Agenda and minutes

The Chairman will announce details of the arrangements in case of fire or other events that might require the meeting room or building’s evacuation.

The Chairman gave details of the arrangements in case of fire or other event that might require the evacuation of the meeting room or building.

Apologies were received from Tom Dobrashian, Head of Economic Development.

Members are invited to disclose any interest in any of the items on the agenda at this point of the meeting.

Members may still disclose any interest in an item at any time prior to the consideration of the matter.

There were no disclosures of interest.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Working Party held on 1 November 2016 and to authorise the Chairman to sign them.

The minutes of the meeting of the Working Party held on 1 November 2016 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

The Working Party received a report on the progress of the Local Plan to date included details of the initial Local Plan consultation that took place earlier in 2015 including preparation of an evidence base to support the Plan.

Officers stated that work on preparing a new local plan for Havering started in 2013/14. The purpose of the new plan was to:

·         reflect the Government’s National Planning Policy Framework and the latest London Plan

·         provide an up to date plan for Havering to take account of emerging strategies and programmes such as the borough’s two housing zones and the frameworks prepared for Rainham and Romford

·         provide a context for the preparation of the Havering Community Infrastructure Levy

The Working Party noted that the work on the local plan had focussed on ensuring that the Council’s new ‘Vision’ was properly taken account of and reflected in the plan as it was essential that planning decisions were taken which would help secure the delivery of the ‘Vision’.

The report informed that the Local Plan report sought Cabinet approval to publish an updated Local Development Scheme (LDS) which was a statutory document setting out the plans and policy documents that would be prepared and a timetable for their delivery.

The Working Party was informed that since December 2015 the following progress had been made on the Local Plan:

1.    Evidence Base

The Local Plan was required to be supported and justified by a credible and robust evidence base. The key pieces of evidence that had progressed since December 2015 were:

• Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) 2016 – The Havering's SFRA Level 1 was published in 2014 and it provided a robust depiction of flood risk across the borough. Since the report was finalised the Environment Agency had published revised climate change projections which are required to be taken into account. An update of the 2014 SFRA had therefore been produced.
• Open Space, Allotments and Sport and Recreation Needs Assessment - provided a comprehensive assessment of the borough's existing supply of and future need for open spaces, allotments and sports facilities (both indoor and outdoor).
• Infrastructure Delivery Plan –identified the infrastructure needed to support the population and housing growth over the plan period. The study covered transport, water supply, wastewater and its treatment, energy, telecommunications, utilities, waste, health, social care, education and burial space.
• Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Needs Assessment – provided a robust assessment of current and future need for Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpersons accommodation within the Borough.
• Town Centre Audits The surveys provided an up to date understanding of the uses and vacancies within each town centre. The Audit would inform on decisions on any updates to the town centre designations within the Local Plan.
• Wind Energy Assessment sought to identify areas within the borough that were potentially suitable for the development of wind turbines in response to the Written Ministerial Statement (HCWS42) in June 2015 and the subsequent amendments to the Planning Practice Guidance which stated that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 23.

To consider whether the public should now be excluded from the remainder of the meeting on the grounds that it is likely that, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, if members of the public were present during those items there would be disclosure to them of exempt information within the meaning of paragraph 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972; and, if it is decided to exclude the public on those grounds, the Committee to resolve accordingly on the motion of the Chairman.

Officers provided the Working Party with an update on the issue of Developer Selection on a Preferred Bidder for the eleven strategic land assembly sites on the A1306 which were part of the Rainham and Beam Park Housing Zone.

It was stated that following a robust quantitative and qualitative selection process three bidders were shortlisted at the detailed tender stage, Officers had recommended Bidder C should be selected as the preferred development partner.

The Working Party noted that a process of detailed contract negotiations was now underway as the intention was for contract negotiations be concluded by April/May 2017 and reported to Cabinet in May 2017.

The objectives of the selection process had been to identify a development partner who would give the Council certainty that acquisition costs would be reimbursed and that the proposals were commercial and deliverable. That the partner would be able to support the council throughout the process and work alongside Mercury Land Holdings (MLH), the Council’s commercial vehicle, which would co-invest in the sites

The process was initiated with a soft market exercise and followed with a two stage selection process that concluded with the three successful bids submitted.

All bidders were scored on qualitative and quantitative aspects.

The Working Party informed that Bidder C offered a competitive bid from both a qualitative and quantitative point of view, on the following:

·         Finance - It was stated that Bidder C provided the highest land values throughout both sample schemes and across the programme, whilst still offering an appropriate mix of affordable housing (30% affordable compared to the other bidders.

·         Planning – It was stated that Bidder C presented proposals with the most planning optimism. However the approach to obtain planning permission was also deemed to be the most advantageous, achieving in excess of 30% affordable homes whilst also meeting the challenge of funding the land assembly. Bidder C also confirmed a strong desire to begin the process of obtaining detailed planning permission, commissioning site surveys and supporting the land assembly process. The major advantage would expedite the delivery of sites to be brought forward for development.

In Summary, officers informed the Working Party that the objectives of the partner selection process was set out to identify a development partner who could give the Council certainty that the sites once assembled by the Council, would be purchased by the new delivery vehicle made up by the development partner and MLH who would promote and deliver profitable and schemes within a suitable timescale.

It was noted that Bidder C offered both the confidence in the ability to repay the Council’s investment in these sites but also a robust approach to securing planning permission and working with MLH.

The Working Party NOTED the current situation.

Further to a Member request for an update on the position with regard to the Woolwich Ferry.

The Working Party received a response that on river crossings, Transport for London informed that work had been undertaken to extend the life of the ferries. 

For reference, a copy of the Mayor’s ‘A City for all Londoners’ document was circulated highlighting  pages 21 / 22 - a short and high level summary of the new Mayor’s approach to river crossings.