Gosport Borough Council Economic Development Board Meeting

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Councillor Johnston declared a personal interest in agenda item 8 as he sold flood risk insurance.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on the 23September 2020 be signed as a true and correct record.

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Consideration was given to a report of the Economic Development and Regeneration Manager requesting the Economic Development (ED) Board consider the outcome of the consultation for the 2021-31 Draft Economic Development Strategy and the supporting Draft Evidence Base and gives its approval to produce final versions for publication.

Members thanked the Economic Development team for their efforts in producing the consultation and the detailed analysis of the responses.

The link to ”Gosport’s Story” place-making work, to other Gosport strategies including the Local Plan and SPD’s was welcome as was the link to recognising and addressing the skills gap in Gosport, and the support for businesses. The Board acknowledged that this was recognised in the recommendation through the use of a taskforce and strategic boards.

Members expressed disappointment at the low number of responses received to the consultation. It was clarified that where possible information could potentially be attained about the respondents, but that would need to in line with GDPR requirements as the consultation was run by Mickledore who hold all the data.

Members questioned whether a longer consultation period would have offered more response.

The Board was advised that the advertisement of the consultation period had been widely, with two press releases and three different approaches on social media across many channels. Direct contact was made to businesses via email contacts. Whilst it was acknowledged that there was a low response, the quality of the responses was good.

The Board was advised that it was felt that extending the consultation period would not necessarily have increased the response numbers significantly, and that it was felt the low numbers were as a result of Economic Development being a specialist area.

It was clarified that the Taskforce was led by the Member of Parliament and not the Borough Council and comprised senior Civil Servants from organisations such as DIO, MOJ and the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership. One Public Estate were also attendees and the Council had access to the discussions, but did not lead on it.

The Board was advised that in relation to the taskforce or a strategic board, increasingly when the government made funding available there was an necessity for a strategic group, led by a private sector chairperson, playing the lead role in determining and leading the bid.

This Board would include a combination of business leads, elected members, residents and community organisations. It was acknowledged that there was need for such a group in Gosport and that strategic priorities or projects needed to be established for future bid opportunities. It was recognised that the turnaround for such funding bids was increasingly short and that consideration needed to be given to projects that are ‘oven-ready’ for such funding opportunities.

The Board was advised that discussions had begun with the Arts Council for England to discuss cultural progression for the Borough and it was hoped this would help to increase the levels of cultural development in the Borough moving forward.

The importance of cultural opportunities to businesses was recognised and it played an important part in decision making and relocating of families to meet the needs of businesses potentially thinking of moving into the Borough.

Members recognised that the consultation acknowledged the generation of employment opportunities and stimulating investment in Gosport as being key priorities.

Members welcomed the proposal to develop a Tourism Development Strategy early in 2021 to enhance tourism opportunities in the Borough and also welcomed that the Strategy could evolve and become a working document.

RESOLVED:

i)              that the ED Board note the outcome of the consultation on the 2021-31 Draft Economic Development Strategy and the Draft Evidence Base as recorded in the Consultation Report and accompanying Strategy Review Document

ii)             that the ED Board agree to a final version of the Strategy being produced for publication in January 2021

Consideration was given to a report of the Head of Planning Policy requesting the Board give consideration to the Interim Local Development Scheme for the Gosport Borough Local Plan.

Members thanked officers for the work undertaken.

In answer to a Member’s question the Board was advised that Government changes in policy often caused delays in the timescale and created slippage and that the Government’s consultation on the White Paper was likely to cause uncertainties on how to proceed.

The Board was advised that in relation to the evidence phase of the work, most of the big land use evidence strategic housing land availability assessment and the employment land availability assessment and the retail and town centre use, been completed. The Board was also advised that the open space monitoring report was nearly complete and that the environmental assessment work was now beginning.

The Board was also advised that the biggest issue currently faced was the moving on some of sites, MOD sites in particular as there was a reliance on the organisation’s  progress to ensure collaborative working. Meetings were occurring to address this.

The Board was advised because the consultation was Regulation 18 if the Council did not have all of the information required it was possible to set out options rather than the full plan which would allow for less firming on the plan if necessary.

Members welcomed that the SPDs and Conservation areas would remain valid and not be reviewed until the next Local Plan had been adopted.

In answer to a Member’s question, the Board was advised that  in relation to the removal of the duty of cooperation, the statement of common ground was due to be removed from the planning system if the white paper proceeded to an act. The Board was advised that the Council was currently working as such that the statement of common ground did need to be worked towards and that it formed part of the duty to cooperate.

The Board was advised with regard to the current local plan, that the basis of the duty to cooperate was the work undertaken with PUSH and the special position statement and that at the examination in public with the inspector, the inspector had held the work in good regard. It was felt this would form the basis of any duty to cooperate this time. The Board was advised that the work with PUSH was of value and provided evidence on employment, housing and strategic development opportunity areas.

The Board was advised that there was also the bilateral statement of common grounds that may wish to be considered with neighbours such as Fareham and that it was expected that Fareham Borough Council would approach Gosport Borough Council with a view to undertaking a statement of common ground as they proceed with their local plan. The document was yet to be received but would require approval from a Board of the Council.

No details were available of any possible replacement scheme.

Members recognised that there was the potential for a change in algorithm on housing numbers.

The Board were advised that the Fareham Local Plan was currently at Regulation 19 stage and out for consultation and would be presented to the Regulatory Board in December.

RESOLVED: That the Board approves the Interim Local Development Scheme November 2020 (as set out in Appendix A).

Consideration was given to a report of the Planning Policy Manager seeking approval for the introduction of a monitoring fee for Section 106 agreements as allowed by the CIL Regulations 2019 and as detailed in Section 4 of the IFS.

Councillor Johnston declared a personal interest in the item, but remained online.

The Board was advised that this was a new requirement that authorities were required to do and that it had to be published by the 31^st December 2020 and it was parallel to spreadsheets that would be published detailing developer contributions.

The Board was advised to make the document useful to members of the public and companies, the Council had gone beyond requirements of the regulations.

Members welcomed the clarity that the additional information provided.

Members also agreed that there was value to Monitoring Fee as a result of the work involved.

RESOLVED: That

§  Approves the Infrastructure Funding Statement 2020 contained within Appendix A of this report and any necessary minor amendments be delegated to the Planning Policy Manager.

§  Approves the introduction of a Section 106 monitoring fee as set out in Section 4 of the IFS.

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