Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor C Crofts.

To agree the notes of the previous meeting held on 9 December 2015.

The notes of the previous meeting held on 9 December 2015 were agreed as a correct record.

To consider any matters arising.

The LDF Manager provided the Task Group with some background information on the current position of the Council’s Five Year Land Supply.

Please indicate if there are any interests which should be declared.  A declaration of interest should indicate the nature of the interest (if not already declared on the Register of Interests) and the agenda item to which it relates.  If a disclosable pecuniary interest is declared, the Member should withdraw from the room whilst the matter is discussed.

These declarations apply to all members present, whether the Member is part of the meeting, attending to speak as a local Member on an item or simply observing the meeting from the public seating area.

There were no declarations of interest.

Members wishing to speak pursuant to Standing Order 34 should inform the Chairman of their intention to do so and what items they wish to be heard before the meeting commences.  Any Member attending the meeting under Standing Order 34 will only be permitted to speak on those items which have been previously notified to the Chairman.

There were no Members present under Standing Order 34.

a)    Homework (Verbal Update).

b)    DRAFT Main Modifications proposed (attached).

a)            Homework

The LDF Manager reminded the Task Group that during the Examination Hearing the Inspector had made notes/questions and made suggestions to the Borough Council.

The Inspector wrote up notes from each session and asked the Borough Council to respond.  The Inspector would also circulate the notes to attendees who attended the sessions and invite them to make any comments.  On 12 December 2015 the Programme Officer published the sessions and attendees were given one month to reply ending on 22 January 2016.  The Inspector may then suggest that the Borough Council make modifications to the Plan.

The Scheme of Modifications would be presented to Cabinet on 1 March 2016 for approval.

b)            Draft Main Modifications Proposed

The Chairman, Councillor Blunt advised that the Draft Modifications Scheme would be considered at the Cabinet Sifting on 8 February 2015.  The Task Group would have an opportunity to input into the draft scheme at their next meeting on 10 February 2016.  He advised that the draft scheme had been drawn up in response to consultation responses received.

The LDF Manager explained that the document had been prepared for the Inspector based on the responses received from the public.  The document provided the Borough Council with an opportunity to comment.  The Inspector would then prepare a report.

Councillor Peake asked if it would be necessary to hold a meeting of the Task Group to consider the Inspector’s response.

In response to questions from Councillor Moriarty, the LDF Manager explained that it was within the Council’s remit to disagree with the Inspector’s report, but the officer’s advice would be that the Council should agree the Inspector’s report as part of the democratic process.  The Chairman, Councillor Blunt added that it would be unwise for Cabinet to ignore the modifications proposed by the Inspector.

The LDF Manager informed Members that the Main Modifications Scheme attached at page 11 of the Agenda set out a series of significant main changes to the policies/allocations.  It was explained that the Borough Council would have authority to make minor contextual changes.  The Inspector would go through the list prior to Cabinet to ensure that everything was technically correct.

The LDF Manager tabled a document which was from the “homework” exercise and set out a list of other changes to be made.  The Task Group’s attention was drawn to the following bullet points:

·         ‘At Least’ for the housing allocations.

·         Policy DM19 – Green Infrastructure/Habitats Monitoring and Mitigation.

The LDF Manager explained that the above bullet points had been in response to the comments made by the Inspector during the Examination process.  It was necessary to ensure that the housing allocations in the Plan met the Core Strategy requirement.  The Borough Council was required to have allocation of 16,500 housing units in the Core Strategy, inserting the words “at least” would ensure the minimum number was delivered.

In response to comments and questions from the Task Group, the LDF Manager explained that the changes were necessary to demonstrate to the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

Report attached.

The LDF Manager tabled an updated timetable and highlighted the following key dates:

·         Cabinet Meeting – 1 March 2016

·         Council Meeting – 24 March 2016

·         Consultation (6 weeks) – Friday 1 April to Friday 13 May 2016 (to be confirmed).

To note that the next scheduled meeting of the LDF Task Group will be held on Wednesday 10 February 2016 at 10 am in the Committee Suite, King’s Court, Chapel Street, King’s Lynn.