Agenda and minutes

An apology for abasence was received from Councillor Mrs S Buck.

The notes of the previous meeting held on 9 August 2017 were agreed as a correct record.

None.

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.

Councillor Peake declared an interest in item 9 – Looking at the Smaller Hamlets and Villages in the South of the Borough.

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

None.

Members wishing to speak pursuant to Standing Order 34 should inform the Chairman of their intention to do so and on 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.

None.

None.

The Local Plan Manager presented the report and provided an overview of the information on pages 10 to 14 of the Agenda.

The Local Plan Manager responded to questions relating to:

·        The definition and potential development of sites adjacent to the development boundaries.

·        Infill development opportunities in smaller villages and hamlets.

·        Policy DM2 – Development Boundaries.

·        Policy DM3 – Development in the Smaller Villages and Hamlets.

·        Breckland District Council Local Plan – now published for consultation (a copy of which is published on their website):

https://www.breckland.gov.uk/media/4486/Pre-Submission-Publication-Part-1/pdf/Breckland_Local_Plan_Pre-Submission_Publication_Part1

·        Ribbon development.

·        Development in flood risk areas and mitigation measures to address risks.

·        Potential development opportunities outside development boundaries.

·        Windfall sites being put forward for development.

·        Consultation of the Local Plan – Parish Councils able to submit any comments.

·        Mechanism to allow the Borough Council to monitor the process.

·        Flexibility in Borough Council’s policies to allow a continuous supply of plots for development.

·        Drainage issues and the potential impact on neighbouring properties.  The importance of ensuring that the Council’s policies were sound and workable was highlighted.

·        Five year land supply.

·        Consistent approach being adopted for potential development in smaller villages and hamlets.

·        Provision of care homes in the Borough and demand analysis to be undertaken in order to identify specific requirements.

With the aid of a PowerPoint Presentation, the Graduate Planner presented the draft boundary suggestions which had been reviewed since the last meeting for the following smaller villages and hamlets in the South of the Borough.

·         Barroway Drove.

·         Barton Bendish

·         Blackborough End

·         Boughton

·         Brookville

·         Crimplesham.Hay Green

·         Lakesend

·         Methwold Hythe

·         Nordelph

·         North Runcton

·         Pentney

·         Saddlebow

·         Salters Lode

·         Shouldham Thorpe

·         Tilney cum Islington

·         Tottenhill

·         West Dereham (North)

·         West Dereham (South)

·         West Dereham (overview)

·         Whittington

·         Wiggenhall St Mary the Virgin

·         Wretton

In response to questions, the Local Plan Manager explained that the sites which had been put forward in the recent call for sites were still being analysed and would be presented to the Task Group when available.

AGREED:  The Task Group discussed and agreed the development boundaries for the above smaller villages and hamlets, subject to the Local Plan Team checking information with Development Control colleagues for:

·         Whittington

·         Wiggenhall St Mary the Virgin

·         Wretton

The LDF Manager provided a verbal update, a summary of which is set out below.

In force

·         Brancaster

·         South Wootton

These two plans are part of the local development plan and therefore are being used to determine planning applications within their respective areas.

Post – Examination (moving towards referendum)

·         Walpole Cross Keys

·         North Runcton & West Winch (joint)

Both of the above plans have navigated the examination phase with the respective examiner’s concluding that following some modifications they recommend that the plan proceeds to referendum. This has been agreed by Cabinet and the referendums will be held on 28 September 2017, if successful they should come into force.

Designated Neighbourhood Area

·         Bircham

·         Castle Acre (conducting questionnaire – have held exhibitions, meeting next week)

·         Downham Market 

·         Gayton

·         Heacham (recent meetings, working on plan strategies, workshops in October)

·         Holme-next-the-Sea (drafting vision, aims, objectives policies)

·         Hunstanton (working towards their consultation, finalising maps and draft plan)

·         Sedgeford (held workshops/exhibitions, working up policies)

·         Snettisham (pre-submission consultation recently concluded, looking at a health check)

·         Terrington St John

·         Thornham (working up policies)

·         Tilney All Saints

·         Upwell (meetings with local community and business groups)

·         West Dereham

·         Grimston, Roydon and Congham Joint (currently out to Area Designation Consultation)

Expressed Interest

·         Boughton (looking to arrange initial meeting with us)

·         Denver

·         Dersingham (will contact us to arrange initial meeting)

·         East Winch

·         Emneth

·         Grimston (possibly with Congham)

·         Outwell

·         Pentney

·         Southery (arranged to meet with them in early November)

·         Stoke Ferry

·         Tilney St. Lawrence

·         Walpole

·         Watlington

·         Welney

·         West Lynn* (unparished area - exploring setting up a neighbourhood forum, not shown on the map)

·         Wretton

The next meeting of the Task Group will take place on Wednesday 11 October 2017 at 10 am in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, Saturday Market Place, King’s Lynn.

The next meeting of the Task Group would be held on Wednesday 11 October 2017 at 10.00 am in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, Saturday Market Place, King’s Lynn.

Councillor C J Crofts asked for his apologies to be recorded for the 11 October meeting.