Agenda item

To consider the attached summary report and note that the action plan will be presented to Cabinet in due course.

The LDF Manager presented the report and explained that an action plan would be created and submitted to Cabinet which would set out the intentions of the Council in relation to custom and self-build opportunities.  He explained that the action plan was a result of the work of the Custom and Self-Build Policy Development Task Group and joint working with Mario Wolf who was a leading expert in the area.  The Panel was provided with a brief overview of the work of the Task Group, how they had worked with Mario Wolf and the public event which had been held.

The purpose of the action plan was to co-ordinate the activities of a number of departments and promote awareness to Members on the importance of custom and self-build.  The action plan incorporated promotion, facilitation and enabling of opportunities and actions were prioritised into short, medium and long term. 

The Chairman thanked the LDF Manager for his report and invited questions and comments from the Panel, as summarised below.

Councillor Crofts referred to the action relating to providing guidance and advice to those interested in custom and self-build opportunities.  He asked if advice would be chargeable in a similar way to planning pre-application advice.  The Strategic Housing Officer explained that this would depend on the extent of the advice and more work would be carried out to determine the offers which would be made available.

Councillor Bird addressed the Panel under Standing Order 34.  He informed those present that he was a Member of the Task Group and he was pleased to see that things were now moving forward.  He hoped to see some of the actions progressed before the next Borough Election and he also referred to the varying demographics within the borough and hoped that opportunities would be brought forward which would be attractive to different areas and different types of people.  Councillor Bird commented that he supported the action plan.

The Portfolio Holder for Development, Councillor Blunt, informed those present that he was Chairman of the Task Group and he was also pleased to see the action plan coming into fruition.  He also referred to the event which was held and commented that this had gone really well and had resulted in a lot of follow up work and interest.  Councillor Blunt commented that it was now important to focus on delivery and his aim was to bring forward a council owned site for custom and self-build development. 

In response to a question from Councillor Smith, it was explained that short term actions were within one to two years, medium was two to five years and long term was five years plus.

In response to a question from the Chairman, Councillor Gidney, it was explained that Neighbourhood Plan Parishes had the opportunity to define sites for custom and self-build opportunities if they so wished and officers would raise awareness of these opportunities to Parishes as required.

Councillor Blunt, the Portfolio Holder for Development, commented that one of the actions within the plan was to integrate custom and self-build plots as part of West Winch growth area, working with landowners.

RESOLVED: That the Regeneration and Development Panel supported the creation of the action plan and for it to be submitted to Cabinet in due course.