Issue - meetings

REPORT OF THE STRATEGIC PLANNING MANAGER

This report asks Cabinet to recommend the Strategic Masterplan for land around Baldock to Full Council.

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL: That the Growing Baldock Strategic Masterplan attached at Appendix A, is approved and adopted as a material planning consideration for relevant planning decisions relating to the site.

REASON FOR RECOMMENDATION: To set an agreed design framework for the delivery of a strategic site within the Council’s adopted Local Plan. To provide a co-ordinated approach to the delivery of multiple planned sites around Baldock. To accord with policy requirements of the Local Plan.

Audio recording – 30 minutes 59 seconds

N.B. Cllr Ian Albert declared an interest in this item due to his appointment as a Hertfordshire County Councillor but advised that he had received dispensation from the Monitoring Officer and was allowed to remain to participate in and vote on this item.

In the absence of the Interim Executive Member for Planning and Transport, the Strategic Planning Manager presented the report entitled ‘Growing Baldock Strategic Masterplan’ and advised that:

·       This report included the number of sites around Baldock highlighted for development as outlined in the Local Plan.

·       All the identified sites were owned by Hertfordshire County Council.

·       Council Officers had worked closely with developers in the production of the Masterplan.

·       This was a large and complex project and this Masterplan contained areas in the scheme which were different to the Local Plan. Reasons for the changes were detailed in the report.

·       This report was just one of the multiple stages required in delivery of this site.

·       Following the Hertfordshire County Council Elections on 1 May, the Masterplan would be presented to Council in July supported with briefings from local developers.

In response to a question from Councillor Dave Winstanley, Councillor Val Bryant advised that the delay in bringing this Masterplan to Council was to give time for the various project boards to seek to reach agreement on contentious points, which would provide assurance for developers.

The following Members took part in the debate:

·       Councillor Ian Albert

·       Councillor Val Bryant

·       Councillor Mick Debenham

Points raised during the debate included:

·       Whether this item should be discussed again at Cabinet in June before being referred on to Council in July. Consensus that an update would be provided in the standing Strategic Planning report.

·       This was a good report, but there were still outstanding issues which needed to be resolved.

In response to a point raised during the debate, the Strategic Planning Manager advised that the funding required for the new schools was complicated, but there was agreement from all parties to work together to resolve the funding gap.

Councillor Val Bryant proposed and Councillor Mick Debenham seconded and, following a vote, it was:

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL: That the Growing Baldock Strategic Masterplan attached at Appendix A, is approved and adopted as a material planning consideration for relevant planning decisions relating to the site.

REASON FOR RECOMMENDATION: To set an agreed design framework for the delivery of a strategic site within the Council’s adopted Local Plan. To provide a co-ordinated approach to the delivery of multiple planned sites around Baldock. To accord with policy requirements of the Local Plan.