Agenda and minutes

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In accordance with the Code of Conduct adopted by the City and County of Swansea, no interests were declared.

To approve and sign the Minutes of the previous meeting(s) as a correct record.

Resolved that the Minutes of the Economy and Infrastructure Policy Development Committee held on 18 October 2018 be approved as a correct record.

Geoff Bacon, Head of Property Services provided a report outlining the fact finding work carried out during the last year, which looked at possible ventures and drafting a new policy. 

The previous report to the Committee on 8 March 2018 was provided at Appendix A, which outlined the support of the Authority for viable co-operative and community-led housing schemes of a variety of types and tenures.

He added that activity to date included a recent approach from a small public group  who had expressed an interest in setting up a ‘grass roots’ community led scheme on Council owned land.  Appendix B provided the Draft Co-operative Housing Policy.

He made reference to a successful co-operative scheme in Carmarthenshire and to a potential scheme that the Authority could lead on and said that work to identify sites in this respect was ongoing.

The Committee discussed the following: -

·         The Authority setting up developments on its own land, promoting Council land and obtaining a sufficient return for the land;

·         The principle and best approach of grass roots schemes;

·         The open response of the Authority to all approaches made. 

Resolved that: -

1)    The contents of the report be noted;

2)    The Draft Co-operative Housing Policy be agreed and forwarded to Cabinet for approval.

Martin Nicholls, Director of Place provided the Committee with a verbal update regarding Homes as Power Stations.

He stated that this was 1 of 3 cross-cutting strands of the 11 strands of the City Deal and applied across all 4 of the authorities.  Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council are the lead authority and a business case was drafted last July and forwarded to the UK Government for approval.  The project was being managed through the Economic Strategy Board and the Joint Committee.

He outlined in detail the proposals, including the key aspect of tackling fuel poverty and how the homes would operate.  The homes would be self-sufficient and would sell any surplus energy back to the National Grid.  Furthermore, key to the project was employing local / regional contractors to ensure that the economy of the region would benefit.

He provided the detail of the first phase homes at Colliers Way and the retrofit proposals for existing properties.  The aim was to build 2,500 new build and retrofit 7,500 homes.  He added that developments regarding private sector housing / property owners and Welsh Government support had to be established.

The Committee discussed the following: -

·         The cost of providing renewable energy at source being cheaper than the distribution of energy;

·         The challenge being faced regarding the centralised storage of energy;

·         A site visit to the pilot scheme in Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council;

·         Private sector development being included in developments and updating planning policy / guidance / building regulations to accommodate changes;

·         Developments being made to building materials, e.g. roofs, improvements in energy storage.

Resolved that: -

1)    The contents of the update be noted;

2)    A site visit to the pilot scheme in Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council be scheduled for January 2019.

The Director of Place provided a briefing note on the Swansea Green Infrastructure (GI) Strategy.  Details provided included the key principles, legislation and the proposal.

He stated that the City Centre was the priority area and this would be rolled out in the next year.  He added that the Council hoped to appoint a specialist consultant and he would provide further details at the next scheduled meeting.

Resolved that: -

1)    The contents of the briefing note be noted;

2)    An update be provided at the next scheduled meeting.

The Chair presented an updated Work Plan 2018-2019.

Resolved that: -

1)    The updated Work Plan 2018-2019 be noted;

2)    Swansea Green Infrastructure be added for the December 2018 and January 2019 meetings;

3)    Feedback on the River Corridor be added to the January 2019 meeting.