Agenda item

REPORT OF THE SERVICE DIRECTOR – REGULATORY

 

To review previous resolutions and to recommend a revised programme of work to support the implementation of the new Local Plan.

Mr John Web and Mr Roger Lovegrove Transition Town Letchworth, thanked the Chairman for the opportunity to address Cabinet regarding the Local Plan.

 

The Chair thanked Mr Webb and Mr Lovegrove for their presentation.

 

RESOLVED:

            :

(1)     That the North Hertfordshire Masterplanning Guidance, attached as Appendix A, be approved and recognised as a material consideration in the determination of relevant planning applications with the following amendment;

(i)      That Paragraph 3.2 be amended to include references to Neighbourhood Planning Groups and the Design SPD.

 

(2)       That officers be authorised to commence work on a revised and updated programme of Supplementary Planning Documents and supporting evidence as set out in this report to support the Council’s corporate priorities.

 

(3)       That to support resolution (2) above, Cabinet:

a.         Resolve not to pursue the preparation of a Community Infrastructure Levy for the District at this time;

b.         Approve the reallocation of the existing approved revenue budgets for Community Infrastructure Levy (£87,000) and the potential Single Issue Review of the Local Plan (£80,000) to create a budget for the delivery of the work on a revised and updated programme of Supplementary Planning Documents;

c.         That information included on the NHDC website regarding assets of community value be reviewed and further information, particularly in respect of process, included.

 

(4)       That a Member working group be arranged to discuss the Design and Sustainability SPDs prior to consideration of these by Cabinet.

 

REASON FOR DECISIONS: To ensure that resources are used most effectively to support the implementation of the new Local Plan for North Hertfordshire and to improve delivery upon corporate priorities relating to place leadership and the declared climate change emergency.

Audio recording – 1 hour 26 minutes 32 seconds

 

Mr John Web and Mr Roger Lovegrove Transition Town Letchworth, thanked the Chairman for the opportunity to address Cabinet regarding the Local Plan including:

 

·                They were pleased and impressed that the Council was considering National design codes;

·                Transition Town Letchworth keenly welcomed the development of the SPDs;

·                They were experienced in responding to the Local Plan and had built up a knowledge base of building standards in regard to energy;

·                They had provided Members with a document that included a comparison of 2013 standards with Passivhaus and BREEAM building standards;

·                They requested that they be able to participate in the development of SPDs at an early stage of development;

·                Although they understood that the Council was extremely busy, consideration of the 2031-2050 Local Plan should start now, particularly in regard to the optimum solution for growth being the planning of a New Town.

 

The Leader of the Council advised that the Council would wish to involve the public and that planning for this period was taking place through the Hertfordshire Growth Board.

 

He thanked Mr Webb and Mr Lovegrove for their presentation.

 

Audio recording – 1 hour 33 minute 33 seconds

 

The Executive Member for Planning and Transport presented the report entitled Local Plan Implementation together with the following appendix:

 

·                Appendix A – North Hertfordshire Masterplanning Principles.

 

He drew attention to the following:

 

·                The Inspector had not made any substantial changes to the submitted Plan;

·                There was a lot of new Government legislation and advice that needed to be considered;

·                An enhanced Design SPD was required including more detail regarding local character was required;

·                A Sustainability SPD would consider issues holistically such as transport, building performance and green infrastructure;

·                A Biodiverstity SPD would be developed;

·                The evidence base for the SPDs required updating including character assessments and ecological mapping;

·                Community Infrastructure Levy had been put in abeyance for the present.

 

Councillor David Levett, Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee presented the referral from the meeting of that Committee held on 9 March 2021 regarding Local Plan Implementation. The Committee had made the following recommendations:

 

(1)     That the North Hertfordshire Masterplanning Guidance, attached as Appendix A, be approved and recognised as a material consideration in the determination of relevant planning applications with the following amendment;

(i)      That Paragraph 3.2 be amended to include references to Neighbourhood Planning Groups and the Design SPD.

(2)     That officers be authorised to commence work on a revised and updated programme of Supplementary Planning Documents and supporting evidence as set out in this report.

(3)     That to support recommendation 2.2, Cabinet:

a.       Resolve not to pursue the preparation of a Community Infrastructure Levy for the District at this time; and

b.       Authorise the reprofiling of existing, approved revenue budgets for Community Infrastructure Levy (£87,000) and the potential Single Issue Review of the Local Plan (£80,000) to deliver this work;

(4)     That a Member working group be arranged to discuss the Design and Sustainability SPDs prior to consideration of these by Cabinet.

 

Councillor Paul Clark proposed and Councillor Martins Stears-Handscomb seconded the recommendations contained in the report, the recommendations contained in the referral from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

 

The following Members took part in the debate:

 

·                Councillor Ian Albert;

 

Members comments included:

 

·                There was a need to engage with communities regarding taking over of pubs;

·                Paragraphs 14.21 and 14.22 set out the legislation and Compulsory Purchase Options regarding pubs, but details were required regarding how the Council would carry this out and engage with local groups;

·                It was important that Cabinet challenge and scrutinise budgets allocated to the Local Plan project.

 

The Strategic Planning Manager and Service Director – Resources answered questions including:

 

·                This document set out the powers available regarding assets of community value. It was for the Service Director – Resources to chose whether to use them;

·                A lot of information was provided to those enquiring about community assets;

·                Consideration would be given to making information clearer regarding this on the NHDC website.

 

NB: Cabinet took a comfort break at 21.22..

 

NB: The Committee Member and Scrutiny Manager undertook a roll call to ensure that all present could hear and be heard.

 

The Strategic Director - Regulatory advised:

 

·                That officers, together with the Executive Member had assessed a high level cost of consultancy;

·                The evidence base would be key and needed to be robust;

·                The cost was estimated to be £150,000 for consultancy.

 

Councillor Paul Clark proposed, Councillor Martin Stears-Handscomb seconded and it was:

 

RESOLVED:

            :

(1)     That the North Hertfordshire Masterplanning Guidance, attached as Appendix A, be approved and recognised as a material consideration in the determination of relevant planning applications with the following amendment;

(i)      That Paragraph 3.2 be amended to include references to Neighbourhood Planning Groups and the Design SPD.

 

(2)       That officers be authorised to commence work on a revised and updated programme of Supplementary Planning Documents and supporting evidence as set out in this report to support the Council’s corporate priorities.

 

(3)       That to support resolution (2) above, Cabinet:

a.         Resolve not to pursue the preparation of a Community Infrastructure Levy for the District at this time;

b.         Approve the reallocation of the existing approved revenue budgets for Community Infrastructure Levy (£87,000) and the potential Single Issue Review of the Local Plan (£80,000) to create a budget for the delivery of the work on a revised and updated programme of Supplementary Planning Documents;

c.         That information included on the NHDC website regarding assets of community value be reviewed and further information, particularly in respect of process, included.

 

(4)       That a Member working group be arranged to discuss the Design and Sustainability SPDs prior to consideration of these by Cabinet.

 

REASON FOR DECISIONS: To ensure that resources are used most effectively to support the implementation of the new Local Plan for North Hertfordshire and to improve delivery upon corporate priorities relating to place leadership and the declared climate change emergency.