Agenda item

To receive any questions submitted under Rule of Procedure 13. Any items received will be circulated on 30 June 2020.

(Any questions must be submitted in writing to Democratic Services by, not later than, 10.00am on the working day immediately preceding the date of the meeting).

6.1            The following questions had been received from Councillor Munro to the Lead Member for Built Environment.  The answers were given by the Lead Member for Built Environment, Councillor Gore, but were taken as read without discussion.

Bishop’s Cleeve to Gotherington Cycleway and Community Buildings

My understanding is that, as part of Bovis Homes Planning Consent granted in 2015 to build new homes in Bishops Cleeve, under the S106 Agreement the developer legally committed to build a cycleway between Bishop’s Cleeve and Gotherington and with a second developer, between them, two community buildings for our village. 

To date we are still waiting.

Question 1:

I was advised that Bovis Homes gave a date of 27 April 2020 for the cycleway to start to be built but this was cancelled due to the COVID-19 emergency. Since then I have been informed that there is an outstanding legal agreement with GCC Highways Legal team, following which Bovis Homes will be in a position to access the site, appoint a contractor and apply for a streetworks application. No mention of this was made before the emergency.

Please can I ask the Council to clarify the current outstanding actions which need to be completed before work can start, why this work apparently could have been completed by 27 April but is still outstanding, the timetable for work to start on the cycleway and what action the Council is taking to ensure that the developer fulfils its legal commitments. 

The Council is further asked to clarify that there will be no impact on funding of the cycleway, which I understand Bovis Homes has implied may be the case. 

Answer 1:

This is a detailed matter between the developer and Gloucestershire County Council Highway Authority under the terms of the s106 agreement. The developer did issue a start date of 27 April which was subject to their detailed agreement with Gloucestershire County Council. The current COVID-19 emergency has altered that start date as Highway Authority resources have been diverted to immediate response measures to support social distancing and immediate measures to achieve implementation of walking and cycling schemes across the county.  We do not currently have any indication of an alternative start date and have sought to follow up with the County Council and the developer in relation to an alternative start date.  We will undertake to prepare a briefing note once we have confirmation on the details from the County Council.         

Question 2:

Local Councillors have been informed of difficulties raised by developers over building the two community buildings in Bishop’s Cleeve. The Council is asked for an update on the current position and an estimate of the timescale for work to start.

Answer 2:

The Council is currently consulting with Bishop’s Cleeve Parish Council on detailed elements of scheme design.  That consultation was sent on 26 June. A response is anticipated this week. Following that we will be able to determine the actions to be taken and timescales moving forward.  It is intended to convene a briefing for local Members during the first two weeks of July.

6.2            The Mayor invited supplementary questions. The Member asked the following and the answers were provided by the Interim Head of Development Services:

                 Question:

When will the briefing note be prepared and can it include the measures the Council can apply to developers to get them to build what they are supposed to build?

                 Answer:

The briefing note will be prepared in the next 10 working days and that will address where responsibilities lie in relation to legal obligations.

                 Question:

Can the Council guarantee the developer will be asked to build the two community buildings?

Answer:

A briefing note will be prepared and a briefing for local Members will be held within the next fortnight as stated in the response to the initial question.