to consider the following question(s) (if any) received in accordance with Council Procedure Rules;
a. From Cllr Hodgson to Cllr Holway (lead Executive Member for Climate Change and Biodiversity)
“With wider recognition of the climate crisis at COP 27 and the current international energy crisis, will SHDC support the opportunity to increase renewable energy capture in Devon by active lobbying to the Government for the National Grid link, to be installed as a matter of urgency?”
b. From Cllr Hodgson to Cllr Baldry (lead Executive Member for Environment)
“In moving forward with the Devon Carbon Plan and recognising that waste management has a high carbon footprint, can support be provided for Devon Community Recycling Network to enable them to provide direct support with, promotion, information and advice for new locally based community composting initiatives coming forward?”
c. From Cllr Hodgson to Cllr Bastone (Deputy Leader of the Council)
“Now that regular SHDC Traveller Forum meetings are starting to take place, what is the current position with progress with developing serviced traveller sites in South Hams and is additional funding needing to be allocated in the forthcoming annual budget to properly address this need?”
d. From Cllr Hodgson to Cllr Pearce (Leader of the Council)
“Now that Teignbridge is pursuing the development and direct delivery of council housing to provide much needed social housing, will SHDC follow this model and establish a similar initiative for the South Hams. Please can an update on Team Devon plans and initiatives towards delivering social housing be provided?”
Minutes:
55/22
It was noted that the following Questions on Notice had been received in accordance with Council Procedure Rules:
a. From Cllr Hodgson to Cllr Holway (lead Executive Member for Climate Change and Biodiversity)
“With wider recognition of the climate crisis at COP 27 and the current international energy crisis, will SHDC support the opportunity to increase renewable energy capture in Devon by active lobbying to the Government for the National Grid link, to be installed as a matter of urgency?”
In reply, the lead Executive Member advised that there was no doubt that investment in the region’s electricity network was essential to enable connection of new sources of much needed renewable energy. He stated that the question referred to the Hinkley Point Connection Project which aimed to provide a 57km long new high-voltage electricity connection between Bridgwater and Seabank near Avonmouth. As stated in the question, this project was linked to the development of the Hinkley Point C by EDF and in view of this our ability to influence this nationally significant infrastructure project was limited. He confirmed that the Council would add its weight to regional calls for greater grid reinforcement and capacity improvement, continuing that there were other grid constraints that came in the form of high connection costs. After speaking to Devon County Council (DCC) it was understood that, from April 2023, connection costs would be shared in a more proportionate way, making new connections more affordable. In closing, Cllr Holway confirmed that the Council would also continue to work with DCC and our Community Energy Groups to explore small local solutions that would facilitate renewable energy development that did not rely on enhanced grid capacity.
In asking a supplementary question, Cllr Hodgson sought reassurance of the Council’s commitment to direct lobbying, through the Local Enterprise Partnership, to encourage the National Grid to make the link sooner rather than later. In reply, the Lead Executive Member confirmed that there would be direct lobbying and expressed his belief that Community Generation Projects were well worthwhile.
b. From Cllr Hodgson to Cllr Baldry (lead Executive Member for Environment)
“In moving forward with the Devon Carbon Plan and recognising that waste management has a high carbon footprint, can support be provided for Devon Community Recycling Network to enable them to provide direct support with, promotion, information and advice for new locally based community composting initiatives coming forward?”
In response, Cllr Baldry stated that Officers had already started communications with the Sustainable South Hams Working Group to assist with the issues that new groups were facing as part of setting up community composting schemes. As part of these discussions, Devon Community Recycling Network had put forward its proposals as to how the Network could support groups alongside the Council going forward which Officers were currently considering and looking to progress.
c. From Cllr Hodgson to Cllr Bastone (Deputy Leader of the Council)
“Now that regular SHDC Traveller Forum meetings are starting to take place, what is the current position with progress with developing serviced traveller sites in South Hams and is additional funding needing to be allocated in the forthcoming annual budget to properly address this need?”
On behalf of Cllr Bastone, Cllr Pearce replied that meetings of the Forum had recently recommenced and that South Hams District Council was hosting these to ensure that homelessness, housing advice and planning information was provided to people who did not fall within the Gypsy & Traveller protected characteristic group.
She further advised that the Joint Local Plan Policy Dev 13 was used to determine planning applications for Gypsy & Traveller sites and that there was currently no evidence of need for any permanent sites/pitches. She confirmed that this information would be revisited as part of the Joint Local Plan review. Therefore, there was no need to identify additional funding for this purpose from the forthcoming budget. As part of the review, consideration would be given to whether any permanent pitches would be required or whether any existing tolerated pitches could feasibly obtain planning permission. Should finance be required in the future this would be subject to an appropriate business case and grant funding opportunity.
Cllr Pearce added that our forum provided a space to support the needs of what were sometimes called “new age travellers” or van dwellers. There was no duty to provide a physical site for this group, however recognising the difficulties illegal parking on highways and byways could cause, the Council was working to identify the best location for a site within the South Hams. In addition, where there was no issue with an existing location, the Council would adopt a pragmatic approach and look to regularise planning to allow continued occupation. These were not generally on land owned by the Council and we would work with both the residents and the landowners to reach a solution.
In reply to a supplementary question, Cllr Pearce confirmed that efforts continued to find a suitable site and asked that, in the event that any Member(s) were aware of one (and a willing landowner), then they advise lead officers accordingly.
d. From Cllr Hodgson to Cllr Pearce (Leader of the Council)
“Now that Teignbridge is pursuing the development and direct delivery of council housing to provide much needed social housing, will SHDC follow this model and establish a similar initiative for the South Hams. Please can an update on Team Devon plans and initiatives towards delivering social housing be provided?”
In replying, the Leader stated that, Teignbridge District Council, like South Hams District Council (SHDC), had transferred all of its Council housing stock to Teign Housing and that, like SHDC had at St Ann’s Chapel, Teignbridge had also begun to look at direct delivery at two sites. She continued that the Council was currently running an Expression of Interest process for 2 sites in Kingsbridge, one greenfield and one brownfield in order to bring forward affordable led housing on Council owned land.
Cllr Pearce advised that the report to the Executive meeting on 7 July 2022 had detailed the Council’s progress on delivering affordable homes through our enabling activity and that the estimated delivery for the next 2 years was in the region of 352 homes through Section 106 monies alone.
She added that the Council continued to make best use of existing stock with one of the most generous downsizing payments in the Country. This had supported 14 households to move to smaller accommodation thereby freeing up their accommodation for families in need.
Through the Devon Task Force and our own lobbying work, the Council had been working to bring about change to the broad market area and local housing allowances, second homes and the loopholes in the business rate system, as well as a licensing system for holiday accommodation. Against the backdrop of our own housing crisis declaration, the Council had worked to support refugees through the Homes for Ukraine Scheme as well as placing a renewed focus on asylum dispersal.
In closing, the Leader added that the Devon Housing Commission, set up by the Housing Task Force and working with Exeter University, would start work shortly to look for new solutions appropriate to the settings and circumstances in Devon. The Council had been successful in securing a Local Government Association bid to offer practical help and tools to Community Land Trusts (CLT). The Council had had success locally with Newton and Noss CLT being the proud recipients of a national award from the CLT network and this was great news and they were to be congratulated.
In response to a supplementary question, the Leader confirmed that all rental houses that were approved in accordance with the adopted Joint Local Plan (JLP) were for Social Rental purposes.