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 Council are hoping to hear this week when the examination in public will take place.
Local Plan – Options continue to be assessed alongside LDF discussions.
Housing – 1,250 houses have been completed as of the end of April 2018. Infrastructure work continues to support these developments.
Waterspace Project: Finalist for Living Waterways awards, announcement due in September. Community Workboat now operating with Canal and Rivers Trust, community activities programme (including litter picks) underway.
Bathscape Project – The project was awarded a development grant from HLF in November 2016 and submitted a Round 2 application in June 2018 to fund delivery between 2018 and 2023. A grant announcement is expected in September.
Councillor Rob Appleyard asked if there were any revenue concerns with this work in comparison to the cutting of grass areas / verges.
Councillor Goodman replied that there were no revenue concerns.
Councillor Liz Richardson commented that the West of England Joint Spatial Plan as submitted by the West England Partnership had been commended at the Royal Town Planning Institute’s (RTPI) Awards for Excellence in Plan Making Practice 2018.
Councillor Goodman acknowledged this and said the award was well deserved.
Councillor Colin Blackburn asked if a breakdown of the housing numbers quoted could be given to the Panel.
Councillor Goodman replied that they were due to released next week and that he would ask for the Panel to be notified.
Councillor Appleyard asked if the development of the former MoD sites have had an impact on these figures.
Councillor Goodman replied that they have alongside those at BWR.
Councillor Barry Macrae said that he remained concerned over the provision of Local Needs Housing and whether the right types of houses were being built for residents.
Councillor Goodman replied that this would be addressed under the Local Plan.
The Chairman asked if he had any concerns regarding the availability of migrant workers following the decision to leave the EU.
Councillor Goodman replied that he felt that a labour / skills shortage already exists and that this would be likely to continue following the decision.
Councillor Paul Myers, Cabinet Member for Economic and Community Regeneration addressed the Panel, a summary of his update is set out below.
Bath Enterprise Zone
· Bath Quays North – Ongoing discussions with the LPA in relation to the Outline Planning Application for comprehensive redevelopment of Avon St coach and carpark. Application to be debated at August 2018 Development Management Committee.
· Bath Quays South – Strong market response received during soft marketing phases for Council delivered commercial office. Commercial Estate Investment SMD paper approved.
o Enabling works commenced on-site. Trees and vegetation removed and archaeology concluding with no significant finds.
o Legal discussions progressing with TCN: lease anticipated September, surveying work ongoing to the building.
· 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.
o BQS contractor engaged to deliver Phase 2b work package – foundations to bridge substructure and river wall.
o Preferred superstructure contractor appointed.
Housing
· Ministry of Housing Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) Rough Sleeper Bid – The bid for additional funding targeting rough sleeping levels in Bath & North East Somerset was successful and resulted in an initial allocation of £350,500 for the current financial year. Negotiations are ongoing around the level of allocation for 2019/20 and will be based on a shift towards prevention of future rough sleeping. Partners are working together and with Housing Services to refine the original proposals in line with this new approach, which will be submitted to MHCLG on 29 June for consideration during July.
· Bath City “Additional HMO Licensing” Consultation Feedback: High level of support – 910 responses to the consultation survey were received with further qualitative feedback gathered from two public meetings, stakeholder interviews and written responses over a consultation period of 10 weeks.
Overall support for the proposal is very strong with 85% in support. The responses will be considered and inform the final proposal and decision on the scheme.
· Rural Housing Week – National Rural Housing week runs from 2-6 July and we will be marking this promotion event with the formal opening of 5 affordable homes at Tynings Meadow, Bathampton. These 5 homes have been delivered by Liverty (formerly Knightstone HA) and local developer Charlcombe Homes, as part of a larger development of market homes, and have been supported by £169,000 subsidy from the Council’s affordable housing capital budget to address a funding gap.
Economy & Culture
· The Business Growth Team contributed to the development of a WECA bid to the Government’s £50m Urban Connected Communities Fund, in order to create a 5G communication network along the Bristol and Bath corridor. If successful the fund will support a nationally significant 5G testbed in the City, which will enable business and social care sector to develop and test new wireless technology applications. Promoting advancements in health care and business growth in the area.
Heritage Services
· Roman Baths - New museum trails to link to the ‘Minerva Owls’ city-wide project.
· Victoria Art Gallery – ‘Creativity Works’ – new community workshops with a young mums group and a Genesis Trust group as part of the HLF-funded project accompanying the purchase of the ceramic urn Posh Art by Turner Prize-winning artist Grayson Perry.
· Fashion Museum – A series of bespoke embroidery classes in partnership with the Royal School of Needlework, based on original historical dress on display in the museum galleries; one class saw participants recreate the gold work motif on Queen Alexandra’s coronation glove. All classes sold out!
Strategic Housing and Regeneration
Strategic Housing Sites (North Keynsham and Whitchurch)
- Landowner discussions ongoing;
- B&NES co-ordinating Housing Infrastructure bid funded by WECA and in partnership with Bristol CC; submission deadline March 2019; and
- Planning Policy and Regeneration working together to produce a deliverable and aspirational New Local Plan including transport options assessments, Design Review Panel and comprehensive evidence base (largely funded by WECA and MHCLG).
Somer Valley Enterprise Zone
- Governance in place including Key Stakeholder Group meeting today (3 July 2018);
- Jones Lang LaSalle Commercial Delivery Plan in progress, planning strategy to be discussed at Local Development Framework Steering Group 9 July 2018; and
- Transport feasibility underway to improve A362 including EZ site access and safer routes to school. LEP outline business case submission in the Autumn.
Market Towns
- MSN High Street Core: Landowners and Regeneration working together to influence vision for the area;
- Town Park masterplan (led by Town Council) nearing conclusion;
- Keynsham High Street: Consultation has demonstrated majority public support although business concerns being carefully looked at, B&NES funding approval required to enable submission of LEP Full Business Case for £1.5m in January 2019; and
- Radstock Healthy Living Centre: NHS funding confirmation expected imminently. Upon confirmation detailed design will commence.
Public Realm
- Saw Close: Completed 3 months early and £300k under budget. Safety and design issues with the private Deeley Freed space are in discussion. Lessons learned report underway;
- York Street/Swallow Street: City Centre Coordination Group has been established, chaired by Regeneration, to co-ordinate York Street repairs, Archway, Abbey Footprint and public realm schemes;
- Kingsmead: Study underway in partnership with local businesses to determine traffic and parking feasibility.
Broadband
· Specific detail will be added to the recently submitted briefing paper and circulated again to the Panel.
Councillor Lisa O’Brien asked for timings regarding the Radstock Healthy Living Centre.
The Director for Economy & Growth replied that it was dependant on receipt of funding from the NHS and that the facility would be a new build, so a broad timescale would be 2 – 3 years.
The Chairman repeated his earlier question regarding the availability of migrant workers following the decision to leave the EU.
The Director for Economy & Growth replied that discussions were ongoing with WECA and the LEP on this matter.