Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

The notes of the meeting held on 4 March 2020 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 a decision on that item is taken.

There were no Members present under Standing Order 34.

There was no Chair’s correspondence.

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The Planning Policy Manager provided an overview of the preparation and progress of the Local Plan as set out in the diagram on page 45 of the Agenda.

The Planning Policy Manager and Principal Planner (Policy) responded to questions and comments in relation to:

Draft Local Plan Version 0.1

·         Both electronic and paper copies of the Local Plan document being made available to the Task Group.

·         Links to other documents would be included in the Local Plan document.

·         Changes to the document would be highlighted and a summary included in the paper copy.

·         All comments would be collated and incorporated into Version 0.2 of the document.

·         Timescale to meet the Local Development scheme timetable/frequency of future Task Group meetings/Cabinet and Council meetings.

·         How the draft local plan document would be considered by the Task Group – it was suggested on a section by section basis to be identified prior to each scheduled meeting.

General Questions and Comments

·         Allocation of previous sites and potential for sites to come forward for development.

·         Recent Government announcement in relation to Greenfield sites.

AGREED: 1) Both electronic and paper copies of the Local Plan document be made available to the Task Group.

2) Officers to present options on frequency of meetings to meet November 2020 deadline.

PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT THE FULL DEBATE CAN BE VIEWED ON YOU TUBE

The Principal Planner (Policy) gave a Powerpoint presentation (copy attached).

The Task Group also received a report circulated with the Agenda.

The Principal Planner (Policy) and Planning Policy Manager responded to questions and comments in relation to:

·         Knights Hill – the Secretary of State’s decision on the planning appeal.

·         Impact of COVID on the economy specifically relating to the possibility of less houses being built.

·         Borough Council’s Recovery Plan in response to COVID.  The action plan which require inclusion of deliverable sites.

·         Housing Delivery Test (and the impact of no development taking place for 3 months). 

·         Government announcement relating to conversion of retail premises to housing without planning permission being required (permitted development rights).

·         Number of current planning applications with outline planning permission in relation to number of applications which had commenced development.

·         Importance of the Borough Council maintaining a five-year land supply.

·         National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) new standard method for calculation housing need.

·         NPPF definition for deliverable sites.

·         The negative equity experienced in the housing market during the 1980’s.

·         Contaminated sites – cost to developer to decontaminate.  Could the Borough Council look at such sites?  These were not included in the five-year land supply.

·         Allocated sites which do not come forward due to constraints which do not prove viable for the developer.

The Chair thanked the Principal Planner for an excellent presentation.

The next meeting of the Task Group will take place on Wednesday 5 August 2020 via Zoom.

The next meeting of the Task Group will take place on Wednesday 5 August 2020 via zoom.