded by B&NES, but arts activity that we funded took place as part of the day).
· Data-driven marketing – scheduling a workshop session for early July, for arts and cultural organisations about how to use demographic data to improve marketing
· WW1 Centenary – works to undertake cleansing and minor repairs to the War Memorial in Royal Victoria Park, Bath, commences early May.
· The first month of Future Bright has been extremely successful as we have signed up over twice as many participants than in our delivery profile. We are already getting really positive feedback from both participants and partners about the service supporting people to improve their income, which has not previously been available.
Heritage Services
· At the national Visit England Awards for Excellence 2018 the Roman Baths won GOLD for ‘Inclusive Tourism’ and SILVER for ‘Inbound Tourism’.
Regeneration
· Housing Growth: WECA have been approved £3m Capacity Funding through Housing Deal for the staff and consultancy resources to work up delivery strategies for the 11 Strategic Development Locations within the West of England. An element of this will be delegated to B&NES to produce delivery strategies for North Keynsham and Whitchurch.
· Somer Valley Enterprise Zone: Commercial Delivery Framework (CDF) consultants procured , A362 improvement options underway, Key Stakeholder Group has met, £50k RIF funding approved towards CDF;
· Public Realm/Market Towns Programme: Keynsham High Street public consultation closed – nearly 1,500 residents engaged, consultation report will be published late May/early June, MSN signage and Town Park concepts in development; Saw Close due for completion May 2018, Kingsmead Square pedestrianisation feasibility underway.
Councillor Rob Appleyard asked what the £12.5m from the HIF was anticipated to deliver.
Councillor Myers replied that he would respond in writing to the Panel.
Councillor Eleanor Jackson questioned whether the local Parish and Ward Councillors should have been contacted prior to the ‘Man Engine’ event and if an appropriate risk assessment had been carried out.
Councillor Myers replied that he would look into the matter on her behalf.
Councillor Barry Macrae asked what the latest position was on broadband in rural areas.
Councillor Myers replied that he was aware of a number of schemes and would bring further details to the next meeting of the Panel. He added that he would supply what information he could in the interim in writing.
Councillor Barry Macrae stated that he would like to see the Somer Valley Enterprise Zone publicised more, especially as it has been in place for 12 months.
Councillor Lisa O’Brien raised a matter that had been discussed at a meeting of Keynsham Town Council regarding the mix of housing in new developments. She asked whether 5 bedroomed properties were what the area needs and can the Council direct developers to a different approach.
Councillor Bob Goodman replied that it was the Council’s role through the work of the Local Plan to address this.
The Chairman commented that he had heard of a number of incidents regarding members of the public tripping over steps in the redeveloped area of Saw Close as they were not of a standard depth. He asked whether any remedial works were required.
Councillor Myers replied that he would respond in writing to the Panel.
Councillor Liz Richardson asked if a breakdown could be provided for the area and tenure of the Affordable Housing provided.
Councillor Myers replied that he would respond in writing to the Panel.
The Chairman thanked the Cabinet Members for their updates on behalf of the Panel.