Minutes:
David Warburton presented a report which detailed proposed steps to implement the first phase of the Town Centre Programme which had been agreed by the Housing and Land Delivery Board at its meetings in October and December 2018. It proposed a comprehensive package of bespoke schemes submitted by local authorities that would individually and collectively demonstrate the impact and pace of delivery of this critical regeneration programme for the region. The report confirmed that each scheme had been endorsed and submitted by the respective local authorities and that the schemes would be led and supported by those authorities.
Councillor John Reynolds commented on the need to emphasise that these interventions were part of a package of measures and only a first step. Councillor Tristan Chatfield suggested that in the interim, consideration be given to installing solar panels on the land at Bordesley Green. Gareth Bradford confirmed that each of the proposed interventions formed part of a comprehensive package of measures planned for the selected town centre schemes. He advised that interim measures under consideration included incubator units, pop up shops, starter units etc.
Nick Abell enquired as to the ‘devolved Housing and Land Fund’ referred to in the report. Gareth Bradford explained that there was no new fund locally set aside but rather that it would come from existing housing and land funds devolved to the region. Individual local authorities, with the support and assistance of the WMCA, would be making bids to HM Government’s ‘High Street Fund’. He drew to the attention of the Board the pace of work on this initiative: October 2018 – approval in principal to the initiative – February 2019 – acquisition of relevant sites.
Councillor Tony Jefferson asked how Non-Constituent Authorities could benefit from this initiative albeit that the problems faced could be markedly different. He also outlined his support for the provision of incubator units which was currently an area of consideration in the Stratford on Avon District Council area. The Chair explained that the lessons learned from these initial pilot studies would be rolled out across the region.
Resolved:
That subject to the provisos detailed in the report:
1. That a bespoke package of ‘quick win’ land and infrastructure interventions as identified in the report in the five wave one town centres be approved subject to final approval of the detail of the package of interventions by the Housing and Land Delivery Board at its meeting scheduled for 21 February 2019;
2. That a gross WMCA investment package of up to £19,964,884 to facilitate the delivery of the package of interventions identified in the report to support the five pilot town centres be approved;
3. That delegated authority be granted in respect of the final investment decision on individual schemes within this town centre package requiring WMCA investment of £5 million or less to the WMCA director of Finance and Director of Housing and Regeneration and the WMCA Head of Governance in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Housing and Land;
4. That it be noted that the acquisitions and interventions proposed in the report, as with all WMCA acquisitions and disposals under this programme, had been developed in collaboration with and supported expressly by the respective local authority.