Agenda item

In accordance with the Constitution, Paragraph 4.8.3. a(iv), an extraordinary Council meeting has been called by the following Councillors: Ruth Brown, Paul Clark, Sam Collins, Keith Hoskins, Steve Jarvis, Lisa Nash, Sam North, Sean Prendergast, Carol Stanier and Tom Tyson.

 

To consider the attached Motion to be proposed by Councillor Sam Collins and seconded by Councillor Ruth Brown.

In accordance with the Constitution, Paragraph 4.8.3. a(iv), an extraordinary Council meeting had been called by the following Councillors: Ruth Brown, Paul Clark, Sam Collins, Keith Hoskins, Steve Jarvis, Lisa Nash, Sam North, Sean Prendergast, Carol Stanier and Tom Tyson to consider a motion regarding the Local Plan.

 

North Herts Local Plan

 

Councillor Sam Collins introduced the motion

 

A number of points of order were raised.

 

Councillor Sam Collins proposed the following motion which was seconded by Councillor Ruth Brown.

 

“The council notes that the projected housing need for North Hertfordshire has reduced as a result of the latest predictions by the Office for National Statistics.

 

The council believes that the proposed allocation of housing sites in the Local Plan should be reduced to reflect this reduction in projected need and instructs officers to convey this to the Inspector as soon as possible and carry out any review work requested by the Inspector as a result.”

 

NB at this point the Part 2 and then Part 1 reports were considered.

 

NB the presentation of the Part 1 report and it being proposed by Councillor Martin Stears-Handscomb and seconded by Councillor Ian Mantle is detailed in Minute 51.

 

Councillor Tom Tyson proposed and Councillor Paul Clark seconded that the following amendment to the motion:

 

That an additional sentence be added to the end of the motion to read:

 

“The work to be conducted by the officers in consultation with the Executive Member and Deputy Executive Member for Planning and Transport.”

 

Councillor Sam Collins, Proposer of the motions and Councillor Ruth Brown, seconder of the motion, accepted the amendment in full.

 

RESOLVED:

 

(1)       That the contents of this report be noted;

 

(2)       That the Council’s current position on the matters of objectively assessed housing need and housing supply as submitted to the Examination in August 2020 and attached as Appendices A & B respectively, be noted;

 

(3)       That, should Members be minded to approve the substantive motion, officers are advised of the broad scope and scale of the modification(s) being sought and the planning justification(s) for these to forward to the Inspector.

 

REASONS FOR DECISIONS:

 

(1)       To ensure Members are in possession of relevant facts in advance of debate on the substantive motion;

 

(2)       To date, the Examination of the emerging North Hertfordshire Local Plan 2011-2031 (‘Local Plan’) has been conducted in accordance with the resolutions of Full Council of 11 April 2017. Any departure from, amendment to or replacement of those resolutions requires the consent of Full Council through a new decision;

 

(3)       This report has been written to address the matters raised in the substantive motion only (i.e. the housing need for North Hertfordshire and the proposed allocation of housing sites in the Local Plan to address this). This report does not address any other matters in the Plan and under consideration at the Examination. This includes, but is not necessarily limited to, the settlement hierarchy, employment, retail, Gypsy & Traveller accommodation, unmet development needs from other authorities, transport, environmental matters, heritage or detailed policy criteria;

 

(4)       Any amendments to the motion which broaden or alter its scope to cover such matters (or any other relevant matters) could raise new implications which are not covered by this report;

 

(5)       Should the substantive motion be approved, officers will need to appraise the Inspector of the broad scope and scale of the modifications proposed, as well as the planning reasons, to enable the Inspector to come to a decision with regard the next steps for the Examination.

 

Councillor Carol Stanier had previously asked for a recorded vote on the Motion, as amended.

 

Upon the vote the motion, as amended was lost with the votes recorded as follows:

 

For:

Councillors: Daniel Allen, Ruth Brown, Paul Clark, Sam Collins, Keith Hoskins, Steve Jarvis, Ian Moody, Gerald Morris, Lisa Nash, Sam North, Sean Prendergast, Carol Stanier, Terry Tyler and Tom Tyson.

Total: 14

 

Against:

Councillors: Ian Albert, Kate Aspinwall, Claire Billing, Judi Billing, Val Bryant, Steve Deakin-Davies, Elizabeth Dennis-Harburg, Morgan Derbyshire, Jean Green, Simon Harwood, Terry Hone, Mike Hughson, David Levett, Ian Mantle, Sue Ngwala, Mike Rice, Adem Ruggiero-Cakir, Martin Stears-Handscomb and Richard Thake.

Total: 19

 

Abstain:

Councillors: George Davies, Tony Hunter, Jim McNally, Michael Muir, Helen Oliver and Claire Strong

Total: 6

Audio recording – 18 minutes 24 seconds

 

In accordance with the Constitution, Paragraph 4.8.3. a(iv), an extraordinary Council meeting had been called by the following Councillors: Ruth Brown, Paul Clark, Sam Collins, Keith Hoskins, Steve Jarvis, Lisa Nash, Sam North, Sean Prendergast, Carol Stanier and Tom Tyson to consider a motion regarding the Local Plan.

 

North Herts Local Plan

 

Councillor Sam Collins introduced the motion

 

Points of order regarding the length of speeches were raised by:

 

·                Councillor Richard Thake;

·                Councillor Ian Albert.

 

Councillor David Levett raised a point of order in that, in his opinion the motion should not be heard as the Local Plan was a matter identified on the Forward Plan and the motion represented a major modification.

 

The Service Director=Legal and Community advised that the provision with the Constitution stated that the Proper Officer may, with the consent of the Chair, refuse to accept a motion. Therefore it was a discretionary matter. The Chair had accepted the motion and therefore it could proceed.

 

Councillor Claire Strong raised a point of order regarding the order of business

 

Councillor Sam Collins proposed the following motion which was seconded by Councillor Ruth Brown.

 

“The council notes that the projected housing need for North Hertfordshire has reduced as a result of the latest predictions by the Office for National Statistics.

 

The council believes that the proposed allocation of housing sites in the Local Plan should be reduced to reflect this reduction in projected need and instructs officers to convey this to the Inspector as soon as possible and carry out any review work requested by the Inspector as a result.”

 

NB at this point the Part 2 and then Part 1 reports were considered.

 

Audio recording – 1 hour 42 minutes 52 seconds

 

NB the presentation of the Part 1 report and it being proposed by Councillor Martin Stears-Handscomb and seconded by Councillor Ian Mantle is detailed in Minute 51.

 

Councillor Tom Tyson proposed and Councillor Paul Clark seconded that the following amendment to the motion:

 

That an additional sentence be added to the end of the motion to read:

 

“The work to be conducted by the officers in consultation with the Executive Member and Deputy Executive Member for Planning and Transport.”

 

Councillor Sam Collins, Proposer of the motions and Councillor Ruth Brown, seconder of the motion, accepted the amendment in full.

 

The Service Director – Legal and Community reminded Members that before the vote, Members will need to make clear the scale and scope of modifications.

 

The following Members took part in the debate:

 

·                Councillor Steve Jarvis;

·                Councillor Richard Thake;

·                Councillor Claire Strong;

·                Councillor Martin Stears-Handscomb;

·                Councillor Carol Stanier;

·                Councillor David Levett;

·                Councillor Elizabeth Dennis-Harburg;

·                Councillor George Davies;

·                Councillor Gerald Morris;

·                Councillor Sean Prendergast;

·                Councillor Ian Mantle;

·                Councillor Tony Hunter;

·                Councillor Helen Oliver;

·                Councillor Simon Harwood;

·                Councillor Ruth Brown;

·                Councillor Mike Hughson;

·                Councillor Ian Albert;

·                Councillor Sam North;

·                Councillor Morgan Derbyshire;

·                Councillor Daniel Allen;

·                Councillor Sam Collins.

 

RESOLVED:

 

(1)       That the contents of this report be noted;

 

(2)       That the Council’s current position on the matters of objectively assessed housing need and housing supply as submitted to the Examination in August 2020 and attached as Appendices A & B respectively, be noted;

 

(3)       That, should Members be minded to approve the substantive motion, officers are advised of the broad scope and scale of the modification(s) being sought and the planning justification(s) for these to forward to the Inspector.

 

REASONS FOR DECISIONS:

 

(1)       To ensure Members are in possession of relevant facts in advance of debate on the substantive motion;

 

(2)       To date, the Examination of the emerging North Hertfordshire Local Plan 2011-2031 (‘Local Plan’) has been conducted in accordance with the resolutions of Full Council of 11 April 2017. Any departure from, amendment to or replacement of those resolutions requires the consent of Full Council through a new decision;

 

(3)       This report has been written to address the matters raised in the substantive motion only (i.e. the housing need for North Hertfordshire and the proposed allocation of housing sites in the Local Plan to address this). This report does not address any other matters in the Plan and under consideration at the Examination. This includes, but is not necessarily limited to, the settlement hierarchy, employment, retail, Gypsy & Traveller accommodation, unmet development needs from other authorities, transport, environmental matters, heritage or detailed policy criteria;

 

(4)       Any amendments to the motion which broaden or alter its scope to cover such matters (or any other relevant matters) could raise new implications which are not covered by this report;

 

(5)       Should the substantive motion be approved, officers will need to appraise the Inspector of the broad scope and scale of the modifications proposed, as well as the planning reasons, to enable the Inspector to come to a decision with regard the next steps for the Examination.

 

Councillor Carol Stanier had previously asked for a recorded vote on the Motion, as amended.

 

Upon the vote the motion, as amended was lost with the votes recorded as follows:

 

For:

Councillors: Daniel Allen, Ruth Brown, Paul Clark, Sam Collins, Keith Hoskins, Steve Jarvis, Ian Moody, Gerald Morris, Lisa Nash, Sam North, Sean Prendergast, Carol Stanier, Terry Tyler and Tom Tyson.

Total: 14

 

Against:

Councillors: Ian Albert, Kate Aspinwall, Claire Billing, Judi Billing, Val Bryant, Steve Deakin-Davies, Elizabeth Dennis-Harburg, Morgan Derbyshire, Jean Green, Simon Harwood, Terry Hone, Mike Hughson, David Levett, Ian Mantle, Sue Ngwala, Mike Rice, Adem Ruggiero-Cakir, Martin Stears-Handscomb and Richard Thake.

Total: 19

 

Abstain:

Councillors: George Davies, Tony Hunter, Jim McNally, Michael Muir, Helen Oliver and Claire Strong

Total: 6