Agenda and minutes

            The Minutes of the meeting held on 27^th June 2018 having been circulated were signed as a correct record.

            It was confirmed that no public questions had been received.

            The Board considered the Minutes of the meetings of the Executive Board relevant to the Environment and Urban Renewal Policy and Performance Board.

            RESOLVED: That the Minutes be received.

The Board received a report from the Strategic Director, Enterprise, Community and Resources, which presented the Performance Monitoring Reports for Quarter 1 of 2018/19.

The reports related to the following functional areas which reported to the Board and detailed progress against service objectives and milestones, and performance targets and provided information relating to key developments and emerging issues that had arisen during the period:

·                         Development and Investment Services;

·                         Highways and Transportation, Logistics and Development Services;

·                         Waste and Environmental Improvement and Open Space Services; and

·                         Housing Strategy.

            Arising from the discussion under comment 3.3, the Board enquired if Officers viewed the feedback from the Combined Authority seeking an increase in programme outputs, typically more businesses assisted, as a realistic target. It was agreed that Members would receive a written response.

            RESOLVED: That the first quarter performance monitoring reports be received and noted.

            The Board received a presentation from the Divisional Manager - Waste & Environmental Improvement, who outlined to Members the measures being taken to help tackle incidents of environmental crime; such as littering and fly-tipping. Members noted the structure of the Environmental Improvement Team, their role and enforcement activity undertaken, environmental crime prevention methods and the varying levels of enforcement.

            In addition the presentation provided the Board with examples of education awareness work carried out by the Team, the number of reported litter, dog fouling and fly tipping incidents and the enforcement action taken and the future use of Community Protection Notices by the Team.

            On behalf of the Board the Chair thanked Mr Unsworth for his informative presentation.

            RESOLVED: That the presentation be received.

            The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Enterprise, Community and Resources, which provided details on the publication of a Strategic Investment Fund Strategy for the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (CA) and provided an update on the proposed relaunch of Single Investment Fund (SIF).

            A recent review of the existing SIF process had identified a number of areas for improvement, ranging from limited capacity within the CA’s Programme Management Team, to projects failing to provide enough information to satisfy the assessment process. The review had also concluded that existing projects within the project pipeline should be revisited to determine whether they could actually be delivered and or could meet the appraisal criteria.

            The CA had now appointed a specialist development team to oversee the SIF process. The team had produced a SIF strategy document and the report highlighted details of the changes in approach within the new document. 

            It was noted that SIF would now be regarded as a recyclable fund, therefore projects may be funded by a loan only, a combination of loan and grant and in certain instances, grant.

            Officers from Halton had met with the CA Investment Team to outline Halton’s priorities and the Investment Team had visited Halton to share further specific details and information on potential projects. As a result Officers had been working to update the list of prioritised schemes which were based on the priorities identified in the Mersey Gateway Regeneration Plan Plus document, as well as schemes that accord with Halton’s sustainable transport priorities.

            Apart from SIF and Transformation Funding, the Government would be announcing Challenge Funds as part of the delivery of the Government’s Industrial Strategy, these would be relevant to some of Halton’s project pipeline.

            RESOLVED: That

1.    the approach being taken to access SIF, and other City Region and national funding be endorsed;

2.    the Board note that a list of short, medium and long-term project priorities is being developed that were based upon the Mersey Gateway Regeneration Strategy; and

3.    the submission of projects for SIF as outlined in 3.8 – 3.11 of this report be supported.

            The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director Enterprise, Community and Resources, which provided a brief overview of the main changes included within the revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) which was published by the Government in July 2018. The key part of the new NPPF was the presumption in favour of sustainable development and in particular the titled balance in Para 11 (d) (previously Para 14). Whilst no longer a ‘golden thread’ for plan-making and decision making, this would remain the key battleground where planning permission was sought on unallocated sites or for which the development plan supported a refusal of planning permission. Full details of the changes within the revised Policy in respect of the following areas, were outlined in the report:

·         Greenbelt;

·         Viability;

·         Appropriate assessment – protection of habitats;

·         Standard methodology;

·         Small and medium sites;

·         Affordable housing;

·         Design;

·         Heritage

·         Town centres;

·         Land assembly;

·         Strategic and non strategic policies; and

·         Transition.

RESOLVED: That

1.    the content of the report be noted; and

2.    the importance of the revised NPPF in the Local Plan process and local planning decisions is recognised.