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;

·      Neighbourhood Plans;

·      Government announcements; and

·      Ongoing Policy work.

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; Government announcements; and Ongoing Policy work. 

The Executive Member for Planning and Enterprise updated the Cabinet as follows:

·           Duty to Co-operate - a Statement of Common Ground had been signed with Aylesbury Vale District Council;  the Statement of Common Ground signed with Luton Borough Council in October 2017 now formed part of the documentation now being considered at the NHDC Local Plan examination;

·           Other Local Plans and Examinations – Central Bedfordshire Council was aiming to carry out consultation on its Submission Local Plan in January/February 2018, and a duty to Co-operate meeting with NHDC had been arranged for Mid December 2017;  Luton Borough Council had adopted its Local Plan; the East Herts District Council Examination sessions were ongoing; Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council was awaiting the next steps following the conclusion of their initial Examination sessions; and as Stevenage Borough Council was in the process of adopting its Local Plan, the Secretary for State for Communities and Local Government (following an approach from the Stevenage MP regarding development in the centre of the town) had issued a letter placing their Local Plan on hold, pending a meeting between the Council and DCLG;

·           Neighbourhood Plans – The Council and Pirton Parish Council had addressed the questions raised by the examination Inspector; Wymondley Parish Council had requested that their plan be submitted for examination; and

·           Government Announcements – NHDC had responded to the Government’s ‘Planning for the right homes in the right places’ consultation; The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government had made a recent statement in the House of Commons, followed up by a written statement, in respect of Local Plans.  The statement referred to 15 Local Authorities (including St. Albans City and District Council) which had failed to make progress on producing a Local Plan.  The Secretary of State’s letter spoke of commencing the formal process of intervention.  These Local Authorities would be given an opportunity to put forward a statement of exceptional circumstances by 31 January 2018 in order to justify their failure to produce a Local Plan.

In respect of the North Hertfordshire Local Plan Examination currently taking place at the Icknield Centre in Letchworth Garden City, the Executive Member for Planning and Enterprise updated Members as follows:

·           There had been 4 hearing days during the week commencing 13/11/17.  Day 1 had covered Duty to Co-operate, legal requirements and the Sustainable Development Hierarchy  (following discussion on that matter, the Inspector had asked officers to prepare an additional paper on how the Council had assessed this hierarchy); Day 2 had covered the Housing Strategy Including housing numbers; Day 3 had covered the supply of land; and Day 4 had covered deliverability (this was unfinished and would be completed on one of the reserve days);

·           For the week commencing 20/11/17, Day 1 had covered Countryside and the Green Belt (approximately a third of this had been completed, with the remaining discussion now scheduled for another of the reserve days, before the Examination moved on to site specific proposals);

·           At the conclusion of the 20/11/17 session, the Inspector was looking to the inclusion of a further two weeks, one at the end of January 2018 and the other in early March 2018;

·           The 22/11/17 session would be covering the Housing Strategy (affordable housing mix, supported housing, sheltered an older persons’ housing); and

·           The 23/11/17 session would cover the spatial distribution of new housing and the basis for housing allocations (type and mix).

The Executive Member for Planning and Enterprise commented that at most sessions there had been a considerable number of representees in attendance asking to speak, and the Inspector had been very understanding in this respect by allowing everybody to have their say.

The Executive Member for Planning and Enterprise stated that the sessions had been long days, finishing well after 6pm on each day.  Officers were also putting in a huge amount of work outside of the formal sessions in responding to matters raised by the Inspector and in preparation for subsequent sessions.  He thanked them for their time, devotion and dedication to this task.

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.