Agenda item

REPORT OF THE HEAD OF DEVELOPMENT AND BUILDING CONTROL

To inform Cabinet of the current positions regarding:

·      Duty to Co-operate with neighbouring authorities;

·      Other Local Plans and Examinations;

·      North Hertfordshire Local Plan and Community Infrastructure Levy;

·      Neighbourhood Plans; and

·      Government announcements.

RESOLVED:  That the report on Strategic Planning Matters be noted.

REASON FOR DECISION: To keep the Cabinet informed of recent developments on strategic planning matters and progress on the North Hertfordshire Local Plan.

The Executive Member for Planning and Enterprise presented the report of the Head of Development and Building Control informing Members of the current position regarding the Duty to Co-operate with neighbouring authorities; Other Local Plans and Examinations; North Hertfordshire Local Plan; Neighbourhood Plans; and Government announcements. 

The Executive Member for Planning and Enterprise reminded Members that, at its meeting held on 19 December 2017, the Cabinet had identified a significant future risk in relation to planning policy and the emerging strategies and plans that were likely to have a significant impact on North Hertfordshire (such as the Oxford-Cambridge Arc).  It was determined that the Council should be able to respond to these and attempt to protect the interests of the District.  In setting the budget for next year, the minimum General Fund balance was affected by an assessment of known risks.  The relevant planning risk had been broadened in scope and value (to £250,000) and the likelihood increased to high.  As at the end of November 2017, it was forecast that planning income would exceed the current budget by £137,000 (excluding the impact of the 20% increase in planning fees).  It was proposed that this be put into a reserve to provide the funding (e.g. additional officer resource, consultants) to be able to respond to and influence the plans, policies, strategies and proposals that impacted upon the District.

The Executive Member for Planning and Enterprise advised that the Council had submitted a bid for £250,000 of Planning Delivery Fund monies, as a lead authority on behalf of Stevenage Borough Council, Welwyn Hatfield District Council and East Hertfordshire District Council.  He commented that, should the bid be successful, then some of that money could be used to fund work on new settlements.

On other matters, the Executive Member for Planning and Enterprise updated the Cabinet as follows:

·      Central Bedfordshire Local Plan – the pre-submission version was currently out for consultation, with a view to adopting the Plan before the new standard calculation for housing numbers came into force in March 2018;

·      East Hertfordshire Local Plan – the Examination Inspector had issued a post-hearing note asking the Council to increase its Objectively Assessed Need housing figure by 14% to 14,600 homes;

·      Welwyn Hatfield Local Plan – the draft timetable had been published for Stage 3 of this Examination;

·      Stevenage Local Plan – the holding direction from the Secretary of State was still in place;

·      St. Albans Local Plan – an issues and options consultation would be taking place between January and February 2018;

·      North Hertfordshire Local Plan – the Examination sessions had resumed on 23 January 2018 and would be ongoing;

·      Neighbourhood Plans – following a public consultation Wymondley Parish Council had requested that its Neighbourhood Plan be submitted for examination; the draft Preston Neighbourhood Plan was currently out for consultation from 8 January to 18 February 2018;

·      Brownfield Register – as required by Regulations, NHDC had compiled a list of identified brownfield sites and published it on the website; NHDC currently had no optional Part 2 register, which was sites the Council considered appropriate to grant permission in principle;

·      New Towns Act 1981 (Local Authority Oversight) Regulations - consultation on these Regulations was published on 4 December 2017. The consultation paper proposes that the designation of New Town Development Corporations was potentially an effective mechanism to drive forward the delivery of modern Garden Towns and Villages; and

·      Planning fee increases - the new fee Regulations were made on 20 December 2017 and came into force on 17 January 2018.  Primarily, the Regulations provided for an increase of approximately 20% for all existing application fees.  This increase was offered by Government to all local planning authorities if they agreed that the additional money would be re-invested within their planning department.  Unsurprisingly, all local planning authorities had accepted the offer.

RESOLVED:  That the report on Strategic Planning Matters be noted.

REASON FOR DECISION: To keep the Cabinet informed of recent developments on strategic planning matters and progress on the North Hertfordshire Local Plan.