Issue - meetings

To consider the new Directions for Growth Local Plan review.

This report was considered by the Scrutiny Commission on 8 November. An extract from the minutes of that meeting is attached.

Council gave consideration to the New Directions for Growth – Further Options Consultation Local Plan Review. During discussion, reference was made to:

·         The opportunities of exploring development interest from the west and north of the borough

·         The monopoly held by a small number of large developers

·         The costs of clearing brownfield sites in preparation for development

·         The use of the term “train station” in the document – it was requested that this be amended to “railway station”

·         The need to consult residents in particular areas before allocating the area for housing growth

·         The possible difficulties of parish councils in responding to consultations due to timing of their meetings

·         Concern about the development of agricultural land

·         The opportunities provided by garden villages

·         The need to put houses where infrastructure was already available.

Officers explained that the Strategic Housing and Employment Land Availability Assessment (SHELAA) had shown where sites had been put forward by interested land owners and developers and that a standard, high level assessment needed to be carried out on these sites but did not mean that the site was automatically allocated. It was emphasised that it was for the council to allocate the sites it wished to put forward but a robust case was required in order to defend appeals.

It was moved by Councillor Surtees and seconded by Councillor Allen that the recommendations within the report be accepted.

Councillor Bill along with six other councillors requested that voting on the motion be recorded. The vote was taken as follows:

Councillors Allen, Bessant, Cook, Hall, Kirby, Ladkin, MacDonald, Morrell, Nickerson, Roberts, Smith, Surtees, Sutton, Ward and Williams voted FOR the motion (15);

Councillors Bill, Bray, Cartwright, D Cope; G Cope, Crooks, Hodgkins, Hollick, Lynch, Nichols and Witherford voted AGAINST the motion (11).

The motion was therefore declared CARRIED and it was

RESOLVED –

(i)            The New Directions for Growth – local plan review consultation document be approved;

(ii)           The undertaking of a six-week period of consultation on the new directions for growth – local plan review document during January and February 2019 (exact dates to be determined) be agreed;

(iii)          Authority be delegated to the Head of Planning in liaison with the relevant Executive member to make minor drafting / presentational changes to the documents in order to assist with clarification and/or explanation prior to it being published for consultation.

To consider the new directions for growth local plan review consultation document.

Members received a report in relation to the New Directions for Growth – Local Plan Review consultation document. Concern was expressed that developers were holding a lot of land but were not willing to develop nor sell it, and that the system favoured large developers rather than local people wanting to stay in their local area.

Discussion ensued on the government’s introduction of a housing delivery test to judge local authorities on housing built. The mechanisms to achieve this were still being investigated.

RESOLVED –

(i)            The New Directions for Growth – Local Plan Review consultation document be endorsed;

(ii)           Council be RECOMMENDED to:

a.    Approve the undertaking of a six-week period of consultation on the document during January and February 2019;

b.    Delegate authority to the Head of Planning in liaison with the relevant Executive member to make minor drafting /presentational changes to the documents in order to assist with clarification and/or explanation prior to it being published for consultation.