Archived decisions

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

Decision Report

1. Executive Summary

1.1. This report considers the implications for the County Council of the designation of Whitehill-Bordon as an eco-town and recommends changes to the County Council's involvement with the project in order to strengthen its contribution to the planning, project management and subsequent delivery of enhanced services to the town.

1.2. It is proposed that the Executive Member for the Environment be appointed as the Cabinet Sponsor for the Whitehill-Bordon development proposals and to be the County Council's representative on the Whitehill-Bordon Opportunity Executive Group.

2. Background

2.1. The County Council's involvement with the Eco-Town project originated from the initiative of the Whitehill Town Council to promote a Green Town Vision for Whitehill-Bordon in response to:

a) perceived shortcomings in the fabric and facilities available in the town;
b) the prospect of the closure of the Army Garrison arising from the recommendations of the Defence Training Review.

2.2. This led to the Whitehill-Bordon Opportunity Executive Group being formed and the County Council has had officer and member representation, along with East Hampshire District Council (EHDC) Whitehill Town Council, the Ministry of Defence and other agencies.

2.3. Over the past five years, the County Council's member representation has included Councillors Glen, James and, latterly, Cllr Carew.

3. Proposed relocation of the Army Garrison

3.1. The Bordon Garrison houses the Army School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering (SEME), together with driver and heavy vehicle recovery training and other functions of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.

3.2. The Government's Defence Training Review proposed the co-location of training facilities for the three Armed Forces as part of a major Private Finance Initiative contract, which is due to be signed in 2010 with the relocation taking place from 2014 onwards.

3.3. For over 150 years, the Garrison has played a major role in the history, economic and community life of Bordon and the proposed closure of almost all of the Army operations will have a major impact on the local economy and community life of the town and surrounding area.

3.4. The planned release of large areas of brownfield land provides a major redevelopment opportunity which has been actively promoted by the Ministry of Defence and has led to an allocation for up to 5,500 dwellings in the South- East Regional Spatial Strategy. A draft masterplan has been commissioned by East Hampshire District Council in its role as the Local Planning Authority and this is currently the subject of public consultation and is contained in the Draft Core Strategy of the East Hampshire Local Development Framework.

4. Eco-town Proposals

4.1. The redevelopment proposals for the town within the draft masterplan have been drawn up by consultants AECOM broadly based on the principles of the Green Town Vision and which have incorporated land owned by the County Council to the east of the town. Principal uses proposed are for recreational and mitigation purposes against the impact of development upon the European designated conservation sites adjoining the MoD land. Also, part of the land has been identified as a possible location for secondary school use.

4.2. In July 2009, Whitehill-Bordon was selected by the Department of Communities and Local Government as one of its four Eco-towns. The draft masterplan identifies a range of initiatives which seek to meet the Eco-town objectives set out in the Planning Policy Statement for Eco-towns.

5. Involvement of the County Council

5.1. The scale and nature of the redevelopment proposals would impact on all the County Council's services and create the largest settlement in East Hampshire.

5.2. It will be important for the County Council to continue to be actively involved to shape the detailed proposals, assist with their implementation and manage the elements of uncertainty and risk associated with a project of this scale in the current economic climate.

5.3. The County Council will also have a major role in stimulating the economic regeneration of the town following the projected closure of the Army Garrison. The expenditure associated with the Army is estimated to account for over one-quarter of the town's economy.

5.4. In addition to its role as the principal provider of public services, the County Council is also involved in the project in its regulatory and land-owning roles. There will be a continuing need to differentiate between these roles, with a co-ordination of decision-making at Cabinet level and for individual decisions on policy to be referred back to the respective Executive Members for approval.

5.5. As the project moves towards implementation, decisions will be required on expenditure in support of the project and for the County Council's member representation on the Whitehill-Bordon Executive Group to reflect the individual and collective decisions of the County Council's Cabinet.

6. Project Management

6.1. The proposed redevelopment of Whitehill-Bordon will be the largest single development that has taken place in the East Hampshire District Council area and it has been agreed at Leader and Chief Executive level that the County Council will use its skills and capacity to work with the District Council and the MoD to secure the successful regeneration of the town.

6.2. To date, an informal officer group has operated and enabled the interests of each of the County Council's departments to be represented. However, as decisions on future funding commitments begin to be made, it will be important for more formal project management arrangements to be put in place.

6.3. It is proposed that a Project Board be established with officer representation from each of the County Council's departments and for Stuart Jarvis (Director of Environment) to be the lead officer. Agreement has been reached between the County Chief Executive and the Joint Chief Executive of East Hampshire District and Havant Borough Councils to extend the joint working arrangements of County and East Hampshire District Council officers. It is proposed that the Project Board would report to the Chief Executive and to a County Members Group comprising Cabinet Members and Local Members with electoral divisions within or immediately adjacent to Whitehill-Bordon.

6.4. It is proposed that relevant project reports should be taken to the Hampshire Economic Board, Buildings Land and Procurement Panel and to the Cabinet.

7. Risk Management

7.1. It should be noted that despite the allocation of Whitehill-Bordon as a Strategic Development Area in the South-East Plan and its recent designation as an eco-town, substantial risk still remains with the project, including:

· uncertainty over the timing of the MoD's withdrawal which is linked to large PFI contracts for the provision of alternative training facilities which have yet to be concluded

· the attitude of an incoming Government at national and regional level

· continuing availability of Building Schools for the Future funding (the proposed rebuilding of the Mill Chase Community Technology College forms part of the County Council's third phase bid)

· approval of the Eco-town proposals within the EHDC Local Development Framework

· outcome of the Habitats Regulations Assessment of the impact of the proposed development on adjoining European protected wildlife and habitats

· the possible withdrawal of the MoD from the Whitehill-Bordon Executive and the direct sale of its land for development, which would bypass the Eco-town proposals.

7.2. Some of the above risks/uncertainties will remain into the next financial year but it will be important for the County Council to shape the direction and quality of the project whilst influencing decisions on resources taken at a national and regional level which, in particular, will impact heavily on transport and school provision.

8. Recommendation(s)

8.1. That the Executive Member for Policy and Resources approves the appointment of Councillor Mel Kendal (Executive Member for the Environment) as the County Council's representative on the Whitehill-Bordon Opportunity Executive Group and for Councillors Adam Carew and Sam James to be invited to attend as prime stakeholders within whose electoral divisions the proposed Eco-town would be located.

8.2. That the Director of Environment should establish and operate a Whitehill-Bordon Project Board which will report to a County Members Group for the Eco-town.

CORPORATE OR LEGAL INFORMATION:

Links to the Corporate Strategy

Other Significant Links

IMPACT ASSESSMENTS:

1. Equalities Impact Assessment:

The County Council's involvement with Eco-town Project will provide housing, educational, employment and community facilities which, when worked up in greater detail, will have impact assessments applied.

2. Impact on Crime and Disorder:

Hampshire Police have been involved in the preparation of the masterplan and will be involved in the detailed design to ensure safe and secure development within the Eco-town.

3. Climate Change:

The Eco-town provides the opportunity for the County Council to promote exemplar schemes to reduce the carbon footprint of Hampshire and to reduce energy and water consumption in the town.

The consideration of climate change and resilience to its longer-term impacts are core aims of the Eco-town proposals.