Issue - meetings

Report of  Executive Director of Growth, Planning and Housing

4.1       Councillor Rachael Robathan, Cabinet Member for Housing, introduced the item and stated that there had been a re-consideration of how to deliver more housing, particularly affordable housing, improve the market including providing more market space, and to increase green space by 40% for Church Street. The Church Street Masterplan did not seek to provide detailed plans, but to set a framework for other plans that would require further, subsequent approvals. The Masterplan covered a 20 year period which set out an ambitious framework for Church Street. Councillor Robathan stated that the consultation on the Masterplan had been extended to 2 months following a request from Ward Councillors and there had been significant engagement with local residents and businesses, with a number of consultation events held.  Furthermore, the Housing, Finance and Corporate Services Policy and Scrutiny Committee had recognised that the consultation had gone well.

4.2       Councillor Robathan thanked the Church Street Futures Steering Group for its input during the consultation and commented on the Steering Group’s broad representation which included residents, businesses, neighbourhood forums and Ward Councillors. The Steering Group played an important role as a partner to the Council in providing advice and challenging and testing ideas.

4.3       Councillor Aicha Less then addressed the Cabinet as a Ward Councillor. Councillor Less stated that Ward Councillors were generally supportive of the Church Street Masterplan which the area needed and which also had the support of local residents. Councillor Less stated that she knew the area well as she lives locally and that Church Street had a unique and vibrant community. She stated that the Residents Committee had worked tirelessly to ensure that the Masterplan had the right balance and had made a significant contribution to the consultation. However, Councillor Less felt that there had not been much reference to the Residents Committee in the report and some of their comments had not been taken on board and this needed to be addressed. Residents had particular concerns about proposals for a 16 storey building on the south side of Church Street and she suggested that this proposal be put on hold whilst a policy for tall buildings was established.  Councillor Less stated that she awaited a response from CityWest Homes in respect of their assessment of the conditions of the existing blocks and that a thorough survey should be undertaken. She also was not aware of any proposals for an alternative sheltered housing after Lambourne House was to be demolished.

4.4       Councillor Barbara Grahame, a Ward Councillor, then addressed the Cabinet on behalf of residents, including Alan Stirling who had lived in the area for a number of years. Councillor Grahame began by stating that the original Masterplan’s proposals would have provided insufficient housing, especially as Church Street was very densely populated and absorbing new homes would be difficult. The local community had been offered the opportunity to shape the Masterplan during the consultation and Councillor Grahame asked whether the views expressed in the consultation had made any changes to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4