Issue - meetings

That Full Council:

·         Approve the Local Plan Regulation 19 Part 1: Policies document as set out in Appendix 1 for public consultation in accordance with the regulations and the Local Development Scheme

·         Grant delegated authority to the Head of Planning Policy & Conservation and the Director of Finance in consultation with the Lead Member for the Local Plan to make any subsequent changes that are required before the documents are published for consultation

·         Grant delegated authority to the Head of Planning Policy & Conservation and the Director of Finance in consultation with the Lead Member for the Local Plan to propose minor modifications to the Local Plan and submit the plan to the Planning Inspectorate for examination in public.

·         Agree significant proposed modifications to the Local Plan be agreed by Urgent Decision under the council’s constitution prior to submission to the Planning Inspectorate for examination in public.

At 8.00pm, the Chair adjourned proceedings to observe a minute’s silence in recognition of Holocaust Memorial Day.

Members paid tribute to the victims of the Holocaust and subsequent genocides, and reflected on the importance of remembrance and education. The Leader and other Members spoke briefly about the significance of the day, the Council’s participation in commemorative events, and the need to challenge antisemitism, intolerance and hatred in all its forms.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Stephen Giles-Medhurst, moved the recommendations out in the agenda relating to the publication of the Local Plan Regulation 19 Policies.

The Council were advised that approval would enable the document to be published for statutory Regulation 19 consultation, followed by submission to the Planning Inspectorate, subject to delegated authority for minor modifications.

In moving the motion, the Leader outlined the extensive work undertaken by officers and external consultants over several years, including Green Belt review, sustainability appraisal, transport evidence and repeated public consultations. Members were advised that the proposed Local Plan sought to balance housing need, infrastructure provision and Green Belt protection retaining approximately 73% of the District as Green Belt and proposing 7,027 dwellings, equating to approximately 56% of the Government’s standard method housing target.

Members debated the robustness of the evidence base, the likelihood of the Local Plan being found sound at examination, and whether a lower housing figure should have been pursued earlier under previous national planning policy frameworks. Differing views were expressed regarding the classification of land as Green Belt or grey belt, the consequences of failing to adopt a sound Local Plan, and the risk of increased speculative development in the absence of an adopted plan.

Several Members spoke in support of the proposed policies, citing the need for affordable housing, appropriate housing mix, infrastructure delivery, sustainability standards and certainty for residents. Other Members raised concerns regarding policy viability, potential impacts on development costs, and whether certain policy requirements could affect householders seeking minor development.

The Leader of the Council Announced that an amendment at Policy and Resources Committee had been accepted and would be incorporated into the policy wording.

“Part 1 – HOU1 – Housing Mix and Type (page 38).

iv. The proportions of homes to be built to the above standards should be applied to the housing mix of the development in terms of size and type in consultation with the council’s housing department to ensure that developments provide a mix of sizes and types adapted of wheelchair users that reflects local need.”

Councillor Edwards proposed an amendment, seconded by Councillor Reed to Policy HOU4.

“Provision for Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople

5.59 Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople have particular accommodation needs that require additional consideration. To ensure that members of these communities are able to access decent and appropriate housing with access to services including health and education, the council must make provision for accommodation to meet identified needs.

5.60 Planning Policy for Traveller Sites (PPTS) sets out the Government’s planning policy for traveller sites  ...  view the full minutes text for item 108

That Members of the Policy & Resources Committee:

·         Approve and recommend to Full Council the Local Plan Regulation 19 Part 1: Policies document as set out in Appendix 1 for public consultation in accordance with the regulations and the Local Development Scheme

·         Grant delegated authority to the Head of Planning Policy & Conservation and the Director of Finance in consultation with the Lead Member for the Local Plan to make any subsequent changes that are required before the documents are published for consultation

·         Grant delegated authority to the Head of Planning Policy & Conservation and the Director of Finance in consultation with the Lead Member for the Local Plan to propose minor modifications to the Local Plan and submit the plan to the Planning Inspectorate for examination in public.

·         Agree significant proposed modifications to the Local Plan be agreed by Urgent Decision under the council’s constitution prior to submission to the Planning Inspectorate for examination in public.

The Committee considered the Regulation 19 Part 2 Site Allocations document for the Local Plan, which sets out the proposed allocation of sites for development and protection prior to submission for examination.

Jon Bishop of Three Rivers Joint Residents Association addressed the committee and thanked Officers and Members for the extensive work undertaken on the local plan, nothing that the proposed policies represented a significant improvement on the current plan and reflected resident engagement, even where not all points had been accepted. He acknowledged the proposed level of housing growth as a pragmatic balance between meeting housing need and protecting the green belt.

Mr Bishop drew attention to a numerical inconsistency within Policy SP1, which he believed to be a typographical error, and raised concerns about the use of the term “overdevelopment” in relation to areas of fundamental importance, suggesting that clearer and more prescriptive wording would provide greater certainty. He also highlighted a technical issue relating to the 45 degree splay line in the appendices.

Mr Bishop further explained that the Association had submitted written suggestions seeking stronger policy wording, particularly where “should” was used instead of “must”, and emphasised the importance of clear, enforceable policies in light of potential changes to the planning system. He concluded by encouraging the Committee to progress the Local Plan to Regulation 19 without delay.

Officers introduced the report and explained that this represented the final stage of plan preparation before submission to the Planning Inspectorate, with the forthcoming Regulation 19 consultation focused on matters of legal compliance and soundness. Officers advised that the Site Allocations document had been developed alongside the Part 1 Policies document and reflected the outcomes of extensive evidence gathering, sustainability appraisal and engagement through the Local Plan Sub-Committee process. It was emphasised that the allocations sought to balance identified development needs with environmental constraints, including Green Belt considerations.

Members discussed the report and acknowledged the significant amount of work undertaken by officers and the Local Plan Sub-Committee. Some Members reiterated concerns raised previously about individual sites, particularly in relation to deliverability, infrastructure capacity and consistency with the Council’s wider spatial strategy. Other Members noted that while individual site concerns remained, the Regulation 19 stage was necessarily narrow in scope and that unresolved objections would be tested through the independent examination process.

Members also discussed the importance of ensuring that the Site Allocations document was robustly evidenced, internally consistent with the Part 1 Policies, and capable of being defended at examination. Officers confirmed that minor factual or typographical corrections could be made prior to publication under delegated authority, but that the Council must be satisfied that the document was sound in principle before proceeding to consultation.

The Committee recognised that delaying progression at this stage would risk undermining the overall Local Plan timetable and agreed that the appropriate mechanism for resolving outstanding objections would be through representations to the Planning Inspector.

An amendment was raised by Councillor Edwards and seconded by Councillor Reed.

“Provision for Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling  ...  view the full minutes text for item 15