Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

The Chair informed the Panel that the meeting was being broadcast live on You Tube. 

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The Democratic Services Officer conducted a roll call to confirm attendees.

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The notes of the meeting held on 4 November 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 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 C Morley was present under Standing Order 34 for all items.

There was no Chair’s correspondence.

Please click link below to view published Agenda:

https://democracy.west-norfolk.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=409&MId=4319&Ver=4

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The Planning Policy Manager explained this this item would be merged with agenda number 10.  A link to the agenda from 5 August 2020 had been included for background information and reference purpose.

The amendments will show items Officers have prepared to reflect requests from Members on particular policies/text not finalised at those meetings.

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The Planning Policy Manager explained that the table presented the amended textual changes which had taken place over the last few months to the most recent Local Plan Review Document July 2020 that was presented to the Task Group. 

It was noted that the table was to assist the Task Group see the amendments which were asked to be done or sections which had been updated to show they had been incorporated into the newest version of the Local Plan review to be taken forward.

The Chair commented that the document was well laid out and thanked officers for the work undertaken to produce it.

The Chair invited the Task Group to comment on the amendments set out in the document.

The following amendments were proposed as set out below.

Policy LP06

4.6.2 and 4.6.3 – Councillor de Whalley to forward text to the Planning Policy Team within a week.

Policy LP07

Page 7:  6 – amend to read:  The Council will permit the development of new and existing facilities in the rural areas subject to the following criteria being met: ….

Policy LP18

Page 10:  3f – amend to read:  Provision of swift and bat boxes and hedgehog highway where possible.

Reference was made to the Motion to be debated at Council on 3 December 2020:

Decent Homes for Residents

This Council understands the importance of affordable housing space

standards in all new housing. So that all rooms are of a decent size for

residents and so housing meets housing need.

The Council will therefore draw up and enforce a Room Standards Policy. If

Planning Applications do not meet our affordable housing space standards,

the Local Planning Authority will not recommend their approval.

The Chair advised that the above Motion would receive Conservative support and a suggestion made that it be referred to the Local Plan Task Group for consideration.

Policy LP25

Page 14:  6.12.6 – It was suggested that the wording be strengthened but following an explanation from the Planning Policy Manager the text would remain as highlighted in yellow.

Policy E1.8

Page 20: amend to read – Land amounting to 0.5 hectares is allocated for mixed use including residential development for no more than 50 dwellings.

Under Standing Order 34, Councillor Morley commented that he had previously offered revised wording for Page 69: 5.4.4 relating to the CITB at Bircham Newton but this had not been included.  In response, the Planning Policy Manager advised that if the revised wording was a factual correction this could be amended and invited Councillor Morley to re-send his revised wording.

AGREED:  The Task Group agreed:

1)            The amendments highlighted in yellow set out in the table.

2)            The amendments set out above to Policies LP07, LP18 relating to provision of hedgehog highway where possible.

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The Planning Policy Manager provided an overview of the process to bring the revised Local Plan Review Document to the Cabinet and Council (copy attached).

Under Standing Order 34, Councillor Morley addressed the Task Group and commented that a briefing for Councillors and Parish Councils to advise of the process would be beneficial.  Councillor Morley commented that it would be useful for all Borough Councillors to receive a hard copy of the Local Plan Review document as it was difficult to read on the ipad.

AGREED: 1) Briefing for all Councillors to be scheduled in January 2021.

2) Briefing for Parish Councillors to be scheduled to inform of the process and how to make representations which would be forwarded to the Examiner

The schedule of meetings for 2021 was noted.

The next meeting of the Task Group will take place on Wednesday 13 January 2021 at 10 am in the remote meeting room Zoom.

The next meeting of the Local Plan Task Group would take place on 13 January 2021 at 10.00 am in the remote meeting room zoom.