Agenda item

Ellen Vernon, Craig Egglestone and Joe Garrod (of MHCLG) presented item two.  Their PowerPoint presentation included the following information regarding the One Public Estate (OPE) programme:

-       The programme is co-sponsored by the Cabinet Office and MHCLG. 

-       The presentation included details of OPE’s partnerships, the programmes partnership model, and an overview of the phases of funding.

-       Details around housing and place making (which included details of hubs, regeneration and new communities) 

-       The presentation focused on land release fund project – land owned by local government. 

-       Joe Garrod of MHCLG then update members on the Waltham Forest project, which is focused on the re-development of the council campus, and plans to build 300+ units of housing.  This development project had created a lot of interest with developers, and will deliver 50 per cent of affordable housing.  Joe also updated members on the coronation square development and re-development of Whips Cross Hospital (which aims to deliver 1500 homes).  

-       Joe discussed the lessons learnt throughout the project, and paid compliments to the extremely helpful relationships with the Cabinet office and the LGA.  

-       Ellen then concluded the presentation, which focused on the future of OPE, including details of the funding sustainability of the project, and patient investment for health-related projects.  This included details of OPE’s phase 8 and the 2019 Spending Review. 

Following the presentation, members then discussed the following:

Members brought up stakeholder relations, and made particular reference to the the challenge working with Network Rail.  Members also raised certain funding aspects of the Homes England project, and raised concerns that funding for these are not going to the correct area.  Members questioned if there was potential to working with Homes England? Ellen feedback that developing relationships with all stakeholders are key, and because Homes England is still a relatively new project, they are still developing their own stakeholder relationships

Members also gave examples of central government departments seemingly arguing with each other around house-building, and how stakeholder relationships are key to the success of this project.  Members went on to suggest that central government departments need to ‘buy-in’ to the OPE programme, as well as having a ‘barrier busting’ type-team, so there are is no risk of projects being blocked by central government departments.  Ellen stated that the purpose of the OPE programme is to be a ‘barrier-busting’ type team, but that at this stage, it is better to gather intelligence at a local level and feedback to the Cabinet Office. 

Members raised concerns regarding the timeframes of spending funds, as well as delivery deadlines.  Officers fed-back that reporting jumps in increments due to the latest report spanning back to October. 

Members discussed the role the NHS plays, as well as the differences of costs of NHS development projects, and who is best to develop these in-line with OPE.  Officers stated in response to this that it is overseen by local areas and local NHS trusts.  The Chair concluded this discussion area by stating that the role of the Cabinet Office is to oversee these conversations, and ensure everyone involved is working along the same principals to deliver more housing for residents.

The discussion then turned to the differences between social housing and affordable homes, and examples were given where some affordable housing were not affordable for residents.   

The discussion concluded between members and officers over community engagement, and examples of best practices were given in areas such as Hampshire. 

Following the discussion the following action was made:

-       Members noted the update.