Issue - meetings

To consider the report

Following consideration of the officer report, appendices and discussion, the Executive agreed:

a. To enter into a deed of variation to the Staplegrove Housing Infrastructure Fund grant fund agreement; 

b. To enter into funding agreements with interested parties over the use of the Housing Infrastructure Fund and its recovery; 

c. To use Housing Infrastructure Funding for Somerset Council to acquire an interest in land on Staplegrove East to safeguard the future delivery of essential infrastructure (including the primary school site and access, highway including spine road and pedestrian/cycle routes and associated infrastructure land) and provide services to the school site; 

d. To grant delegated authority to the S151 Officer and Service Directors for Economy, Employment and Planning; Infrastructure and Transport and Strategic Asset Management to enter into negotiations and agree the detail for the implementation of recommendations a-c in consultation with the Lead Members for Economic Development, Planning and Assets; Transport and Digital; and Children, Families and Education.  

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED: As set out in the officer report

REASON FOR DECISION: As set out in the officer report

The Leader of the Council and Lead Member for Governance and Communications, Cllr Bill Revans, invited Lead Member for Economic Development, Planning and Assets, Cllr Ros Wyke, to introduce the report.

The Lead Member for Economic Development, Planning and Assets, Cllr Ros Wyke, introduced the report, highlighting: that Staplegrove is allocated within the Development Plan for residentially led development of 1500 homes; that in March 2019 the Government confirmed £14.2m of Housing Infrastructure Funding (HIF) to deliver the Staplegrove spine road, primary school and associated infrastructure; that the HIF funding will operate as recoverable grant; the requirement for Somerset Council to enter into a deed of variation to the agreement; that following an intense period of negotiation, Homes England agreed to extend the HIF grant funding availability until 31 March 2024 and has also agreed a refined HIF funded infrastructure package for East and West Staplegrove focussed on expenditure/construction achievable within the funding availability period and reflective of the planning status of each part of the site.

The Taunton Garden Town, Implementation Manager, Jenny Clifford, further added to the above points noting: the refined infrastructure package focus is on what can be delivered before end of March 2024; that the Council is responsible for loaning the HIF funding to the developers, recovering it and recycling it to unlock further housing.

The Leader of the Council and Lead Member for Governance and Communications, Cllr Bill Revans, invited comments from other Members present, questions and points raised included: the welcome Local Member updates from Officers.

The Executive preceded to vote on the recommendations, which were agreed unanimously.

The Executive agreed to:

a.        Enter into a deed of variation to the Staplegrove Housing Infrastructure Fund grant fund agreement;

b.        Enter into funding agreements with interested parties over the use of the Housing Infrastructure Fund and its recovery;

c.        Use Housing Infrastructure Funding for Somerset Council to acquire an interest in land on Staplegrove East to safeguard the future delivery of essential infrastructure (including the primary school site and access, highway including spine road and pedestrian/cycle routes and associated infrastructure land) and provide services to the school site;

d. Grant delegated authority to the S151 Officer and Service Directors for Economy, Employment and Planning; Infrastructure and Transport and Strategic Asset Management to enter into negotiations and agree the detail for the implementation of recommendations a-c in consultation with the Lead Members for Economic Development, Planning and Assets; Transport and Digital; and Children, Families and Education. 

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED: As set out in the officer report.

REASON FOR DECISION: As set out in the officer report.