Agenda item
Ocean New Deal for Communities
This report has been referred by Cabinet to Overview and Scrutiny Committee for consideration and advice.
(Time allocated – 1 hour)
Minutes:
At the request of the Chair, Sara Williams, Assistant Chief Executive, explained that this item had been referred to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee for consideration and advice prior to Cabinet determination.
The Lead Member for Housing and Development, Councillor Rupert Bawden, and the Corporate Director Development and Renewal, Emma Peters, explained the proposal and emphasised key points including the urgency with which it needed to be progressed, and that the proposal was only a model and therefore wider public consultation would take place at a later stage. Ms Peters also informed the Committee that the model provided the basic minimum conditions of:
- No net loss of affordable housing.
- Re-provision of community facilities.
- Refurbishment of 808 remaining properties.
Members raised a number of questions and concerns with Councillor Bawden and Ms Peters including the lack of contingency planning that had been undertaken regarding the Housing Choice process, flexibility of the feeder sights within the model, any plans to put more land into the proposed Trust in the future, how the consultation was going to take place, and if there would be any compulsory relocation of residents.
Councillor Bawden and Ms Peters responded on the points raised reminding the Committee that this is the very initial stages, that it will be 12-18 months before a partner would be selected and in total they were looking at a 7 year programme. They reiterated that transformational change was needed on the Estate and that this was an opportunity to address its deterioration.
The Committee felt that there were important issues surrounding the report to Cabinet and its practical implications to residents of Ocean Estate which they wished to highlight to Cabinet.
The Committee discussed the overarching situation noting that essential to the success of any regeneration scheme for Ocean (and other housing estates within the borough) was to bring local residents and businesses on-board with the proposal. Although the proposed scheme was a model to demonstrate the financial viability of the Community Land Trust, it would have a practical impact on local people and businesses. Recognising this, it was vitally important that the Council make strenuous efforts to communicate the reasons for the urgency and that there be significant and detailed consultation and involvement with local people and businesses.
More specifically, Members felt that in agreeing the proposal for Ocean Estate the Cabinet must consider the following:
· Transparent and genuine consultation must take place with residents and businesses so they can shape significantly the future of Ocean Estate.
· For residents that are living in temporary accommodation, it is vital that any changes as a result of the proposed scheme are managed carefully to minimise the impact on their circumstances.
· That the overall phasing of the scheme, including decanting and new properties, must be managed carefully to minimise the impact on local schools, healthcare and other facilities.
· Significant efforts must be made to involve leaseholders in the changes and that they can also benefit from the transformation of the Ocean Estate.
· The potential impact on the profitability of local businesses as a result of the proposed regeneration needs to be carefully considered and steps taken to minimise any negative impact.
· To continue to explore the potential for alternative feeder sites that will ensure that the proposed Community Land Trust is financially viable and will achieve the long term regeneration of the estate including community facilities.
· The process of appointing the Ocean Regeneration Trust (ORT) Board must be set-out following best practice that demonstrates transparency and shows clearly how local people are driving the regeneration scheme.
· The Trust must be established and operate so that it can use ongoing income to provide a sustainable and long term future for the community organisations and facilities that serve local people.
The Chair Moved and it was
RESOLVED
That the above views of the Committee in respect to Ocean Estate be forwarded to Cabinet for its consideration.
Supporting documents:
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ocean community facilities - OS, item 7.1
PDF 140 KB
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Ocean NDC Final, item 7.1
PDF 202 KB
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Ocean NDC Appx 1a, item 7.1
PDF 395 KB
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Ocean NDC Appx 1b, item 7.1
PDF 398 KB
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Ocean NDC Appx 2 2802, item 7.1
PDF 401 KB
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NDC Concerns, item 7.1
PDF 65 KB