Agenda and minutes

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

The notes of the meeting held on 21 February 2018 were agreed as a correct record.

Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG)

The Local Plan Manager confirmed that an officer from the CCG would be attending the next Task Group meeting on 11 April 2018.

Norfolk Strategic Planning Framework

The Local Plan Manager informed the Task Group that the report was approved at Cabinet on 13 March 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.

There were no declarations of interest.

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.

Councillor T Parish for the whole Agenda.

There was none.

The Local Plan Manager and Senior Planner provided an overview on the Government consultation - changes to national planning policy launched on 5 March 2018.

It was explained that now that the proposed content of the revised draft NPPF was known, the Task Group and officers could explore the documents, discuss possible implications for the Local Plan review, and start to consider potential options moving forward.

The Task Group’s attention was drawn to the following sections of the consultation document:

·         Greater responsibility.

·         Maximising the use of land.

·         Maintaining strong protections for the environment.

·         Ensuring the right homes are build.

·         Higher quality and design.

·         More transparent planning process.

·         Achieving sustainable development.

·         Plan-making.

·         Decision-making.

·         Delivering a sufficient supply of homes.

·         Housing Delivery Test.

·         Promoting sustainable transport.

·         Supporting high quality communications.

·         Making effective use of land.

·         Achieving well designed places.

·         Affordable housing.

·         Developer contributions

·         Further changes to the planning system and further consultations.

·         Timescales.

The Planning Policy Manager, Senior Planner and Graduate Planner responded to questions relating to:

·         Level of responses received to previous consultation documents.

·         Housing delivery test/ensuring delivery of sites allocated.

·         Local authorities considering revised arrangements for completion of development following approval of planning permission – for example, 3 years to 2 years.

·         Five year land supply.

·         Custom and Self Build Initiative could assist in progressing stalled sites.

·         Employment needs.

·         Density per individual site.

·         Borough Council’s Design policy.

·         Flexibility to ensure right homes built e.g. starter homes.

·         Neighbourhood Plans – funding/process of adoption and review requirements/process – every 2 years.

·         Affordable housing.

·         Starter Homes.

·         Pre-commencement conditions.

·         Viability assessment.

·         Implications of Local Plan being reviewed on a 5 year basis.

·         Sustainable development.

·         Planning permissions for development outside the existing development boundaries.

·         Core planning principles.

·         Housing numbers required in the currently plan to 2026.

·         Exception sites.

·         Transport in rural areas and necessity to use a car to access services in local towns.

·         Community Infrastructure Levy.

·         Cumulative impacts on the road network.

·         Allocation of sites/part of site(s).

·         Agricultural land/use of redundant farm buildings for potential housing units.

·         Pre-application consultation/charges.

·         Statutory consultees.

AGREED:  The Local Plan Team to draft a response to the consultation document and email to the Task Group to consider prior to the deadline of 10 May 2018.

The next meeting of the Task Group will take place on Wednesday 11 April 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 Wednesday 11 April 2018 at 10 am in the Card Room, Town Hall, Saturday Market Place, King’s Lynn.

Councillors J Moriarty and S Sandell offered apologies for the meeting.