Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed those present at the inaugural meeting of the Board and introduced himself as Chair. He explained the purpose of the Board as being to drive the delivery of the housing and employment land needed to deliver the ambitions detailed in the Economic Strategy. The Board would be supported by an Officers’ Group that had made good progress on developing the pipeline of schemes which would underpin delivery. He commented on the need to accelerate house building to drive the economy forward and acknowledged the different challenges, problems and priorities in the region which could be addressed better by collaborative working.   

Apologies for absence had been received from Bill Blincoe (Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership), Councillor Ian Courts (Solihull MBC), Councillor Dennis Harvey (Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council),Simon Marks (Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership), Sarah Middleton (Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership), Councillor Richard Overton (Telford and Wrekin Council) and Councillor Chris Saint (Stratford on Avon District Council).

At the request of the Chair, Carl Craney updated the Board on changes to and additions in membership of the Board namely:

Councillor Nic Laurens – Shropshire Council;

Councillor Peter Butlin – Warwickshire County Council;

Councillor David Humphreys – North Warwickshire Borough Council; and

Sarah Middleton – Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership. 

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 items under consideration at the meeting.

Patrick White presented a report which detailed the Terms of Reference of the Board and which proposed a structured work plan. He explained that the aim was to deliver the increase in housing and employment land needed across the West Midlands, with a focus on implementing the priority actions agreed in the Housing Delivery Plan. He outlined the work which had been undertaken to date and the Work Streams which needed to be commissioned to develop the priorities outlined in the Land Delivery Action Plan.

The Chair referred to the use of the term ‘Spatial Expression / Integrated Investment Plan’ and advised that the Government was of the view that a ‘Spatial Plan’ for the West Midlands was required. This view was not shared currently by the WMCA Mayor or the WMCA Leaders. The Land Delivery Plan had proposed a delivery focussed plan which was what Officers would work up for consideration by the Board.

Councillor Majid Mahmood suggested that the Board should consider its role in overseeing the 3,000 housing units at Perry Barr which would be used as the ‘Athletes Village’ if Birmingham’s bid to host the Commonwealth Games in 2022 was successful and other major projects. In any event these units would be constructed and utilised as general purpose housing. He suggested that the Terms of Reference should also make reference to working with Housing Associations to achieve its aims. The Chair advised that whilst the WMCA supported Birmingham’s bid to host the Commonwealth Games it was for Birmingham City Council to oversee the construction of these particular housing units. Kevin Rodgers advised that he represented the various Housing Associations operating in the West Midlands.

Councillor Mark Shurmer queried whether the housing needs of the West Midlands metropolitan area could be delivered within that area or whether it would be necessary to seek assistance from adjoining District and Borough Councils. The Chair advised that this issue was of great importance but took the opportunity to remind the Board that the housing need to be provided was not confined to the metropolitan area but to the Greater Birmingham Housing Market Area. He also referred to the existing working arrangements, for example, between the City of Wolverhampton Council and Telford and Wrekin Council and South Staffordshire District Council. This matter would form part of the on-going discussions.

Steve Maxey commented that he supported the proposals detailed in the Work Plan. Councillor Peter Bilson commented on the need to look across the region and to acknowledge the different challenges faced by the respective Councils. He also referred to the importance of land remediation and the funds which were available to make land deliverable economically. With regard to the various pieces of work to be commissioned, he suggested that the various Project Briefs for the next stages of delivery be circulated to members of the Board forinformation.

The Chair informed the Board of a recent meeting in the Black Country with H M Treasury Officials which had also been attended  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

Patrick White reported on early discussions with Government in relation to a potential ‘Housing Deal’ and on the opportunity to work with the Government, especially the Department for Communities and Local Government, to increase delivery, address land remediation and market failure. He advised that following preliminary discussions with the Government and the Homes and Community Agency a brief reference to a potential ‘Housing Deal’ was anticipated in the forthcoming Budget linked to the Housing Investment Fund. He outlined the negotiating position adopted by the WMCA i.e. that a Spatial Plan was not necessary but that significant investment in housing, land remediation and associated transport infrastructure was necessary over a long term period. He noted that the Housing Market Area requirements and supply issues differed between partners across the region and advised that over the next three / four months a number of options would be worked through. The common goal was to build homes and sustainable communities to underpin inclusive growth.

The Chair noted the WMCA Mayoral aspirations for housing. He advised that the Mayor and he would be lobbying all local MPs and relevant Ministers to garner support on housing and also making the related to other issues such as  Skills and Employment.

Councillor David Humphreys advised that two thirds of the area of North Warwickshire Borough Council was situate within the Green Belt. He referred to a recent decision made by the WMCA’s Investment Board to grant £3.690 million to Telford and Wrekin Council to assist in bringing forward approximately 540 housing units across that area. He enquired whether similar support would be made available to bring forward smaller development sites where existing housing units had come to the end of their lifespan. The Chair commented that such funds might be made available on a case by case basis. He added that the original name of the Land Remediation Fund had been amended to the Brownfield Land and Property Development Fund to cater for such instances.

Karl Tupling reported on the progress being made to investigate the portfolio of land coming forward and noted the aggregate effect of the development of a number of smaller development sites. These sites were also likely to be more attractive to small and medium sized developers.

The Chair commented on the maturity of partnership working in the West Midlands and on the founding principle intention that each community would benefit from its creation albeit not necessarily in the same way or at the same time.

Councillor Paul Moore enquired whether the Brownfield Technology Institute and a Modular Housing Manufacturing plant would form part of the ‘Housing Deal’ discussions. Patrick White confirmed this to be the case. The Chair referred to the very successful Modular Housing Manufacturing plant operated by Accord Housing in Walsall and that an indication of this success was the need to identify a larger site.

Councillor Majid Mahmood referred to the difficulties arising upon the practice of some developers to ‘land bank’ and on the difficulties this caused with  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.