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Agenda item

STRATEGIC PLANNING MATTERS REPORT

REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR – PLACE

 

This report identifies the latest position on key planning and transport issues affecting the Council.

Decision:

RESOLVED: That Cabinet:

 

(1)  Noted the report on strategic planning matters.

 

(2)  Noted the response in Appendix A.

 

REASON FOR DECISIONS: To keep Cabinet informed of recent developments on strategic planning matters.

Minutes:

Audio recording – 5 minutes 48 seconds

 

Councillor Donna Wright, as Executive Member for Place, presented the report entitled ‘Strategic Planning Matters Report’ and advised that:

 

·        Several national changes had been made to planning decision-making and delegation.

·        From 11 May, Local Planning Authorities were required to consult the Secretary of State before refusing planning permission for housing schemes of 150 dwellings or more.

·        A new National Scheme of Delegation due to be implemented in October would require more decisions by officers and limit Planning Control Committees to 13 Members, and an update on this would be provided at the Planning Control Committee meeting on 2 July.

·        Consultation on planning fees had concluded on 18 May and they would await the outcome of this.

·        The Council had published a notice of intention to review the Local Plan following national regulations coming into force, and scoping documents for the consultation that would close on 28 June had been published.

·        Government funding of approximately £108K had been received to cover staff capacity costs for this if they met the Gateway 1 assessment by the end of October.

·        A legal challenge for the Luton Airport expansion had been rejected, and Luton Rising would proceed with implementing the Development Consent Order (DCO).

·        Officers were liaising with other authorities, and Luton Rising had been contacted about their next steps to ascertain the implications of the expansion for North Herts.

·        £20K had been set aside for any extra work associated with the DCO.

·        The six largest strategic sites were moving forward and other strategic sites were also making progress.

·        Collaboration with 8 neighbouring authorities on their Local Plans had been maintained.

·        The final version of the Draft Town Centres Strategy would be presented to Cabinet in September for adoption, and the delivery plan would be prepared following this.

 

The following Members asked questions:

 

·        Councillor Daniel Allen

·        Councillor Ian Albert

 

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

 

·        Traffic implications of Luton Airport expansion had been considered through the conditions imposed on the DCO and groups that would ensure those conditions were met would be set up in due course.

·        Dacorum Borough Council and Hertsmere Borough Council had been placed under special measures by the Government for failure to meet decision-making targets on major applications.

·        The Council was 1% under the threshold for special measures and given the small number of major applications considered by the Council, Members and officers were reminded to make robust decisions and work with Hertfordshire County Council to ensure this.

 

In response to questions, Councillor Donna Wright advised that:

 

·        An additional, short period of consultation on the Draft Town Centres Strategy might take place in response to a request from Hitchin Community Forum.

·        More consideration would be given on how to progress the recommendations from the S106 Task and Finish Group report as soon as possible.

 

Councillor Donna Wright proposed the recommendations in the report, and this was seconded by Councillor Ian Albert.

 

The following Members took part in the debate:

 

·        Councillor Sean Nolan

·        Councillor Daniel Allen

·        Councillor Ian Albert

 

Points raised during the debate included:

 

·        It would be useful to receive feedback on the expected traffic impacts of the Luton Airport expansion soon so that the Council could mitigate these.

·        The letter sent to MPs on chalk streams was acceptable.

·        It was important for them to be active and seek to influence decision-making on Luton Airport expansion by actively engaging with partners to ensure improvements and prevent impacts from affecting North Herts residents.

 

Having been proposed and seconded and, following a vote, it was:

 

RESOLVED: That Cabinet:

 

(1)   Noted the report on strategic planning matters.

 

(2)   Noted the response in Appendix A.

 

REASON FOR DECISIONS: To keep Cabinet informed of recent developments on strategic planning matters.

Supporting documents: