Decisions

The public and press were excluded from the remainder of the meeting.

(1)      The contents of the report that this board commissioned on local plan progression, provided in full collaboration with local authorities, was noted.

(2)      The March 2018 Housing Deal commitment that all reasonable steps were taken to progress local plans to adoption, to keep plans up to date and to ensure the region could demonstrate it was planning for delivery of 215,000 homes to 2031, was noted.

(1)      Some of the key issues, messages and points of clarification raised by the Delivery Steering Group to the consultation on the White Paper entitled ‘Planning for the Future’ which closed on the 30 October 2020 was noted.

(2)      It was noted that officials across the region would continue to raise these key messages, issues and points with the Government in different forums, together with the comments made at this meeting.

(1)      The contents of part 2 of the Advanced Manufacturing in Construction routemap was noted.

(2)      The proposal to explore options for implementing the Advanced Manufacturing in Construction routemap’s recommendations in collaboration with the Advanced Manufacturing in Construction Officer Working Group and Expert Advisory Group was agreed.

(3)      The intention to formally launch the Advanced Manufacturing in Construction routemap in winter 2020/21 was noted.

(4)      The Director of Housing & Regeneration, in consultation with the Portfolio Lead for Housing & Land, was given delegated authority to agree the final versions of the Advanced Manufacturing in Construction routemap for publication.

(1)      The proposed approach to delivering the zero carbon homes ambition in the 2041 Climate Change Action Plan, which included establishing the current level of low/zero carbon building in the region, producing an agreed zero carbon homes standard routemap to 2025 and launching a zero carbon homes charter was noted.

(2)      The findings of the baseline gap analysis report and its implications for meeting the 2025 zero carbon homes target was noted.

(3)      It was noted that the Zero Carbon Homes Taskforce had now been established, had met on 6 October and 22 October 2020, and that it would directly support the development of the Zero Carbon Homes Charter and routemap over the coming months.

(1)      The Single Assurance Framework requirements for thematic boards were noted.

(2)      The proposed portfolio improvements for the Housing & Land Delivery Board were noted.

(3)      The amended terms of reference for the Housing & Land Delivery Board were endorsed.

The minutes of the meeting held on 7 September 2020 were agreed as a correct record.

Councillor Keith Allcock (Sandwell), Marc Lidderth (Environment Agency), Councillor Robert Macey (Shropshire), Councillor David Welsh (Coventry) and Councillor David Wright (Telford & Wrekin).