Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence had been received from David Cockroft (Coventry City Council), Simon Marks (Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership), Councillor David Humphreys (North Warwickshire Borough Council), Councillor Paul Moore (Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council), Councillor Steven Claymore (Tamworth Borough Council) and Councillor Peter Butlin (Warwickshire County Council).

Members are reminded of the need to declare

any disclosable pecuniary interests they have in

an item being discussed during the course of the

meeting. In addition, the receipt of any gift or

hospitality should be declared where the value of

it was thought to have exceeded £25 (gifts) or

£40 (hospitality).

No declarations of interest were made in relation to matters under consideration at the meeting.

No nominations of substitutes had been received.

At the invitation of the Chair introductions were duly made. He apologised that all the documents for consideration at the meeting had not been circulated in a timely manner and he assured the Board that this would not happen in the future. All papers would be circulated in sufficient time to afford members the opportunity to read them and consult with Officers as appropriate.

He advised that all future meetings of the Board would commence on time and that he did not believe in holding meetings for meetings sake.

He commented that the last meeting of the Board had been held in February 2018 but that going forward the Board would meet on a bi-monthly cycle with updates being made in the intervening period as necessary.

[For approval]

Resolved:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 21 February 2018 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Councillor Ian Courts referred to Minute No. 10 (Matters Arising) insofar as it related to the provision of further information with regard to the award of £3.690 million to Telford and Wrekin Council to assist in bringing forward approximately 540 housing units across that area. At the meeting held on 21 February 2018 he had expressed concern with regard to this award given the discussions held under the Duty to Co-Operate requirements and the stance taken previously by Telford and Wrekin Council. It had been agreed at that meeting that a detailed clarification on the background to this matter and the decision be provided to all members of the Board. He reported that, despite the passage of time since the last meeting he had still not received the information requested.

The Chair commented that there needed to be an improvement in communication to members of this Board and for it to be provided in a timely manner if the Board was to operate effectively. Councillor Ian Courts reminded the Board on the need to recognise what was happening within the various Housing Market Areas.

Resolved:

That a detailed report on this outstanding issue be submitted to the next meeting of the Board.

Gareth Bradford presented a report which updated the Board on progress on the development of the Spatial Investment and Delivery Plan (SIDP) which was a key recommendation of the West Midlands Land Commission, the subsequent Land Delivery Plan and the recent Housing Deal agreed with HM Government. He assured the Board that the SIPD was not intended to supersede Local Plans prepared by the local authorities.

He explained that the SIDP had been built from emerging and adopted plans in order to set out a framework for growth that included priority sites and growth areas and associated infrastructure requirements and the actions participating authorities, including the WMCA and its strategic partners, Homes England, TfWM, HS2, Network Rail and the Highways Agency, would take to support the delivery of new homes and employment opportunities in the region. Eleanor Young advised that the SIDP had been developed in close liaison with Officers from the respective local authorities. She referred to Map 4 and an error with regard to the Bus infrastructure in Coventry which would be amended before the consultation process commenced.

Councillor Ian Courts raised the following questions and points:

i)             The reference on page 7 to agreeing the consultation – with whom and by whom?

ii)            The reference on page 33 to ‘quality’ – this meant different things to different people and needed to be supplemented and reference made to ‘place making’

iii)           References to ‘Affordable Homes’ – this required explanation and needed to reflect the need for more starter homes and smaller homes to be provided;

iv)           Pages 40/44- an explanation was required on how the 27 corridors related to ‘Inclusive Growth Corridors’

v)            The reference on page 54 to the adoption of a ‘brownfield first approach to the development of land’ – the need to include reference to wider environmental improvements including ‘green credentials’.

The Chair reminded the Board that the intention of the SIDP was not to conflict with Local Plans. Councillor Peter Bilson supported the comments now made and welcomed the report but commented that it was deliverability upon which the success of the Board would be judged. He suggested that once the consultation exercise commenced the Board would be better placed to assess the support it would receive.

Bill Blincoe commented on the work being taken on the development of Local Industrial Strategy and suggested that this and the SIDP needed to be prepared in parallel with cross referencing and cross checking as necessary. He opined that the SIDP was primarily focussed on housing matters although employment matters were referenced and, on this basis, all references to employment should be removed. Gareth Bradford reported that he did not agree with this approach, and that housing and employment needed to be looked at together in the SIDP. The limited reference to specific employment sites within the SIDP was due to awaiting the forthcoming strategic employment sites study. He advised that the SIDP had been developed in consultation with the WMCA Industrial Strategy Team.

The Chair commented  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

[To pass the following resolution:

That in accordance with Section 100(A) of the

Local Government Act, 1972 the press and

public be excluded from the meeting for the

following items of business as it involves the

likely disclosure of exempt information relating to

the business or financial affairs of any particular

person (including the authority holding that

information)]

Resolved:

That in accordance with Section 100A4 of the Local Government Act

1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting during the

consideration of the following items of business as they involve the

likely disclosure of exempt information relating to the business affairs

of any particular person (Including the authority holding that

information).

At the request of the Chair, Gareth Bradford explained that this matter was being considered in the private session of the meeting as it contained commercially sensitive information.

Gareth Bradford presented a report which updated the Board on progress in taking forward work to secure Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF) investment agreed in principle with HM Government. He outlined the work necessary to prepare a Full Business Case (FBC) in order to draw down funding and the need to seek a delegation to him, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder, the Director of Finance and the Monitoring Officer.

He responded to various questions raised.

Resolved:

1.    That the WMCA Board be recommended to support delegated authority being granted to the WMCA Director of Housing and Regeneration, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder, the Director of Finance and the Monitoring Officer, to submit the final HIF Business Case to HM Government in August 2018, securing the investment agreed ‘in principle;

2.    That the accelerated timetable being worked to for submission of the full HIF Business Case relative to other areas in order that a positive investment decision could be received in order to support the Commonwealth Games schemes be noted.