Issue - meetings

REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR – PLACE

Following the adoption of the Local Plan in November 2022, the Council adopted a Developer Contributions Supplementary Planning Document to provide additional details for developers and case officers about developer contributions which can be used to make a development acceptable.  This review is to update the SPD, particularly with regard to the provision of open space in new development.   

RESOLVED: That the draft Developer Contribution SPD, attached as Appendix A, be endorsed and approved for a period of public consultation.

REASON FOR DECISION: To allow the Developer Contributions SPD to be updated and be used in decisions on planning applications.

Audio recording – 4 minutes 47 seconds

Councillor Donna Wright, as Executive Member for Place, presented the report entitled ‘Developer Contributions Supplementary Planning Document – Draft for Public Consultation’ and advised that:

·             Following the adoption of the Local Plan in November 2022, the Council adopted a Developer Contributions Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) to provide more details on contributions to developers and case officers. 

·             A review of the Developer Contributions SPD had been undertaken and updates had been made to reflect new requirements and guidelines.

·             References to developer contributions requested by Hertfordshire County Council had been removed as they had published their own guidance in 2024.

·             Additional detail on Biodiversity Net Gain provision had been included as this was now mandatory for developers. 

·             Open space standards had been revised to align with the Fields in Trust 2024 guidance which introduced target distances and a hierarchy of open spaces.

·             The revised document was displayed at Appendix A to the report and showed updates as tracked changes.

·             The Developer Contributions SPD was not subject to independent examination but required public consultation.

·             The document should be endorsed and approved for public consultation.

·             Results of the public consultation would be reported to Cabinet in early 2026.

The following Members asked questions:

·             Councillor Ian Albert

·             Councillor Daniel Allen

In response to questions, the Director – Place advised that:

·             The Developer Contributions SPD set out general guidelines on contributions for all developments and projects including those in town centres.

·             Specific town centre projects that would seek developer contributions were detailed in the North Herts Town Centres Strategy itself.

In response to questions, Councillor Tamsin Thomas advised that this document would also link with the North Herts Economic Development Strategy as this would help to realise the opportunities that developer contributions and the North Herts Town Centres Strategy would create. 

In response to questions, Councillor Donna Wright advised that Parish Councils responding to the public consultation would be offered direct contact with the Council.

Councillor Donna Wright proposed and Councillor Mick Debenham seconded and, following a vote, it was:

RESOLVED: That the draft Developer Contribution SPD, attached as Appendix A, be endorsed and approved for a period of public consultation.

REASON FOR DECISION: To allow the Developer Contributions SPD to be updated and be used in decisions on planning applications.