MEETING HELD ON 2nd September 2010

AT Ocean offices, St Austell

CHAIR
Michelle Foster, Coastline /

SECRETARIAT

Jody Jeffery, Cornwall Council

1. ATTENDEES

NAME

/

INITIALS

/

ORGANISATION

/

CONTACT DETAILS

Michelle Foster

/ MF / Coastline /

Versha Koria

/ VK / HCA /
Clare Salmon / CS / Carrick Housing /
Will Morris / WM / Cornwall Council /
Andy Rigby / AR / Aster Group /
Ian Hamilton / IH / Council of Isles of Scilly /
Louise Dwelly / LD / Cornwall Council /
Richard Morton / RM / Guinness Partnership /
Isabel Manners / IM / Tamar Housing Society /

2 APOLOGIES

Andy Moore
Simon Jones
Frances Turner
Peter Moore / AM
SJ
FT
PT / Penwith HA
Devon & Cornwall HA
Ocean Housing
Cornwall Rural HA /



Agenda Item / Action
3. / Minutes of the last meeting – 3 June 2010
The minutes of the meeting held on 3 June 2010 were agreed as a true record.
4. / Matters Arising
4.1 / Geographically based Local Enterprise Partnerships was suggested as a future agenda item.
4.2 / An Affordable Housing DPD options draft is going out in the next two weeks until late November, with an intention to make subsequent amendments and then to go to cabinet for adoption. Affordable Housing Teams are on the road publicising the draft to Community Network areas. CL suggested an email to RSLs.
RSLs were invited to take a look at the Private Sector Housing Strategy if they wish.
5. / Private Sector Engagement
LD enquired how RSLs and the CHP can engage with the private sector forum being set up by Cornwall Council. Ocean will take the place of RSL rep on the forum. The inaugural meeting is 14 October 2010 and will be chaired by Mike Griffin of Barretts. / Ocean
6. / Local Investment Plans
VK advised that a new draft LIP is being done now including some statutory responsibilities, clarification on governance and a prioritisation to give the best chance at Treasury.
CS explained that Cornwall Council officers currently going through a detailed analysis of LIP proformas. It is an iterative process of prioritisation and the LIP will possibly be put to the next meeting.
VK confirmed that it was not a bidding process and that the intention is to capture as much information as possible and allow the Council to see the scale of what is out there and assess what really needs funding, allowing members to prioritise. The message from the HCS is no longer ‘build 1000 homes’ it is ‘what do the communities and parishes want?’ The LIP is about planning for the future and feeding into other strategies.
MF highlighted that the issue for RSL’s is that they need clarity on the process.
LD handed out a rough list of schemes and stated that the LIP is not just general needs housing schemes but also Extra Care; Learning Disability; Gypsy and Traveller and Mental Health. There will be some economy bids as well.
VK added that the HCA will remain a smaller strategic enabling body. All 2010/11 money has been allocated and they are awaiting the Comprehensive Spending Review in October for any more funding. There may be some funding available by the end of the year as other budgets under spend. If any schemes are slipping do not wait to inform the HCA, do so as soon as possible. RSL's should not assume that like for like will automatically be agreed.
VK further confirmed that the present system is still there if an RSL wants to bid, but the fact that there is no available funding cannot be ignored. There are currently about 20 bids that have been left in IMS.
MF queried the case for social justice and how homeless accommodation could be prioritised within the LIP.
LD confirmed that the LIP is spatial and geographic and where to invest and prioritise the use of funding (including convergence) for housing and infrastructure can be matched up to deliver to all tenures. Cornwall Council are committed to good design and high quality developments, nevertheless they are keen to understand cost drivers and would be willing to consider lower standards.
LD further outlined the investigative work being undertaken on a special purpose vehicle to delivery affordable housing.
7. / Section 106 Agreements
There was an offer to raise concerns and LD stated that she would circulate the signed off version, however the Mortgagee in Possession clause is already being reviewed.
The Law Society has released a model S106 for affordable housing. The RSL view was that lenders are coming back and things are getting easier.
LD informed the meeting that Counsel had advised that on recent S106 agreements the Council can do deeds of variation for certain schemes for certain lenders. Lenders will not give a view on a S106 until they have an application.
8. / Forward Thinking
AM has proposed an away day to look at the CHP role with one rep from each RSL and will be specifically looking at how the CHP can interact with other ‘forward thinking’ initiatives and add value to the group.
The 2nd December 2010 was proposed from 9.00 am to 12.30 to include a lunch. AM to lead a workshop. / AM
VK invited other ideas and thoughts.
MF will speak with AM to confirm what his intentions are. / MF
9. / Cornwall Council Housing Strategy Delivery Team
This item was deferred.
10. / Housing Management Forum
LD advised that the Council structure was being looked at by Directors but in her view the affordable housing in planning is working and those involved are happy.
11. / Any Other Business
No further business was raised.
12. / Date of Next Meeting
The date of the next meeting is scheduled to be held on 2 December 2010 at Ocean Housing, St Austell.