Sustainable Growth and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee - 29 July 2025

The Sustainable Growth & Development Overview and Scrutiny Committee opened the meeting with the standard declaration that no members had any interests to declare. A motion moved by Councillor Mitchell and seconded by Councillor Rogers was carried, confirming that the minutes of the committee’s 1 July 2025 meeting were a correct record and should be signed by the Chairman.

The Committee heard an update from the Strategic Director for Sustainable Growth & Place on the status of Newquay Spaceport. He clarified that, although no launches are currently underway, the site retains a Civil Aviation Authority licence that can be varied or renewed as future launch plans are developed, meaning the spaceport remains active in partnership and infrastructure work. A further question from Graham Smith (St Mabyn) concerned the Truro Pydar regeneration project, for which the Council voted an additional £10 million 15 months earlier. The Director reported that the new landowner, Treveth, is reviewing the masterplan and expects to complete this by September 2025; a fresh Reserved Matters planning application for Phase 1 is slated for submission in Spring 2026. When asked about alternative uses for the Pydar area, the Director noted that extensive consultation had produced an outline mixed‑use plan with flexibility to vary elements as needed, and that any alternatives would be explored within that existing framework.

The Democratic and Governance Officer presented the draft Sustainable Growth and Place work programme, noting that the item on the Change Action Plan/Net Zero Target would be moved from the November meeting to the 7 October 2025 meeting to allow the Committee’s recommendations to be incorporated into the Cabinet report. A motion moved by Councillor Towell and seconded by Councillor Gow was passed, approving the draft work programme subject to the October consideration of the Climate Change Action Plan/Net Zero Target. The resolution also set out a protocol for any mid‑year amendments: the Chairman, in consultation with the Vice‑Chairman, Senior Responsible Officer and Democratic Services Lead, would determine changes, which the Senior Responsible Officer would enact and promptly notify the Committee.

The Acting Head of Property briefed the Committee on the Council Farms Estate 20‑year strategy and 10‑year business plan, highlighting four guiding principles—Farming Futures, Environmental Growth, Vibrant Communities and Sustainable Estate—and outlining current challenges such as capital pressures, revenue constraints, high maintenance costs and tenant demand. The Strategic Director recommended a strategic review of the estate’s size and purpose, suggesting external expertise to assess whether to retain, reduce or expand the holdings and how they align with broader housing and food‑production goals. In response, the Interim Head of Assets acknowledged limited progress on tenant progression, confirmed market‑rate rents, and noted the Council’s additional repair responsibilities compared with private landlords. The Committee also clarified that farm rents are calculated either on productive capacity or market value, neither of which currently reflects the full cost of estate maintenance. Finally, Cabinet members for Transport, Housing and Economic Regeneration provided briefings on forthcoming initiatives: transport fare protections and parking tariff consultation, temporary and key‑worker housing strategies, and the need for greater integration and scrutiny of arms‑length bodies such as Cornwall Airport Limited.