Affordable Housing Committee
Minutes of the meeting held on February 23rd 2006 in The Tradesmans Arms
Present : Paul Arrowsmith, Andy Dinning, Richard Copus(Chairman), Gill Gray, Belinda Owen, Gill Simpson
Public present : Keith Evans
- Apologies : Mike Bonney
- Minutes of meeting on 21.09.05: These were agreed as a true record.
- Minutes of the meeting on 09.11.05 : These were ageed as a true record.
- Minutes of the meeting on 25.01.06: These were agreed as a true record and signed by Richard Copus
- Meeting on 25 th January 2006
Andy asked whether, as Parish Councillors, we would be able to approve planning applications resulting from Affordable Housing. After a discussion it was decided that we ask HPC clerk for clarification.
Andy was asked to ensure that BWPC confirmed him as a member of this committee.
Everyone agreed that the Public Meeting had been excellent, very informative and encouraging, with very interesting and thought-provoking presentations from our guest speakers. - Correspondence
- The letter from Holne Church Charity( 6 th November 2005) was read out, stating that they would only consider releasing part of Play Park if a parish-wide referendum of registered voters showed a majority in favour.
- Two emails had been received from John Cottingham following his presentation at the Public Meeting. Since our meeting, he had contacted the Rural Housing Commission, had arranged a meeting with John Gillespie (Community Self-Build Agency), attended a very passionate meeting about affordable housing at Stoke Gabriel and also gave a word of caution if we wanted to go down the Land Trust route.
- Email from Joanna Radford (Clerk to HPC) giving advice on officially becoming an Advisory Committee.
- Email from Sue Southwell re Community Land Trusts.
- Letter from Commission for Rural Communities in response to our letter of November 17 th 2005. www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk and http://exchange.ruralcommunities.gov.uk for further information.
- Report from BWPC and the presentation by Graham Wall
Graham Wall reported:- the Local Development Framework would be more user-friendly for planning and Affordable Housing.
- DNPA are looking at Sustainable Communities ie a cluster of villages eg Holne and Scoriton.
- DNPA probably would not support having one third of housing, in an Affordable Housing development, at market prices. However they might look favourably at giving planning permission for affordable housing.
- The Sustainability Fund-this fund might be able to help if building was to be of an environmentally high standard. However, reservations were expressed because of the grant for Holne shop, which had still not opened.
Trevor Pennington reported on monies from second home owners' council tax not being ring-fenced for social housing in future (previously reported in HPC minutes).
- Possible Land Sites
Concerns were expressed that if Ru's land was used for building, the land between there and the rest of the village could then be used for infill. There is no village envelope in Holne or Scoriton, so this should not happen.
It was proposed that a letter be sent to anyone with potential pieces of land, giving some idea of remuneration and asking them to contact us. To go on next HPC agenda. - Self-build Projects
Those attending our public meeting, with an interest in self-build, are mainly not from our area. Self-build would be built for themselves and would therefore not be for locals in perpetuity.
Self build is not this committee's priority. - Eligibility Status
We need to get advice and it was proposed that when we visit Widecombe, we will ask them how they set their criteria. There are criteria in the Rural Housing Trust document.
Concerns were expressed about affordable housing in perpetuity. Buying an equity share could cause problems, or can one permanently have a 50% equity on a house? To be discussed at the next meeting. - Press release/Future publicity
Rchard had put an excellent article in the Totnes Times and Mid Devon Advertiser. Those that had seen it would make copies for the rest of the committee. - Meeting with SHDC and Andrew Fiske
To be discussed at next HPC meeting, as part of our report. - Land Trusts Meeting at Holsworthy on March 7 th 2006
No-one at the meeting can attend. - Widecombe visit
Gill S will contact Margaret Phipps re a visit to see their affordable housing development. A Sunday would be preferred. - AOB
- Paul stated that we must all keep a record of our voluntary time, if we are to put in a bid for the Sustainability Fund.
- Keith Evans declined a request to come on the committee because he felt his views were different to the consensus on the committee, but would like to continue attending as a member of the public.
Meeting closed 9.15pm
Date of next meeting: to be confirmed
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