Basingstoke & Dean Borough Council Economic, Planning and Housing Committee Meeting

Councillor Rhatigan was replaced by Councillor Kotecha.

Apologies were received from Councillors Carruthers, Peter and Robinson

There were no declarations of interest.

There were no urgent items.

The minutes of the meeting held on 5 January 2023 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

The Cabinet Member for Homes and Regeneration introduced the report which provided the committee with a review of the housing and homelessness strategy. The committee’s views were sought on the proposed updated priorities as set out in the report.

The committee discussed the report and asked questions of the portfolio holder and officers which established:

• The use of bed and breakfasts as emergency accommodation was minimal in the borough and where these stays did exceed the 6 week target, they were very few in number.
• The new strategy had a renewed focus on regeneration and the language had been redefined to move away from vague terms.
• Improvements to May Place were the best option in terms of having a fit for purpose emergency homeless hostel.

The committee made the following comments:

• The committee expressed thanks to officers for the exemplary work they had done.
• Concern was raised about the plans for regeneration of Basingstoke West. The committee commented that the definition of Basingstoke West should be extended to include South Ham and Buckskin and asked about progress and the involvement of Sovereign.
• The committee discussed the number of long-term empty homes the number of people being housed inside the borough or in bed and breakfasts. It was commented that the number of long-term empty homes was under the national average.
• Following the Development Control committee’s decision to refuse the development of the site at Culver Road, questions were raised about the alternative plans for a homelessness hostel. It was clarified that May Place would be regenerated but the portfolio holder was open to suggestions for a new hostel. Frontline accommodation would be continually reviewed.
• Concerns were raised about the impact of damp and mould in social housing and the measures but in place to monitor and resolve any issues. Comments were made about the possibility of changing housing standards to better address any issues around damp and mould.
• The target of 300 additional affordable homes was discussed and the committee asked that the target be strengthened. The committee were told that there was a statutory provision for local authorities to have a strategy but the council wanted to go further and the target was in the local plan.
• The committee asked about the options of building council housing on council-owned land.

During the discussion of the item, there was a motion of no confidence in the chair. The motion was proposed by Councillor L James and seconded by Councillor Cubitt. The votes cast were as follows: 4 for the motion, 2 against and 2 abstentions. The chair left the meeting and the vice-chair chaired the remainder of the meeting.

RESOLVED – The Committee recommends to the Cabinet Member for Homes and Regeneration that:

• The wording of the strategy to be amended to include the wording “eradicate by 2024” in relation to rough-sleeping.
• The definition of Basingstoke West be expanded to include/identify South Ham and Buckskin.
• Consideration is still given to seeking a new fit for purpose emergency single homeless hostel as a strategic objective.
• The corporate KPI scorecard be updated to include a target of no families should occupy bed and breakfast accommodation for more than 6 weeks within the borough unless not safe to do so. 

The Cabinet Member for Planning and Infrastructure introduced the report which presented the Committee with an overview of the various amendments made to council’s green spaces management, maintenance and adoption process. Thanks were given to the task and finish group for the work that was done in the previous year.

The committee discussed the report and questions of the portfolio holder and the officers which established:

• The council motion was unanimously agreed at the meeting in January 2022. Since then, the council’s green spaces management, maintenance and adoption process had been updated significantly.
• A register to monitor obligations had been established.
• Green space adoption wording had been updated to ensure that legal agreements were appropriate, provided clear controls, and were enforceable, including against subsequent owners such as management companies.

Councillor Vaux attended the meeting as a visiting member and made the following comments:

• Green spaces were needed as part of any development.
• While the changes have been welcome, there were a number of different issues; one of which was a back-log of cases.
• The scale of back-log of sites to be dealt with should not be underestimated.
• Staff vacancies were not the only issue.
• The committee were urged to request a greater focus to clear the back-log. 
• More reassurance was required with regards to continued maintenance of green spaces on new developments until the time of the adoption.

The committee made the following comments:

• There was a need to focus on the issue and attract the best candidates to the vacant roles.
• The committee asked whether a temporary member of staff could be appointed to help deal with the back-log of cases.
• The committee raised that ward councillors should be informed before open space is adopted, to ensure that ward councillors are satisfied with the particulars before it was adopted.
• The committee asked about the effectiveness of the contract to resolve the issues. The committee were informed that it was ongoing and was currently a work in progress.
• The committee asked what could be done if a developer or management company fails to deliver on a requirement to maintain green spaces.

RESOLVED – The Committee recommends to the Cabinet Member for Planning and Infrastructure that ward councillors are informed of the adoption of green spaces in their ward, prior to adoption. Also resolved that the Portfolio Holder would write to the Secretary of State and MPs regarding the issue with developers/management companies and ongoing site maintenance.

The Chair introduced the briefing note which provided the Committee with an update to the recommendations of the EPH committee held on the 1st September 2022 in relation to the Water Cycle Study.

The Chair invited visiting speakers Jackie Browne and Dave George to address the Committee, their comments included:

• Technical detail was lacking from the report and was not a rigorous scientific assessment of the potential impacts of future housing and population growth on the water environment.
• Concern was raised about some gaps in evidence in the water cycle study and the strategies that had been developed.
• Phosphate level in the River Test should be investigated fully by the water company before new growth is permitted in the area.
• There was concern that if new permits were granted, this could lead to a possible deterioration in water quality.
• New consideration should be given for site location and housing numbers before consultation on the new local plan.

• It had been six months since the committee’s last recommendations. There were limitations to the water cycle study and modest concrete progress had been made since those recommendations.
• Concern was raised that the current position is much the same as it was in September 2022.
• Havant Borough Council was cited as having acted on similar concerns and appointed a consultant to challenge the water company on the information provided.
• Urgent action and strong policies were needed to assess the required infrastructure and protect the environment and local communities.
• A task and finish group was a way forward and requested an opportunity to meet with the portfolio holder, planning officers and interested members of the committee.

The committee made the following comments:

• Raised issues in relation to the environmental capacity, infrastructure and the impact of the delivery of new homes.
• The committee raised concerns about water supply issues and commented that these issues needed to be identified and resolved before the Council considered moving to regulation 18. The concerns of the committee were particularly focussed on the rivers Test, Loddon, Enborne and Itchen.
• Stated that the Environment Agency could be invited to attend a future meeting and acknowledged that officers are setting up a meeting to discuss issues with them which will include the Whitchurch Conservation Group.
• It was important that local partners, particularly Hampshire County Council, were involved in future discussions in relation to the Local Nature Recovery Strategy and the work of the catchment partners.
• Consideration could be given to including a policy in the LPU which requires water companies to do more. 

RESOLVED – The Committee recommends that a task and finish group be set up to report back to the committee on the Water Cycle Study.

The Chair introduced the tracker and requested that the Committee review and note the recommendations made to decision makers.

 RESOLVED – To note the committee recommendation tracker.

The Chair introduced the work programme and gave a brief overview of the items that would be included on the agenda for the upcoming meetings.

The committee reviewed and noted its work programme.

RESOLVED –

·         To note the work programme.

·         The Committee recommends that a task and finish group be set up to report back to the committee on the Leisure Park.