Affordable Housing Working Party Report
Notes from the meeting on Notes from the meeting on 15th January 2008 at The Church House Inn
Present: Paul Arrowsmith, Mike Bonney, Sue Colwill, Gill Gray, Liz Ross, Belinda Owen, Gill Simpson
1 Apologies: none
2 The notes of the meeting on 21st November 2007 were approved.
3 Matters arising: 3 iii) Paul will be re-arranging his cancelled visit to Whiddon Down site. Action:Paul 4) The trustees of Holne Church Charity know that they will be receiving a letter to arrange a meeting with this group. Action: confirm HPC are writing at their next meeting
4 Letter from Chris France re landsites: We need to ensure that we get copies of any letters written or received by HPC regarding affordable housing, so that we have all correspondence at hand for our meetings. Action: next HPC meeting A letter needs to be written to the Scoriton landowner, now that their site is not acceptable to DNPA. The letter needs to ask if they have any other site they might have around the village that could be suitable. Action: Gill G to draft letter for next HPC meeting.
5 AH survey update: Results of survey not yet received.
6 Letter to Western Morning News: Gill G had drafted an excellent letter to WMN, following the newspaper article of 30th November which had so many inaccuracies. With slight amendments, it was agreed the letter should be sent. Action: Gill G to post.
7 Public meeting in March: This will be held on 18th March at 7.30 pm in Scoriton village hall. Sue Hitchcock will attend. Until the results of the survey are back, we do not know if a need for affordable housing is proven. If there is no need, there will be no meeting! It was discussed whether Chris France and Liam Reading should be invited to attend. As there were varied opinions, Gill S will seek advice from Sue Hitchcock. Mike Bonney will chair the evening. Publicity: Parish Link, Holybrook Exchange, Buckfast News Sheet, HPC website, posters, publicity boards, flyers into all households. Action: Gill S to speak with Sue Hitchcock and contact Gus re confirmation of SVH booking. Paul to make boards. Gill S to sort dates for a pre-meeting and to discuss publicity before Parish Link deadline.
8 Questions/discussion points that we have all mentioned but need answers to: i) Do people have to go on the housing register? ii) What will the criteria be for people needing to take up affordable housing? - can people who have moved out of the area come back (and the time frame)? - will people, who have bought their own house elsewhere (in desperation), be able to apply? - will people who have worked in the area and had to retire away from it because of the lack of affordable housing, be able to apply? It was felt that there were many other questions, but it might be more appropriate to air these at the Public Meeting on 18th March. Action: Everyone to bring their questions to that meeting.
9 BWPC: As BWPC were meeting tonight and Sue felt she was of more use at this meeting (agreed), we do not know if the subject of a new member to represent BWPC has been raised. Action: Sue to investigate.
10 SW Region Rural Affairs Forum: Rosemary Mudge had done a small presentation on the work of our group and the diffulties we had encountered. Mary Ridgeway, the Devon Affordable Housing Co-ordinator, had also given them a presentation and was going to inform the ?appropriate minister?. Action: Gill S to try and contact Mary Ridgeway via Rosemary Mudge.
11 AOB: Once the survey is back we shall have to update our register
12 Next Meeting : to be confirmed depending on survey results
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