Agenda and minutes

The Scrutiny Board noted that Councillors Bailey and Heaven were Members of Planning Committee in relation to the items for consideration in Minutes 9 and 11 below.

a)  To agree the Minutes of the previous meeting held on 7 July, 2022

b)  Matters arising

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 7 July, 2022 were agreed as a true record.

There were no matters arising.

Briefing Note of the Head of Planning Policy and Environment

The Scrutiny Board considered a report, appendices and presentation which covered the following points:

·  Lack of planning oversight on small HMOs

·  Significant neighbourhood issues such as waste, noise, general ASB and weakening of community ties

·  HMOs tend to be in concentrations exacerbating such issues

·  Evidence base created (internal sources, external commission)

·  Site visits, mapping exercises

·  Best practice examples

·  Draft Reg 18 DPD created detailing issues and preferred policy options

·  Identifies amenity issues and Key Issues of

o  Concentration

o  Sandwiching

o  Thresholds

·  Article 4 Direction drafted and mapped

·  Cabinet (30/08) & Council (06/09) approval to consult

·  8 weeks consultation 20/09 – 15/11

·  The Development Plan Document (Regulation 18)

o  Identifies issues and preferred options

o  HMO1 – General

o  HMO2 – Concentration

o  HMO3 – Sandwiching

o  HMO4 – Amenity

·  Article 4 Direction

o  Removes Permitted Development rights in nominated areas

o  Thus DPD policies would apply to all HMO applications

o  Needs to be reasonable, evidenced etc.

·  The eleven wards covered by the Article 4 Direction

o  Cheylesmore, Earlsdon, Foleshill, Lower Stoke, Radford, Sherbourne, St. Michael’s, Upper Stoke, Wainbody, Westwood, Whoberley

·  The timeline for consultation

The Scrutiny Board made the following comments:

·  Concerns about displacement to wards and neighbourhoods outside of the Article 4 Direction

·  Concerns there would be a rush to convert houses into HMO’s before the regulations came into force

·  Concerns that landlords may apply for different use, such as residential care and then later on convert to HMO’s

·  What can be learned from other areas experiences of implementing policies to manage HMO numbers?

·  Concerns that the DPD didn’t address parking issues and those in the Local Plan were not currently adequate. This could be an opportunity to address new parking regulations.

·  How the information is being shared with current and potential HMO landlords.

·  The impact on current HMO’s

·  The 100m rule would have different implications in areas of different housing density.

·  The importance of working alongside licensing colleagues to ensure that current HMO’s are licenced and therefore included in any calculations for making decisions on future applications.

·  Concerns about developers identifying loopholes to get around planning or licensing requirements, such as converting properties into flats.

·  Concerns that 10% is too high a threshold for measuring density

·  Whether issues around bin storage and collection would be addressed as part of the proposals.

RESOLVED that the Communities and Neighbourhoods Scrutiny Board (4):

1)  Supports and welcomes the aims of the proposals being consulted on.

2)  Recommends that the comments and concerns raised in the meeting be considered as part of the consultation representations.

Briefing Note of the Head of Planning Policy and Environment

10.  Local Listings

The Scrutiny Board considered a report and presentation which covered the following points:

·  What a local listing is

·  Criteria - The heritage asset should be valued locally for some, or all, of the following reasons:

o  It must be capable of being a heritage asset within the government’s definition

o  It must have heritage interest that can be conserved and enjoyed

o  It must have value as heritage for the character and identity of the area for its heritage interest beyond personal or family connections

o  Its significance must be greater than the general positive value of its surroundings

o  Historic

o  Artistic

o  Community

o  Evidence

o  Age

o  Rarity

o  Integrity

o  Group value

o  Coventry’s identity

·  Current process

o  Members of the public, organisations etc can make nominations for inclusions onto the local list via CCC website.

o  Nomination forms ensure that applicants consider the key grounds required of a valid nomination

o  Officers review nomination to ensure validity (N.B. without making a judgement on merit)

o  Cabinet Member meeting approval in order to take the nomination to public consultation

o  Following findings of public consultation, officer review leading to report and recommendation upon nomination.

o  Cabinet member meeting to present findings and approve/refuse the local listing

The Scrutiny Board asked questions and received information from officers on the following:

·  Whether it was individuals or organisations that tend to nominate for local listings

·  That the process is the same if a proposed listing is Council property or a private property and owners are included in the process

·  The conservation officer makes recommendations as to what counts as a heritage asset but based on the criteria listed and also desk top research. Social history is considered just as significant.

·  Outreach work did happen with schools to share local history but it was an area in development.

RESOLVED that the Communities and Neighbourhoods Scrutiny Board (4) recommends to the Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities that the outreach programme with schools be strengthened and includes Ward Members.

Briefing Note of the Head of Planning Policy and Environment

The Scrutiny Board considered the reports, appendices and a presentation which covered the following:

·  The two key functions of the Supplementary Planning Document (SPD)

o  To set the design guidance framework for proposals for new tall buildings throughout the city

o  To articulate and further clarify the considerations of the three spires view cones, already in policy in the Area Action Plan

·  Consultation took place between 3rd August 2022 and 14th September 2022

·  Delivers upon commitment in policy CC7 in City Centre Area Action Plan

·  Received representations now being considered ahead of recommendations being made.

·  Comments made by the Board would be included as part of the consultation

The Scrutiny Board asked questions and made the following comments:

·  Concerns that the proposals could lead to lots of tall buildings in one area of the city centre where views aren’t affected

·  Whether views opened up by the removal of buildings could be added to the protected views

·  How the viewpoints were identified.

·  Whether the viewing points were promoted as tourist attractions.

RESOLVED that the Communities and Neighbourhoods Scrutiny Board (4):-

1)  Supports the aims of the Supplementary Planning Document

2)  Recommends that the comments and concerns raised in the meeting be considered as part of the consultation representations.

3)  Recommends that the Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities promotes the viewpoints of the three spires as tourist attractions

Briefing Note of the Director of Law and Governance

The Scrutiny Board considered the Work Programme 2022/23 and requested that the following items be added to the Scrutiny Board’s Work Programme:-

·  Strategic Flood Risk Assessment

·  Fly-tipping and Street Cleansing

·  Empty Properties

·  Use of Green Spaces – including mile markers, lighting and paths

RESOLVED that the items identified by the Scrutiny Board be added to the Work Programme 2022/23

There were no other items of urgent public business.