Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Mrs S Buck, S Sandell and T Parish.

The notes of the meeting held on 11 July 2018 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 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 B  Long was present under Standing Order 34.

There was no Chairman’s correspondence.

The Task Group received a PowerPoint presentation from the Planning Policy Manager and Senior Planner (copy of which had been attached to the Agenda).

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

·         Strategic Policies in the Local Plan.

·         Non-Strategic Policies in the Local Plan.

·         Densities.

·         Economy.

·         Environmental – making effective use of land.  Areas of AONB/character of landscape.

·         Deliverability and sustainable development.

·         Pre-commencement conditions – timescale in relating to the planning process.

·         Pre-application advice and liaison with neighbouring councils.

·         Design – definition of poor design.

·         Affordable housing

·         Local Housing need – methodology.

·         Sites being brought forward within specified timescale.

·         Process for allocated sites in joint ownership.

·         Compulsory Purchase Orders.

·         Borough Council’s responsibility for delivery of homes in the Borough.

·         Infrastructure requirements.

·         Role of Neighbourhood Plans in the planning process.

·         Broadly in line with the current Local Development (LDS) a draft version of the Local Plan review, it is anticipated to be published for public consultation Q4 2018/Q1 2019.  With the pre-submission consultation currently anticipated Q3 2019 with an examination to follow.  Link to current LDS:https://www.west-norfolk.gov.uk/info/20214/emerging_local_plan/500/local_development_scheme

·         Rural exception sites – market housing and new Entry level sites.

·         Housing Delivery Test.

·         Housing trajectory.

·         Importance of Borough Council maintaining a 5 year land supply.

·         Future role of the Local Plan Task Group.

·         Brownfield Sites and cost to clear sites for development.

·         Green Infrastructure.

·         Custom and self-build opportunities.

·         Different types of housing including park homes.

The Chairman, Councillor Blunt suggested that the Task Group be sent the link to the NPPF and the briefing note from Historic England which are set out below:

Link to NPPF 2:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-planning-policy-framework--2

Link to the summary we mentioned from Historic England (please note there is an error in the last bullet point on page 3,  the word not is missing, so it should read ‘Sites are not to be allocated adjacent to existing settlements for entry level exception sites……..’

http://content.historicengland.org.uk/content/docs/planning/he-nppf-briefing-jul18.pdf

The Chairman, thanked the Planning Policy Manager and Senior Planner for the presentation.

To consider passing the following resolution:

“That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act, 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act”.

RESOLVED:  That under Section 100(4)(40) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act.

The Senior Planner provided an overview of the initial draft Sustainability Appraisal and responded to questions from the Task Group.

RETURN TO OPEN SESSION

The next meeting of the Task Group will take place on Wednesday 12 September 2018 at 10 am in the Kempe Room, Town Hall, Saturday Market Place, King’s Lynn.

The next meeting of the Task Group will take place on Wednesday 12 September 2018 at 10 am in the Kempe Room, Town Hall, Saturday Market Place, King’s Lynn.