Issue - meetings

The Corporate and Commercial Projects Officer presented an update to the Group about Management of Open Spaces on New Developments

The Corporate and Commercial Projects Officer said that prior to 2000 the Council had adopted all open spaces with no cost to developers, that between 2000 to 2011 the Council had adopted open spaces with a commuted sum from developers and, that from 2011 it no longer adopted open spaces, with developers being required to submit an open spaces management scheme as part of their planning application. She said the Council’s current approach was the one most commonly taken by local authorities.

The Corporate and Commercial Projects Officer highlighted some of the main concerns raised by residents about management company practices, including in relation to transparency and fairness with a lack of awareness of fees and billing; quality of maintenance work and; poor customer service with no right to challenge or hold the management company to account. She said that some management companies included clauses that allowed residents to take over management of their open spaces.

In relation to national activity, the Corporate and Commercial Projects Officer referred to the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill which was introduced to Parliament in November 2023 and on which it was due to report by 1 February 2024. She explained that key aspects of the Bill were that it would likely grant leaseholders the same rights as freeholders and would also create a New Homes Quality Board and Code, which would require developers to provide clear and accurate information about management services and charges and ensure that buyers knew that they should appoint an independent legal adviser.

The Corporate and Commercial Projects Officer explained that while the Council had limited powers, it could act as a facilitator and encourage good practice and build closer relationships with developers at an earlier stage in the process, inviting them to attend the Council’s Growth Boards (for example Fairham and Bingham) and support residents’ groups in making contact with management companies. The Council would also explore development of a Good Practice Code.

Mr Wadell from Greenbelt presented an update to the Group about Greenbelt Management Company. He said that the company had been operating for 25 years in the UK and originated from Strathclyde Council in the mid-1990s, ultimately becoming fully autonomous. The company had evolved over time to take on new work and bring in new specialists as open spaces became more complex, including amenity spaces, sustainable urban drainage features and biodiversity net gain commitments. He said that the company initially funded adopting sites through commuted sums from developers but due to the increased complexity of spaces it had moved to requiring residents to pay management fees.

Mr Wadell explained that Greenbelt had a standard form of agreement with developers that could be flexed to suit particular sites and that the company predominantly took ownership, or a long lease, for sites. He said that the company looked to implement long term plans, including ecological plans, for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 14