Presented By:Rob Lamond
Minutes:
The board received a presentation from the Head of Strategy & Analysis, Rob Lamond, that provided an update on the Trailblazing Devolution Deal for the West Midlands that was recently announced by Government.
The presentation outlined regeneration funding (£100m Single Regeneration Fund), the land reform and public land partnership with Government, the new approach to the Affordable Homes Programme being piloted with the WMCA and how the WMCA would be responsible for adopting a strategic role in undertaking key decisions over local investment and spend of Affordable Homes Programme (£200m -£400m) in line with its strategic framework.
The Head of Strategy & Analysis also reported on the Strategic Place Partnership with Government and the 6 Levelling Up Zones across the West Midlands that included the East Birmingham- North Solihull corridor; Wolverhampton corridor; Walsall Growth corridor; Dudley Metro corridors (including the Wednesbury to Brierley Hill link) and the Coventry and Warwickshire gigafactory zone.
The Chair reported that the board should be very proud on what has been delivered to date and conveyed his thanks and appreciation to the Mayor of the West Midlands for securing additional funding for the region ahead of the announcement.
The Executive Director of Housing, Property and Regeneration, Gareth Bradford reported that the West Midlands has proven its ability to deliver and has earned the trust of Government with the Trailblazer Devolution Deal (TDD) that represented a significant transfer of power to the region. He added that the new funds would enable mixed use schemes to be taken forward and the development of town centres and this board and local authorities would have a key role in taking forward projects.
Councillor Gakhal (Wolverhampton) reported that he welcomed the announcements and in particular the £100m Single Regeneration Fund that enables the development of difficult to deliver sites like Parkfields.
In relation to enquiry from Councillor Mackiewicz (Solihull) regarding the controls and audits by Government for the funding, the Executive Director of Housing, Property and Regeneration advised of the WMCA’s obligations to Government with regards to the outputs/outcomes of the various funds and where there was a local designation such as the Levelling Up Zones. He highlighted that the main change with the TDD was the way in which decisions were determined.
The board commented on how the Devolution Deal could provide the funding opportunities to roll-out the Help to Own scheme, to retain and re-purpose heritage buildings for housing, and to further develop St. Basil’s ‘Live and Work’ model of supporting young people into employment and securing an affordable home.
In relation to the affordable housing that is split into two phases, the Chair reported that he wanted to see details of the housing schemes identified in the pipeline along with delivery dates in future reports so the board could ensure delivery dates were being met.
The Executive Director of Housing, Property and Regeneration, Gareth Bradford undertook to provide the information and reported that it was very encouraging that expressions of interest with regards to grant funding applications have significantly increased in recent months.
The presentation was noted and circulated to the board for information.