Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interest.

a)  To agree the minutes of the meeting held on 10^th December, 2018

b)  Matters arising

The minutes of the meeting held on 10 December 2019 were signed as a true record.

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place)

The Cabinet Member considered a report of the Deputy Chief Executive which set out in detail the draft Urban Extensions Design Guidance Supplementary Planning Document (SPD).

The report indicated that this SPD was intended to provide technical guidance and support to the relevant policies within the new Local Plan that related directly to the Allocated Urban Extensions at Keresley and Eastern Green. For the avoidance of doubt this primarily related to Policies DS4 and H2. The Design Guidance could also be applied to other site allocations within Policy H2, especially those situated within the wider Arden landscape. The Local Plan provided the framework for determining planning applications across Coventry following its adoption on the 6^th December 2017. This SPD had been developed in partnership with various Council departments, including Highways, Drainage and Public Health and was intended to support ongoing joint working to support all infrastructure and design matters going forward.

The SPD was structured to provide specific design guidance around key areas of development. This primarily included new homes but also related to employment provision and community/commercial buildings. The design guidance also covered green infrastructure, highways and parking provisions.

Alongside the SPD a specific appendix was being issued to provide a high level, Indicative Masterplan for the Keresley Sustainable Urban Extensions (SUE). This reflected the fact that this SUE was split across multiple land ownerships and numerous development phases. The Indicative Masterplan was reflective of the original shortlisted development plots in the Council’s Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) (2016) and the discussions that were held around this at the Local Plan examinations. It was intended to help site promoters and developers link these respective phases together through design, access and infrastructure. It also highlighted key infrastructure features including the green corridor, protected ancient woodlands and a high-level interpretation of the link road.

The SPD had previously been consulted on during August and September 2018. A number of technical comments were made during that consultation and as a result the Design Guidance and Indicative Masterplan had been updated and adjusted as appropriate. The key areas of comment and subsequent adjustment were summarised in section 3 of the report.

RESOLVED that the Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities:

1.  Note the consultation statement included at appendix 2 of the report.? 

2.  Approve a?final round of public participation?on?the SUE Design Guidance SPD. The consultation is proposed to run for?6 weeks?between Friday 8^th February and Friday 22^nd March 2019.?

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive (People)

The Cabinet Member considered a report of the Deputy Chief Executive, People, which responded to a petition containing 70 signatures, which called upon the Council to identify suitable accommodation for homeless people who were currently residing at the Barracks Car Park. The petition stated that people should not have to live in such circumstances and asked that the council resolve the matter.

The report indicated that the people residing at Barracks Car Park were well known to the council and its partner agencies and a series of interventions had been introduced and were on offer to attempt to resolve the current situation. That said, the majority of people residing at Barracks Car Park were foreign nationals, which under legislation meant that they did not have recourse to public funds and consequently did not qualify for the council’s housing services or housing benefit/universal credit.  However, housing alternatives were available such as the Winter Night Shelter - open between December and March - and emergency shelters at places such as Doe Bank Lane.  The particular circumstances of the client group in question presented challenges in developing a longer term intervention. Officers were therefore considering making a specific bid for external funding that addressed functional skills, employment support, health issues and lifestyle factors. Any successful bid would require a partnership approach particularly shaped around this group of individuals and their circumstances.

Representatives from Coventry Emergency Shelter and Coventry Comfort Carers attended the meeting and spoke about the complex issues and difficulties experienced by the homelessness and specifically those who take shelter in Barracks car park. Arising from the ensuing discussion, the Cabinet Member expressed concern in respect of recent reports in connection with a rough sleeper in a nearby city park and asked that this matter be referred to the Adult Safeguarding Board. 

The Cabinet Member sought to understand how, and how often, information on individuals was shared between partner agencies and following discussion, considered that this be further considered to seek to explore if things could be done better.

RESOLVED that, after due consideration of the report and the matters raised at the meeting, the Cabinet Memberfor Housing and Communities:

1)  Agrees to continue to identify alternative, suitable housing and personal support solutions to the people at Barracks Car Park.

2)  Request that officers:

(a)  Establish a Rough Sleeping Steering Group which would meet on a monthly basis and would be chaired by the Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities.

(b)  Ensure that the safeguarding matter (as discussed) be referred to the Adult Safeguarding Board.

(c)  Create a funding website for public donations to help rough sleepers in the City.

(d)  Investigate the possibility of increasing the level of the outreach resources in the City.

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place)

There were no outstanding issues.

There were no other items of public business.