Agenda and minutes

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Contact: Suzanne Bennett  Tel: 024 7697 2299 Email:  suzanne.bennett@coventry.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

18.

Declarations of Interest

Minutes:

There were no disclosable pecuniary interests.

 

19.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 260 KB

a)  To agree the Minutes of the meeting held on 2 December, 2021

 

b)  Any matters arising

Minutes:

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 2 December, 2021 were agreed as a true record.

 

There were no matters arising.

 

20.

Consultation on Supplementary Planning Documents - i) Affordable Housing; ii) Energy; iii) Open Space pdf icon PDF 221 KB

Briefing Note of the Director of Streetscene and Regulatory Services

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing introduced the item. The Scrutiny Board considered a Briefing Note, together with a presentation at the meeting, which provided information on the consultation about the Supplementary Planning Documents (SPD).

 

The Scrutiny Board noted that any feedback provided would be considered as part of the consultation process.

 

The presentation included;

·  An explanation of an SPD – that it articulates and amplifies policies

within the Local Plan; Cannot exceed the requirements in the Local Plan; had been drafted in conjunction with relevant departments within the Council; required a period of public consultation before adoption and that it would become material consideration in planning decisions

·  The consultation launched 30 November and had been extended to 7 weeks duration due to festive break

·  Reponses would be considered, alterations made as required and Cabinet paper submitted in the new year

 

Supplementary Planning Documents – Affordable Housing

Issues covered in the presentation included

  A definition of Affordable Housing provided by National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF)

  The SPD included an indicative housing mix to maximise large property provision

  The SPD maximises value of commuted sum where on-site provision is impossible

  The SPD establishes CCC as an alternative purchaser of Affordable Housing

  A Template 106 agreement had been provided

 

The Scrutiny Board asked questions and received responses on a number of issues, including:-

·  The definition of affordable housing.

·  Opportunities to increase levels of social housing, as opposed to affordable housing.

·  Members were informed Shelter were promoting nationally the challenge of affordable housing.

·  There was a push to try and secure a high proportion of social housing in areas of the City where there is currently less.

·  Concerns were raised that developers did not complete the levels of affordable housing as per the agreed section 106 application, often siting viability issues. If this happened, developers were required to provide evidence regarding viability. There was now a monitoring officer in planning who reviewed the outcomes of developments compared to the agreed 106 agreements. It was noted that in one local authority area, it was insisted that the affordable housing was built first to ensure that it was built.

·  Delivering affordable housing requires a one Coventry approach and other teams across the Council are involved. The Cabinet Member informed the Scrutiny Board that a Housing Strategy would be developed to demonstrate this.

·  It was discussed that the policy would include the ‘pepper potting’ of social housing throughout areas to avoid ‘ghettoisation’. Equality Impact assessments and Health Inequality assessments included the impact of including affordable/ social housing in developments including the impact of doing nothing.

·  There had been lots of work to improve the mix of housing being developed to meet Coventry’s needs, which included social and affordable housing, larger family homes and suitable accommodation for older people.

·  Section 106 agreements were the result of negotiation so there was scope to amend agreements as appropriate – for example, to accept a lower amount of social housing where family homes would  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.

21.

Work Programme and Outstanding Issues pdf icon PDF 267 KB

Report of the Director of Law and Governance

Minutes:

The Scrutiny Board considered and noted the Work Programme for 2021/22.

 

22.

Any Other Items of Urgent Public Business

Minutes:

There were no other items of urgent public business.