Minutes:
The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and invited Fran Walker, Associate Director at Brookbanks (Project Managers for the Cranbrook New Community Partners) to address the following issues that had been raised by the Group.
Landscaping for the Ingram Sports Pitches
The Consortium have now appointed a contractor to undertake the planting which will include planting at the south west boundary of the road up to the pitches and also the centre of the car park island. Cranbrook Town Council will be advised when the date has been confirmed which is hoped to be in March 2025.
The Town Council Clerk sought clarification on the outstanding legal costs for the sports pitches. The Associate Director advised that communications were still ongoing with Groundfix about seeking the retention payments.
Playparks
All the locations that needed connections for water and electricity have now been located with several connections needing road crossings. Water drawings were still being chased from South West Water.
Councillor Bloxham raised concerns about the location plans that did not identify the specific locations and made a request for a more precise zoomed out map that clearly identified each location. The Associate Director confirmed this would be provided tomorrow.
Councillor Bloxham also raised concerns about the continued lack of communication at the monthly partners meetings held by the Town Council and emphasised the need for the right level of people to attend to actually get things done. The Associate Director confirmed that she would be attending the next partners meeting and would also ensure that a Director or equivalent from each of the Consortium developers would attend as well.
Skatepark
Conversations were still ongoing with South West Water over the confusion to where their water main is located in the footpath. A survey has been completed which did show a water main and a further meeting has been arranged to discuss its connection.
The electricity plan has been received from GTC which would be shared with the group after the meeting. The rights to enter the footpath will be confirmed after the payment has been received.
Basin 2c
The contractor tenders have now been received and a preferred contractor has been suggested to the Consortium. The works should commence the second week of April but this will be dependant on the water levels. If they are too high the work will not be able to start. The work programme and the appointment of the contractor would be provided after the meeting.
Councillor Bloxham raised concerns about disruption to the parcel of land in Stone Barton as well as the school traffic. The Associate Director advised that the works access to Basin 2c would go over the town centre parcel to avoid construction traffic going past the school.
Damage to Country Park
The Associate Director apologised for the damage caused by Terra Firma when they entered onto the land. A site visit had taken place last Friday to rectify this damage. The Group noted that further damage to the same area had been caused by LiveWest who had ignored an email advising not to enter the site. The Associate Director at Brookbanks confirmed that the damage would be sorted before the transfer of TC1.
Land Transfers
It was confirmed that Clark Willmott was progressing four transfers of public open spaces. These were Littlemead, Rush Meadow Road junction, Yonder Acre Way and the Tillhouse Farm location boundary.
The Town Council Clerk raised concerns that there were still large areas of land that still needed to be transferred. In response the Associate Director at Brookbanks advised that meetings were taking place but if was difficult to obtain the information. To help understand what has been transferred it was agreed that both Fran and the Town Council would compile a spreadsheet of what has been done so far to see if information matched.
Build return data
The New Community Manager acknowledged receipt of the completion data but highlighted the lack of starts data. A request was made for the starts of the outstanding Taylor Wimpey and Persimmon plots.
MLR uplift works
The Consortium have advised that a start date cannot be given until planning permissions have been granted for the town centre housing as money is required beforehand to do these works.
In response the New Community Manager advised that the reason previously given for the delay in commencement was due to the uncertainty of the technology for the supply of heating and hot water to the additional town centre housing meaning that electrical capacity has now been confirmed so the inference is that this different reason means they do not want to spend the money. These works were consented in 2022/23 and the programme of works showed that it would start in Summer 2023 and completed in September 2024. It still has not happened.
The Associate Director advised that about changes to TC1 and TC2 and the need for drop services and waiting for technical approval from Highways which were also the reason the delays.
The New Community Manager expressed her disappointment and concerns with the delay as there were still no safe crossing for school children. She also raised concerns about the pavement that did not go to the edge of the boundary of TC2 which was not acceptable especially as the Council was about to take transfer of TC2 and the impending delivery of Cranbox and highlighted the pavement does not go to the edge of the boundary which was not acceptable.
Although the Chair sympathised that it was the Associate Director first meeting with the group he expressed disappointment with her colleagues that this had not been done even though they have known about this since 2021 and urged the Associate Director to speak to her colleagues for a commitment.
The Associate Director advised she would speak to the Consortium at their meeting on Wednesday.
The Group noted the summary of delays with Cranbrook Town Centre S106 obligations and the Principal Planning Officer (DCC) emphasised the need to transfer the Extra Care Land to Devon County Council as soon as possible. The Associate Director acknowledged this and explained about the issues with the transfer plan. The Associate Director confirmed she would follow up with their solicitor after the meeting.