Eco Town Joint Working Group
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Eco Town Joint Working Group Notice of Meeting Friday 13 February 2009 10.00 am Council Chamber Elizabeth House Church Street Stratford-upon-Avon Members of the Committee are requested to attend Chairman C Gillams Vice-Chairman I Seccombe Councillors: P Barnes P Haycock T Bean M Heatley S Beese S Jepson M Brain J Pearce J Dowty Saint S Geraghty L Stowe J Girling C Topple Paul Lankester Chief Executive Elizabeth House, Church Street Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 6HX For further information about this agenda Telephone 01789 267575 Contact: Caroline Nash Facsimile 01789 260007 Minicom 01789 260747 Telephone: 01789 260228 DX700737 STRATFORD-ON-AVON 2 e-mail: caroline.nash@stratford- dc.gov.uk website www.stratford.gov.uk ECO TOWN JOINT WORKING GROUP 13 February 2009 AGENDA 1. Apologies for Absence 2. Disclosure of Interests 3. Minutes of Last Meeting (Pages 1 - 6) To confirm and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 15 December 2008. 4. Eco-towns Second Stage Consultation - Update report (Pages 7 - 52) To receive an update report. 5. Any other business 6. Date of next meeting Chief Executive Eco-town Joint Working Group Meeting Item 3 Notes of meeting held on 15 December 2008, at Pershore commencing at 5.00pm Attendees: Members C Gillams (Chairman) - Gloucestershire CC Mrs J Pearce - Wychavon DC P Haycock - Wychavon DC M Brain - Stratford DC C Saint - Warwickshire CC Mrs I Seccombe (Vice-Chairman) - Warwickshire CC Officers Gill Collin - Wychavon DC Colin Staves - Stratford DC Andy Cowan - Warwickshire CC Roger Newham - Warwickshire CC Paul Maitland - Worcestershire CC Terry Smith - Gloucestershire CC Phil Astle - Warwickshire CC Lucia Moya-Langston - Wychavon DC (Minutes) Actions 1. Apologies for Absence Cllr Tom Bean - Worcestershire CC Cllr P Barnes - Stratford DC 2. Disclosure of Interests Councillor Brain and Councillor Mrs I Seccombe are members of BARD. Councillor Brain is a Governor of Quinton Primary and Stratford High schools. Councillor Saint is a Governor of Shipston School. 3. Minutes of Working Group 20 November No feedback has been received to date from DCLG about the financial clawback being used to support the provision of infrastructure in the local area, following questioning from Paul Lankester. Members would like a formal letter sent to DCLG requesting Colin to write clarification of use of the clawback. to CLG re clawback Colin intends to carry out some detailed research on behalf of the Colin to write group on CICs and and will then write to the promoters. to the promoters re Colin has been advised by CLG that there is no significance to CICs the order in which the schemes are listed in the News Release. Minutes were approved by the Group. Page 1 of 5 Page 1 4. Second Stage Consultation on the Eco-towns Programme Draft response was circulated with the agenda. Colin explained that this document is work in progress. 19 February is the deadline depending on the outcome of BARD’s Judicial Review scheduled for the 22 & 23 January 2009. CLG have confirmed that the extension to the consultation deadline will apply to all parties and not just BARD. CLG have subsequently extended the deadline for the whole consultation to 6 March 2009. Colin expressed his gratitude for the input from all the authorities. The draft response has been put together by responding to the specific consultation questions asked by CLG. The key points are: 1. That Eco-towns need to be considered through the RSS and LDF processes and considered properly as a spatial option. 2. Locational principles in the PPS need to be made much clearer and focus on the existing urban areas. Only when these requirements are met would the eco-town standards set in the PPS be relevant. 3. Sustainability Appraisal. There are questions over its robustness. The findings of the SA demonstrate the weakness of the site especially the remoteness of thelocation and transport connections. It was noted that the existence of Worcestershire has been largely ignored by the SA. Roger commented on the Transport Assessment. Within the constraints of a strategic assessment it is not a bad piece of work, However infrastructure needs are not well assessed and there is no capital needs assessment.He advised that any assessment carried out at this level has high likelihood of being flawed as it’s an unknown quantity. The Chairman asked if the Transport Assessment meets all the principles and criteria for a new town? Roger advised that in transport terms the sites location is inherently poor. In principle an Eco-town should not generate lots of traffic. Break points will be advocated through the planning system to ensure standards are met.Colin advised that the draft response to the PPS covers performance phasing which allows progress only if standards are met. The Members questioned how phasing would be managed, enforced and resourced. Gill advised that a development on this scale would require a full time Planning Officer from both Stratford DC and Wychavon DC. Breaches of conditions and section 106 would be prosecuted through the Courts. Colin advised of the on-going technical work in progress which will be fed into the draft consultation response. 1. Colliers are providing a critique of the promoter’s retail Page 2 of 5 Page 2 assessment and are due to feedback shortly. 2. CB Richard Ellis has been appointed to look at Section 106 package, viability and financial assessment. Members raised concern on financial modelling especially considering current financial climate. Cllr Saint would like to see the group to stiffen their resolve against the Eco-town and Middle Quinton. The draft response is to help with national policy and is not just a response to Middle Quinton proposal. The draft response does not dismiss the principle of eco-towns but seeks amendments. A key point to be made on the PPS is that the Eco-towns are an option for the Local Planning Authorities to consider in their LDFs. Colin advised that it will be possible for Members to bolster views when the draft response is presented at the relevant cabinets. Gill suggested including a covering joint letter explaining that the response does not undermine our previous views. It was agreed that a new version would be circulated to Members including the following: 1. Strengthened comments on the sustainability appraisal, particularly transport 2. Include references to Mickleton and Gloucestershire. 3. Inclusion of Wychavon. 4. Strengthen conclusion to smphasise continued opposition to the Middle Quinton proposal It was agreed that the revised report should go forward to relevant cabinets to be approved. Delegated powers could be given to relevant officers and Members to pass any subsequent changes . If there are any issues raised that can not be agreed upon the authorities can submit individual responses. 5. Update from the Joint Officer Group Meeting held on 8 December 2008 Education : There was a good discussion with Phil Astle who confirmed the proposed provision of education. The Members raised concerns about phasing and the lack of primary school provision on site. They raised concerns again about the impact on Shipston and Stratford High School and the problems with schools expanding and contracting to accommodate Eco-town. Councillors Brain and Saint advised that the extension of Stratford High School is for the current growth of Stratford. Councillor Pearce asked that it is fed back that it is emphatic that schooling is kept on an Eco-Town site and that it is not good enough to have secondary school provided after 7 years of completion of the site and that primary school provision will not Colin to action Page 3 of 5 Page 3 be provided until the 500 th house is completed. Transport costs to other schools will have to be considered and travelling off site goes against the principle of an Eco-town. Phil Astle advised the group that Federation schooling (one Head, one Governing body for all levels) is proving to work well in some parts of the country. Andy Cowan advised that the developers have taken a traditional approach to education rather than an innovative one due to costs. Eco-town Roadshows 23 & 24 November: Members noted that roadshows had been held at Evesham and Stratford and felt that these raised questions about the Minister’s impartiality. Gill confirmed that roadshows have been held at the other sites shortlisted. Economic Impact Study: This has been commissioned by AWM and is due to published by Christmas. This may be used for additional input into final draft consultation to the PPS.There is a concern that it is too Stratford and Warwickshire focused and needs to take into consideration the wider area including Worcestershire. This is being addressed by AWM and the consultants. Councillor Gillams requested that an electronic copy of the transport assessment be circulated to the group 6. Any Other Business Colin circulated a letter received from CLG (dated 3 December) on the Eco-town financial and other assessments. The letter sets out the processes which need completing and the intention to grade the schemes accordaing to their viability. Gill and Colin to attend the presentation on 9 January regarding the assessment process at CLG in London.. A further opportunity will be given to input into the section 106 head of terms and CB Richard Ellis will be able to advise on this.. Members expressed concern that revenue impact has been Colin to action. omitted under point 4 “financial assessment” and requested that this be another point raised in the response. Members expressed concern about the range of scenarios that Colin/Gill to may be considered under point 8 of the letter., particulry given the raise at the current economic climate.