Agenda and draft minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, Sandwell Council House, Freeth Street, Oldbury, B69 3DB

Contact: Democratic Services 

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies for Absence

To receive apologies for absence.

Minutes:

Apologies were received from Councillors M Gill, S Gill, Jalil and P Kaur.

 

2.

Declarations of Interest

Members to declare any interests in matters to be discussed at the meeting.

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest made.

 

3.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 329 KB

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 25 March 2021 as a correct record.

Minutes:

Resolved that the minutes of the meeting held on 25 March 2021 are approved as a correct record.

4.

Additional Items of Business

To determine whether there are any additional items of business to be considered as a  matter of urgency.

Minutes:

There were no additional items of business to consider.

 

5.

Draft Black Country Plan - Consultation pdf icon PDF 334 KB

To consider a report relating to the Draft Black Country Plan.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Board’s views were sought on the draft Black Country Plan. 

 

The Plan (formerly known as the Black Country Core Strategy) was the key document that would provide the framework to guide future planning decisions in Sandwell as well as the wider Black Country. It was based on national policy and guidance, an assessment of local housing and employment needs, as well as meeting objectives that have been defined through an Issues and Options consultation in 2017.

 

The development plan for Sandwell currently comprised the Black Country Core Strategy (BCCS) adopted in 2011, the Sandwell Site Allocations and Delivery Development Plan Document (2012) and Area Action Plans (AAPs) for Tipton (2008), Smethwick (2008) and West Bromwich (2012).

 

The Plan (BCP) would be adopted in 2024 and would replace the Core Strategy but, unlike the Core Strategy, the Plan would also allocate specific sites for different land uses.  It would therefore ‘carry forward’ the allocations in the Site Allocations & Delivery Development Plan (SAD) the Area Action Plans but will also allocate additional new sites to meet need over the longer time period. 

 

Based on the government’s standard calculations, there was a need for 76,076 homes by 2039 and 564 hectares of employment land based on the economic needs assessment.  The urban capacity review for the Black Country, published in May 2021 as part of the preparation of the Black Country Plan, demonstrated an existing urban land supply to accommodate 205 hectares of employment land and 39,257 homes.   The majority of development in the existing urban area was making use of brownfield land (i.e. previously developed land), vacant properties and surplus industrial land.  Considering additional sites that could come forward as part of the Draft Plan, the urban area had made significant ‘headway’ into addressing these needs providing 40,622 homes and 205 hectares of the Black Country’s employment requirements. However, there remained a significant shortfall of over 300 hectares of employment land and land for a further 36,819 homes.

 

The National Planning Policy Framework allowed for the review of Green Belt land in exceptional circumstances, evidenced through the updating of plans.  The Black Country authorities had undertaken an extensive review of the Green Belt, taking into account evidence on historical, ecological and landscape value and local character.  It was proposed that land for 7,719 houses and 47.8 hectares of employment land be allocated on land that was currently in the Black Country Green Belt. This equated to a little under 6% of the total Black Country Green Belt, of which 0.6% was in Sandwell MBC.  The proposed sites were:-

 

Site    Ward TypeCapacity

Charlemont Community Centre      Charlemont & Grove Vale          Housing      1

Painswick Close  Great Barr with Yew Tree      Housing      120

Tanhouse Avenue

          Newton       Housing      50

 

 

Taking into account both urban and Green Belt land, there was potential across the Black Country to accommodate 48,341 homes and 354ha. Black Country Authorities had undertaken Duty to Cooperate discussions with neighbouring authorities in Staffordshire, Shropshire and Solihull to accommodate some the remaining shortfall in their  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

6.

Local Transport Plan (Movement for Growth) Review Green Paper pdf icon PDF 233 KB

To receive a presentation on Local Transport Plan (Movement for Growth) review Green Paper.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Board’s views were sought to inform the review of the Local Transport Plan.

 

The Local Transport Plan was a statutory document prepared by Transport for the West Midlands as part of the West Midlands Combined Authority in its role as Integrated Transport Authority. The Plan covered the seven West Midlands metropolitan local authorities and as such, formed the adopted transport strategy and policies for Sandwell.

 

The Plan set out the highway authority’s policies, strategies, objectives and targets for improving transport over a five year period.  Annual progress reports were submitted to the Department for Transport so that they could be used to inform the development of policies on local transport, inform and support policies on land use and place making, inform decisions on capital funding for local authorities and monitor the delivery of objectives and targets. 

 

The Board noted the achievements from the current Plan, which had contributed to securing significant amounts of funding from the Transforming Cities Fund, Housing Deal and West Midlands Future Mobility Zone.

 

To better inform the preparation of the 5th Local transport Plan, Transport for West Midlands had published a Green Paper: Reimagining Transport in the West Midlands: a conversation about change, which would form the basis for engagement with elected members, partner organisations, key stakeholders and the wider public.

 

The key drivers behind the new Plan were:-

        Tackling Climate Change.

        Creating a fairer society.

        Becoming healthier and more active.

        Supporting places and communities.

        Sustaining economic success.

 

These aligned well with the ambitions of the Sandwell Corporate Plan. The Plan would, along with the Black Country Plan, be a key element in the physical and economic development of the Borough.

 

The reviewed Plan would include separate area strategies for Coventry, Birmingham and Solihull, and the Black Country. These area strategies would provide more specific detail on the application of the strategy and the projects and programmes required to support them.

The final Plan would be approved by the West Midlands Combined Authority Board in Summer 2022.

 

 

 

Members of the Board made the following comments/observations: -

 

·       Behaviour change was needed, and personal mobility was key. 

·       E scooters were a nuisance in some neighbourhoods.

·       The Council should look at other European cities to see how their success could be mirrored in Sandwell.

·       The whole of West Midlands needed to be prioritised in terms of convenient public transport journeys, and not just journeys to Birmingham i.e. it was often quicker to travel the longer distance by bus to Birmingham than it was to a local town centre, therefore people were more likely to choose to drive. 

·       The M6 motorway was a huge contributor to traffic congestion.

·       There needed to be some focus on Sandwell’s canal network, which had not been upgraded like other local authority areas.

 

Officers responded to members’ comments/observations with the following points:-

 

·       E-scooters were currently being trialled in some areas and the outcome of the trails would help to identify the best ways of integrating them into the existing  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

7.

Scrutiny Review Waste Services and Cleanliness of the Borough Draft pdf icon PDF 186 KB

To consider and agree the scope for the Waste Services and Cleanliness of the Borough scrutiny review.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

At a work programming workshop held on 14th June 2021, the Board had decided to undertake a review into waste services and the cleanliness of the borough.   A draft scoping document for the review was presented.  The scope would remain fluid and could be amended as the review progressed.

 

The Board felt that it was important to consider the Council’s contract with Serco and its performance as part of the review.  Members also expressed concern about reported workforce issues within the organisation, that could have an impact on service delivery.

 

The Board agreed to set up a working group of the following councillors to carry out the review, however, input from the remaining members of the Board would be welcomed:-

 

Abrahams

Jalil

Moore

C Padda

 

The Chair and Vice-Chair would meet with officers, including the Interim  Director of Borough & Communities to agree next steps and the detailed data that the working group required initially.

8.

Work Programme pdf icon PDF 309 KB

To consider the items on the work programme for upcoming Board meetings.

Minutes:

The Board noted its work programme for 2021/22.

 

Resolved that the following items be added to the Board’s work programme:-

 

·       Outcome of e-scooters trials.

·       Grass cutting programme.

9.

Cabinet Forward Plan pdf icon PDF 542 KB

To consider the Cabinet Forward Plan.

Minutes:

The Board noted the Cabinet forward plan for the period September 2021 to January 2022.