Agenda item

Pat Willoughby presented a report which provided a quarterly update on progress with the various workstreams and deliverables agreed previously and as detailed in the 2019/20 WMCA Annual Plan. As referred to earlier in the meeting she advised that a number of reports were scheduled to be considered at the next meeting on 9 December 2019 but that as this fell within the ‘Purdah’ period this could be subject to change.

She reported that since the report had been prepared requests had been received for the Town Centres Programme to be revised to include the whole of the Dudley, Walsall and West Bromwich Town Centres rather than the specific areas agreed previously. Similarly, a request had been received from Dudley and Sandwell MBC’s for the Sandwell to Dudley Corridor to be re-defined as the ‘West Bromwich to Dudley Corridor’. Gareth Bradford reported that the purpose of the report was to inform the Board of the progress being made in taking forward the various work areas, on the joint work with respective local authorities and on reports which had been considered by the WMCA Investment Board in relation to matters under the purview of this Board. He reminded the Board that at its last meeting consideration had been given to, inter alia, the following issues:

·         Modern Methods of Construction;

·         Design Charter; and

·         Single Commissioning Framework – Amendments.

He also drew to the attention of the Board the on-going work on Monitoring and Evaluation to ensure an impact on the delivery of housing numbers, land remediation, affordable housing units delivered and value for money from the investments supported.

The Chair commented on the need for a standard definition on the term of ‘Affordable Housing’ which was sufficiently flexible to acknowledge the differences across the geographical area. Gareth Bradford reminded the Board that such a definition had been agreed previously and was being trialled currently with a report to be submitted to the next meeting with a view to confirming the definition, with amendments, if appropriate. He advised that the definition would also seeking to address the provision of ‘Key Worker’ accommodation and those seeking employment in the ‘Knowledge’ economy.

Councillor Angus Lees referred to the £20 million allocated for the Town Centres Programme and whether this funding had been secured and on the extension of the Programme in Dudley to the wider Town Centre and whether £9 million was available for highway improvement works associated with the Town Centre Re-Development proposals. Gareth Bradford explained that any schemes which met the agreed criteria for the Single Commissioning Framework (SCF) could be eligible for funding and that a number of such cases would be considered by the WMCA investment Board at the meeting to be held on 11 November 2019. He confirmed that a sum of £20 million had been earmarked already for the Town Centres Programme by the Investment Board and the proposition before the Housing and Land Delivery Board was that from this some £5 million should be made available for early impact interventions.

Councillor Peter Bilson advised that he supported the recommendations set out in the report but that more specific information was needed on expenditure to date and the remaining funding available. He requested that this be included within the report to the next meeting. Gareth Bradford advised that the report could include details pertaining to expenditure and available resources relevant to the Housing and Land Portfolio but not to the wider Investment Programme.

Councillor Andy Mackiewicz referred to the issue of ‘Key Worker’ accommodation and asked whether this would only apply to new developments or whether it would include ‘Shared Ownership’ schemes. Gareth Bradford explained that this issue would be addressed in the report to the next meeting.

Councillor Peter Butlin referred to the issues surrounding the ‘Right to Buy’ scheme, its effect on the provision of social housing units and the current stance of the Board on this matter. The Chair informed the Board on a ‘Right to Own’ initiative which was being worked upon by the Housing and Regeneration Team and which could be adopted nationally. This would assess disposable income and staged purchase. He also alluded to an initiative between Sigma Capital and Walsall MBC working with Countrywide on an equity partnership scheme, where the property developer would continue to maintain the garden and Public Open Space areas of developments.

Councillor Andy Mackiewicz commented that any properties developed outside the Housing Revenue Account were not eligible for ‘Right to Buy’ and that this allowed the development of shared ownership schemes. Gareth Bradford reported that conditions imposed on grants and loans could also preclude ‘Right to Buy’. He confirmed the on-going work with Sigma Capital and on the ‘Right to Own’ initiative.

Councillor Joanne Hadley reported that Officers at Sandwell MBC were looking at options where a tenant expressing an interest in exercising ‘Right to Buy’ could be offered a sum equivalent to the discount available on their property to enable an alternative property to be purchased on the open market, thus retaining the social unit in the Council’s ownership. Gareth Bradford advised that such ‘portable discounts’ had been explored previously by HM Government. He undertook to include reference to this element in the Affordable Housing Delivery Vehicle report to be submitted to the next meeting.

Councillor Andy Mackiewicz enquired whether the regional affordable and social housing deal referred to in paragraph 3.21 of the report had been circulated to the Board. He also enquired as to the support which would be provided to Local Planning Authorities on Local Plan preparation. Gareth Bradford advised that the Housing and Land Steering Group had considered the regional and affordable social housing deal but agreed to circulate it to the Board. With regard to support on Local Plan preparation he explained that this would be through support in site assessments and that a number of requests for such support had been received to date.

Councillor Joanne Hadley asked if there was any financial support available for progressing work on Modern Methods of Construction (MMC). Pat Willoughby reported on a piece of work which had been commissioned on MMC which would be tested through the Single Commissioning Framework. The Chair counselled caution on being overly prescriptive in relation to MMC in light of the number of alternative methods available currently. Paul Gascoine advised on the initiatives being taken by Homes England on MMC including supporting such developments on land in its ownership. He advised that a flexible approach was required in order to respond to the demands of the market. He reminded the Board that Homes England had provided financial assistance in the past to local authorities for MMC schemes and referred to an example in the local area.

Resolved:

1.    That the following items be considered at the next meeting of the Board subject to the issues relating to ‘Purdah’ being addressed:

·         The progress on acquisitions and investments under the Single Commissioning Framework (SCF);

·         Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) Strategy;

·         Proposal for an Affordable Housing Delivery Vehicle (Heads of Terms);

·         Delivery and Investment Plans for the five ‘first wave’ town centres;

·         Delivery and Investment Plans for the Walsall to  Wolverhampton and West Bromwich to Dudley Inclusive Growth Corridors;

·         Town Centre Toolkit; and

·         Progress on ‘early impact’ town centre interventions agreed at the September 2019 meeting;

2.    That the Sandwell to Dudley Corridor be re-defined as the West Bromwich to Dudley Corridor as requested by Dudley and Sandwell MBC’s respectively;

3.    That the remit of the Town Centres Programme be expanded to include the whole of Dudley, Walsall and West Bromwich Town Centres as requested by Dudley, Walsall and Sandwell MBC’s respectively;

4.    That the positive progress in work under the Housing and Land Portfolio in Q4 of 2019 and some of the key programmes being progressed during the remainder of 2019/20 be noted;

5.    That it be noted that discussions were continuing with the Housing and Land Steering Group and supported Working Groups on how existing arrangements on engagement, project-based governance and working arrangements could be enhanced further;

6.    That a copy of the regional affordable and social housing deal to HM Government be circulated to the Board.