Housing and the Environment
Minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 7th October 2004 at Business Link Offices, Bolsover
PRESENT
Tony Trafford (TT) - Ault Hucknall Environmental
Bob Hingston (RWH) - Leicester Housing Association
Phil Bryan (PB) - Derbyshire Fire and Rescue
Martin Powell (MP) - South Yorkshire Housing Association
Cassa Townsend (CT) - Hardwick National Trust
Kath Sharp (KS) - Langwith Society
Nigel Mills (NM) - Creswell Heritage Trust
Val Kripp (VK) - Groundwork Creswell
Glenice Stokes (GS) - Shirebrook Model Village Residents
Hazel Ward (HW) - Bolsover District Council
Tracie Oliver (TO) - Bolsover District Council
David Herd (DH) - Countryside Agency
Cathy Cooke (CC) - Derbyshire County Council
Lyn Williams (LW) - Village Companies Project
Richard Colgrave (RC) - Bolsover District Council
Dennis Kelly (DC) - Pinxton and South Normanton Dev. Group
1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Irene Cooper - Derbyshire Wildlife Trust
John Ritchie - Bolsover District Council
Ailsa Daykin - East Midland Housing Association
Steve Bidwell - Bolsover District Council
Tina Glover - Junction Arts
Keith Taylor - Villagate
Sergeant Lewis - Derbyshire Constabulary
Richard Bennett - Bolsover District Council
Katie Peters - Bolsover District Council
David Wilson - Government Office East Midlands
Mandy Chambers - Primary Care Trust
Andrew Locke - Walbrook Housing Association
Julie Lewis - Bolsover District Council
Marion Retallic - Chair of Castle Residents Group
Denise Edwards - National Trust
John Ford - Bolsover District Council
Diane Finch - Housing 21
Gary Kirk - Leicester Housing
John Sherwood - Bolsover District Council
Geoff Dyer - Bolsover District Council
Daphne Rowe
Brenda Kelly - Pinxton and South Normanton Dev. Group
RC introduced himself as the new member of staff in the PACCT office at Bolsover District Council and would be involved in future meetings of the LSP.
2. NOTES OF HOUSING AND ENVIRONMENT GROUP HELD ON 26TH AUGUST 2004
Creswell Crags
TT Action plan was approved at the last meeting. Subject to comment at ESG meeting this will be ratified if no objections raised.
Fire Lighting Bid
TT Steve Bidwell informed him that the action plan had been approved and was now going through the proceedings.
3. NFR REVISED FLOOR TARGETS
TT Additional items have been added to floor targets. These will be circulated. Office of Deputy Prime Minister asking for new objective for PSA 5 – demand for housing. Definitive versions will be available in one month’s time.
TT An allocation of £3,000 to fund action groups of the LSP for the financial year 2004/05 is to be made available and subject to review further funding for 2005/06 will be available. To qualify for the funding the PACCT office must be informed of an accountable organisation by the 29th October 2004 or the funding will be forfeited.
Concern was expressed at implications of holding the allocation. TT to ask if BDC would be the accountable body.
4. BOLSOVER COUNTRYSIDE PARTNERSHIP
CC The first AGM of the Executive Steering Group was held on Monday and was well attended by groups. It is an uphill struggle to secure funds to manage the Partnership and no headway has been made since the end of August. Recommended by ESG to go to Sub Regional Partnership. The ESC has complained about lobbying by other action groups and this has caused some confusion. TT and CC to bring this matter up at the next ESG meeting.
5. HILLSTOWN FEASIBILITY STUDY
Trustees of the HCC have written to TT asking if consultation is on going. A Business Plan has not been received from HCC and it was agreed that support for the project by the LSP would be suspended until further information is received.
HCC to be informed that the LSP may no longer be the appropriate place for support and be advised to seek support from another action group.
6. NEIGHBOURHOOD MANAGEMENT
The Neighbourhood Management meeting held yesterday was poorly attended. The work that the Community Houses are doing was discussed. Julie Lewis has now taken on the post of managing the houses and a new employee is in post.
7. CRESWELL CRAGS PROJECT
NM gave an update on the Creswell Crags project.
Relocation of the B6042 has been delayed again and this has been taken up with Derbyshire County Council. Tenders are valid until the end of November.
8. UPDATE STOCK OPTIONS
TO gave a resume of the Council’s Stock Option appraisal.
All Councils are required by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (OPDM) to undertake a stock option appraisal for the housing stock.
The purpose of the appraisal is to determine the levels of investment required to make all council homes decent by 2010.
The options available are for the Council to retain the stock, Arms Length Management Organisation (ALMO), Large Scale Voluntary Transfer (LSVT) or Private Finance Initiative (PFI).
Questionnaires have been sent out to tenants and the feed back from them has been quite positive with the majority choosing to stay with the Council. A second round of consultation will be held during November and all tenants and leaseholders are invited to attend.
A decision on the preferred option for the future management of the housing stock will be made at a special Council meeting on the 16th December 2004.
9. ANY OTHER BUSINESS
TT advised that paperwork has been received from the ESG Community Strategy Review and this will be circulated electronically.
DK has received a letter from the Pinxton and South Normanton Development Group questioning his attendance at the LSP meetings. TT The LSP is a voluntary sector and welcomes any input and views from DK.