Agenda item

The Assistant Director – Growth, Development & Prosperity stated that the council had a track record of bringing forward major strategic developments, particularly in

the West End of the District. Since the late 2000s these developments had been set up such that they included some form of enhanced local management regime, notably in the form of an Estate Management Company. Whilst the council had fulfilled its statutory obligations, it had not adopted public open space or other discretionary facilities. This had inevitably altered the mix and balance of public service delivery, in terms of the funding regime and the role that the District Council plays, relative to more established settlements.

The report sought to take stock of this approach. This was in the context of the District continuing to grow at a rapid pace and preparations beginning to be made for accommodating a second new community. This would ultimately lead to a scenario whereby around 20% of households in the District would be the subject of these alternative arrangements by 2040.

Cllr Kim Bloxham read out the following statement.

‘This report is very welcome, long overdue and presents a refreshing approach to how officers are recognising the wider impacts of strategic development in the West End. The old and new East Devon referred to in the report is welcome now, perhaps finally, it can benefit from the lessons learnt during the past 12 years or so of development at Cranbrook.

Just to dwell on management companies - the experience at Cranbrook was of an expensive and totally ineffective management company that left a legacy of poor maintenance and a great deal of remediation of open space once the Town Council managed to assume responsibility.

I agree with our officers, that management companies do not work when it comes to major development. It is true that the Town Council was successful in taking over responsibility for public open space and assets like play parks, but the Town was fortunate in that it had the co-operation of the developer consortium. Since then, the Town Council has been approached by many towns and parishes for advice on how to move away from management companies in their areas. This includes areas within East Devon. Only one other Parish has managed this nationally. It is extremely difficult to wrest responsibility from a management company if there is resistance and this has proved to be the case across the Country. So, the message on management companies is - do not go there in the first place and find a way to manage open space locally.

In terms of the Cabinet recommendations, these are supported with the following comments:

Recommendation 1. The Planning Advisory Service report is welcomed and helpful and forms a strong basis to move forward particularly in how the Town and District can work together more effectively. This is particularly so with regards to the PAS recommendation 5 about both the Strategic Delivery Board and Partnership Board and PAS recommendation 8 about a re-set and improvement of relations with the Town Council.

Recommendation 2b. The Community Governance Review needs to be commenced as soon as possible if it is to avoid the difficulties with Management Companies. There does however remain some concern about whether the surrounding Parishes will support such a review and the consequences if they do not.’

The Chair wished to thank Councillors Bloxham, Blakey and Hawkins for their efforts and achievements in getting to this stage of the Cranbrook development.

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

1.     Notes the findings of the Planning Advisory Service report and associated

      recommendations as set out at Appendix B

2.     Requests that the incoming Chief Executive, and the Assistant Directors for Planning Strategy & Development Management and Growth, Development & Prosperity, in conjunction with the Strategic Planning Portfolio Holder urgently review this report and its recommendations, and to propose any additional recommendations to Cabinet, whilst Cabinet:

a)    Endorses the proposed terms of reference for the Cranbrook Placemaking Group to take forward recommendation 5 from the Planning Advisory Service report.

b)    Endorses the principle of re-activating the Community Governance Review for Cranbrook in consultation with ward members and local communities.

c)     Endorses undertaking a strategic review of the Council’s approach to the delivery of assets and services in major new developments to take forward recommendation 9 from the Planning Advisory Service report.

RECOMMENDED to Council:

d)    That a budget of up to £80k is made available from the general fund to ensure that capacity is in place to undertake both the Community Governance Review for Cranbrook and wider strategic review of asset and service delivery in major new developments.

REASON:

To ensure that new communities in the District continued to be supported by high quality community infrastructure and public services.

To ensure that there were effective governance arrangements in place, both currently and to support the continued expansion of Cranbrook.