To approve as correct records the minutes of the previous meetings held on 23 February 2010 and 25 March 2010 (copies attached).

RESOLVED

1. that the Minutes of the meeting of the Sustainable Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 23 February 2010 be confirmed and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.
2. that the Minutes of the meeting of the Sustainable Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 25 March 2010 be confirmed and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.  

To receive any announcements from the Chairman and any matters of communication.

None notified.

To receive petitions from members of the public in accordance with the Public Participation Procedure as set out in Annex 2 of Part A4 of the Constitution.

No petitions were received from Members of the public in accordance with the Public Participation Procedure as set out in Annex 2 of Part A4 of the Constitution.

To receive any questions, statements or deputations from members of the public in accordance with the Public Participation Procedure as set out in Annex 1 of Part A4 of the Constitution.

One member of the public had registered to speak at the beginning of the meeting in accordance with the Public Participation Procedure as set out in Annex 1 to Section A4 of the Constitution.

A statement was received concerning the consultation document on the provision of Gypsy and Traveller sites in Central Bedfordshire. The speaker was particularly concerned that the consultation document consulted on 50 pitches, rather than the 40 pitches that Central Bedfordshire Council needed to identify in the north part of the Central Bedfordshire area (the former Mid-Bedfordshire area).

Officers and the Portfolio Holder for Sustainable Development confirmed that, as reported to the Committee on 22 February 2010, the additional 10 pitches allowed for meaningful consultation and that once the consultation period had concluded it was the intention to allocate 40 pitches from those 50 that had been proposed.

To consider any recommendations received from the Development Strategy Task Force in accordance with the requirements set out in the adopted Guidance Document.

The Chairman reported that recommendations from the Development Strategy Task Force meeting held on 7 April 2010 would be considered during item 10 – Housing Strategy

To consider a call-in relating to a decision taken at the Traffic Management Committee on 15 April 2010 regarding a petition received from the residents of Husborne Crawley for changes to speed limits.

The Committee noted that on 15 April 2010 the Traffic Management Committee had considered a petition to reduce the speed limit on the following roads in Husborne Crawley from 40 miles per hour to 30 miles per hour (20 miles per hour in the vicinity of Husborne Crawley Lower School), A4012 Turnpike Road, School Lane and Bedford Road. Following discussion at the Traffic Management Meeting on 15 April 2010 the Portfolio Holder for Safer Communities and Healthier Lifestyles decided not to reduce the speed limit, but to re-assess the roads for additional coloured patches and speed roundels and to place the area on the list for mobile vehicle activated speed signs. 

The Committee noted that the decision of the Traffic Management Meeting had been called in by Councillor Mrs Fiona Chapman, ward member for Harlington and Woburn. The Committee was asked to consider the call-in and Councillor Mrs Fiona Chapman’s reasons for calling the decision in.

The Member calling the item in was invited to speak first and the reasons given for the call in were as follows:-

(a) it was not appropriate to turn down the request to lower the speed limit only on the basis that it was not enforceable, (b) the Portfolio Holder did not appear to listen to the local Parish Councillor or to both CBC Councillors who spoke in favour of the petition at the Traffic Management Meeting, nor was the Parish Council Chairman allowed to comment when they signalled a wish to speak during the Traffic Management Meeting, and (c) the speed limit outside the school (40 mph) was, in particular, too high for the safety of children.

In accordance with the Public Participation Procedure set out in Annex 1 of Part A4 of the Constitution the Chairman then invited the members of the public who had registered to speak on this item to do so. Each speaker was asked to keep their statement to three minutes.

Statements were received from a total of three public speakers who raised a number of concerns including:

• Recent police speed measurements showed a significant number of drivers drove through Husborne Crawley in speeds exceeding 50 miles per hour.
• Claims of discrepancies in the information provided in the report in relation to the number of accidents that had occurred.
• Statements that Bedfordshire Police said they would not support reductions to the speed limit in Husborne Crawley were not true, they would support it subject to Central Bedfordshire Council supporting the restrictions with engineering measures.
• Highways engineers had not visited Husborne Crawley to assess the roads at the time the decision of the Traffic Management Meeting was taken.
• The decision was not in keeping with decisions to reduce speed limits in other local areas of Central Bedfordshire.

·        The Parish Plan identified reduction in speed limits as a key local priority.

• There was a particular risk to pedestrians on the pavement as HGVs drove through narrow roads at high speeds.
• Several cars had left the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

To consider any items referred to the Committee at the request of a Member under Procedure Rule 3.1 of Part D2 of the Constitution.

The Chairman reported that no items had been requested.

To advise Members on the development of the Housing Strategy for Central Bedfordshire and invite Members to comment on the draft Housing Strategy prior to consideration by the Executive.

The Committee received a report outlining the development of the Housing Strategy, which included the six key strategic objectives that had been identified for the Housing Strategy in 2010. The Committee also noted the recommendations and comments of the Development Strategy Task Force, which had considered the Strategy at its meeting on 7 April 2010.

The Head of Development Plan explained that the full Housing Strategy would be considered by the Executive in August 2010. The document had been deferred for consideration as it was considered important to ensure that the Strategy took into account any guidance from the  new Central Government as well as the Local Investment Plan and the Council’s economic powerhouse agenda. The Committee was invited to have a broad strategic debate following which the  Strategy would be taken to the Executive for approval prior to public consultation.

In addition the Portfolio Holder for Sustainable Development commented that there was a need for social engineering in the Central Bedfordshire area. There was a demand for housing locally that needed to be met as soon as possible but mechanisms were required to ensure that people would be able to buy any new properties that were developed.

Members discussed the Housing Strategy and in particular raised the following points and suggestions:

• The strategy needed to address the current difficulties faced by young people, many of whom were unable to purchase properties in the area as they grew up. The provision of affordable housing and fulfilling the Council’s requirements in relation to the delivery of affordable homes should be seen as a priority.
• Incentives were needed to encourage older people to move out of large family homes, this could include planning for bungalows in central locations of new estates .
• The strategy should specifically refer to homes being carbon neutral or as close to carbon neutral as possible and to the importance of cutting carbon emissions in the area. There should be a stronger emphasis than just ‘encouraging’ developers to reduce the carbon footprint.
• The Carbon Management Strategy should be embedded to the Housing strategy to give it ‘teeth’
• Homes should be ‘future proofed’ to allow for disabled access or a live-in carer at a future date.
• In response to comment 9 of the Development Strategy Task Force more work was still needed to embed the Design Guide for Central Bedfordshire into the Housing Strategy.
• Building homes at a density of 45-50 dwellings per hectare would limit the space for gardens and the character of estates but would reduce the amount of green belt land needed to meet requirements.
• Empty homes and flats needed to be addressed as a matter of urgency, private landlords should be assisted in renovating empty properties and placing them on the market at a reasonable rate.

The Committee also discussed the consultation process that would take place following the approval of the Housing Strategy. It was agreed that Members would be provided with more detail regarding the nature of the consultation, with whom officers would  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

To consider and agree the work programmes of both the Committee and Task Force, and to note the latest Executive Forward Plan.

RESOLVED:

That the work programme be noted and approved.