Agenda item

Councillor Wrigley to move

 

The Council notes:

 

  • The world-wide concerns on the supply of food, in particular wheat following the war in Ukraine and climate change issues globally.
  • The need for improved food security in the UK, encouraging more food production requiring grade 1 agricultural land including use in less intensive ways.
  • The need for affordable homes, especially for health and social care workers set in sustainable locations.
  • The change of work patterns of many Devon residents to have fewer days in an office setting and more days working from home in a hybrid model.

 

This Council commends:

 

The acquisition of 34 Hectares of Grade One agricultural land for county owned Markham’s Farm in 2009 with the express purpose to make the farm viable.

 

In the light of the need for thousands more affordable homes for Devon families, the lack of any form of homes to rent long-term in Devon, and to enable homes for incoming workers for health and social care provision this council resolves to:

 

1)    Review the land assets held by the County Council with the aim of identifying opportunities to use brownfield sites for new rented affordable homes to generate long term and reliable revenue for the council.

2)    Work with the District Councils and their registered provider partners as housing providers

3)    Deliver a significant programme of homes for rent remaining in the ownership of Devon County Council providing a long-term revenue stream to reduce Council Tax requirements.

4)    Withdraw the sites at Manor Farm, Markham’s Farm and other County Farms from local plan allocations for housing and preserve farm viability.

 

In the site review particular attention will be given to the Topsham Road County Hall site.  This site is antiquated and in the wrong place for modern council operation.  Office space and meeting space would be far more efficient in a modern working location such as alongside the council’s other offices in Sowton or in Marsh Barton – both out of the town centre but well connected by train, bus and by road.

 

The current County Hall site would be far more effective if it were re-modelled to become homes for rental, with a proportion reserved for NHS and social Care staff and many at social rent levels.  This would provide much needed affordable homes and a rental income stream for the council.  Turning a liability into a significant revenue generating asset.

 

Converting the existing office blocks and building new homes on the enormous supply of parking space would provide a highly desirable and green residential location with good connection to the RD&E hospital site and the city centre.

 

The hundreds of rented flats delivered would not only provide homes for local families, but also a long-term rental income for the Council that should exceed the cost of out-of-town office space.

 

Other sites owned by the council across the county should be identified and used in a similar way.

Decision:

In accordance with Standing Order 6(6) the Notice of Motion was referred, without discussion, to the Cabinet for consideration.

 

Minutes:

Councillor Wrigley MOVED and Councillor Leaver SECONDED

 

The Council notes:

 

  • The world-wide concerns on the supply of food, in particular wheat following the war in Ukraine and climate change issues globally.
  • The need for improved food security in the UK, encouraging more food production requiring grade 1 agricultural land including use in less intensive ways.
  • The need for affordable homes, especially for health and social care workers set in sustainable locations.
  • The change of work patterns of many Devon residents to have fewer days in an office setting and more days working from home in a hybrid model.

 

This Council commends:

 

The acquisition of 34 Hectares of Grade One agricultural land for county owned Markham’s Farm in 2009 with the express purpose to make the farm viable.

 

In the light of the need for thousands more affordable homes for Devon families, the lack of any form of homes to rent long-term in Devon, and to enable homes for incoming workers for health and social care provision this council resolves to:

 

1)    Review the land assets held by the County Council with the aim of identifying opportunities to use brownfield sites for new rented affordable homes to generate long term and reliable revenue for the council.

2)    Work with the District Councils and their registered provider partners as housing providers

3)    Deliver a significant programme of homes for rent remaining in the ownership of Devon County Council providing a long-term revenue stream to reduce Council Tax requirements.

4)    Withdraw the sites at Manor Farm, Markham’s Farm and other County Farms from local plan allocations for housing and preserve farm viability.

 

In the site review particular attention will be given to the Topsham Road County Hall site.  This site is antiquated and in the wrong place for modern council operation.  Office space and meeting space would be far more efficient in a modern working location such as alongside the council’s other offices in Sowton or in Marsh Barton – both out of the town centre but well connected by train, bus and by road.

 

The current County Hall site would be far more effective if it were re-modelled to become homes for rental, with a proportion reserved for NHS and social Care staff and many at social rent levels.  This would provide much needed affordable homes and a rental income stream for the council.  Turning a liability into a significant revenue generating asset.

 

Converting the existing office blocks and building new homes on the enormous supply of parking space would provide a highly desirable and green residential location with good connection to the RD&E hospital site and the city centre.

 

The hundreds of rented flats delivered would not only provide homes for local families, but also a long-term rental income for the Council that should exceed the cost of out-of-town office space.

 

Other sites owned by the council across the county should be identified and used in a similar way.

 

In accordance with Standing Order 6(6) the Notice of Motion was referred, without discussion, to the Cabinet for consideration.