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 Charles Gerrish, Cabinet Member for Finance and Efficiency was present and delivered an update on behalf of Councillor Paul Myers, Cabinet Member for Economic and Community Regeneration, a summary of the update is set out below.
Economy & Culture
· The Business Growth Team and staff from the Roman Baths hosted one of the first public trials of 5G technology and capabilities in the UK. The 5G ‘Smart Tourism’ project funded by the Department for Culture Media & Sport and included the BBC, Aardman and the University of Bristol as partners. The trial allowed over 120 VIPs and members of the public to view the Roman Baths in augmented reality using a specially designed app.
· Work has begun on the refresh of the Economic Strategy. The statistical evidence base, which will underpin the strategy, will shortly be completed. Following this the narrative and action plan elements will be developed. Once this has been finalised it will be internally consulted upon.
· The Business Growth team is working with the Business Exchange (a regional business and property website and magazine) to create a range of marketing and promotional materials about successful businesses within B&NES. One element of this will be case studies of prominent and growing businesses in the area to show the strength and diversity of business in the area.
Bath Enterprise Zone
· Bath Quays North - Development partner procurement ongoing - final tenders received 16/11/2018 and evaluation concluded. Preferred and reserved bidder identified. Procurement Board report and recommendation to be issued to Full Cabinet on 06/02/2019.
· Bath Quays South - Contract finalised and entered with BQS contactor BAM to deliver remaining phase 2B enabling works and build commercial office block. Legal discussions progressing with TCN: surveying work ongoing to Newark Works.
· Bath Quays Bridge - BQS contractor contract includes works to deliver bridge substructure. Superstructure contractor engaged with letter of intent for secure steel order. Timber bridge deck detailed design completed and S73 planning application submitted. Response expected Jan/Feb 2019 – awaiting comments from EA.
o Funding - £12.5m of Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF) funding provisionally 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 forward for residential development. Final bid clarifications responded to and meeting anticipated Jan 2019.
Housing
The Bath City Additional HMO Licensing Scheme for shared houses and flats of 3 or 4 occupants is now in place. All HMOs operating within the boundary of Bath must be licenced with the Council. Applications should be made online and detailed information is available on the Housing Services website. This scheme compliments the scheme for all larger HMOs of 5 or more occupants across the authority.
New Affordable Housing Provision - An additional 42 affordable homes have been secured on the Bovis development at the former printwork site at Paulton (Polestar) by two of our HomesWest partners.
These comprise 21 rented houses and flats being delivered by LiveWest next year and 21 shared ownership homes are currently being marketed by Heylo. Both schemes are being delivered with Homes England funding and are in addition to the 90 homes secured through planning which complete this year.
Heritage Services
· Fashion Museum loans: The Fashion Museum is loaning nine ensembles and three hats, all by Dior, from its Designated Collection to the Victoria & Albert Museum in London for its 2019 blockbuster fashion exhibition Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams.
· In 2018 the Fashion Museum had its busiest year since 2012, up 6% on 2017 and over 100,000 which has been the aspirational target for a few years.
· World Heritage: The ‘Great Spas of Europe’ nomination for a collective World Heritage Designation with a number of other key European spa towns will be officially submitted to UNESCO this month. It will then be subject to a lengthy evaluation process and a result is unlikely to be known before Summer 2020.
Regeneration
· Housing Infrastructure Fund: Draft bid for circa £250m being reviewed, to be finalised end January for WECA Infrastructure Officer Board, Infrastructure Advisory Board and Joint Committee (including B&NES Leader) approval in February. WECA to submit 1 March. Bid is in line with Joint Spatial Plan and B&NES Local Plan Options Report, to support delivery of agreed planning policy. Housing Deal: WECA making good progress with MHCLG for a circa £120m package.
· Somer Valley Enterprise Zone: Outline Business Cases for commercial/legal advice, land, planning, infrastructure and highways to be submitted to WECA 18 March, to fund delivery of a Local Development Order, new highway access and land agreements totalling circa £3.5m.
· Keynsham High Street: Cabinet Report 6th February, Full Business Case submission for £1.5m to WECA on 18 March. December 18/January 19 public consultation still suggests high level of support for the scheme.
Environment & Design Projects
WaterSpace Project
· The Partnership has updated its 5 year funding and priority plan to 2023, with a number of projects being delivered in year 1.
· £1.2m has been secured to support the implementation of the River Avon Park (90% of which is developer funding via s106 and CIL). The Management Plan has now been signed off by all partners, and discussions are underway to introduce a revised towpath agreement.
· A costed specification for Bathwick Towpath Improvement has been prepared (total project value £245k). This this has led to successful fundraising efforts of £130k (confirmed external funding), with further applications for £70k pending. There is a £45k funding shortfall remaining and work is underway to identify additional funding sources.
· Work is underway to link Pulteney Radial Gate replacement with a fixed structure into the Stadium for Bath project, the approach received support from Director’s Group and discussions are ongoing with Bath Rugby.
WECA Love High Streets Pilot
· £280k WECA funding has been confirmed for B&NES for 2019-20 to support feasibility work and pilot delivery for three High Street projects. This will allow FBC applications for £3m and various pilots and quick wins to be delivered during 2019-20:
o Bath City Centre – Feasibility, scoping and design work for projects focusing on improving footfall and increasing animation and activity in the northern part of the city centre to inform a FBC as well as delivering quick wins.
o Midsomer Norton High Street – Design work to inform a FBC for a new Town Square and improved public realm in the town centre. Market and event pilots to be delivered in 2019-20.
o Twerton High Street – Pop-up shop and High Street improvement project linked to the FC/Greenacre development. We have engaged with the FC/Greenacre team, who are keen to collaborate on the project. Work to identify quick wins in local centres is also underway.
Councillor Rob Appleyard commented that he was present at a recent meeting of the Bath City Forum where they approved recommendations for additional funding for the Bathwick Towpath.
Councillor Colin Blackburn asked when occupation of the Newark Works could be expected.
The Director for Economy & Growth replied that occupation of the refurbished Newark Works by TCN could be expected by late 2020 and in the new office built by the Council in 2021.
The Chairman thanked Councillor Gerrish for the update on behalf of the Panel.
He then announced that an update had been received from Councillor Bob Goodman, Cabinet Member for Development and Neighbourhoods which he would read to the Panel, a summary of the update is set out below.
Joint Spatial Plan – The recent public consultation ended on 7th January and officers from the four Council's will begin to produce a key issues report, which will include consultation comments received and a short response from the Council's, which will be circulated to the Inspectors.
All comments and views submitted will be taken into account by the Inspectors as they prepare for Examination (EiP) hearings, which are intended to take place in Spring 2019.
All comments made on the Technical Evidence Work Consultation will be published online in due course.
As the spokesperson for the West of England on the Joint Spatial Plan, I have been involved in promoting the plan with the media.
Local Plan – The public consultation also finished on 7th January. Officers are currently assessing the responses. Comments received will be used to inform preparation of the Draft Local Plan to be published in 2019.
Sustainable Construction Checklist Supplementary Planning Document - The Sustainable Construction SPD Checklist has now been adopted. In order to register a planning application, applications for the development types below will need to complete and attach the Checklist and any supporting documentation that it requires:
- All new build proposals
- All medium scale proposals or larger for works on existing buildings (5+ dwellings or 500m2 + of floor space)
This I believe is a good step in achieving more sustainable buildings and I hope this will be strengthened in the years to come.
Local Development Scheme -The LDS is a timetable for the production of the Local Plan, Development Plan Documents and Supplementary Planning Documents that the Council is preparing, or intends to prepare. These documents are known collectively as Local Development Documents (LDDs). It is the starting point for residents and stakeholders to find out what planning policies relate to their area and how these will be reviewed. We will be looking at the LDS for 2019.
The Chairman thanked Councillor Goodman for issuing this update in his absence.