Agenda item

To receive a report from Tim Bostridge, Head of Development and Stuart Davies, Director of New Homes, Housing and Modernisation on Housing and Modernisation on New council homes on existing estates, as a case study on Kingston Estate.

The commission then heard from Councillor Stephanie Cryan, Cabinet Member for Council Homes and Homelessness, Lorraine Roach, Development Manager and Tim Bostridge, Head of Development, Housing and Modernisation on New council homes on existing estates, as a case study on Kingston Estate.

Councillor Cryan, Tim and Lorraine addressed the commission on the following points

·  Issues with engagement as the Tenants and Residents Association for the Kingston estate involved two other estates Portland and Nelson and was not located in close proximity to the Kingston estate.

·  Lack of resident attendance at project groups and also later officers being unable to engage due to pandemic restrictions.

·  Misleading information spread in the community due to lack of in person engagement by officer and councillors due to the pandemic, causing residents to be against building new homes.

·  Engagement efforts by officers through pop up signboards, flyers, newsletters and holding open air events.

·  Pre-existing issues within the community of anti-social behaviour not addressed by the Council leading to mistrust with the residents.

·  Project team looking to convert vacant commercial properties into residential properties.

The commission then had discussions around the following themes

·  Early engagement with residents and resident representative (advisor) participation in project steering groups

·  Lessons learned especially the need for more in-depth consultation such as door to door knocking and non-digital modes of consultation.

·  Consultation with informal community groups having strong concerns, where there is also a possibility of forming a TRA with the support of the community engagement team.

Tim and Lorraine then answered the commission’s questions on

·  Effectiveness of the community engagement team to carry out consultations in the absence of a TRA

·  Kingston estate new homes project progressing to planning stages in spite of objections from residents

·  Monitoring the implementation of consultation processes and guidelines in the community.

The commission heard from officers that during consultation on Kingston estate regular communication through newsletters, communication boards and leaflets was carried out. All communications to residents had information on the commonplace website including letters posted to residents. Issues were raised by residents only at the planning application stages hence the project could not be paused by then to address these concerns. Project managers in the new homes development team have rigid process to follow during the phases of a project, consultation processes have different levels of progress, template newsletters have to be approved by Head of Service and Ward Councillors before they are sent out, these factors make it highly unlikely that processes were not followed.

The commission then heard from Liba a resident of neighbouring the Kingston estate on issues faced by residents on Kingston estate. Residents only became aware of the development when drilling for soil samples to ascertain building suitability commenced. Although building over garages was an option the proposal was for new homes to be built on green space which is quite limited and shared by 88 families in the estate unlike affluent areas with private gardens. A resident petition was signed to not build on green spaces which was rejected, 97% of residents also signed a petition to stop the infill due to space constraints between buildings.

The commission then had discussions around the following points

·  The housing needs, especially the 16,000 people on the waiting list in the borough as a result of families living in small and inadequate properties, moving house due to medical needs and people fleeing due to domestic abuse

·  Anti-social behaviour and security issues at Kingston estate

·  Council’s commitment to biodiversity and creating additional green spaces and allotments

·  Digital consultation issues and alternative means such as an independent tenants and residents advisor.

·  Planning policies and regulations on the Kingston estate development being outside the remit and powers of this commission.

The Chair and the commission members agreed to invite residents of the Kingston estate to attend the commission’s 7 February 2022 meeting to gain further insight into matters of consultation.