Agenda and minutes
PDF 265 KBVenue: The Council House, Burcot Lane, Bromsgrove
Contact: Rosemary Cole Karen Firth
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apologies for absence Minutes: No apologies for absence were received. |
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Declarations of Interest Minutes: No declarations of interest were received. |
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Minutes: The minutes of the meeting of Cabinet held on 7th March 2012 were submitted.
RESOLVED that the minutes be approved as a correct record. |
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Longbridge - Statement of Principles Regarding Affordable Housing Provision Minutes: The Cabinet considered a report on the proposal to adopt a jointly agreed Statement of Principles regarding the provision of affordable housing on Longbridge development sites.
It was reported that the Statement of Principles was designed to guide the approach of this Council and Birmingham City Council throughout the regeneration of Longbridge sites in respect of the provision of affordable housing.
During consideration of this item the Cabinet also took into account the recommendation of the Overview and Scrutiny Board as contained in minute 106/11 of the meeting of the Board held on 26th March 2012.
The Board had recommended that the Cabinet defer the approval of the Statement of Principles pending the submission of a more detailed report to the Overview and Scrutiny Board on a number of areas contained within the Statement of Principles to enable the Board to contribute to the decision making process.
The Cabinet felt it was appropriate for the Overview and Scrutiny Board to consider the contents of the Statement of Principles in more detail. The Cabinet were concerned however that this may result in this Authority losing the 50% nomination rights (as referred to in item 6 in the Statement of Principles) to dwellings in respect of the development on the Birmingham City Council site at Lickey Road/Lowhill Lane.
RESOLVED: (a) that further consideration of the Longbridge Statement of Principles Regarding Affordable Housing Provision be deferred to enable the Overview and Scrutiny Board to consider the issue in more detail; and
(b) that in the meantime the Council accept their 50% nomination rights to dwellings on the Lickey Road/Lowhill Lane development.
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Overview and Scrutiny Board (a) To receive and note the minutes (b) To consider any recommendations contained within the minutes Additional documents: Minutes: The minutes of the meetings of the Overview and Scrutiny Board held on 27th February 2012 and 26th March 2012 were submitted.
Minutes of the meeting held on 27th February 2012
RESOLVED that the minutes be noted.
Minutes of the meeting held on 26th March 2012
RESOLVED: (a) that the recommendation contained in minute 106/11 relating to the Longbridge Statement of Principles be approved; and (b) that the remainder of the minutes be noted.
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Bromsgrove Town Centre Townscape Heritage Initiative - Second Round Submission Minutes: Consideration was given to a report on the second round submission to the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) in respect of a Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI) in Bromsgrove Town Centre Conservation Area. Members were reminded that in April 2010 the Council was provisionally awarded £1.2m from the HLF for this purpose.
It was noted that the second round submission provided much clearer detail on the Conservation Area, the issues to be faced and the management of those issues. In addition, detail was required on how the funding would be used in order to add lasting improvements and historic value to the area.
Members’ attention was drawn to both the bid document itself and the Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan which had both been the subject of a period of public consultation. Responses received had been taken into consideration when compiling the final content of the bid document.
The Cabinet acknowledged the extensive work undertaken by officers in drawing up what was felt to be an impressive bid.
RESOLVED: (a) that subject to any final recommendation from the HLF monitor (to be approved by the Executive Director Planning and Regeneration, Regulatory and Housing Services), the Bromsgrove Town Centre THI second round bid be approved for submission to HLF for consideration; and
(b) that the Bromsgrove Town Centre Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan be adopted as a material consideration for planning purposes.
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Shared Services Board (a) To receive and note the minutes (b) To consider any recommendations contained within the minutes
Additional documents: Minutes: The minutes of the meetings of the Shared Services Board held on 26th January 2012 and 8th March 2012 were submitted.
RESOLVED that the minutes be noted in each case.
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Worcestershire Shared Services Joint Committee (a) To receive and note the minutes (b) To consider any recommendations contained within the minutes
Minutes: The minutes of the meeting of the Worcestershire Shared Services Committee held on 23rd February 2012 were submitted.
RESOLVED that the minutes be noted.
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Overview and Scrutiny Task Group Planning Policy Report Minutes: The Leader invited the Chairman of the Planning Policy Task Group Councillor S. R. Colella to introduce the report of the Task Group on the review of Planning Policy.
Councillor Colella explained that the Task Group had been set up to investigate the effectiveness of planning conditions and the enforcement of breaches of these conditions. The role of the Task Group had been to use existing case studies to look at the effectiveness of planning conditions and the Council’s Enforcement Policy and to suggest where improvements could be made.
Councillor Colella thanked the Members of the Task Group for their work which he felt had resulted in a robust and detailed investigation. In addition thanks were expressed to officers for their assistance to the Task Group and for their open approach and willingness to recognise where services could be improved. The Task Group had recognised that some improvements were already in place. Thanks were also expressed to the members of the public who had participated in the process.
The Cabinet then considered the recommendations of the Task Group in detail and sought clarification of some issues from Councillor Colella.
As the Cabinet’s response to some of the Task Group’s recommendations would require further consideration from the Overview and Scrutiny Board, it was felt appropriate to defer a final Cabinet response to the Task Group report until the Board had had the opportunity to consider these issues further.
The Leader thanked Councillor Colella and the other Members of the Task Group for their work to date which had resulted in some very good recommendations. The Leader also thanked Ms. A. Scarce, Democratic Services Officer for her work in supporting the Task Group.
RESOLVED that the response to each of the recommendations within the report of the Planning Policy Task Group be as set out below:
Recommendation 1
That a mechanism be put in place to ensure that : (a) where conditions cannot be monitored within existing resources, an estimate of the resources required to monitor those conditions be clearly identified ; (b) the applicant be made aware at the earliest possible stage of the need to ensure that these conditions are adhered to and properly monitored in line with the conditions applied; and (c) where the planning officer recommends refusal of a planning application and the Planning Committee go against the recommendation, sufficient time should be given within the Planning Committee Meeting to discuss conditions.
Cabinet Response
(a) there was concern that it may often be difficult to decide what additional resources would be appropriate and therefore to estimate that cost. In addition, whilst an estimate may be made the Council may not then have the resources to meet that cost. It was therefore felt that that this part of the recommendation should be referred back to the Overview and Scrutiny Board for further consideration;
(b) this was agreed;
(c) this was agreed;
Recommendation 2
(a) that a review of the Bromsgrove Standard Planning Conditions be carried out as soon as ... view the full minutes text for item 133. |
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Minutes: The Leader reported that he had attended an event at NewStart.
Councillor Mrs M. A. Sherrey reported that she had attended a meeting of the Health and Well Being Board. |
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Worcestershire Extra Care Housing Strategy 2011 Minutes: Consideration was given to a report on the Worcestershire Extra Care Housing Strategy 2011-2026 which had been developed by the District Councils in Worcestershire together with the County Council. The Strategy was intended to provide a framework for the future development of Extra Care Housing in Worcestershire for the period 2011 to 2026.
It was reported that the Strategy identified Local Authorities as having a leading role in developing Extra Care Housing by encouraging providers from the social, charitable and private sectors to deliver the Extra Care Housing required in Worcestershire.
The Head of Community Services reported that it was intended that an Action Plan for delivery of the Strategy would be developed in respect of the Bromsgrove District by the Council’s officers.
Members supported the Strategy but requested additional clarification on the definition of “Extra Care Housing”.
RESOLVED that the Worcestershire Extra Care Housing Strategy 2011 – 2026 be approved in principle, subject to the Leader and Portfolio Holder for Strategic Housing being satisfied with the definition of the term “Extra Care Housing”.
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Performance Monitoring Quarter 3 2011/12 Minutes: The Cabinet considered a report on the Council’s corporate performance for the period ending 31st December 2011.
It was noted that of the 15 remaining indicators, performance had improved in respect of 8 indicators and had declined in respect of 7 indicators since the same period the previous year.
Members noted a number of areas of improvement including the reduction in new Benefits Claims processing time and the increase in usage of the Artrix. The main area of concern, the number of households living in temporary accommodation was also noted although Cabinet were aware that a strategy had been developed to address this as far as possible.
The Deputy Chief Executive referred briefly to the further changes which would evolve in respect of performance reporting as Departments developed “measures” and Transformation work proceeded.
RESOLVED that the updated information on key performance indicators for the period ended 31st December 2011 be noted.
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Local Government Act 1972 "RESOLVED: that under Section 100 I of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended, the public be excluded from the meeting during the consideration of the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of Schedule 12A to the Act, as amended, the relevant paragraph of that part, in each case, being as set out below, and that it is in the public interest to do so:-
Minutes: That under Section 100 I of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended, the public be excluded from the meeting during the consideration of the item of business the subject of the following minute on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of “Exempt Information” as defined in Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act the relevant paragraphs of that part being as set out below and that it is in the public interest to do so.
Minute No Paragraph 138/11 3 |
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Marketing Exercise - Inclusion of Council Owned Assets (Hanover Street Car Park, George House and Stourbridge Road Car Park) Minutes: The Cabinet considered a report on the possible inclusion of Council owned assets at Hanover Street Car Park, George House and Stourbridge Road Car Park in marketing exercises.
Following discussion it was
RESOLVED: (a) that the incorporation of Council owned assets at the Hanover Street Car Park and George House site and the Stourbridge Road Car Park in marketing exercises be approved and that the marketing be carried out by Commercial Property Consultant John Dillon; and
(b) that authority to sign the agreement in respect of the marketing exercises be delegated to the Regeneration Programme Manger.
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