Agenda and draft minutes

To receive any apologies for non-attendance and details of Member substitutions.

Apologies were received from Councillor Boughtflower and Councillor Islam.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 06 June 2024.

The minutes of the meeting held on 06 June 2024 were agreed as a correct record.

To receive any disclosures of interest from members in accordance with the Members’ Code of Conduct.

There were none.

The Chair, or his nominee, to answer any questions raised by members of the public in accordance with Standing Order 40.

At the time of publication of this agenda no questions were received.

There were none.

To note the Forward Plan for future business.

The Sub-Committee resolved to note the Forward Plan.

To consider a report on the Development Delivery Strategy and the prioritisation list of development sites.

The Committee considered a report on the Development Delivery Strategy and the prioritisation list of development sites. The Group Head Assets advised that following Councillor led workshops in March and April the Development Delivery Strategy was recommended for approval by the Development Sub-Committee in May 2024. The Committee were advised that the Development Sub-Committee had requested that a site prioritisation list be included.

The Committee asked how the prioritisation list had been created and were advised that it was based on the social value of the development and the cost of holding on to the site.

The Committee queried at which stage residents would be consulted. The Group Head Assets advised that the strategy is intended as a high level look at the process and does not contain that level of detail however it was intended that resident consultation would happen in parallel with ward councillor consultation.

The Committee asked for clarification as to what infrastructure would be included with the development sites and were advised that the infrastructure would vary and be site dependent.

The Committee asked if there could be a template for ward councillors to use when providing feedback at consultations however it was felt that it was better to take a less restrictive approach allowing more freeform feedback. The Group Head Assets stated that there could be a standard template for how the results of consultations were fed back to the Committee.

The Committee noted that the Development Delivery Strategy was to be reviewed annually and suggested periodic review may be more appropriate. The Committee queried what would happen if an opportunity came available to progress one of the sites outside the scheduled prioritisation timescales. The Group Head Assets advised that they were continually considering all options for the sites and if a viable opportunity arose it would be presented to the Committee for a decision.

It was proposed by Councillor Clarke, seconded by Councillor Bateson and resolved to exclude the public and press be excluded for the remainder of the item, in accordance with paragraph 3 of part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended) because it was likely to disclose information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information) and in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information because, disclosure to the public would prejudice the financial position of the authority in being able to undertake even-handed negotiations and finalizing acceptable contract terms.

The meeting returned to open session.

The Committee resolved to recommend to Council to:

1. Approve the introduction of a Development Delivery Strategy.
2. Approve the form and content of the draft Development Delivery Strategy attached to this report.
3. Approve the prioritisation list of development site delivery.

4.    Approve that the prioritisation list of development site delivery shall form part of the Development Delivery Strategy.

To consider any urgent actions that have arisen since last meeting.

The Committee were informed of an Urgent Action in relation to Ashford Cemetery Lodge.

The meeting ended at 19:38