Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors S Everett and Mrs V Spikings.

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The notes of the meeting held 30 August 2023 were agreed as a correct record.

There were no matters arising.

Please indicate if there are any interests which should be declared.  A declaration of an 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 Members 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.

There were no declarations of interest.

To consider any business which, by reason of special circumstances, the Chair proposes to accept as urgent under Section 100(b)(4)(b) of the Local Government Act, 1972.

There was no urgent business.

Members wishing to speak pursuant to Standing Order 34 should inform the Chair of their intention to do so and on what items they wish to be heard before a decision on that item is taken.

Councillor A Kemp was present under Standing Order 34  (arrived at 9.41 am).

There was no Chair’s correspondence.

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The Planning Policy Manager provided a verbal update, a summary of the key points are set out below:

·         Borough Council undertaking site assessment on the existing Traveller and Gypsy sites in the district in the same way as the housing site assessment to assess the suitability, etc.

·         In process of undertaking a Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (in collaboration with the Environment Agency) on a number of sites in Flood Zones 2 and 3.  The screening had shown about 13 sites cannot be allocated through the Local Plan  because of risk of flooding and in particular the depth of potential flooding,  should extreme events occur.

·         Borough Council will have to look for new sites to accommodate the needs of gypsies and travellers.

·         Call for sites consultation to commence 13 October 2023 for a 4 week period and would be a targeted consultation aimed at landowners, gypsy and traveller organisation, agents, etc.  Land only within Flood Zone 1 and size ranging from 0.2 to 3 hectares.

·         Slight delay to Local Plan Examination.  New timetable had been set out. Delay would be approximately 2 months.

·         Borough Council to formally write to the Planning Inspectors but had been made advised of the need to undertake a call for sites and explained the new timetable.  Letter to be published on the Council’s website advising of the new timetable.

·         Officers looking at Council owned land to ascertain if any sites would be suitable.

The Chair, Councillor Moriarty thanked the Planning Policy Manager for the update report and invited questions/comments from the Task Group, a summary of which is set out below.

In response to a question from Councillor de Whalley on the size of sites required in Flood Zone 1, the Planning Policy Manager explained that sites would be between 0.2 and 3 hectares in size.

Following a further question from Councillor de Whalley on the impact on the risk of the Local Plan not being delivered on time, the Planning Policy Manager explained that there would be a two month delay, but that the Local Plan should be adopted by the end of 2024 if a decision was made on the Gypsy and Traveller accommodation allocations.  It was highlighted that if the Council could not meet the gypsy and traveller requirements then it was highly unlikely the Local Plan would be found sound in its current form.

In response to a question from the Chair, Councillor Moriarty on the timetable and the dates for the examination hearing(s), the Planning Policy Manager explained that it was the decision of the Planning Inspector when the examination hearings would take place.  It was explained that when the original plan was submitted and it was found that the Council had to redo the Gypsy and Traveller Assessment last year, it was suggested that the main hearing sessions were held and the Gypsy and Traveller hearing shortly afterwards.  In conclusion, the Task Group was informed that the Planning  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

Please click on the link below to view the consultation on additional evidence base documents.

https://www.west-norfolk.gov.uk/info/20216/local_plan_review_2016_-_2036/1070/consultation_on_additional_evidence_base_documents

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The Planning Policy Manager provided a summary of the responses received to date as set out below:

·         Representation from a resident on the Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment querying the number of pitches in a particular table.

·         Natural England responded on no specific comments on any of the consultation documents.

·         Sedgeford Parish Council on the Spatial Strategy.

·         Watlington Parish Council on the Spatial Strategy and Settlement Hierarchy.

·         Councillor Kemp on West Winch and transport matters.

The Planning Policy Manager advised that additional respondes were anticipated and that the consultation finished on 20 October 2023.

The Chair, Councillor Moriarty thanked the Planning Policy Manager for the update report and invited questions/comments from the Task Group, a summary of which is set out below.

Under Standing Order 34, Councillor Kemp commented that it was difficult to access documents, copy or forward from the website.  The Chair, Councillor Moriarty advised Councillor Kemp that officers would address the issue following the meeting.  (Following the meeting Councillor Kemp received an explanation on how to access the documents via the links as follows: 

·         Click the link in the modgov agenda, copy the URL and email it to email address.

·         Open the link on mobile phone in safari, then press and hold finger on the link to the document to get the menu in the attached picture. Select copy link).

In response to questions and comments from Councillor Kemp on West Winch and the proposed number of homes to be delivered, the Planning Policy Manager explained that the West Winch topic paper was accompanied by 11 appendices and that the main modification on transport was set out in appendices 3 and 4.

Following comments made by Councillor Kemp on West Winch and the proposed number of homes and the link road, etc, Councillor Parish explained that he had raised the issues and had asked for negotiations to take place with the agent to identify a second trigger point and added that it was his understanding that the negotiations were ongoing and that hopefully there would be an improvement to the situation.

Following questions from Councillor de Whalley on biodiversity, he said that there were so many different documents interlinking it was difficult to know what had been deleted/were new elements.  Councillor de Whalley gave an example, the Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPD) and two planning applications in the system which were not subject to biodiversity net gain and added that it was not clear if existing applications should be subject to the guidance.  In response, the Planning Policy Manager explained that the SPD was written before the Biodiversity Net Gain would come into force in 2024.  Currently the Council could encourage planning applications to make the best of the natural habitat but there was no legal requirement to do so.  In conclusion, the Planning Policy Manager advised that in the future a policy could be included in the Local Plan once it became law to do  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

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Neighbourhood Plans

Councillor Parish provided a summary of items for the Task Group to consider as set out below.

Councillor Parish commented that articles had been published in both local and national newspapers recently and explained that the principal reason was the increasing number of neighbourhood plans in the coasts area having a principal residency requirement incorporated into the plan.  Reference was made to Old Hunstanton and that there was a requirement to reconsider this requirement in their Neighbourhood Plan.  Councillor Parish added that he supported this requirement.

Councillor Parish expressed concern regarding Hunstanton as they had missed out on principal residency requirement and they wished to have this within the Neighbourhood Plan as and when possible and hope that officers would provide the necessary assistance.

Councillor Parish added that he was also concerned that if all other parishes alongside, above and below Hunstanton had a principal residency requirement and Hunstanton did not, Hunstanton would be a mecca for second homes and there would be an impact on the town.

The Chair, Councillor Moriarty invited the Principal Planner Policy to address the Task Group on the principal residency requirement.  The Principal Planner Policy provide an overview on the principal residency requirement, current number of adopted Neighbourhood Plans in the Borough and number of Neighbourhood Plans being developed.

The Task Group was informed that:

·         To date, during the current (2023/24) financial year two plans have been passed at referendum/”made” – Burnham Market, Stoke Ferry.

·         Four further Plans are under examination and expected to come forward for referendum – Gayton and Gayton Thorpe, Grimston, Pott Row, Roydon and Congham, Old Hunstanton, Watlington.

·         Plans with principle residences policies include Heacham, Burnham Market and Old Hunstanton.

The Chair, Councillor Moriarty thanked officers for their assistance given to Parish Councils in developing Neighbourhood Plans.

Revision of the Local Plan

Councillor Parish stated that there was a meeting before the LPTG began again to decide whether the process of revising the current Local Plan should continue or not which he had agreed to and added that alongside the current Administration had identified items to be included in the revised Local Plan which were not in the current one.  He stated that ways were explored as to how this could be achieved and he did not wish to wait four years to undertake this work which would start in 2024 and provided an overview of the things which had been identified by the current Administration.

To be advised.

Date to be advised.

The Chair, Councillor Moriarty invited the Task Group to forward any future agenda items.