Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

There were no declarations of interest.

The Leader advised that a question had been received in accordance with Procedure Rule 16 in respect of Item 5, Borough of Redditch Local Plan No.4, and that the question would be read at the start of that item.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Executive Committee held on 9^th July 2013.

(Minutes attached)

RESOLVED that

the minutes of the meeting of the Executive Committee held on 9^th July 2013 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To consider the consultation responses to the initial consultation and approve a publication version for further consultation.

The report is attached and copies of appendices 1 – 4 are available via the Council’s website, at Reception at the Town Hall and for Councillors in the Group Rooms.

Please note that it is likely there will be an update to appendix no.2 (Officer Responses and Actions Housing Growth) and this will be provided as soon as possible.

As noted at Minute 35 above, a question to the Leader in respect of this item had been received from Mr David Rose, as set out below:

Why are Redditch Borough Council still advocating building between 600 and 3,400 houses in Webheath, when Redditch Borough Council Planning Committee on 22nd May, 3013 voted against Taylor Wimpey building 200 new houses, (which surely means that Redditch Borough Council have decided not to build in Webheath), because of poor highway infrastructure, over subscribed local schools, poor unsustainable infrastructures (including foul sewage) etc.?

The Leader replied as follows:

Paragraph 3.16 in the Report answers this question and explains why an early planning application from a developer, on part of a proposed site, is different to the consideration of sites for inclusion through the Plan making process.

3.16 “…With regards to Policy 48 Webheath, Officers are aware that the Council refused planning permission on 22^nd May 2013 for a proposal on part this Strategic Site set out in the Draft Local Plan No.4. The refusal was based upon the proposal’s additional traffic generation on the local road network coupled with the lack of suitable infrastructure to support the development and the lack of contribution towards the wider highway network infrastructure; however this does not alter the fact that the proposal site and the remainder of the Webheath Strategic Site is capable of sustainable delivery in the short to medium term, subject to necessary infrastructure being delivered. This Strategic Site should therefore continue to feature in the Proposed Submission version of the Borough of Redditch Local Plan No.4.”

More details will follow later this year on the viability of the site to be able to deliver the necessary infrastructure. This will confirm whether there are showstoppers to the Local Plan’s proposed allocated sites being delivered sustainably. The necessary works for the Foxlydiate site will be tested through detailed highway modelling. The costs of wider highway infrastructure and other sustainable transport costs will need to be aggregated to the Webheath site and to the cross boundary site at Foxlydiate in order to test the viability accurately. The cost of implementing necessary sewerage treatment for the two sites is borne by both the developer (for the on-site drainage, connection, pumping station and pressurised sewer) and Severn Trent Water and therefore has little impact on the ability of the site to be delivered, in any case the cost of upgrade works to serve these sites would not be vastly different to the alternative site options.

Mr Rose subsequently asked the following supplementary question of the Leader:

The Leader was asked to which overseeing Local Government watchdog local residents might complain regarding the proposal by the Council to contradict the decision made by its Planning Committee and the throwing of money at a scheme which was not sustainable.

Officers provided the following answer to this supplementary question on behalf of the Leader:

Until the Local Plan inquiry process was under way there was no recourse  ...  view the full minutes text for item 37.

Following the transformation work carried out by the planning teams at both Redditch Borough and Bromsgrove District Councils, changes to the scheme of charges are proposed to improve the service for staff and customers.

The Committee received a report on on-going transformation work in Planning and consequent proposed changes to the charges levied for permitted development enquiries and pre-application advice. The transformation project had determined that the interests of both the customer and the Planning Officers were not best served by the present arrangement.

It was intended to introduce a revised, hybrid process which was more customer-focussed but still retained an element of charging for some specific types of enquiries and the provision of advice. Members welcomed the new initiative whilst recognising that there would be a very small loss of income which would be offset by the redirection of Officer time to more productive areas of work.

RECOMMENDED that

the fees and charges scheme and schedule as set out in Appendix 1 to the report be approved to come into effect between 1st October 2013 and 31st March 2014 and Appendix 2 to the report be approved to come into effect from 1st April 2014.

The enclosed report seeks agreement to establishing a Joint Committee to decide the expenditure of funds devolved to the Local Enterprise Partnership under a Single Growth Fund.

The Committee considered an update on the current position regarding the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (GBSLEP) and on the governance arrangements for the body in particular.

It was proposed that a Supervisory Board be established to ensure that any decisions taken under a Single Local Growth Fund had the required legal mandate. As a consequence, it would be necessary to have a single voting representative from each constituent local authority. Scrutiny arrangements were in the process of being developed for the LEP but Officers explained that the form of such arrangements had still to be determined. Officers of the Council were to discuss the developing Scrutiny arrangements with colleagues from Birmingham City Council later in the month but at present were unable to confirm details of political balance or the timescales for finalisation of the arrangements. Officers undertook to keep Members informed of on-going developments in this regard.

RESOLVED that

1)         the creation of a Joint Committee to act as a Supervisory Board for the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership in accordance with the Local Government Act 1972 with voting representatives appointed by each constituent local authority and non voting business representatives be approved;

2)         functions relating to the bidding for and approval of schemes and expenditure of funds devolved under the Single Local Growth Fund be delegated to the Joint Committee (Supervisory Board);

3)         the appointment of the Leader as an ex officio appointment as the Redditch Borough Council Representative on the Joint Committee be approved;

4)         the appointment of the Deputy Leader as an ex-officio appointment as the Redditch Borough Council substitute representative on the Joint Committee be approved;

5)         the Head of Legal, Equalities and Democratic Services be authorised to agree and enter into all necessary legal documents to effect the above decisions and update the Council constitution; and

RECOMMENDED to Council that

6)         authority be delegated to the Head of Legal, Equalities and Democratic Services, following consultation with the Leader of the Council and the Leader of the Opposition Group, to agree the establishment of a Joint Scrutiny Committee, its terms of reference and the appointment of a representative from this Council to the Committee as appropriate.

To consider a report on the proposed operating arrangements of the Local Transport Board.

A report was considered which related to the establishment of a Joint Committee to act as the Local Transport Board for the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (GBSLEP). Officers considered that this new arrangement might have the potential for providing a better outcome for Redditch Borough.

The Committee was informed that, should the issue with Wyre Forest's respective allocations to the Worcestershire LEP and the GBSLEP not be resolved, Redditch Borough and Bromsgrove District Councils would need to arrange for alternative representation on the Joint Committee. Officers highlighted that scrutiny arrangements would also be developed for the Local Transport Board and delegated authority was sought to agree appropriate arrangements following consultation with lead Members.

RECOMMENDED that

1)         the creation of a Joint Committee to act as the Local Transport Board for the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise partnership in accordance with Section 102 of the Local Government Act 1972 be approved;

2)         functions relating to the approval of Local Transport schemes in the area of the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise partnership and the bidding for and expenditure of funds devolved to the Joint Committee under the Local Major Transport Scheme capital funding be delegated to the Joint Committee (Local Transport Board);

3)         the Terms of Reference of the Local Transport Board as detailed at Appendix 3 to the report and the Local Transport Board Assurance Framework as detailed at Appendix 4 to the report be approved;

4)         Councillor J-P Campion for Wyre Forest District Council be appointed as the representative on the Local Transport Board to represent the Borough Council, Bromsgrove and Wyre Forest District Councils, with Councillor P Mould as the substitute representative; and

5)         authority be delegated to the Head of Legal, Equalities and Democratic Services to agree and enter into all necessary legal documents to effect the above decisions and to update the Council Constitution accordingly.

To receive the minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 23^rd July 2013.

There is a recommendation to consider.

(Minutes attached)

The Committee considered the minutes of the meetings of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 2nd and 23rd July 2013 and the outstanding recommendations arising out of these meetings.

A number of Members expressed their disappointment and concern at the proposal to reduce the number of occasions upon which the Crime and Disorder Scrutiny Panel was scheduled to meet. The Committee members stated their wish that the Panel should meet on more than just the one occasion each year and also that Members be encouraged to bring forward proposals for matters which might be considered by this body as they arose.

Members also noted the comments within Minute 25 of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee minutes in respect of the sexual health clinics. It was agreed that the Local Strategic Partnership be requested to discuss this matter further at a future meeting.

2^nd July 2013

Future Approach to Crime and Disorder Scrutiny at Redditch Borough Council  - Discussion

RECOMMENDED that

1)        subject to the comments in the preamble, above the Crime and Disorder Scrutiny Panel hold at least one scheduled meeting during the year to scrutinise the work of the local Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership;

23^rd July 2013

Local Strategic Partnership – Monitoring Update Report

RESOLVED that

2)        Officers be requested to try and identify suitable sources of funding, including from external partner organisations such as Worcestershire County Council, that could be used to fund the installation of adult exercise equipment in Morton Stanley Park; and

3)        the Local Strategic Partnership be requested to consider the issue of sexual health clinics and teenage pregnancy at a forthcoming meeting.

To consider the minutes of the most recent meeting of the Worcestershire Shared Services Joint Committee held on 27^th June 2013.

(Minutes attached)

RESOLVED that

the minutes of the meeting of the Worcestershire Shared Services Joint Committee held on 27^th June 2013 be received and noted.

There were no minutes or referrals to consider under this item.

To consider the minutes of the meeting of the Shared Services Board held on 4^th July 2013.

(Minutes attached)

RESOLVED that

the minutes of the meeting of the Shared Services Board held on 4^th July 2013 be received and noted.

To consider, for monitoring / management purposes, an update on the work of the Executive Committee’s Advisory Panels and similar bodies, which report via the Executive Committee.

The latest update on the activity of the Council’s Advisory Panels and similar bodies was considered by the Committee.

RESOLVED that

the report be noted.

To consider an update on the actions arising from previous meetings of the Committee.

The latest version of the Committee’s Action Monitoring report was received by the Committee.

RESOLVED that

the Action Monitoring report be noted.