Holne and Scoriton Local Housing Group

 Notes from the meeting on 19^th February 2008 at The Church House Inn

Present: Paul Arrowsmith, Mike Bonney, Sue Colwill, Gill Gray,

Sue Hitchcock (CCD), Liz Ross, Gill Simpson

1  Apologies: Belinda Owen

2  The notes of the meeting on 15^th January 2008 were approved and signed.

3  Matters arising:

    3.4) Holne Trustees: At the March HPC meeting, we need to confirm that the letter inviting them to arrange a meeting was sent.  Action: Paul to check with clerk.

    4) Correspondence re Affordable Housing sent and received by HPC: we need to ensure that we have all correspondence at hand for our meetings.  Action: Paul to check with clerk prior to March HPC meeting.

    5) Letter to Scoriton Landowner: Ongoing. Action: Gill S to resend address details to Gill G. Gill G to write to landowner with the results of letter from Chris France and asking if they have other suitable land.

    6) Letter to WMN: There has been no response. Action: Gill G to phone WMN.

    9) BWPC: Sue wanted to wait until the survey results were public, before asking about another member for our group.

    10) Mary Ridgeway: Gill S had been going to contact Mary Ridgeway but it was decided that anything she could help us with was covered by Sue Hitchcock.

4   Housing Needs Surveys:

BWPC and Holne surveys were done separately. Each has an executive summary. In the final version the two surveys will be bound together. The results will not be made public until survey results are accepted by the Parish Councils. Both Councils meet before the public Meeting.

BWPC: Response 52.8%, need shown-8 (4 families, 4 singles), 11 people filled in Part 2 but 3 did not show a need. Most wanted rented accomodation.

Holne: Response 55%, need shown-16 (5 families, 11 singles/doubles), Most wanted rented accomodation, with a few preferring shared ownership.

More detail of the results were discussed. Sue H will contact those who mentioned possible sites (if they gave their names). She will also ask those who filled out part 2 to contact us, so that we can keep our register up to date.  Sue will present the full results at our Public Meeting.                                                           Action: Sue H

Sue H explained that CCD funding was running out in April, but they are trying to secure more.

Sue H was thanked for all her hard work on our behalf.

5    Name of group:

It was agreed that this group should be called the Holne and Scoriton Local Housing Group.                                        Action: to be confirmed at next HPC meeting

6    Public meeting:

An agenda was agreed-see attached.

Advertising: Gill S had put adverts in March Parish Link and Buckfastleigh News Sheet. Gill S will redraft the poster and draft a flyer to be delivered to all homes in BWPC and HPC. She will also advertise on the Holybrook Exchange and get an advert put on HPC website.                                                                 Action: Gill S

Flyers will be delivered by all on the committee and a delivery schedule was drawn up. Posters to be put up by everyone.                                                            Action: All

Paul will contact Lindsey Sill of the Mid Devon Advertiser              Action: Paul

Questions to be answered at the meeting:

1) How can we make an agreement that a development doesn’t get added to in future, whatever the site?

2) Who decides who gets the houses?

3) How can we ensure that the houses will all be for locals?

4) District council housing register: does everyone have to go on it if they have a need for housing?

5) Some would say that if people are already in rented accomodation (usually private), they are happy. Is this true? What did the surveys record?

6) Some people with a local connection have already bought outside the Parishes because they couldn’t get anything inside. Should they be allowed to request our affordable homes?              Action: Questions to be asked by Chairman during Public Meeting.

7   Next Meeting : Public meeting on 18^th March at Scoriton Village Hall.