The Growth Scrutiny Committee of Waltham Forest Council met on Wednesday 27 March 2024 to discuss the council's forward plan, the inclusive growth and economy framework, updates on the University of Portsmouth's London Campus, the Local Plan Part 2, and planning enforcement. The meeting also reviewed the council's support for small businesses and enterprise, and the establishment of a new design review panel.

Forward Plan and Action Tracker

The committee was scheduled to review the council's forward plan and action tracker, which outlines upcoming items for scrutiny and the progress of previous actions. This included reviewing responses to requests for further information and actions stemming from previous themed reviews and discussions on planning performance.

Themed Review: Inclusive Growth and Economy Framework – Low Income Families

A key item on the agenda was the final report of the themed review into the Inclusive Growth and Economy Framework, focusing on families on low incomes. The report detailed the support offered by Waltham Forest Council to improve the economic participation of these families, and summarised the impacts of the pandemic and the cost of living crisis on affordability and quality of life. The report highlighted the new Stronger Communities transformation programme, which aims to proactively reach out to families before they experience crisis through better use of data. Expert witnesses from Lloyd Park Children's Charity and the Living Wage Foundation were scheduled to provide insights into the lived experiences of local families and the prevalence of low pay in the borough.

University of Portsmouth Update

The committee was set to receive an update on the University of Portsmouth's London Campus project. The report outlined the university's Vision for 2030, which includes expanding its physical and digital presence, and becoming a leading civic university. Progress on the London Campus was to be discussed, including its carousel teaching model, projected student population growth, and the development of its multi-site campus in Walthamstow. The report also detailed the local recruitment and engagement plan, apprenticeship offers, and wider civic university objectives, such as enhanced business support and academic expertise for local schools and colleges.

Local Plan Part 2

The meeting was scheduled to discuss the next steps for the Waltham Forest Local Plan Part 2, which identifies key and strategic sites for development across the borough. This part of the Local Plan sets out deliverables and expectations for new developments to ensure high-quality growth. The report detailed previous consultation rounds and outlined the approach to the upcoming statutory consultation, which was planned for summer 2024. The committee was to be informed about the revised Publication version of the plan and the process for its submission to the Secretary of State for examination.

Planning Enforcement

An update on the Planning Enforcement function was scheduled, including proposals to transition the service to the Place directorate to create an end to end planning service. The report highlighted historic challenges in recruiting and retaining qualified officers, and outlined the current prioritisation system for investigating alleged breaches of planning control. The committee was to be informed about next steps for service improvements, including a recovery plan to reduce the backlog of cases and the development of a new Planning Enforcement Policy.

Support for Small Businesses and Enterprise

The committee was to consider a report on the council's support for small businesses and enterprises. This included information on the nearly 13,000 businesses in the borough, with over 90% being micro businesses. The report detailed cross-borough activities, such as the Business Advisory Group and the British Intellectual Property Centre (BIPC), which supports startups. The council's pledge to the Federation of Small Businesses and the online platform Waltham Forest Connected were also to be discussed. Naila Ahmad, owner of Naila Ahmad London and BIPC Local Brand Ambassador, was scheduled to share her experiences as a small business owner.

Design Review Panel

The establishment of a new independent Waltham Forest design review panel was on the agenda. This new panel is set to replace the current one operated by the Design Council and aims to have a strong local identity, diverse expertise, and strong links with the borough. The report detailed the appointment of Frame Projects and the recruitment process for panel members. The panel's role in reviewing strategic development proposals, policy documents, and potentially delivering design training was to be discussed. The committee was also to consider recommendations regarding the possibility of a community panel in the long term and liaising with the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) about their panels.