{"id":5540,"date":"2025-07-01T16:42:01","date_gmt":"2025-07-01T15:42:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/economy\/?post_type=dcc_docs_document&#038;p=5540"},"modified":"2025-07-01T16:42:04","modified_gmt":"2025-07-01T15:42:04","slug":"ope-partnership-board-minutes-30-april-2025","status":"publish","type":"dcc_docs_document","link":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/economy\/document\/ope-partnership-board-minutes-30-april-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"OPE Partnership Board Minutes &#8211; 30 April 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column doc-aside is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:25%\">\n<aside class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-toc-block\" id=\"rank-math-toc\"><h2>Contents<\/h2><nav><ul><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#o\">Attendees<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#a\">Apologies<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#blrf-bid-prisoners-building-homes-programme-update-kd-pb\">1. BLRF Bid \/ Prisoners Building Homes programme Update \u2013 Keir Duffin \/ Paul Britton<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#ope-co-location-fund-update-consultant-kd-it\">2. OPE Co-location Fund update \/ Consultant \u2013 Keir Duffin \/ Ian Thompson<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#3\">3. Mid-Devon Affordable Housing Programme \u2013 Richard Marsh, Director of Place, Mid Devon District Council<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#a-1\">4. Any Other Business <\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#future-meeting-dates\">Future Meeting Dates<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n<\/div><\/aside>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column doc-content is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:75%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\"><div class=\"document-meta-acf-block clearfix \" id=\"block_38e390158648f199aa8947290cd90730\"><div class=\" dcc-documents-meta\"><div class=\"dcc-documents-widget dcc-documents-widget-block\"><div class=\"dcc-documents-widget-box2\"><p class=\"dcc-documents-published\">Published <time datetime=\"2025-07-01T16:42:01+00:00\">01\/07\/2025 4:42pm<\/time><\/p><p class=\"dcc-documents-updated\">Last Updated <time datetime=\"2025-07-01T16:42:04+00:00\">01\/07\/2025 4:42pm<\/time><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<article class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"o\">Attendees<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Keir Duffin (Chair \u2013 deputising for Mel Sealey), Iain Masters, Richard Marsh, Patrick Rafferty, Paul Britton, David Carter, Alison Hayward, Leroy Venn, Neil Blaney, Ian Thompson, Sean Anstee, Hannah Dixon (minutes)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"a\">Apologies<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Helen Bone, Ian Collinson, Roger Clotworthy, David Lang, Melanie Sealey, Sarah Jane Mackenzie-Shapland, Mathew Chetwynd, Tim Child, Zoe Lentell, David Bowcock, David Bartrum, Chris Watts, Mike Woodliff<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"blrf-bid-prisoners-building-homes-programme-update-kd-pb\">1. BLRF Bid \/ Prisoners Building Homes programme Update \u2013 Keir Duffin \/ Paul Britton<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Prisoners Building Homes Programme \u2013 Recently there was a rapid call for this<br>programme, it needed to be in contracts by end of March. To fulfil this, we did a condensed piece of work with Mid-Devon who were successful in securing the funding. Mid-Devon took most of the funding nationally and the Southwest received all the funding bar one project, due to clear links between housing delivery and social value. Going forward we would like to capture this learning and celebrate with partners to support further projects using the same \/ similar programmes.<br>BLRF new bidding round will likely be launched in June 2025, we\u2019re currently<br>waiting for the Minister to confirm date. The scheme nationally is likely to be a<br>smaller pot than it has been before and will be distributed on a first come first<br>served basis, therefore we will have to get the bids submitted as soon as possible when it\u2019s open. Devon is in a good position as we have a pipeline of projects and have shortlisted those which were unsuccessful in the last round:<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The schemes being asked for board approval to submit for BLRF \u2013<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Teignbridge &#8211; Sherborne House, Newton Abbot \u2013 high carbon saving, high-quality scheme<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>DCC \u2013 St George\u2019s Road \u2013 30 affordable mixed-bed properties<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Mid Devon \u2013 10\/12 affordable homes<br>Therefore, a total of around 70\/75 affordable\/ social rented properties of different<br>sizes. They are all projects who bid last time and have been strengthened.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>DECISION OPE Board agreed for these bids to be submitted<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>DECISION: OPE Board provided retrospective support for Prisoners building homes programme submission<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"ope-co-location-fund-update-consultant-kd-it\">2. OPE Co-location Fund update \/ Consultant \u2013 Keir Duffin \/ Ian Thompson<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>OPE co-location bid of \u00a3150k has been successfully obtained.<br>Avison Young, who successfully tendered for the contract have been helping to<br>develop business cases within the co-location piece. The partnership has their<br>time until end of July.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><br>Ian Thompson from Avison Young gave an update on the co-location activity:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Ilfracombe \u2013 relatively high deprivation in the town, generating high demand<br>for public services and VCSE. There is a need for affordable housing in the<br>town. The One Ilfracombe Partnership has been set up to improve delivery of<br>public services. District Council has an affordable housing strategy for the<br>town. Key sites being considering \u2013 Tyrell Hospital, Police Station, Family<br>Centre, Devon Links Centre, Library and Former Post-Office.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>ACTION: IT to make an amendment to the table re: the police station to ensure<br>clarity on position.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Essex County Council has a lot of similarities to Devon County Council \/<br>County Hall, and Avison Young have done work with them \u2013 hoping that the<br>learning from their work can be presented to DCC. If any District\/ Town<br>Council\u2019s would like to be included in this discussion, please let Ian know and<br>the invite can be extended to those interested in attending.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>With the removal of NHS England there is a lot of organisational change<br>happening, in 6 months&#8217; time there will be more options available for colocation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>ACTION: Matt C to give an update on NHS estate at the next Board meeting in<br>July.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"3\">3. Mid-Devon Affordable Housing Programme \u2013 Richard Marsh, Director of Place, Mid Devon District Council<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Mid Devon have had success with the Prisoner\u2019s Building Homes Programme,<br>Large amount of BLRF funding and have developed a high number of affordable homes. Multiple awards have been obtained for the Z-pods.<br>Richard ran through tips to building affordable homes \u2013<br>\u2013 Using HRA land, particularly old garage slides, space left over after planning<br>(in-fill sites) etc.<br>\u2013 Investing to ensure the homes are sustainable and efficient in the long-term to<br>keep the costs of running the homes as low as possible for the residents.<br>\u2013 Keep elected members up to date in Committees to try to secure political<br>support.<br>\u2013 Complete the pre-work around utilities early as there can be a long wait to get<br>sign off.<br>\u2013 Ensure the Housing Teams know the properties and estates well including<br>their conditions, this speeds up the process as a lot of the work is then<br>complete before putting in the bid.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The process for building is usually to identify sites, identify housing needs,<br>undertake feasibility study between our teams and z-pods, create planning<br>submission to understand if we have something viable, get local engagement,<br>application submission and process, the contract awarded, and it progresses from there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><br>Successes to date \u2013<br>\u2013 St Andrews Place in Cullompton &#8211; multi-award winning<br>\u2013 Sandford<br>\u2013 Tiverton<br>\u2013 Bringing funding on board to support these through BLRF and<br>Prisoners Building Homes Programme \u2013 another 29 homes supported<br>\u2013 Created housing for care leavers through the Z-pod scheme<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Mid Devon is continuing with the progress and are now moving towards larger sites (estimated around 500 more stock over 5-year span), whilst refreshing the housing strategy, supporting our housing agenda and looking to meet the recommendations of the Housing Commissioner.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The timescale between undertaking the BLRF and starting work on site\/ delivering the homes was so quick that people within the central team and MHCLG were wondering if it was a mistake, the model that Mid-Devon are using is now proven to be quick and deliverable which gives the confidence to award future funding. It\u2019s clear what the funding is being used for, why and when.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><br>The CCA is going to speak to MHCLG about the investment pipeline for the CCA to support the ambitions we\u2019re responsible for and to be able to understand what funding is available, this is a likely outcome from the spending review. ACTION: Sean A to update at the next meeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"a-1\">4. Any Other Business <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>ACTION: Add the following to the next meeting agenda:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Comprehensive spending review update from Homes England \u2013 Natalie<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The strategic activities each partner is undertaking \u2013 All (so everyone<br>understands the key things for each other and to share with teams). It\u2019s important<br>to involve the CCA in what already exists, so they can lobby plans\/ policies<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"future-meeting-dates\">Future Meeting Dates<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Wednesday 16th July 2025<br>Wednesday 22nd October 2025<\/p>\n<\/div><\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Attendees Keir Duffin (Chair \u2013 deputising for Mel Sealey), Iain Masters, Richard Marsh, Patrick Rafferty, Paul Britton, David Carter, Alison Hayward, Leroy Venn, Neil Blaney, Ian Thompson, Sean Anstee, Hannah Dixon (minutes) Apologies Helen Bone, Ian Collinson, Roger Clotworthy, David &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/economy\/document\/ope-partnership-board-minutes-30-april-2025\/\" aria-label=\"Continue reading OPE Partnership Board Minutes &#8211; 30 April 2025\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2829,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"documents_category":[],"class_list":["post-5540","dcc_docs_document","type-dcc_docs_document","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":{"updated":"","dccdocs_documents":null,"section-guidance":"","sections":null},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/economy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/documents\/5540","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/economy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/documents"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/economy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/dcc_docs_document"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/economy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2829"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/economy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/documents\/5540\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5541,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/economy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/documents\/5540\/revisions\/5541"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/economy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5540"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"dcc_docs_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/economy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/documents_category?post=5540"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}