No apologies for absence were received.

Members are reminded that they must not participate in the discussion or voting on any matter in which they have a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest and should leave the room prior to the commencement of the debate.

None were declared.

To confirm the minutes of the Housing Supervisory Board meeting held on 23^rd January 2020.

RESOLVED: that subject to Councillor Pauline Dee being added to the list of apologies, the minutes of the meeting held on 23^rd January 2020 be approved as a true record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive any questions or petitions from the public, notice of which has ben given in accordance with Procedure Rule 14.  The deadline for this meeting is 2pm on Tuesday 9^th June 2020.

There were no public questions.

To receive any questions of which Members of the Council have given notice.  Deadline for notification for this meeting is 5.00pm on Monday 8^th June 2020.

No Member questions were received.

To consider the Cornovii Developments Ltd, Sites Update Report [Report attached]

Contact:  Mark Barrow     Tel 01743 258916

Members received the report of the Director of Place which gave an update from Cornovii Developments Limited [CDL] on the company’s progress since the last meeting of the Board.

The Director of Place informed Members that the report covered the progress made on bring forward the first wave of development by Cornovii Developments Limited [CDL].  Members noted that 97 new units, 62 units for sale, 35 units of affordable dwellings including 12 bungalows to meet unmet need had been planned. The Frith Close site was due to commence development at the end of 2020 with the other two sites commencing 2021.

The Director of Place introduced Harpreet Rayet, Lead Director of CDL, who gave further details of the progress achieved on each site. 

He advised that the Firth Close site had recently submitted the planning application with positive feedback recieved.  Members noted that there were a number of technical issues were being resolved.  Overall, the urban design principles, density and property designs had received positive feedback from the local community and planning officers. Further consultation with the community would be undertaken regarding traffic management issues and build methods relating to the site once the planning application had received approval. It was anticipated that the full planning application would be before the Planning Committed in the next few months, and following statutory Judicial Review, the grant of planning permission was anticipated for September or October 2020.

In response to a Member’s question, the Lead Director of CDL agreed that the development would be a mixture of affordable housing, shared ownership and open market properties with no differences in appearance of the properties. He agreed with the Member’s comments on the importance of supporting connectivity between green spaces and local amenities.  He noted that during the Covid-19 crisis the importance of green spaces and gardens had been highlighted which supported the decision not to over develop the site.

Members heard that the Ellesmere Warf site had been brought forward following work with the Council’s Asset Management Officers. Constraints had been identified due to the number of surveys which were still required. The outcomes of these surveys would then influence the final layout of the scheme.  Emphasis was put on the need for the design to be sympathetic to the local area, taking into account in the local facilities, such as the canal, with a mix of housing to meet local need.  It was anticipated that the final layout would be completed by July, at which point the consultation process with the Town Council and local community would be initiated, with the aim to submit the Planning Application shortly after.

In response to a Member’s query on the challenging nature of the site, the Lead Director of CDL confirmed that the site was a challenging one and had identified other issues such as tree protection orders, the location of a culvert running under the site, an Easement, and an area of contamination.  It was anticipated that these issues could be resolved.  The Director  ...  view the full minutes text for item 44.

To resolve in accordance with the provisions of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, and paragraph 10.4(3) of the Council’s Access to Information Procedure Rules, the press and public be excluded during consideration of the following item.

RESOLVED: that in accordance with the provisions of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, and paragraph 10.4(3) of the Council’s Access to Information Procedure Rules, the press and public be excluded during consideration of the following item.

To receive a presentation and consider the Cornovii Developments Ltd, Update Report.  [Report attached]

Contact: Mark Barrow    Tel 01743 258916

Members received a presentation from the Lead Director of Cornovii Developments Limited [presentation attached to the signed minutes.]

RESOLVED: that the report be noted.