Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Mrs S Buck and J Moriarty.

The notes of the meeting held on 17 January 2018 were agreed as a correct record.

Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG)

The Local Plan Manager provided feedback from a recent meeting with the CCG and advised that an officer from the CGG would be attending the Task Group meeting on 11 April 2018.

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.

None.

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.

There was no urgent business.

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.

There were no Members present under Standing Order 34.

None.

The Senior Planner presented the Draft HELAA circulated with the Agenda.

Members were reminded that the Borough Council HELAA was a technical study which had been developed to determine the potential housing and economic land supply within the Borough over a 20 year period, from 2016 to 2036.

It was noted that the time frame accorded with the emerging Local Plan review.  The HELAA review would inform the Local Plan review’s preparation.

The Task Group was informed that assessments were based upon the information available at the time.  It was anticipated that further evidence may be provided in support of sites which would be rejected that could potentially bring them back into contention for allocation purposes.  It was also noted that further sites would be proposed for allocation through the Local Plan review preparation and consultation process.

The Senior Planner explained that the overall aim of the HELAA was to assess the potential land supply within the Borough and determine if the Borough Council was likely to be able to meet the identified need for housing and for economic growth.  It would also support discussions with other authorities through the duty to co-operate if the Borough Council needed assistance in delivering its development need.

The Task Group was advised that the HELAA therefore needed to demonstrate that there was at least enough dwelling capacity within the Borough to meet the FOAN of 13,400 to 2036.

An initial desktop review of those sites identified was conducted in line with the PPG.  Therefore, sites were excluded from the assessment where no feasible development potential could be demonstrated due to the presence of overwhelming constraints for the foreseeable future.

Members’ attention was drawn to the table set out on page 21 of the Agenda.

The Senior Planner advised that allowances for windfall from large and small sites within the BCKLWN five year housing land supply calculation.  It was explained that to avoid double counting of windfalls the Borough Council suggested that it would be reasonable for the windfall allowance only to be applied from year 4 onwards.

The Task Group noted that the windfall allowance in the latest published appraisal (based upon the 2016/17 housing trajectory, June 2017) was 238 dwellings per year.

The Senior Planner advised that the most recent 2016/17, Authority Monitoring Report (AMR) provided an update to the progress of the employment land allocations and indicated that of the 69 hectares, 67.2 were currently available.

The Borough Council have prepared a separate Retail Paper to support the Local Plan review.  The paper concluded that there was a need to provide for an additional 20,000 m² of retail floorspace in King’s Lynn Town Centre in the period to 2036.

The Task Group’s attention was drawn to the conclusion on page 40 of the Agenda.

In conclusion, the Senior Planner explained that the HELAA had identified that there was a potential land supply across the Borough which could deliver 23,775 dwellings over the next 20 years.  This was therefore in excess  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

The Task Group received an overview on the Study of Employment Land in the Borough as a background paper for the Local Plan Review.

The Local Plan Manager and Graduate Planner responded to questions relating to:

·         Provision of future retail service and flexibility within the Local Plan Review.

·         Areas of land for specific types of employment.

·         Allocation of employment land in rural areas.

·         Attracting high quality businesses to West Norfolk. 

·         Current stock of employment.

The Local Plan Manager commented that the Task Group could invite the Borough Council’s Regeneration, Heritage and Economic Development Manager and Business Development and Marketing Officer to a future meeting to provide an overview on how the Borough Council fulfilled growth ambitions.

Link to website:

https://norfolk.citizenspace.com/consultation/norfolk-strategic-framework/results/20171220-norfolk-strategic-framework-final.pdf

The Local Plan Manager explained that all individual authorities would be required to endorse the Norfolk Strategic Planning Framework which was the manifestation of all working groups and had been out to consultation.

The Norfolk Strategic Planning Framework would be presented to Cabinet on 13 March 2018.

The Chairman, Councillor Blunt informed the Task Group that Cabinet had received a briefing.

AGREED: That the Task Group noted the draft Cabinet report.

The Senior Planner explained that the engagement protocol for planning in health in Norfolk had come about in recognition of a need for greater collaboration between local planning authorities, health service organisations and public health agencies to plan for future growth and to promote health.

It was explained that the aim of the protocol was to formulate an engagement protocol containing a documented process outlining the input and linking of relevant NHS organisations and public health agencies with local planning authorities for planning for housing growth and the health infrastructure required to serve that growth.

Members were informed that in conjunction with NHS England, CCGs were required to produce Local Estates Strategies looking 5 years ahead, working with a wide range of local stakeholders.  The strategies were intended to allow the NHS to rationalise its estates, maximise the use of facilities, deliver value for money and enhance patients’ experiences.

The Senior Planner responded to questions relating to:

·         Working  with Clinical Commission Group (CCG) and other key stakeholders.

·         Consultation undertaken when planning permissions were submitted.

·         Provision of required infrastructure including Doctors’ surgeries and health care.

·         Attracting new businesses to West Norfolk.

·         Encouraging higher skilled professions to live and work in West Norfolk.

·         Provision of different categories of housing.

AGREED: The Task Group noted the Norfolk Health Protocol.

The Graduate Planner provided an update on the current Neighbourhood Plans as set out below:

·         Adopted Plans.

·         Those groups undertaking a review of the adopted Plan.

·         Expressed general interest.

·         Designated Neighbourhood Areas.

·         Potential submissions 2018.

The Graduate Planner relating to:

·         Why some Neighbourhood Plans had stalled.

·         Visits undertaken by the Local Plan Team to Parish Council meetings.

AGREED:  That the update be noted.

The next meeting of the Task Group will take place on Wednesday 14 March 2018 at 10 am in the Card Room, Town Hall, Saturday Market Place, King’s Lynn.

The next meeting of the Task Group would take place on Thursday 15 March 2018 at 10.00 am in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, Saturday Market Place, King’s Lynn.