A reply from Councillor Cotton (older correspondence- August)

We remain very concerned that residents’ views will continue to be ignored during the upcoming public engagement events. We should be allowed to have specialist representation in these events that is paid for by the developer. We should also be involved in setting the agenda of the engagement events and there should be enough meeting slots for all residents who want to attend to be able to attend. None of these things are happening despite our requests for them. Moreover, special meetings need to occur for culturally important places like the Vine Inn Pub – no appropriate meeting has been arranged for them to our knowledge despite requests for it.

From: Marcia Wynter <Marcia.Wynter@birmingham.gov.uk> on behalf of Councillor John Cotton <John.Cotton@birmingham.gov.uk>

Sent: Wednesday, August 30, 2023 3:45 pm
To: ***REDACTED***
Subject: FW: Ladywood Regeneration Project Recall the Report to Cabinet

Dear ***REDACTED***,

Thank you for your email regarding the proposed Ladywood regeneration project,  I totally understand such a major project can be unsettling and we have inevitably received many questions from residents since the confirmation of St Joseph Homes Ltd as our development partner.

I will address the points you have raised in turn :

• The leaflets you referred to which were issued in 2019 were produced to inform residents on progress relating to the procurement process and were not intended to be considered as consultation. This was clear in the leaflets.  A formal procurement process was in progress which did not permit wider consultation. It was always the intention for public consultation to be undertaken following the award of the contract with , a detailed programme of consultation and engagement being delivered in early 2024. The programme of which will be confirmed shortly through the publication of the Council‘s Residents Charter.

• There is a contractual obligation for the reprovision or refurbishment of all existing social housing as a minimum requirement of the scheme. Following detailed public consultation, a planning application will be submitted which the Council as Local Planning Authority, must consider against current planning policy levels of affordable housing content. The Council and St Joseph are working to explore opportunities for external grant funding to maximise the level of affordable housing and this will ultimately determine the final quantity of social housing to be delivered.

• In relation to the procurement process the Council undertook this process in accordance with the requirements of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (PCR 2015) with support from external professional advisors. The outcome of this procurement process was approved by the Council’s Cabinet in the report dated 27^th June 2023. Full details of the process were detailed in the report which enabled Cabinet to make its decision. The call-in period for the Cabinet decision has now passed and in accordance with the Council’s constitution, the decision stands and will not be reconsidered.

• Your letter refers to allegations about the Berkley Group. The terms of the settlement agreement reached with Berkeley’s ex-finance director are confidential, however in response to the concerns raised  (i) there was a thorough and extensive investigation by a senior barrister (then known as a QC) and a senior lawyer from a major international law firm which concluded the allegations made by the ex-finance director were unfounded; and (ii) the ex-finance director settled his claims including his whistleblowing claim which was withdrawn. Berkeley takes all its legal and regulatory obligations extremely seriously and has done so since it was founded, almost 50 years ago. As part of the selection stage of the procurement process, I can assure you the interested companies had to undergo a detailed evaluation and moderation as part of the procurement process within the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) Regulations.

Yours sincerely

Councillor John Cotton

Leader of Birmingham City Council 

Labour & Co-op Councillor for Glebe Farm & Tile Cross Ward

Birmingham City Council | The Council House, Victoria Square, Birmingham B1 1BB

Tel 0121 464 4000 | Email john.cotton@birmingham.gov.uk

OFFICIAL

OFFICIAL

From: ***REDACTED***
Sent: 12 August 2023 12:15
To: Councillor John Cotton <John.Cotton@birmingham.gov.uk>
Subject: Ladywood Regeneration Project Recall the Report to Cabinet

                             

12t^h August 2023

Councillor John Cotton

Council House
Victoria Square
Birmingham
B1 1BB

Dear Councillor Cotton

Ladywood Regeneration Project – Recall Report to Cabinet 27^thJune 2023

I am concerned that Birmingham City Council did not follow its consultation procedures set out in leaflets send to residents from June 2019 until December 2019. In addition, there is no mention of the 8 principles as set out in the 2019 leaflets in the Report to Cabinet 27^thJune. 

In addition, it is concerning that the Ladywood Regeneration Project is not in line with Birmingham’s Housing Strategy particularly in relation of meeting the target of 35% of affordable homes. In fact, this project also reduces the housing stock that Birmingham City Council own by a considerable amount. 

Taking into consideration that:

• Birmingham City Council has not followed its consultation procedures and therefore the voice of Central Ladywood residents were not involved in deciding an appropriate developer.

• The regeneration project of Ladywood is not in line with Birmingham’s Housing Strategy and does not reflect information provided in the original consultation leaflets i.e. there was no mention of demolishing the whole of the area including good quality homes.

• Concerns that two developers pulled out leaving only one and that in relation to the preferred bidder the project is approved in principle, and subject to the completion of the phased site assembly agreements in respect of the land edged in red which includes making Compulsory Purchase Order of good quality homes. This was not discussed with residents prior to the Cabinet Report 27^th June 2023. It has also come to light that the preferred bidder was involved in a £9.5 million out of court settlement in relation to allegations of Berkeley Group bosses engaging in years of bribery. Source of information Guardian Wednesday 21^st November 2018.

In light of the above I request:

• The Report to Cabinet 27 June 2023 to be recalled and then put out to tender once a full and proper consultation with residents has been conducted. The outcomes from the current report provides little means of opportunity to ensure a resident-driven regeneration project. Residents want to retain their communities and to be actively involved in all decision-making procedures to regenerate the area. 

• I wish that the 8 principles, and in particular principles 7 and 8 that do not feature in the Report to Cabinet, are reinstated to become an integral part of the procurement process and therefore the Report.  

Yours sincerely

***REDACTED***