Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence was received from Councillor John Tankard, substituted by Councillor Matthew Bedford, and Councillor Chris Mitchell.

To receive the minutes of the Policy and Resources Committee meeting held on 11 September 2023.

As the minutes of the 11 September 2023 Policy and Resources Committee meeting were still to be finalised, the Chair proposed, and it was AGREED, that consideration of the minutes be deferred until the next meeting of the Committee.

Items of other business notified under Council Procedure Rule 30 to be announced, together with the special circumstances that justify their consideration as a matter of urgency. The Chair to rule on the admission of such items.

There were no items of Other Business.

To receive any declarations of interest.

There were no Declarations of Interest.

Summary

This report seeks Members’ approval of the Local Plan Regulation 18 Part Four:

Three Rivers’ Preferred Local Plan Lower Housing Growth Option – Protecting more

Green Belt land.

Recommendation

That the Policy & Resources Committee:

·        Approves and recommends to Full Council the Local Plan Regulation 18: Part Four: Three Rivers’ Preferred Local Plan Lower Housing Growth Option – Protecting More Green Belt Land document as set out in Appendix 1 for public consultation in accordance with the regulations and the Local Development Scheme.

·        That delegated authority be granted to the Head of Planning Policy & Conservation in consultation with the Lead Member for the Local Plan to make any minor changes that are required before the documents are published for consultation.

The Committee considered a report by Mr Marko Kalik, Head of Planning Policy and Conservation seeking Member’s approval to the Local Plan Regulation 18 Part 4: Three Rivers Preferred Local Plan Lower Housing Growth Option – protecting more Greenbelt land.

It was recommended that the Policy & Resources Committee:

1.    Approves and recommends to Full Council the Local Plan Regulation 18: Part Four: Three Rivers’ Preferred Local Plan Lower Housing Growth Option – Protecting More Green Belt Land document, as set out in Appendix 1, for public consultation in accordance with the regulations and the Local Development Scheme.

2.    That delegated authority be granted to the Head of Planning Policy & Conservation in consultation with the Lead Member for the Local Plan to make any minor changes that are required before the documents are published for consultation.

3.    That public access to the report be immediate.

4.    That public access to the decision be immediate.

At the invitation of the Chair, Mr Kalik presented the report. For the benefit of those Members who had not participated in Local Plan Sub Committee meetings where this Item had been considered, Mr Kalik provided a recap on how Members and officers had come to the present position and on proposals for the way forward.

At the conclusion of Mr Kalik’s presentation, the Committee heard a representation by Mr John Bishop on behalf of the Three Rivers Joint Residents’ Association.

The Committee then heard a detailed presentation by Councillor Giles-Medhurst, as Chair of the Local Plan Sub-Committee. During the course of his presentation, Councillor Giles-Medhurst moved that the Committee approve the Recommendations set out at Paragraph 16.1 of the report that was before the Committee.

The Committee then heard contributions from Members of the Local Plan Sub-Committee including Councillors Mitchell and Cooper.

In response to questions by Councillor Cooper, Mr Kalik provided the following information.

a)    Referring to Paragraph 2.12 of Appendix 1 to the report, officers had reviewed National Planning policies and were of the view that there were no exceptional circumstances that would allow use of an alternative method rather than using the Government’s Standard Method relative to housing targets.

b)    Officers had been holding regular “duty to cooperate” meetings with neighbouring authorities, infrastructure providers and other agencies. Therefore, it was unlikely that the Council would receive objections on the basis that it had not been holding “duty to cooperate” meetings.

The Committee then heard contributions from Councillors Hearn, Cooper, and Cox.

At this stage in the proceedings, Councillor Cooper moved the following amendment to the motion by Councillor Giles-Medhurst that the Committee approve the recommendations set out at Paragraph 16.1 of the report that was before the Committee:

Amendment 1

That the following sites be removed [from Appendix 1 – Local Plan Regulation 18 Part Four Consultation Document]:

1.    CFS3: Fraser Crescent and Woodside Road

2.    CFS6: Mansion House

3.    PCS21: Love Lane

4.    CFS65: Bucknalls Lane

5.    CFS16: Chorleywood Station Car Park

6.    EOS12.4: Maple Cross

7.    EOS7.0: Shepherds Lane and Mill  ...  view the full minutes text for item PR40/23

The minutes of the Policy and Resources Committee meeting held on xxxx were confirmed as a correct record and would be signed by the Chair of the meeting when possible to do.

The minutes of the Policy and Resources Committee meeting held on xxxx were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair of the meeting.