Agenda and minutes

At the Annual General Meeting of Council held on Tuesday, 16th May 2023, Councillor D Pinwell and Councillor A Burrow were proposed as Economic Development and Managed Growth Scrutiny Board Chairman and Vice - Chairman respectively for the 2023/24 municipal year, subject to confirmation at this meeting. Subject to there being no further nominations, the Economic Development and Managed Growth Scrutiny Board will be invited to confirm those appointments.

1.  CONFIRMATION OF ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN AND VICE CHAIRMAN TO THE ECONONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGED GROWTH SCRUTINY BOARD FOR THE 2023/24 MUNICIPAL YEAR

For the position of Chairman:

Councillor Pinwell was proposed by Councillor Fitter and seconded by Councillor Burrow.

Councillor McLoughlin was proposed by Councillor Thomas and seconded by Councillor Donnelly.

On being put to the vote, five Members of the Scrutiny Board voted for Councillor Pinwell and three Members voted for Councillor McLoughlin.

For the position of Vice-Chairman:

Councillor Burrow was proposed by Councillor Pinwell and seconded by Councillor Fitter.

No other nominations for the Vice Chairman position were received.

The Economic Development and Managed Growth Scrutiny Board:

RESOLVED:

(I)  To appoint Councillor D Pinwell to the role of Chairman to the Economic Development and Managed Growth Scrutiny Board for the 2023/24 municipal year; and,

(II)  To appoint Councillor A Burrow to the role of Vice Chairman to the Economic Development and Managed Growth Scrutiny Board for the 2023/24 municipal year.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor S Marwa, for whom Councillor L Kaye substituted.

No declarations were received.

No questions or deputations were received.

To consider for approval the draft Minutes arising from the Economic Development and Managed Growth Scrutiny Board meeting held on 13^th March 2023.

Councillor Thomas raised a correction to the draft Minutes under Item 6 ‘Delivering Inclusive Growth in Solihull’, page 10, referencing employment opportunities arising through the East Birmingham/North Solihull Corridor. Councillor Thomas clarified that her reference was made to ensure that there was a sufficient range of employment opportunities offering a breadth of income ranges were made available.

The Economic Development and Managed Growth Scrutiny Board:

  RESOLVED:

(i)  Subject to the above amendment, to agree the draft Minutes arising from the Economic Development and Managed Growth Scrutiny Board meeting held on 13^th March 2023.

To consider the 2023/24 portfolio priorities for the Leader of the Council, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Environment and Infrastructure, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Climate Change and Planning and Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Housing.

The four Lead Members whose Portfolios were included within the terms of reference for the Scrutiny Board were present at the Scrutiny Board meeting to provide detail of their portfolio priorities for the 2023/24 municipal year.

Councillor Courts presented his priorities as Lead Member for the Economy.  Councillor Courts noted that there was a strong local economy in Solihull which was expected to drive other opportunities forward via the Council’s Economic Strategy, citing the East Birmingham/North Solihull Corridor Zone as an example. 

The Kingshurst Village development had seen substantial works completed to date, with the demolition phase completed.

Plans were on-going for Shirley Town Centre, which was viewed as a longer-term development.  Similarly, development plans for Mell Square and Chelmsley Wood were also being taken forward.

Arden Cross/HS2 were also longer-terms projects, expected to be operational within 3 years.  Much of the land is held by HS2 until the project is completed.  Th option of a flat surface car park, as opposed to a multi-story car park, had been identified as the preferred option for Arden Cross.

The Council sought to provide further employment opportunities and housing on an on-going basis through delivery of its schemes and projects.

Members of the Scrutiny Board raised several questions following Councillor Courts presentation, which in summary included the following matters:

Councillor Thomas referenced the original car park proposal for Arden Cross, which envisaged provision of over 7,000 car parking-spaces, and which had been presented a s a legal requirement.  If the Arden Cross development was moving to a flat surface car park, Councillor Thomas questioned what resultant development loss would arise at the site.

Councillor Courts clarified that the HS2 scheme had passed through an Act of Parliament, which had consented to the provision of a car park providing 4,500 spaces at surface level.  The current proposal for a flat surface car park would provide a reduced number of car parking spaces equating to 2,750 spaces. This was considered a major success in reducing the number of required car parking spaces at the site. 

Those car parking spaces to be provided would be phased in, with some provision on the east side of the site and others phased in as required.  It was advantageous to be moving away from a multi storey car park proposal considering the rising construction and material costs due to the current rate of inflation.  The question did remain how much space to the west of the site should be envisaged for potential car parking. It was hoped that the west side of the site could remain untouched. Ultimately, the risks and cost implications associated with a multi-storey were outweighed by the benefits of moving to a flat surface car park.

Some flexibility was being built in with the current proposals for car parking. It was not known how many car parking spaces will be required, but it was hoped to be kept to a minimum. Regarding housing provision, it was not the intention to provide any housing development  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

To review the draft NCIS and Delivery Plan (Appendix 1) and make recommendations for consideration by the Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Planning as appropriate.

The report before the Scrutiny Board provided a progress update on the development of the Council’s Natural Capital Investment Strategy (NCIS) and Delivery Plan.

The Team Manager, CLAUDE introduced the report detailing the strategy and delivery plan to the Scrutiny Board.  Matters detailed within the report drawn to the attention of the Scrutiny Board included land use, effects of climate change, reduction of hedgerows and natural woodlands since World War 2, the rate of species extinction over the last century, the NCIS response to biodiversity and the steps required to integrate the NCIS across the Council’s other strategies.

Having received the introduction to the report, Members of the Scrutiny Board raised several questions pertinent to the report, which in summary included the following matters:

Councillor Thomas noted that language used within the NCIS referenced ‘continuing degradation’ of the natural environment, which implied on-going degradation despite the Councils initiatives to negate such degradation, and questioned what could be done to counter this. Secondly, Councillor Thomas sought further clarity as to what specific actions were being proposed via the NCIS.

The Team Manager, CLAUDE advised that the wording used at paragraph 1.6 of the NCIS to which Councillor Thomas referenced referred to the concept of degradation in the broadest global sense and not solely to the borough. With reference to mitigating actions, Members were advised that it was important to note that substantial work had been undertaken over the past 6 years via the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), and partnership working via the Environment Agency, Warwickshire Wildlife Trust and the Wetlands Partnership.

The purpose of the NCOS was to benchmark data, which had previously been monitored by government agencies. The council now wished to map its progress regarding bio-diversity gain and species protection. Part of the remit of the NCIS was to clarify where the Council stood in its bio-diversity assessment.

Councillor Burrow noted that volunteering arrangements, especially via Parish Councils, had in the past appeared to be easier than was the case today and suggested that a single point of contact be provided for would be volunteers. Secondly, in terms of open spaces being provided within new developments, the Council needed to be more ambitious to secure bio-diversity.

gains in these development sites; for example, areas between hedgerows.

Councillor Feeney raised the need for behavioural change citing the example of block paving over private gardens, largely for parking areas.  Green corridors provided by private gardens were very important for sustaining biodiversity and homeowners in the private housing market should be encouraged to retain their gardens. The ERDF Development Officer advised that the Local Nature Recovery Strategy would highlight which areas had gardens used as a connecting habitat and were considered important areas to be maintained. Block paving of gardens was recognised as a long-standing issue. Work would continue to identify what areas had been lost due to such landscaping and may also identify a SWOT analysis in this area.

Councillor Mackiewicz advised that it was difficult for the Council to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

Members of the Economic Development and Managed Growth Scrutiny Board are requested to review the draft Work Programme 2023/24 and to approve the Work Programme for the municipal year, subject to any further amendments being agreed at the meeting.

  The Economic Development and Managed Growth Scrutiny Board:

RESOLVED:

i.  To note the final status of the Economic Development and Managed Growth Scrutiny Board Work Programme 2022/23; 

ii.  To schedule an additional meeting of the Economic Development and Managed Growth Scrutiny Board before the end of this municipal year to lieu of the meeting scheduled for 31st May 2023, which was cancelled; and,

iii.  Further to the Scrutiny Boards recent consideration of an Economic Opportunity in Solihull report, to establish a Joint Employment and Skills Task and Finish Group in partnership with the Children’s Services, Education and Skills Scrutiny Board. Terms of Reference, scope, milestones, objectives and timescales for the Task and Finish Group to be submitted to both the Economic Development and Managed Growth Scrutiny Board and Children’s Services, Education and Skills Scrutiny Board at a future date.

 The Economic Development and Managed Growth

Scrutiny Board closed at 8:24 p.m.