Minutes:
Members had before them updates from the Cabinet Member for Housing (Paper CMU1) and the Cabinet Member for Economy (Paper CMU2) which were circulated to Members the day before the meeting.
Questions were asked of the Cabinet Members on their reports as follows:-
To the Cabinet Member for Housing (Paper CMU1)
Councillor Otton
How much is it costing to keep the Needham Market Middle School site secure?
Answer to be provided outside the meeting.
Councillor Eburne
1. In the Budget, the borrowing cap for HRAs was lifted for councils in areas of high affordability pressure. Given we have a median house price to average salary ratio of 9.2, how does this affect Mid Suffolk?
2. Also in the Budget, the Government is going to increase Local Housing Allowance rates where private rents have been rising fastest. How does this affect Mid Suffolk?
Answer to be provided outside the meeting.
Paragraph 3.15, it mentions the MSDC has bought 8 new build properties etc, how many houses is Mid Suffolk targeting to buy or build each year?
Answer
A development pipeline of 38 homes for rent and shared ownership is already underway, and there is financial capacity within the HRA to develop a further 60 homes. A pipeline for this delivery is currently being produced.
Councillor Stringer
I wasn’t just referring to HRA financing.
Answer
We are using assets from outside the HRA
Councillor Stringer
Para 2,4.1 Housing delivery, it states that we are working to make average voids 10 days less, what is the average at the moment?
Answer
The current average void time is 45 days
Councillor Matthissen
During 2017/18 how many empty homes have been returned to occupancy as a result of council intervention, and what is the estimate of the number currently empty?
Answer
31 homes have been returned to occupancy in the first two quarters of 2017/18
The current number of empty properties stands at
182 properties: empty 6 months to 2 years
71 properties: 2 years+
Councillor Welham
No report back has been received with reference to the Passivhaus investigation – could this be key to provision?
Answer
Passivhaus is not on the agenda at present – too expensive but we are building properties which are more energy efficient
Comment from Councillor
Passivhaus need not be more expensive.
Councillor Ekpenyong
Bearing in mind the number of houses empty for a long time – what are the plans for bringing them back into use?
Answer
We are on the case – full answer to be provided outside the meeting.
Follow up question
Will you come back to Council with a plan to bring vacant properties back into use?
Answer
We will look into that.
Councillor Field
What about the 8 empty properties in Great Blakenham?
Answer to be provided outside the meeting.
Cabinet Member for Communities – I’m also in discussion about this issue with the CabinetMember for Housing
To the Cabinet Member for Economy (Paper CMU2)
Councillor Stringer
Given the chancellor’s budget declared some support for electric vehicle infrastructure, and the fact that midsuffolk has manufactures of electric vehicle charging, what specific measures are Mid Suffolk taking to ensure government funding helps midsuffolk reach its full potential in the migration from Fossil fuel to electric fuelled vehicles?
Answer
Iain Farquharson from Environmental Management is leading a 7 authority bid for Highways England funding in relation to rapid charge points along the strategic road network. One point will be in Mid Suffolk. Iain has already instigated the Kingfisher (Sudbury) fast charge point.
The (budget) £400m has only just been announced so not clear yet what that means. Iain will be following the government's pledge and see what we can draw down. Biggest issue is connection to electric network which is constrained and costs from UKPN can easily be tens of thousands. There are difficulties in establishing take up so modelling payback on investment is tricky.
Iain is exploring options with partners to identify potential charge points. Suffolk Councils policy on parking for new development requires a minimum provision of EV infrastructure.
We also support businesses by signposting support available for energy efficiency audit and grant through initiatives such as BeeAnglia and Growth Hub.
Local ‘space to innovate’ enterprise zone work also potentially supports feasibility and other project work to encourage electric vehicle charging points etc.
There is also a potential legislation development to require petrol stations to include charge points, in addition to a national OLEV grant scheme that funds up to 75% of the cost of installing a charge point in a domestic property.
Councillor Matthissen
When did the Council’s members adopt a policy of supporting the Ipswich northern by-pass, as included in the draft Joint Local Plan?
Answer
The Joint Local Plan Consultation Document was approved by Full Council on 20th July 2017. On page 12 of the document it states that one of the proposed objectives for the Economy is “to support the ‘Ipswich Northern Route’ project and the strengthening of Ipswich and the surrounding area as the key economic driver of the County.” Councillors unanimously approved this document for consultation. The questions that followed this section in the document included the question, “Do you agree with the identified objectives?” and as such it was part of the consultation that has just finished. Officers are still working through the many responses that have been received as part of that consultation.
Councillor Otton
Do we have the name of the Company which might be involved in unlocking the potential of Eye Airfield (para 3.6 of the report)?
Answer
To be advised when known.
Questions relating to other Cabinet responsibilities
Councillor Welham
Requesting update on Public Realm review, Joint Leisure Strategy and Mid Suffolk Leisure Centre Management ?
Answer to be provided outside the meeting
Councillor Mansel
Queried the arrangements for phones and computer use in Endeavour House.
Answer
The Cabinet Member for Organisational Delivery referred to forthcoming member training and the Assistant Director – Law and Governance confirmed that the phones in the Members’ area can now be accessed without the need for a log in.
Supporting documents: