Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

There were no apologies for absence.

To confirm, as a correct record, the minutes of the Local Plan Sub-Committee meeting held on 7 August 2025.

The minutes of the Local Plan Sub-Committee meeting held on 7 August 2025 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

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 Chairman to rule on the admission of such items.

There was none.

To receive any declarations of interest.

There were none.

If the Sub-Committee wishes to consider the remaining items in private, it will be appropriate for a resolution to be passed in the following terms:-

“that under Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972 the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item(s) of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined under Paragraphs 1 to 7 of Schedule 12A to the Act. It has been decided by the Council that in all the circumstances, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.”

The Chair moved that under Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972 the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined under Paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A to the Act. 

On being put to the vote this was carried, the voting being 5 in favour and 3 against (Councillor Mitchell arrived after the vote had been taken).

RESOLVED:

That under Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972 the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined under Paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A to the Act.  It has been declared by the Sub-Committee that in all the circumstances, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

A presentation will be provided at the meeting to aid Members’ consideration.

The Sub-Committee received a presentation and briefing from the Head of Planning Policy and Conservation which provided an update on the Green Belt Review and the potential sites for allocation.  There were no proposals for consideration or decision: the Sub-Committee was invited to note and comment on the update.  Questions were asked by Sub-Committee Members which were responded to by the Head of Planning Policy and Conservation.

The Sub-Committee noted that the final Green Belt Review (which also encompassed Grey Belt) had been received only very recently.  Officers were in the process of assessing and checking it and clarifying queries with the Council’s independent consultants.  Further work was required to produce the definitive list of sites: the outcome of site assessments, evidence work, and a definitive list of sites would be brought to a future meeting.  The intention was that the final Green Belt Review report would be made available to all Members, and to members of the public, for the 8 October meeting.

In concluding the presentation the Chair summarized that the key conclusions of the Green and Grey Belt Review were that it showed that the Council would fall significantly short of the new Government housing target figure of 13,312.  There was no way in which this target would be able to be met.

Additionally, it showed areas of large scale development which would fundamentally undermine the purpose of the Green Belt between south-east of Watford and east of South Oxhey; the area between Hemel Hempstead and Abbots Langley; and the area between Rickmansworth and Chorleywood.

Members noted that in addition to the 8 October meeting, at least one further meeting would be needed to consider the outcomes of additional evidence work such as the transport assessment.  Officers would seek to bring a definitive timeline for the remaining work to reach Regulation 19 stage to the 8 October meeting.

The Sub-Committee noted the presentation.