Agenda and minutes

Contact: Charlie Griffin 

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Items
No. Item

1.

Election of chairman

To elect the chairman of the growth, infrastructure and housing select committee for the ensuring year 2020 – 21.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

It was proposed by Brian Roberts that David Carroll be elected chairman of the growth, infrastructure and housing select committee for the ensuing year. This proposal was seconded by Mark Winn and in the absence of any other nominations was agreed by committee.

 

Resolved:

 

That David Carroll be elected as chairman of the growth, infrastructure and housing select committee for the ensuing year.

2.

Appointment of vice-chairman

To appoint the vice-chairman of the growth, infrastructure and housing select committee for the ensuring year 2020 – 21.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

David Carroll proposed that Mark Winn be appointed as vice-chairman; Brian Roberts seconded the proposal.

 

Resolved:

 

that Mark Winn be appointed as chairman of the growth, infrastructure and housing select committee for the ensuing year.

 

3.

Apologies for absence

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Apologies were received from Graham Moore.

4.

Declarations of interest

Additional documents:

Minutes:

None.

5.

Covid-19 update pdf icon PDF 636 KB

To receive a covid-19 update report in connection with the council’s planning, growth and sustainability and adult social care services.

Contributors:

Martin Tett, Leader of Buckinghamshire Council

Warren Whyte, Cabinet Member for Planning and Enforcement

Steve Bowles, Cabinet Member for Town Centre Regeneration

Isobel Darby, Cabinet Member for Housing & Homelessness

Ian Thompson, Corporate Director Planning, Growth & Sustainability

Lisa Michelson, Service Director Economic Growth & Regeneration

Nigel Dicker, Service Director Housing & Regulatory Services

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The committee received a covid-19 update in connection with the council’s planning, growth and sustainability and adult social care services.

 

Leader of Buckinghamshire Council, Martin Tett, gave an update on the council’s response to covid-19, which included the following key points:

·         Covid-19 was declared a major incident in Buckinghamshire on the 19 March, and a national lockdown began on the 23 March, just 7 days before the new Buckinghamshire Council was due to be established.

·         The senior management structure for the new council was in place, and enabled the council to mobilise quickly in response to the pandemic.

·         A crisis response team was established and managed the council’s response through a cell structure, working closely with partners including the NHS and Local Resilience Forum (LRF).

·         Staff were repurposed into roles to support residents and particularly the most vulnerable also known as ‘shielded’.

·         It was noted that as lockdown measures were beginning to ease, the council was moving into the recovery phase of the response.

·         Thanks were expressed to members and officers for their continued hard work during the pandemic.

 

The following key points were raised by committee members:

 

·         In response to a question as to the decision to declare a major incident in Buckinghamshire prior to national lockdown, it was noted that this decision was assessed against the situation at the time. Further, it was known that a national lockdown would take place imminently but the exact timing of this was yet to be decided by central government.

·         It was noted that individuals in the shielded group were identified by the NHS. The council worked closely with the NHS to provide support for the shielded group.

·         In response to a question as to whether the council was prepared in the event of a second wave of infections, it was noted that the council would take advice from central government. It was unknown how potential future lockdowns would work, but it was understood that localised lockdowns may be likely.

·         Members were informed that the council’s unitary status had been beneficial in terms of receiving government funding to respond to the crisis.

·         Advice on how to mitigate the impact of covid-19 on vulnerable people was being continually released by central government.

·         Concern was raised as to whether Buckinghamshire unemployment levels could get back to pre-lockdown unemployment levels.

 

Warren Whyte, Portfolio Holder for Planning and Environment, informed the committee that the impact of covid-19 on planning income was less than expected. Thanks were expressed to members of the planning team that undertook additional responsibilities to support work on the covid-19 response.

 

Steve Bowles, Portfolio Holder for Town Centre Regeneration, provided an update on the impact of covid-19 on Buckinghamshire’s high streets and town centres. It was noted that officers worked closely with high streets and town centres to provide support during this period, including providing guidance and signage for safe reopening. Thanks were expressed to the officer team that had enabled the successful reopening of high streets and town centres.

 

The following key  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

6.

Cabinet member priorities for 2020 - 21 pdf icon PDF 244 KB

The committee will hear the cabinet members outline their priorities for the next 12 months.

Contributors:

Martin Tett, Leader of Buckinghamshire Council

Warren Whyte, Cabinet Member for Planning and Enforcement

Steve Bowles, Cabinet Member for Town Centre Regeneration

Isobel Darby, Cabinet Member for Housing & Homelessness

Ian Thompson, Corporate Director Planning, Growth & Sustainability

Lisa Michelson, Service Director Economic Growth & Regeneration

Nigel Dicker, Service Director Housing & Regulatory Services

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The committee received a report detailing the cabinet member priorities for 2020-21. The following key points were highlighted:

·         The importance of the council maximising benefits of the Oxford - Cambridge arc by driving economic green growth and generating high skilled jobs for local people.

·         The council had been successful in a housing infrastructure fund (HIF) bid for local infrastructure in Buckinghamshire, predominantly predicated for the Aylesbury area (the garden town), as well as a host of other projects.

·         The transformation programme for an exemplary planning service is scheduled to commence this summer.

·         A new enforcement strategy for Buckinghamshire Council was approved by cabinet at their meeting 16 June 2020.

·         The council had high aspirations of environmental standards in planning.

·         It was noted that a backlog of determining planning applications had been significantly reduced between January and May 2020.

·         The council had a statutory duty to adopt a new local plan for Buckinghamshire for 2025.

·         New call in procedures adopted by Buckinghamshire Council were a cause for concern for some parishes within the Aylesbury area. It was explained that the constitutional change empowered local Buckinghamshire Council members and provided consistency in procedure across all former district areas. Local members and parishes received notification of the change in the parish liaison newsletter, and a copy of the guidance sent to parishes is appended to these minutes.

·         Members were informed that planning training for town and parish councils had been delayed due to covid-19, but it was expected that these training sessions would be rescheduled to a safe and appropriate time in the near future.

·         Approximately 80 rough sleepers were being housed at present. The housing team in liaison with central government were drafting an exit strategy for rough sleepers.

·         There were a number of options for the council to consider to support homeless prevention work, including repurposing buildings for residential use.

·         The importance of affordable housing and key worker housing provision.

·         The importance of reframing strong positive relationships with registered providers and partners, and working closely with these partners and other council services to achieve a housing service that works for Buckinghamshire residents.

 

Note 1: Councillors C Rouse, D Knights and  N Marshall left the meeting at 11.56am, 12.30pm and 12.36pm respectively.

7.

Work programme discussion

To discuss possible items to include on the committee’s work programme for the coming year.

Contributors:

Growth, infrastructure and housing select committee members.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

It was requested that housing be added as an item on the work programme, and that the following strands be considered:

·       Affordable housing

·       Housing providers and Buckinghamshire Council as a housing provider in its own right/ a delivery arm

·       Equal opportunities in housing allocations

·       Repurposing of office accommodation to residential housing

 

The Chairman asked that members submit any further items for the work programme via email.

8.

Date of next meeting

10am, Thursday 1 October 2020.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

1 October 2020.