Agenda item

The Chair invited Ellen Vernon (Programme Director – One Public Estate) to introduce the update.

Ellen reminded members of the two core offers of the One Public Estate (OPE) programme – (i) One Public Estate - helping public bodies make more efficient use of their land; and (ii) Land Release Fund – working with local authorities to bring forward brownfield sites for housing. 2020/21 had been a busy year for the programme, in particular working closely with the Cabinet Office, MHCLG and DH to deliver on Government agendas around levelling up and town centre regeneration.

Ellen reported that the current round of the Brownfield Land Release Fund (£75 million) was open until 2 June 2021. This was typically for smaller local authority sites to deliver housing. It also included a specific allocation (£25 million) for Self and Custom build which MHCLG were trying to encourage in order to diversify supply.

Members comments and questions:

·       Did OPE actively endorse local supply chains and apprenticeships as part of its work? Ellen said that yes, it did - this was one of the criteria used when assessing bids.

·       Cllr Nigel Ashton raised a case from North Somerset where the NHS sold a derelict hospital site to a private developer despite the Council trying to acquire it. The site still lay empty two years on. He expressed frustration that the Council had no power to force the NHS around the negotiating table.

·       Cllr Carl Les said that there were large amounts of Ministry of Defence land in North Yorkshire, such as redundant airfields, that would be ideal for housing. How would he go about trying to acquire these?

·       Cllr Liz Green asked whether Education and Skills Funding Agency sites came under One Public Estate and, if so, how could these sites be unlocked?

·       Ellen agreed to speak to the councillors about these three cases offline and offered to do the same to any other members who wanted advice and support on specific sites in their areas.

Decision:

·       Improvement & Innovation Board noted the progress of the One Public Estate Programme.

Action:

·       Ellen Vernon to speak to Cllrs Green, Ashton and Les about the highlighted cases in their council areas.