Agenda item

This report provides a six month update on progress with the Housing Infrastructure Fund as requested by the Committee on  23 March 2021.

The Committee received a detailed report setting out an update to the Housing Infrastructure Fund: New Routes to Good Growth (HIF) project.

The following was discussed:

• Outcome of consultation – In response to a question, the Assistant Director Regeneration advised that work was currently being undertaken on assessing responses to the recent consultation and further information would be available in November.

He further advised thatowing to the extensive feedback from the consultation, in consultation with Homes England, it had been agreed that an additional year be added to the scheme to ensure the quality of the delivery of the HIF scheme.

·         Acquisitions Policy - It was confirmed that the Acquisition Policy had recently been to Cabinet and approved.

The Assistant Director Regeneration advised that there was an element of overlap with the HIF scheme and the Local Plan as the process of the Local Plan pre-empted significant development

• The role of Capita – Information was sought as to the involvement of Capita, why this was considered necessary and the costs for this service. In response the Assistant Director Regeneration advised that due to the complexity of the HIF scheme and the environmental impact assessments and planning process, Capita had been engaged to support officers.

• Strategic Transport Assessment – It was noted that the Strategic Transport Assessment for the Local Plan had identified the need for a wider integrated transport service to accommodate the full scale of residential and employment growth planned on the Hoo Peninsula and information was requested as to when the Area-Wide Travel Plan would be available. The Assistant Director Regeneration informed the Committee that work on the Area Wide Travel Plan would be ongoing alongside work on the Local Plan. He advised that whilst HIF funding would unlock the provision of homes, other infrastructure was also required.

• Funding target – The Head of HIF and Regeneration confirmed that the current spend from the HIF budget was on target and funding had been used to undertake preliminary work on design and environmental assessments. The Assistant Director Regeneration confirmed that work on the HIF scheme was being value engineered throughout to ensure work remained within the budget available.

•  Local Plan Regulation 19 – The Assistant Director Regeneration confirmed that whilst the HIF team was a consultee on the Local Plan, no HIF funding was being used for Regulation 19 work on the Local Plan. However, progress on both were interlinked.

• Phasing of works – In response to a question as to the phasing of works on the HIF scheme, the Assistant Director Regeneration confirmed that officers were currently in the process of considering the phasing of the works. Whilst it was inevitable that there would be some disruption, officers were working with the Highways Authority to ensure that disruption was kept to a minimum. At this stage, it was too early to confirm the phasing of the various works.

• Canal Road Rochester – It was suggested that as a means of alleviating congestion, consideration be given to opening Canal Road, Rochester if only for a couple of hours each day.

• Rail link – The Assistant Director Regeneration confirmed that it was too early to provide information as to whether the rail link would be diesel or electric.

The Committee thanked officers for the update and in particular the way in which they had engaged with Ward Councillors on the HIF Scheme.

Decision:

The Committee noted the report.