Agenda item

REPORT OF THE HEAD OF DEVELOPMENT AND BUILDING CONTROL

To inform Cabinet of the current positions regarding:

·      Other Local Plans and Examinations;

·      North Hertfordshire Local Plan;

·      Neighbourhood Plans;

·      Government announcements; and

·      Strategic Planning.

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 Other Local Plans and Examinations; North Hertfordshire Local Plan; Neighbourhood Plans; Government announcements; and Strategic Planning.  The following appendices were submitted with the report:

Appendix A – Response to Central Bedfordshire pre-submission Local Plan consultation; and

Appendix B – Response to Preston draft Neighbourhood Plan consultation.

The Executive Member for Planning and Enterprise updated the Cabinet on the following matters:

·      Central Bedfordshire Council Local Plan – the pre-submission version of their Local Plan was published for consultation from 10 January to 21 February 2018.  The NHDC response was attached at Appendix A to the report;

·      East Hertfordshire District Council Local Plan– was undertaking a six week main modification consultation between the 15 February and 29 March 2018.  Any response to the proposed modifications would be reported to a future meeting;

·      Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council Local Plan - – Stage 3 of their examination concentrated on strategic policies and ran from 20 February until 22 February 2018.  Stage 4 (site allocations) would take place on 18 and 25 June 2018;

·      St. Albans City & District Council Local Plan – following a Draft Issues and Options Consultation (Regulation 18) and ‘Call for’ new housing and employment sites which ran from 9 January to 21 February 2018, the future timetable was set out in the report; and

·      Neighbourhood Plans – following a referendum in favour, the Pirton Plan would now be made; Officers were working with Wymondley Parish Council to select an Examiner for their Plan; and the NHDC response to the draft Preston Plan was attached at Appendix B to the report.

In respect of Government announcements, the Executive Member for Planning and Enterprise commented as follows:

·      National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) – the proposed changes were summarised.  Officers would be reviewing the proposed changes and, in consultation with the Executive Member, would prepare a response for circulation and/or inclusion in a future report;

·      Consultation on Pre-Commencement Regulations – the Officer response to the consultation was summarised in Paragraph 8.4.3 of the report;

·      Planning Delivery Fund - NHDC on behalf on Stevenage, East Herts and Welwyn Hatfield Councils submitted an Expression of Interest (EoI) under the Joint Working Fund, focussed on putting in place strong processes to consider long term housing and economic needs; approaches to new settlements; and Growth Delivery Models.  The EoI sought £250,000 of funding through to the end of 2018/19 and was successful - officers were currently working on the next steps.

The Cabinet noted that the Local Planning Authorities in South West Hertfordshire (Dacorum, Hertsmere, Three Rivers, Watford and St. Albans) had been discussing the ways in which they could respond to the challenges of future growth demands by examining the options for strategic planning. This approach was confirmed at a meeting of relevant Leaders, Executive Members and officers on 23 January 2018 and work was underway with regard to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

In respect of the North Hertfordshire Local Plan, the Executive Member for Planning and Enterprise advised that the Examination Hearing sessions had now been completed.  The next step was for NHDC to complete the further work set by the Inspector and submit it as soon as possible; the Inspector also asked for the Main Modifications to be drafted and sent to him as soon as possible; those Main Modifications would then be subject to a six week statutory consultation period (any consultation comments should only relate to those Main Modifications); the Inspector would take into account any consultation comments and representations made during the Hearing sessions when completing his report.  The Inspector had not indicated a firm timescale, but had stated that he hoped to complete it promptly once he had received all of the information required.

The Executive Member for Planning and Enterprise explained that the Inspector would then send a draft report to the Council, purely for a factual check of the content.  The final version of the Inspector’s report would then be submitted to Council, with the Main Modifications, Inspector’s comments and his recommendations.  The Council would then vote on whether or not to adopt the Local Plan, as modified, and as presented (no further changes could be made to the Plan at this stage).

The Executive Member for Planning and Enterprise reiterated his thanks to the Inspector and his Programme Officer, as well as officers in the Planning Policy Team, who had worked long hours in supporting the Plan through the Examination process.  He further thanked all those who had made representations to the Inspector at the various Hearing sessions.

The Executive Member for Planning and Enterprise answered a number of Members’ questions on the report.

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.