Minutes of the fourth Housing meeting held at 3 North Street, Lewes on Thursday 1st February 2018 at 7.30 p.m.
Present: Penny Jones, Jennifer Chibnall, Amanda Deadman, Rita Ellis, Ruth O’Keefe, Debbie Twitchen, Nick Belcher, Emma Montlake, Jo Carter, Ian McKay, Tony Rowell, Lin Heyworth, Maggie Symons
Apologies: Chris Smith, David Nicholson, Barbara Hayes, Louis Blair
Welcome to Emma who has a great interested in the St Anne’s Site and is a trustee for Sussex Wildlife Trust. Also Ian McKay from BBM.
Lewes CLT update St Anne’s and garage sites (LH)
CLT are hoping to submit a written proposal for the scrutiny panel on March 22nd. In preparation Ruth, Lin, Jo and Emily will attend a closed group meeting on 2.2.18 to decide whether there is a willingness and capacity for the CLT to submit a proposal to ESCC. There will be a public meeting after this to publicise plans and gain support in the community.
Garage Sites – Information on what is happening on the garage sites is on the Lewes Action for Social Housing website.
Presentation of recent housing figures for Lewes District (DT)
Waiting 1,140, Band A 15, Band B 8, Band C 503, Band D 403. Temporary accommodation 0 (no figures for that quarter) Homeless 5, Emergency accommodation 75
The new computer system has been put back until June.
The numbers of rent arrears in Lewes are rising as they are in Eastbourne and Hastings.
Universal Credit Update
There are 2 new experienced Case Workers dedicated to help those claiming UC keep their portals open This is essential because if these are not maintained UC can stop and there are fears that eviction could take place if they are notcooperative) .
Case workers are gaining expertise from those working in Eastbourne and Hasting where UC has been rolled out. Jo Carter will find out the flaws in the system, there is money for training and IT, £30,000 to some local agencies
Environmental Issues at St Anne’s EM/IM
Emma lives very near to this site. It is a nice re-naturalised site with a butterfly bank ( built by Sussex Wildlife ) many downland species of plant, butterflies and invertebrates including the Purse Web Spider and about 40 Tree Preservation Orders from 2003. Whether there are bats on the sites is unknown but Subud did surveys where mats were put out for invertebrates and reptiles when they were involved in the previous development plans and will share their findings with CLT. Emma would like to see Homes for People and Homes for Wildlife with a net gain of biodiversity, an essential requirement for any development in The South Downs National Park.
Ian thought that preliminary work there on the ecology of the site and planning to look at the sustainability of existing wildlife and the natural environment is already being done. Following this a survey will have to be carried out at particular times of year so that a Method Statement can be put in place for the relocation of endangered species with proper process so as to fall within the law. Reports should be appearing on the portal now. *Emma and Ian undertook to keep an eye on this part of the development
Presentation of Acorn Tenants Union proposal and vote EC
Emily has been training with Acorn. The Brighton Branch was set up following the model: leafletting, engage with local tenants, door knocking, helping with tenant evictions and unfair rents (successes with this include students received a £60,000 payback recently).
Emily is concerned that evictions are going up and set to rise because of the introduction of UC and the precarious nature of private renting in this area. This may result in private landlords not wanting to take on people claiming UC.
Acorn and Emily want to work with tenants in Lewes District. They will be presenting to TOLD in March and plan to follow the model set up as in Brighton. Tenants can become members by contributing what they can afford. *The meeting voted unanimously to
Support Emily to set up Acorn for the protection of tenants in Lewes District.
Petition calling on LDC and landlords not to evict tenants for rent arrears as a result of hardship associated with UC (EC) Action to be confirmed once EC/DT have spoken to the council and found out their position on UC evictions
*EC to talk to Jo and Tony to help with putting pressure on the council.
It was decided that we should write an open letter from the group to send to private landlords and letting agents to get them to undertake that they will not evict tenants in arrears because of UC, in the build up to the Lewes ACORN launch.
Report back from Axe, the housing act planning meeting, UC day of action and fact sheet EC
They are working with Disabled People Against Cuts. 12 CLPs have produced a motion which Emily hopes to put to the Lewes CLP.
Day of Action 2.3.18 in London and there will be Nationwide events in the coming months, probably in Brighton as they already have UC. Plan to organise a Lewes day of action on UC.
Update of housing development in Chailey. NB
Nick is a parish councillor. There is a proposal to build new 30 new houses next to the village on Buckleswood Field which is on green belt land but just outside the National Park. After their planning application had been rejected the builders and developers have taken their plans to appeal. Of the 30 new houses 15 are to be for sale as affordable housing at 80% of the market value which is currently £350,000 approx. The developer’s barrister is arguing that although there are not sufficient transport links their development is very like 3 from LDLP and therefore should be allowed. Wealden are trying to look at mitigating factors to try to stop this but as it is already at the public Enquiry stage there is nothing to be done.
*NB to keep an eye on the outcome of this because if granted it may set a precedent for the valley all the way to the Ashdown Forrest.
Plans for moving forward discussion
Jennifer raised the issue of North Street. On 1st Feb it was announced that £10 million had been allocated for infrastructure although the money was meant for housing. She asked who was getting the money and for which? Is this enough to start on site now? There was concern within the group that this money was being used to finance a public/private initiative.
Jennifer wants the group to ask lots of questions about funding, Mass Rae, the director being investigated. This should be done through Jo and DT through TOLD.
February 19th Full Council meeting at Country Hall at 6.00 p.m. and anyone can ask questions but these will need to submitted 5 days in advance.
*Everyone encouraged to send questions to Jo
Rita is very worried about the Malling Brooks site. This is a quagmire and is in danger of flooding. She Fears this site will not be finished.
*Jo to contact with planning enforcement officer to follow up the flooding risk with the Environment Agency.
*Let Emily know if there is anything the group can do anything for this development
Action Points
1) Sending questions to JC
2) Scrutiny Committee 22.3.18, 10.30am
3) Update on ACORN (EC)
4) Core group of 4 people to set up ACORN – anyone interested in being involved to contact EC
5) CLT meeting tomorrow evening. EC to update on progress at next meeting and alert L.A.S.H to public meeting when it’s arranged
6) ACCEL who commissioned this? Town Clerk Consultation Ltd. report of Low Cost Housing. Can we ask the Town Council how much this cost?
A.O.B.
Keep an eye on Pells School Site. Housing will be built here.
Ruth had a petition sheet for this for any member of the group to sign
Meeting closed at 9.10 p.m. Next meeting on Thursday March 8th at 2a Horsfield Road, Lewes BN7 2TA at 7.30 p.m.
L.A.S.H 