Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interest made by Members.

The Economy and Development Select Committee minutes dated 25^th January 2018 were confirmed and signed by the Chair.

There were no members of the public present.

Context:

To scrutinise the consultation feedback on the Local Development Plan (LDP) draft Review Report.

Key Issues:

The LDP review is the task of evaluating the extent to which an adopted LDP is functioning effectively. The Regulations allow for a ‘selective review’ to look at part(s) of a LDP, or a ‘full review’, which looks at the entire LDP. There is a statutory requirement to undertake a full LDP review every four years after adoption (February 2018 for Monmouthshire).

A full review of the LDP commenced in 2017, with the publication of the Draft Review Report. This was considered at an all Member seminar on 30th November 2017, facilitated by the Economy and Development Select Committee, which requested that the consultation responses be reported back to the Committee.

The Draft Review Report was endorsed by Cabinet in December 2017 for eight week consultation. This consultation period has now closed, responses have been considered and incorporated into the final Review Report as appropriate.

A high level summary of consultation responses were provided to the Select Committee.

The Review Report provides an overview of the issues that have been considered as part of the full review process and subsequently identifies the changes that are likely to be needed to the LDP, based on evidence.

Based on the evidence contained in the Review Report, it is concluded that the LDP should be revised and that this should take the form of a full revision procedure.

The recommendation to commence preparation of a new LDP for Monmouthshire will be considered by Council on 19th March 2018.

Member Scrutiny:

·         The method of consultation undertaken was as good as it could have been.  Social media can be used to widen the message and encourage consultation.

·         In the Community Involvement Scheme, it sets out the groups that the Planning Department engages with.

·         In response to questions raised regarding engagement and housing provision for future generations, it was noted that officers were aware of the issues around demography and the challenges being faced by the Authority.  Existing data identifies the increasing proportion of the older population in Monmouthshire (over 65 - over 85) and also the gap in the number of 20 to 40 year olds. Compared to the Cardiff Capital Region, Monmouthshire has a lower proportion of the 20 – 40 year old age group. It is considered a proportion of people in this age bracket are unable to afford a property in Monmouthshire and are having to move out of the County.

·         The main way of achieving affordable housing within the County is via market house builders.

·         There are some groups listed in the Community Involvement Scheme that the Authority is looking to work with, e.g. Engage2change.  Officers are working with schools to enquire what the students’ aspirations are for the County.

·         With regard to the issue of models for delivering housing provision, it was noted that there are separate discussions to the LDP regarding this matter.  One of the challenges with the current LDP is  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

Context:

To scrutinise the disposal process and appointment of a preferred bidder of the former County Hall site.

Key Issues:

·         The site is jointly owned by Monmouthshire County Council and Torfaen County Borough Council and a Project Board was established to manage the disposal of the surplus site. Monmouthshire County Council took the lead on the demolition of the buildings and Torfaen County Borough Council Estates Department has handled the marketing of the site on behalf of the two councils.

·         There have been two failed attempts to sell the site. The first sale was agreed but subsequently failed as attempts were made to reduce the price to a level that was unacceptable. The second sale was agreed to a bidder that was unable to complete the sale due to financial difficulties.

·         The Property was placed back on the market in March 2017 and following a two month marketing period, six offers were received.

·         Three bidders were shortlisted and invited to carry out further due diligence on the site which would allow their offer to be further refined. Bidders were allowed access to the site to undertake technical site investigations.

·         Following a reasonable period the three parties were asked for their “best and final offers”. The preferred bidder was selected from this process following evaluation of the bids by Torfaen County Borough Council Estates Department.

·         The preferred bidder was then allowed a period of time to work with the planners in order to refine the site design and make allowances for the layout including the siting of the social housing and the exclusion zone around the ancient woodland area. The bidder also further refined the drainage strategies.

·         The preferred bidders refined the “abnormal costs” which saw them increase significantly most notably following issues with their drainage strategy as a result of consultation with the highways authority and clarification of the Section 106 contributions.

·         Following this work a figure was arrived at which discounted the abnormal costs from the previous offer. Unfortunately, this figure was below the price expectations which the Councils had for the site. Further negotiations were undertaken with the preferred bidder to bring the land value in line with Council expectations and as a result, the offer has been revised to a level that both Councils can agree.

Member Scrutiny:

·         The bid and the development is compliant with policy, which, in Torfaen County Borough Council is 30% affordable housing provision.

·         The offer being looked at is subject to planning permission.  Therefore, the offer is as robust as it can be at this stage.

·         Two of the bidders were regional developers and the other was a volume house builder.

·         Capital receipts were estimated to be available to both authorities by the end of the calendar year.  However, Monmouthshire County Council has the capital receipt in its Medium Term Financial Plan for the 2019/20 financial year.

·         The offer equates to £2.9 million.  However, the contract has a proviso that if there is more scope for further plots, following planning permission, then  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

We received a verbal update by Members of the Select Committee regarding the meeting that was held at the beginning of the year regarding marketing Monmouthshire for business.

In doing so, the following points were noted:

·         It was a useful meeting that was convened with the intention of looking at how we market the County to prospective business investors.

·         Addressed ways of attracting businesses to the area.

·         Start-up businesses and where to recruit these businesses from.

·         Officers have already been looking at shared work spaces and potential tax breaks for start-ups.

·         Quality of life in the County as a selling point.

·         However, there is still a need to identify who will be undertaking the marketing and how this will be done.  The Select Committee could provide support in this matter.

·         It was noted that there was a need to create a liveability index to encourage people to locate their businesses in Monmouthshire.

·         It was considered that a further meeting of the working group was required in order to create an action plan, going forward.

·         Initial baseline data, as part of the future economies analysis that is being undertaken, indicates that our economy in the previous 15 years has performed below its full potential.  This is partly due to the County’s age structure and that we have low numbers in terms of working age groups.  Monmouthshire’s median age is 48 and is the oldest in the Cardiff Capital Region.

·         In terms of the sector analysis, manufacturing is relatively large and growing, which is bucking the national trend.

·         Arts, entertainment and recreation is growing.

·         Accessibility and affordability of affordable housing stock is key.

·         Employment sites and premises need to be located appropriately.

We resolved that the Chief Officer, Enterprise and the Head of Enterprise and Community Development be requested to arrange another meeting of this working group in the form of a workshop, with a view to creating an action plan and a strategy.  The workshop should be held before the next Economy and Development Select Committee meeting (26^th April 2018).

We noted the list of actions arising from the previous meeting.

We received the Economy and Development Select Committee Forward Work Programme. In doing so, the following points were noted:

• Marketing Monmouthshire for Business – The Chief Officer, Enterprise and the Head of Enterprise and Community Development be requested to arrange another meeting of this working group in the form of a workshop, with a view to creating an action plan.  The workshop should be held before the next Economy and Development Select Committee meeting (26^th April 2018).  Suggested items for discussion are:

-          Liveability index / creation of business zones to attract businesses into Monmouthshire.

-          Business breakfasts.

-          Approach the owner of TATA Steel, who lives locally, with a view to identifying ways of attracting businesses to set up in Monmouthshire.

• Cross Border visit – The Chair of the Select Committee will liaise with the Scrutiny Manager about convening this group.  It was also noted that the Officer Cross Boarder Group has already met.  The Select Committee requested that the Head of Operations and his counterpart at Gloucestershire County Council be invited to attend a future Economy and Development Select Committee meeting to provide an update on progress.

• A Joint Scrutiny meeting be held with the Audit Committee regarding the Welsh Government’s Local Government Funding Formula.  Representatives of the Welsh Government and the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) to be invited to attend to inform the Committee how the funding formula is calculated.

• A Joint Scrutiny meeting be held with The Democratic Services Committee regarding Automation and how this might improve Local Government / Monmouthshire County Council service provision.

We received the Council and Cabinet Business Forward Plan and noted its content.

Thursday 26^th April 2018 at 10.00am.

The next Economy and Development Select Committee meeting will be held in the Council Chamber, County Hall, Rhadyr, Usk, on Thursday 26^th April 2018 at 10.00am.