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Agenda and minutes
Venue: Council Chamber, Muriel Matters House, Breeds Place, Hastings. East Sussex, TN34 3UY
Contact: Chantal Lass tel: 01424 451483 email: class@hastings.gov.uk
Items No. Item Declarations of Interest
Minutes:
None
Minutes and Matters Arising (Chair) PDF 106 KB
Minutes:
RESOLVED – that the minutes of the meeting held on 29th April 2019 be approved as a true record.
Hastings Local Plan Review - looking forward until 2036 PDF 884 KB
Minutes:
This item was brought forward by the chair.
Tom informed the group that the Local Plan will direct the future growth and shape of the town over the next 15 years. The plan sets out future sustainable development in Hastings.The plan focusses on two areas. Firstly allocating land for jobs, homes and energy generation. Secondly generating the policy framework by which all planning applications will be judged.
The Local Plan sits underneath the National Planning Policy Framework. The plan is a key corporate document and helps the council to deliver its corporate priorities such as regeneration and renewable energy generation. In addition it provides certainty for residents, businesses and anyone wanting to invest in Hastings over the next 15 years.
Tom informed the group that as part of the national planning policy guidance there is a duty to co-operate with stakeholders. Hastings Borough Council has a memorandum of understanding with Rother District Council and a joint members steering group between Hastings and Rother has been agreed.
The evidence base for the new Local Plan will identify housing, retail and employment needs across the Borough. It will also identify potential opportunities for renewable energy and recommend planning policy options and appropriate corporate actions.
The next steps are for the results of the evidence base to formulate the draft Local Plan. This will then go out to consultation. Will also correlate with other major projects under way in the town.
The draft Local Plan is expected to go out to consultation next year and be adopted in 2022.
Richard Watson welcomed the opportunity for healthcare providers and NHS commissioners to contribute to the consultation.Councillor Chowney informed the group that the council was not successful in its bid to the future high streets fund. The Local Plan will also be a driver for addressing climate change by pushing for high standards on carbon emissions in housing developments. The council will demand that all future development is carbon neutral.
Steve Manwaring noted that there is a community network event on the environment in October. It is also worth giving consideration to how young people can be involved in the consultation process.
Sean Dennis cited the opportunity to consult and share information about the local plan through the Chamber of Commerce.
Professor Whitty, Chief Scientific Advisor to the Department of Health and Social Care 'Reflection of his visits to Hastings on the 21st June 2019 and next steps'
Minutes:
Richard Watson explained that Professor Whitty, Chief Scientific Adviser for the Department of Health and Social Care, has undertaken a series of visits across the country, the purpose of which was to better understand how research and investment can benefit seaside towns and rural communities.
Professor Whitty’s visit to Hastings was led by Darrell Gale, Director of Public Health for East Sussex. The day involved taking Professor Whitty on a tour of the town. The visit started with background information on health needs in Hastings, demonstrating that the town has some of the poorest health outcomes nationally.
Professor Whitty and his team also visited the launch of the Hastings Opportunity Area Attendance Charter, recognising the wider determinants of health such as educational attainment and housing. This involved some thought provoking presentations from the police and East Sussex County Council.
This was followed by a walking tour taking in Sea View, Citizens Advice and Ore Community Centre. Later in the day Professor Whitty took part in a question and answer session with a panel of experts predominately from the voluntary and community sector.
A number of themes came out of the day. Professor Whitty’s view was that the Department for Health and Social Care will want to support investment in research which demonstrates what works well and what doesn’t work well in terms of improving health outcomes.
Locally there is a need to undertake research that demonstrates which employment, housing and education schemes are having a positive impact on health outcomes.
Richard informed the group that Darrell Gale will be meeting with Professor Whitty and other regional Directors of Public Health in the near future. Meetings will be taking place with the Borough and County Council in October to reflect on what was learnt from the visit and how to move forward.
Richard noted that the visit specifically didn’t involve taking Professor Whitty to General Practice or the Conquest Hospital in order to focus on the wider determinants of health outcomes.
Steve Manwaring commented that Hastings has been the subject of an enormous number of programmes and preventions over recent years, but there hasn’t been any evaluation and learning. Additionally, the closure of the university campus has resulted in a loss of knowledge sharing between the voluntary community and the academic sector.
Steve noted that the visit did highlight some of the problems the voluntary sector faces in undertaking research and developing methodology. It is important that this comes back to the LSP on a regular basis.
In terms of next steps, Richard advised that Chris would be meeting with other public health directors in the UK in the next couple of months to reflect on his findings.
Annie noted that whilst it was positive that Chris’s visit focused on the voluntary and community sector and the activities they are delivering to address health inequalities; it would have been extremely useful if information could have been shared with partners at the earliest opportunity. She added, it is important to treat the ... view the full minutes text for item 74.
Scoping the Future of Regeneration in Hastings PDF 613 KB
Minutes:
Simon Hubbard gave a presentation on regeneration in Hastings, providing background on the development of the regeneration agenda over the past 18 years.
There is a track record of achievement in the town including the link road and development of the A21 corridor; Jerwood; Source BMX Park; crime reduction; new station; and transport improvements, amongst others.
However there is a new context in which the council operates. The Regional Development Agency was abolished and new structures are now in place.
Simon explained that the Local Economic Partnership (LEP) is not very local and can be too small on some areas. For example on energy issues the LEP is working in partnership with 2 other LEPs. For local projects team East Sussex, which is the devolved local arm of the LEP, will take the lead.
Simon informed the group that at this stage it is proposed to review both the outputs and outcomes of progress. This review will look at both what has been produced through the regeneration programme, such as the new station, college and health centre; and what the outcome of that has been for the town.
The review will also ensure Hastings fits in with local and national regeneration strategies and maintains influence.
It is expected that the review will be commissioned in September and delivered by Christmas.
Hastings Pier - update
Minutes:
Simon Hubbard provided an update on Hastings Pier.
The building in the centre of the pier is now occupied by amusements whilst the huts that were recently granted planning permission are not trading.
The council remain concerned and a meeting between the owner, Amber Rudd MP, and the council has been organised to look at progress and ways forward.
The council’s wish is that the owner talks about major projects that could be taken forward, such as a landing stage, which will ensure a sustainable future for the pier. The council does not see how the pier can be making enough money to maintain the pier structure and a crunch point may come at the end of the season.
It was suggested that a further update be provided at the next meeting.
Climate Change Declaration - make Hastings carbon neutral by 2030 What collective and collaborative action can we take?
Minutes:
Councillor Chowney informed the group that the council passed a motion in February declaring a climate emergency, joining many other council’s in taking such action.
There is a national measurement process in place used by the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy which puts Hastings in the bottom quartile for carbon emissions compared to other local authorities.
Councils have an important role to play in tackling climate change as they have local leadership, deliver local services and are large land owners.
Councillor Chowney informed the group that a new cabinet post for Climate Change, Biodiversity and Sustainable Development has been created, held by Councillor Maya Evans.
Councillor Chowney noted that he brought this item to the LSP as cooperation will be required to consider ways to make Hastings carbon neutral.
The council has been working in partnership to encourage community buildings and schools to develop roof mounted solar arrays. The council’s focus will be sustainable energy generation and reducing the carbon footprint of future developments.
Richard Watson welcomed the council’s leadership on this issue and confirmed the local NHS will want to work with the council on this.
Tom Jackson informed the group that the council will be holding stakeholder engagement workshops later in the year on energy generation and the local plan.
Heroes of Hastings - the peoples picture PDF 4 MB
Minutes:
Steve Manwaring informed the group that Hastings Voluntary Action (HVA) is looking to commission Peoples Picture to create a piece of art made up of thousands of individual pictures. The piece would celebrate the work undertaken by volunteers in Hastings to improve the quality of life in the area and mark the 30th anniversary of HVA.
The artwork would gather together pictures of local events and local people and could be a temporary instillation or something more permanent.
Steve confirmed that some funding is in place but HVA will be looking for further funding contributions.
Next Meeting Date 14th October 2019
Minutes:
Agreed.
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