Agenda for MCA - Housing and Infrastructure Board on Wednesday, 31st August, 2022, 2.00 pm

Agenda and minutes

Venue: South Yorkshire MCA, 11 Broad Street West, Sheffield, S1 2BQ

Items
No. Item

35.

Welcome and Apologies

Minutes:

The Chair welcomed all to the meeting and noted apologies as above.

 

The Chair welcomed John Dowie as the new SYMCA Executive Board member, and thanked Martin Swales for his service to the Board over the past year.

 

The Chair also thanked Michael Faulks on behalf of the Board for his service to the Housing and Infrastructure Board as one of the Local Enterprise Partnership Board representatives.

 

It was noted that the meeting was not quorate and continued in an advisory capacity only with the MCA to take the final decisions. 

 

36.

Declarations of Interest by individual Members in relation to any item of business on the agenda

Minutes:

Members declared interests regarding schemes in their own council areas. 

 

37.

Urgent items / Announcements

Minutes:

None.

 

38.

Public Questions on Key Decisions

Minutes:

None.

 

39.

Minutes of Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 269 KB

Minutes:

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 29 June 2022 be approved.

 

40.

Matters Arising / Action Log pdf icon PDF 310 KB

Minutes:

RESOLVED that the Action Log be received.

 

41.

Flood Infrastructure - New Pipeline Schemes pdf icon PDF 412 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Board received a report proposing to add three new schemes onto the flood alleviation and resilience infrastructure pipeline.

 

The three schemes identified for inclusion were:

  • Fishlake Flood Risk Management Scheme, Doncaster
  • Worsborough Reservoir, Barnsley
  • Rotherham Renaissance Flood Alleviation Scheme Phase 2G, Rotherham

 

RESOLVED that the Board advise the approval of the three flood schemes listed in paragraphs 2.2 to 2.4 as part of the pipeline of flood alleviation and resilience infrastructure.

 

42.

Brownfield Housing Fund New Schemes - Project Mandates pdf icon PDF 489 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Programme Manager (Housing & Infrastructure) introduced a paper which sought approval to include two new schemes onto the Brownfield Housing Fund (BHF) Phase 3 Pipeline.

 

The following schemes were proposed to be added to the pipeline:

  • Gleadless Valley- Gaunt Road Scheme, Sheffield
  • Gleadless Valley- Hemsworth OPIL Scheme, Sheffield

 

Members particularly welcomed the schemes providing additional specialist housing for older people and affordable homes which would help meet the needs of the region.

 

RESOLVED that the Board advise the approval of the two schemes listed in Sections 2.2 and 2.3 being accepted onto the BHF Phase 3 Pipeline.

 

43.

Programme Approvals pdf icon PDF 603 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Board were informed that there were several items for which approval was being sought.

 

The first item was the progression to the SYMCA Board for full approval of the Thriving Town Centre Full Business Case and the award of £3.6m grant to Barnsley MBC as part of a £20m project to create an Urban Park.

 

Approval was sought for the development from Strategic Business Case to Business Justification Case with the release of £0.05m of development cost funding to Doncaster MBC for the Bentley Flood Alleviation Scheme.

 

The release of £0.30m development funding was requested for three schemes as part of the item ‘Flood Infrastructure - New Pipeline Schemes.

 

The release of flood Gainshare contingency funding of £0.1m to contribute towards a Water Programme Manager post to lead and manage delivery of the Connected by Water Plan. A further £0.05m would be used in the development of a flood risk investment tool.

 

The report also requested approval for one change request for the Porter Brook scheme, which was requesting to slip £0.29m of the £0.35m BHF funding to 2022/23 with a corresponding change to project milestones.

 

RESOLVED that the Board consider and support the following recommendations to the MCA Board:

  1. Progression of “Thriving Town Centre” project Full Business Case (FBC) to the SYMCA Board for full approval and award of £3.6m grant to Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council (BMBC);
  2. Progression of “Bentley Flood Alleviation Scheme” project from SBC to BJC and the release of £0.05m of development cost funding to Doncaster Borough Council (DMBC)
  3. Release of £0.15m funding from the Flood Gainshare contingency to contribute towards a programme manager post and development of a flood risk investment fund/GIS dashboard as set out in section 2.3
  4. Release of £0.30m development cost funding for the project mandates detailed in Item 8
  5. Approval of the change request for the “Porter Brook” project
  6. Delegated authority be given to the Head of Paid Service in consultation with the Section 73 and Monitoring Officer to enter into legal agreements for the schemes above.

 

44.

South Yorkshire Housing Framework pdf icon PDF 506 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Board was invited to consider and provide feedback on the draft South Yorkshire Housing Framework (SYHF).

 

The Senior Programme Manager (Development and Planning) provided an update of the ongoing work on the development of the draft SYHF. The following potential key elements had been identified:

  • Opportunities and challenges
  • Vision
  • Ambitions and priorities
  • Actions
  • Delivery
  • Monitoring and review

 

Commenting on the emerging vision, Members considered that this should identify 3 or 4 common ‘asks’ on which to focus, noting the importance of prioritising where it would have the maximum impact.

 

On the priorities for the SYHP, Members again re-iterated that to ensure the most effective impact and use of resources, the SYHF should focus on a limited number of key priorities. Members highlighted the importance of the SYHP integrating with the priorities of local authorities and partners (such as the South Yorkshire Housing Partnership).

 

Members raised concerns around the condition of the existing housing stock and whether it would be possible to include a set of standards in the SYHF to prevent the building of inferior homes across the region. The Senior Programme Manager (Development and Planning) advised that this would be considered further, and that work was already underway to explore updating the South Yorkshire Residential Design Guide which would be presented at a future meeting.

 

The Senior Programme Manager (Development and Planning) noted that

specific actions for delivery would be developed as the vision and priority areas were narrowed down. Members highlighted the importance of the SYHF identifying who would be best to lead on different actions.

 

Members welcomed the work on developing the Framework and requested that a draft document be brought back to the next meeting.

 

RESOLVED that the Board note the presentation and the key elements of the emerging draft South Yorkshire Housing Framework.

 

45.

Brownfield Housing Fund Open Call Update pdf icon PDF 505 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Programme Manager (Housing & Infrastructure) updated Members on the planned BHF Open Call.

 

The BHF Open Call was proposed to run from 5 September until 28 October 2022, primarily targeting Housing Associations and private developers.

 

A series of events was planned throughout September and October to publicise and discuss the Open Call with prospective applicants.

 

Once the Open Call closed, all schemes would go through an assessment process with the intention of any recommended new schemes being reported to the December meeting of this Board for consideration.

 

Members emphasised that approval should reflect local need rather than just the ability to provide more housing units.

 

The assessment process and scoring system was discussed. The Programme Manager (Housing & Infrastructure) advised that all schemes would need to be able to be delivered within the BHF timeframe and supported locally.

 

RESOLVED that the Board note the Brownfield Housing Fund update and the proposals for the Open Call.

 

46.

Connected by Water Plan Update pdf icon PDF 372 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Board received an update on the Connected by Water Plan.

 

The Senior Programme Manager (Development and Planning) informed Members of progress made since the previous meeting. Recruitment for two posts to support the delivery of the Plan was underway. The Programme Manager post had been recruited with a start date in November, and the Environment Agency was currently advertising for the Communications and Engagement role.

 

It was agreed to receive updates on the Plan as required going forward.

 

RESOLVED that the Board note the Connected by Water Plan progress report at Appendix A.

 

47.

Forward Plan pdf icon PDF 160 KB

Minutes:

RESOLVED that the Forward Plan be noted.

 

48.

Any Other Business

Minutes:

As there was no other business to discuss, the Chair thanked everyone for their attendance and contributions and closed the meeting.