A MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMITTEE

Clerk: Mrs. L Rampton

Parish Council Office,

Winscombe Community Centre,

11 Sandford Road, Winscombe,

North Somerset BS25 1JA

Tel: 01934 844257 Fax: 01934 844292

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Affordable Housing Working Party Meeting Notes

Monday 18^th October 2010, 2.00 pm.

Mawson Room, Winscombe Community Centre

Councillors Present: Steve Bridges (SB), Archie Forbes (AF), Geoff Luckett (GLu), Avril Richmond (AR),

Gavin Rider (GR), Chris Sampson (CS), Mike Williamson (MW).

Others Present: Kay Topazio (KT) NSC Housing Strategy & Commissioning Manager

Clerk: Lynne Rampton (LR)

Apologies for Absence: None

Background: Following the withdrawal of English Rural Housing Association in June 2010 from involvement in any affordable housing development proposals for Winscombe & Sandford, a letter was sent from the Parish Council to NSC requesting their support and assistance in progressing matters (see Parish Council minute 32, meeting 17.06.10).

This meeting has been convened to consider three suggestions made by KT regarding Affordable Housing for the parish along with a paper compiled by GR (report to the Parish Council 16.09.10). Both papers have previously been distributed to all Parish Councillors.

To consider Housing Associations as a potential partner for the delivery of affordable housing for this parish: A list of some housing associations that have worked in partnership with NSC was supplied by KT and discussed at the meeting. Possible partners listed are Sovereign HA, Raglan HA, Knightstone HA, Guinness Trust, Somer HA, NS Housing and South West Housing Society.

The Housing Association chosen by this Parish Council would be responsible for the development of homes on a site and for the future management of these. After some discussion, members recommend that contact initially be made with Somer HA, Raglan HA and Knightstone HA inviting them to supply details of some rural schemes they have developed and managed and also provide details of how they would involve local stakeholders, advertise events/schemes and manage opposition to a scheme. Consideration could also be given to inviting South West Housing Society as a smaller housing association to supply the same information.

An update from NSC Planning Officers regarding potential site issues: A further ‘call for sites’ has been recommended inviting parishioners and land owners to contact the Parish Council with details of any potential parcels of land. Publicity for this could be on Parish Council notice boards, shop windows and through advertising of an AH event. Written contact with land owners should be made by the Parish Council to confirm possible availability of land for a potential AH scheme and to encourage replies, a standard template response form requesting information agreed with our chosen Housing Association could be included along with a stamped addressed envelope.

Councillors should be mindful of registering interests when specific site issues are considered

In response to a question it was confirmed that Affordable Homes are built to the same high standards whether tenure for these are shared ownership or affordable rent.

Suggestions for a possible affordable housing event: A housing event organised by the Parish Council that is not site specific may alleviate concerns held by some parishioners regarding the provision of affordable housing for the parish and also identify potential suitable sites for the delivery of a scheme.

The housing association chosen by the Parish Council for the delivery of a scheme for this parish could be invited to attend the event with a display of some of their previous schemes.

Neighbouring Parish Councils that have successfully completed an AH scheme could be invited to display pictures of their schemes and share their experiences with parishioners.

Officers from the NSC Housing team and a Homebuy agent could attend and show parishioners how to make an on-line application to the housing register, give examples of criteria required to qualify for such schemes and explain how any AH homes would be allocated,

To enable maximum publicity for an event including possible advertising of this in NS Life and the Parish magazine, an event is suggested for January 2011.

Update on Housing Need for the parish: The method for determining the AH allocation through a section 106 agreement for outline planning consent 10/P/0592/O Land at The Chestnuts was explained to the meeting. It was confirmed that this land is contained inside the village settlement boundary although no timescale is known for possible development of the site. It was agreed that housing needs for the parish are continually changing and therefore small developments of no more than 12 homes should be considered with possible phasing of schemes should land be available and a housing need still exist for the parish.

The housing survey carried out gives an indication of housing need for rural areas that will then be further defined from detailed information held on the housing register. Applicants on the Housing Register advise NSC of any changes to their circumstances and therefore analysis of the register is considered to be the most accurate way of defining the type of need at a future time when a site has been found and prior to planning the mix of home types and tenures. Raising awareness of AH through an event is likely to increase the number of parishioners currently on the Home Choice register.

The way forward:

1. A request is made that the Parish Council agrees to host an affordable housing event in early 2011. Possible dates would be provided to NSC to allow NSC Housing Officers to attend. The event should commence in the afternoon and last until early evening.

2. Authority is requested for the Clerk to contact Somer HA, Raglan HA, Knightstone HA and South West Housing Society on behalf of the working party to request details of some rural schemes they have developed and managed and also asking them to provide details of how they would involve local stakeholders, advertise events/schemes and manage opposition to a scheme. The working party will consider this information and if appropriate after meeting with potential partners, make a recommendation to the full Parish Council for approval of one partner to assist in the delivery and management of an AH scheme for this parish.

3. A further call for possible affordable housing sites should be made. Land owners will be contacted by the Parish Council making initial enquiries as to land availability. All communication in this regard will be sent from the Parish Office.

Meeting closed at 3.20 pm