Agenda item

(time limit 15 minutes)

19^th October 2020

9^th November 2020

16^th November 2020

Council were requested to note the minutes of the Cabinet meetings held on the undermentioned dates and to receive any questions on any items within the minutes from members of the Council who were not members of the Cabinet, and receive responses form Cabinet members. The minutes of the Cabinet meetings held on 19 October 2020, 9 November 2020 and 16 November 2020 were submitted.

Members raised the following questions:

Councillor Williamson asked the following question related to Cabinet 9^th November 2020 Item 5 - GMSF Publication Draft 2020 Page 1

“Given that the latest draft proposals of the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework for consultation have now been pulled following the vote by Stockport Council, will the Leader now consider developing instead a Local Plan for Oldham that is focused upon meeting the current and future housing needs of the people of this Borough rather than continuing with the folly of working up a new joint plan that is more focused on the ambitions of the Greater Manchester Mayor?”

Councillor Fielding, Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Economy and Skills responded that the Council would consider the options and choose which was best for Oldham. The opportunity was now available to offset more homes off the greenbelt and allocate them to places in Greater Manchester that wanted them. Whatever Plan was chosen, it would be aligned to the ambitions of Oldham and not anyone outside the Borough.

Councillor Harkness asked the following question related to Cabinet 9^th November 2020 Item 5 - GMSF Publication Draft 2020 Page 1

“Given that the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework proposals for Oldham will now have to be redrawn or an alternate Local Plan adopted, I would like to draw the Leader’s attention to the merits of the Chew Valley Green Belt Action Group’s Alternative Plan for GMSF Site 15 – the Fletchers Mill site.  This would deliver the required housing on the derelict Fletchers Mill site, and save the remaining undeveloped Green Belt in the Chew Valley. 

Given this Council’s stated policy is to develop on Brownfield first, this plan appears to be worth exploring. Can I therefore ask the Leader if he will agree to Council officers working with the Action Group to bring these proposals forward as part of the new plan?”

Councillor Roberts, Cabinet Member for Housing, responded that the Director of Economy and I have already met the Chew Valley Action Group on the 3rd December to discuss their proposal and are meeting them again on the 18th December. A representative of the landowner was also present. The Action Group was working to provide additional detail in support of their proposal and officers had responded to their requests for information – the viability assessments carried out for the GMSF were still available on the GMCA website. I made it clear at the meeting that we welcome any proposal which would enable us to deliver the Government’s imposed Local Housing Need requirement on brownfield rather than Greenbelt land.

It remained the case that any proposal must meet the NPPF requirements – land must be available, developable and deliverable within the plan period. It must also be a financially viable proposition.

We would welcome any planning application for the Fletcher’s Mill site (the brownfield land) at any time.

Councillor Sykes asked the following question related to Cabinet 9th November 2020 Item 5 - GMSF Publication Draft 2020 Page 1

“I understand that on 11 December the AGMA Executive Board accepted that the refusal by Stockport Council at its meeting on 3 December to adopt the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework (I quote) ‘signals the end of the GMSF as a joint plan of the 10’ and that instead ‘a Joint Development Plan of the 9’ should be developed. I recognise that this meeting is being held only days after that decision was made, but given the significant public interest in this issue, could the Leader please give me some indication of what the timescale will be for the development of this plan, how and when elected members and the public will be consulted, and when it might be brought back in the future to a full meeting of this Council for adoption or rejection?”

Councillor Fielding, Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Economy and Skills responded that this was correct - at AGMA Executive Board on 11 December 2020 members agreed in principle to the preparation of a Joint Plan of the nine authorities and instructed officers to begin work to

a) Review the evidence base; and

b) Review the spatial strategy and thematic policies.

In order to progress this work it was proposed that a joint committee of the nine authorities needed to be established to co-ordinate and develop this new plan. A further report was to be brought back to AGMA Executive Board setting out the issues and timescales involved.

At present an indication of timescales could not be provided for its preparation, consultation or approval, however members would be informed as soon as this information was confirmed.

In parallel, officers were instructed to review the timescales, issues and opportunities for Oldham’s Local Plan to ensure brownfield development sites were prioritised and that policies were updated and approved in a timely manner to meet the 2023 deadlines.

Councillor Taylor asked the following question related to Cabinet 16^th November 2020 Item 8 – Green Homes Local Authority Delivery Scheme

“I am pleased to see that Oldham will receive a share of the government’s Green Homes Grant Scheme, which will save households money and boost efficiency of home energy across the Borough. The funding was originally part of a scheme designed to refurbish properties on the Crossley Estate in Chadderton Central Ward, to modernise older properties to a decent standard. Due to spending cuts, the scheme did not proceed. Homes on the estate were built post-war and were cold and expensive to heat without additional insulation, and the Ward councillors and MP had continually lobbied for additional insulation for these homes. Residents had experienced damp and cold conditions for too long. Improving the homes would not just reduce bills but would improve the health and wellbeing of the residents who had suffered the worst effects of fuel poverty. Could the Cabinet Member for Housing say when the planned improvements will start?”

Councillor Roberts, Cabinet Member for Housing, responded that the scheme was in two parts:

Private Sector Housing:

•              4,816 letters have been posted to targeted postcodes in Oldham (EPC rating E, F or G and household income below £30k);

•              So far, E.ON had received 46 enquires from Oldham residents of which 28 had qualified (out of the 301 target for GM);

•              Homes surveys were being booked-in but works will only start in the new year.

Social Housing:

•              A letter from the Ward Councillors had been delivered to the 65 Council homes and 4 RTB homes on the Crossley Estate;

•              Works were scheduled to begin in February 2021 and would be completed by the end of March 2021 (subject to weather and COVID-19 restrictions).

•              In addition, we have been able to bid for additional funding via the GMCA and Oldham’s bid included 60 solar PV systems for our PFI 2 older persons bungalows plus 31 External Wall Insulation and 10 Cavity Wall Insulation on our PFI 4 Primrose Bank estate. This was subject to ratification by the GMCA later this week and would then be forwarded to BEIS

RESOLVED that:

1.         The minutes of the Cabinet meetings held on 19 October 2020, 9 November 2020 and 16 November 2020 be noted.

2.         The questions and responses provided be noted.