Basingstoke & Dean Borough Council Manydown Overview Committee Meeting

There were no apologies for absence.

Councillor Taylor was appointed Vice-Chair for the 2023/23 municipal year.

There were no declarations of interest.

There were no urgent matters.

The minutes of the meeting of the 22^nd February 2023 were confirmed by the committee as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Members received an introduction presentation on the Manydown Programme from the Project Director which included details on the team, key partners, the progress to date on Manydown North and South.

The Cabinet Member for Major Projects and Regeneration introduced the report and thanked the Project Director for a comprehensive and clear presentation and commended all the work that had been done on the project.  She advised that she had recently been appointed as Cabinet Member for Major Projects and Regeneration and the Manydown project falls under her area or responsibility.

She confirmed that the Committee was asked to comment on the scope and content of the report to feedback on the progress and direction they are heading.

The Committee discussed the report and presentation and made the following comments which included: -

·            Members discussed the provision of a secondary school on the site and recognised that it was Hampshire County Councils (HCC) responsibility to make the decision.  It was suggested that HCC be invited to the Council to provide an all Member Briefing on the provision of schools in general in the Borough. The Cabinet Member for Major Projects and Regeneration advised that she would discuss the issue with the Cabinet.

·            Important that an access route did not go through Old Down as it should be preserved as an area of outstanding beauty.

·            Concerned about the implications of a rail crossing and questioned whether it was required.

·            Would like to see parcel 6a as amenity land and a buffer between Manydown North and South.

·            Various concerns were raised on Gypsy and Traveller sites within the Borough.  It was suggested that there should be a holistic approach where the travelling community were consulted to respectfully establish their needs as well as the consideration of residents so that sites could successfully integrate within the community. The Cabinet Member agreed with the comment and would like Hampshire County Council to provide an example of an exemplar site that could be used as a gold standard.

·            Concern was raised on the management of the Gypsy and Traveller site and would like a proposal to be brought back to the committee for further discussion.

·            Sustainable public transport from Manydown North to Manydown South and the connectivity to the rest of the Basingstoke and Deane area.

·            A future update was requested on the engagement with BCOT to provide employment opportunities through courses and apprenticeships for building and construction.

·            Request for land drown update to include a timeline to be emailed to the Committee Members once the negotiations had been completed.

·            Facilitation of a meeting between Urban&Civic and Ward Councillors to produce a draft Communications and Engagement Strategy for the Committee to review.

·           An update to be provided on the management strategy of the Countryside Park.

·            Requested details of the costs of the surveys carried out by ecologist and botanists for the Countryside Park. 

·            Update to the Committee on HCC’s intentions on the cycle bridge across the dual carriageway.

Resolved: That the Manydown Overview Committee:

§  notes the progress made on the Manydown Programme

§recommend to Economic, Planning and Housing Committee to consider future provision of Gypsy and Traveller pitches in the Borough.

§reviews and provides comments on the content of this report for consideration by the Cabinet as recorded above in the minutes.

Members asked for a site visit to be arranged for the Committee Members.

The following update reports were requested: -

• Management Strategy of the Countryside Park
• Communications and Engagement Strategy
• Skills and Employment
• Gypsy and Traveller Sites

The committee noted the work programme.

The meeting ended at 20:27

Chair