Verbal Update
Minutes:
The Committee received a verbal update from the Cabinet Member for Planning and Corporate Services around his portfolio, followed by a Q&A session with the Committee. Richard Grice - Director of Customers, Transformation and Resources, Maurice Richards – Principal Transport Planner, and Rob Krzyszowski – Interim Assistant Director, Planning, Building Standards & Sustainability were all present for this agenda item. The following key points were noted:
a. The Cabinet Member advised that the Planning Policy team were undertaking the first stages of developing a new Local Plan and an initial consultation process had been started, which went beyond the minimum legal requirements. There were still two and a half weeks left on this initial phase of public consultation.
b. Strategic Transport had received £860k from TfL for the implementation of three low traffic neighbourhood schemes in Bruce Grove, St Ann’s and Bounds Green. £5.1m of capital budget had also been allocated for this area.
c. The Council’s apprenticeship scheme was due to be launched during the 8-12 February, which was National Apprenticeship Week.
d. The Fairness Commission implementation Plan was being developed, following the Cabinet meeting March where the recommendations of the commission were formally agreed. The Cabinet Member noted that the implementation of this had unfortunately been delayed due to Covid-19.
The following was raised in discussion of this agenda item:
a. In response to a question around what the engagement plan was for implementation of these schemes, the Cabinet Member advised that that the initial phase of consultation around the new Local Plan would be followed by subsequent consultation and engagement phases on both the draft and the final plans. The Cabinet Member acknowledged that there had been some high profile reports in the media around problems with other borough’s low traffic neighbourhoods schemes and advised that there had been significant lessons learned from some of these perceived mistakes. Government guidance had also changed on these schemes so that the Council was now required to consult widely before implementing such schemes. Officers added that there would be a widespread 3 stages engagement process with residents around the LTN schemes, including working closely with the emergency services and a six month consultation once the schemes had been put in place.
b. In response to a question, the Cabinet Member acknowledged that the progress of the Fairness Commission had been impacted by Covid-19 but advised that this work was still progressing and that he was particularly keen to underline the socio-economic considerations of the work the commission was undertaking, especially given the impact of Covid-19. Officers advised that they the administration was particularly keen that this wasn’t just another consultation process and that there would be a number of stages and that a communication and engagement plan was in place. A number of virtual engagement sessions were taking place with stakeholders and work had been undertaken with the RNIB and the Bridget Renewal Trust to ensure that the consultation documents were as accessible as possible and that as wide a community network as possible could be utilised.
c. In relation to a follow up question, officers acknowledged that consideration had been given to minority languages and there would be a process in place to direct people to translations of the documents.
d. In response to a question, the Cabinet Member advised that the organisation was paying into the apprenticeship levy but did not have an apprenticeship scheme at present, which meant that the organisation could only spend the money on training and that a training programme needed to be in place to fully utilise this. It was envisaged that there would be an uptake in the number of apprentices taken on and that there would be a significant training programme in place that could also be used by the existing workforce.
e. The Committee were advised that the plan was that all new starters at grades SC1-SC6 would start an apprenticeship and that the training on offer would go up to degree level. It was estimated that up to 75% of staff could be involved in the scheme. There was also going to be a focus on developing a local graduate scheme, which would help the organisation to focus recruitment on local people.
f. In relation to Reynardson’s Court and the administration’s general position on demolition of Council homes, the Cabinet Member advised that this was outside of his portfolio, but that his own position was that he would only support demolition in instances where they were rebuilt at better quality and that the homes were secure tenancies at council rents. The Cabinet Member also set out that the delivery of 1000 new Council homes was one of the administration’s key manifesto commitment.
g. The Committee noted concerns around Love Lane and the fact that this was listed for demolition in the Local Plan. The Committee sought assurances around the new affordability target of 50% on the London Plan and how the administration was going to meet this target. In response, the Cabinet Member advised that the site allocations were set out within the existing Local Plan, which he couldn’t change but the process had begun of gathering evidence for the new Local Plan albeit this would take time. Part of this process was around gathering evidence of what was needed in the borough as well viability, which reflected what was actually possible. Officers advised that viability versus affordability was a key consideration in relation to the evidence gathering process. The viability threshold within the Mayor’s target was 35%.
h. In relation to concerns around increased emphasis on co-living schemes, the Committee was advised that the new Local Plan had a section on this and so engagement was being sought on the issue.
i. In relation to concerns around the number of developments coming forward with three bedrooms plus, Cllr Connor agreed to pick this up with Cllr White and Cllr Ibrahim outside of the meeting.
j. In response to a question, Cllr Chandwani advised that mobile enforcement cameras were being used for moving traffic offences as well as fly-tipping and the ultimate goal was to ensure compliance rather than generate revenue. It was suggested that as they were fairly new, there was little data available in relation to their effectiveness in reducing flytipping but they had been incredibly effective at ensuring compliance for moving traffic violations in Alexandra Ward.
RESOLVED
Noted.