Issue - meetings

Councillor Osman submits a report that seeks approval for stage 2 of the Ashton Green project following outline planning approval at Planning Committee.  Cabinet is asked to approve the recommendations set out in Paragraph 2.1 of the report.

A minute extract from the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board held on 3 February 2011 will be circulated as soon as it is available.

Councillor Osman submitted a report that sought approval for Stage 2 of the Ashton Green project following outline planning approval at Planning Committee.  Councillor Osman stated that concerns had been raised relating to transport issues and the comments and concerns of ward members had been taken on board. He added that there would be consultation with residents and ward councillors.

Members responded that the Cabinet Lead’s assurance that there would be consultation with residents and ward councillors was welcomed.  The need for affordable housing was also acknowledged and a request that the extra care homes should receive appropriate and adequate maintenance in order that they would provide a long term rather than short term facility.

Councillor Coley noted that zero carbon homes were planned from 2016 and low carbon homes from 2013 and queried why there was no requirement for zero carbon homes from 2013.  Members responded that there had been considerable discussion relating to this issue but it was necessary to ensure that what was planned was available and realistic. The technology for zero carbon homes was not yet available in this country and low carbon homes were still a specialist area. Work was being carried out with De-Montfort University and other partners however to ensure that the homes that were built were as sustainable as possible.

Councillor Coley noted that the report stated that there would be early public transport interventions and questioned whether there would be any guarantees of this, to avoid the problems that had occurred in Hamilton.   Councillor Osman responded that they were in a good position to mitigate some of the transport issues and three highway authorities had approved a package of transport infrastructure measures.

RESOLVED:

                        that Cabinet:

1)     notes the outline planning approval received at the Planning and Development Control Committee on 20 December 2010; and

2)     approves a sum of £325,500 within the Capital Programme to support the project through the developer procurement stage to enable land disposals and a potential start on site from 2012/13 onwards.