Agenda and minutes

AGREED:  Councillor T Bubb be appointed Vice-Chair for the meeting.

An apology for absence was received from Councillor R Blunt.

The notes of the previous meeting held on 14 August 2019 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 A Ryves was present under Standing Order 34 for all items.

Councillor A Kemp was present under Standing Order for Item 8.

There was no Chairman’s correspondence.

The Planning Policy Manager presented the paper which explored the housing need, the current housing delivery and supply (based upon the 2018/19 Housing Trajectory), and what this could mean in terms of the Local Plan review going forward.  There are a few sections which cover these elements.  This is then all pulled together and presented in a new calculation.

The Planning Policy Manager responded to questions relating to:

·         Local housing need and the number of houses required spread over the 20 year plan (2016 – 2036).

·         Different types of housing units – houses, bungalows, flats, older person accommodation, etc.

·         Windfall sites and how they were measures as part of the completions.

·         Custom and Self Build plots.

·         Infill development.

·         Permitted development outside the development boundary.

·         Requirement for flexibility in numbers.

·         Government target for delivery of housing.

·         Housing Delivery Target (it was noted that a Cabinet report would be considered at 24 September 2019 meeting).

·         Role and influence of Neighbourhood Plans and assistance provided by the council.

·         Five year land supply

·         Refusal of Knights Hill Planning Application and impact on housing numbers.

·         Information be circulated to Parish Councils when available.

·         Methodology/assessment of Brown Field Sites.  It was noted that some Brown Field sites had been included in the allocation.

·         West Winch Relief Road and proposed development.

AGREED:  1) The Task Group agreed, in principle, for the Planning Policy Team to progress as outlined in the report.

2) Parish Councils be informed of the latest housing numbers/proposals as soon as possible.

The Planning Policy Manager provided an overview of the strategic approach to climate change and a policy (first draft).

It was explained that the NPPF emphasised the important role the planning system must take in supporting the movement towards a low carbon economy.  It was noted that plans must respond in an appropriate manner, with reference to their local environment, putting mitigation and adaptation measures in place to cope with the risks of coastal change, flood risk and rising temperatures.  One example of change has been shown in the Flood risk assessments; climate change allowances guidance.  For the East of England the cumulative rise from 1990 to 2115 is expected to be 1.21m.  This had been built into the strategic flood risk assessment which supported the Local Plan Review.

The Portfolio Holder – Environment, Planning Policy Manager and Environmental Health Manager responded to questions relating to:

·         Target for reduction of carbon footprint.  It was noted that further work was required before the council’s target could be confirmed.

·         The Climate Change Act (2008) amended the UK legislation in June 2019 to become carbon neutral by the year 2050.

·         Corporate approach being taken by borough council to address climate change.

·         Building Regulations standards for new development.

·         Any measure to address climate change would need to be viable.

·         Objective of Habitats Regulation Levy.

·         Warwick District Council - Strategic approach to sustainability and climate change.  It was noted that the council had looked at the approach taken by other local councils, but had not included Warwick.

·         Potential mitigation measures, for example, planting of trees.

·         Timeframe for presentation of revised policies to the Task Group.

·         Services being available to new development, an example was given of Broadband standards.

·         Settlement Hierarchy - types of housing proposed and housing need.

·         Government announcement that all new housing units to have a car charging point installed.

·         Sustainable transport and the King’s Lynn Transport Study.

·         Opportunity to amend existing policies to include reference to climate change.

·         Air Quality Plan.

·         Climate change issues discussed as part of the pre-application planning process.

·         Audit to be undertaken on the carbon footprint in West Norfolk.

Councillor de Whalley referred to the pro-rata carbon footprint and informed the Task Group that he had contacted the Tindall Centre in Manchester and provided an overview of his discussions with the centre.

AGREED: 1) The Planning Policy Team to research the strategic approach to sustainability and climate change including Warwick District Council.

2) Revised draft climate change policy to be presented to a future Task Group meeting.

The next meeting of the Task Group will take place on Thursday 19 September 2019 at 2.00 pm in Meeting Room 2-4, King’s Court, Chapel Street, King’s Lynn.

The next meeting of the Task Group will take place on Thursday 19 September 2019 at 2.00 pm in Meeting Room 2-4, King’s Court, Chapel Street, King’s Lynn.