Agenda and minutes

Venue: Hollybank Room, Public Service Plaza, Civic Centre Road, Havant, Hants PO9 2AX. View directions

Contact: Holly Weaver  Democratic Services Officer

Items
No. Item

26.

Apologies

To receive and record apologies for absence.

 

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Howard and Jenner.

27.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 77 KB

To approve the minutes of the meeting of the Operations and Place Shaping Board held on 27 August 2019.

 

Minutes:

The Minutes of the meetings of the Operations and Place Shaping Board held on 27 August were agreed as a correct record.

28.

Matters Arising

Minutes:

There were no matters arising.

29.

Declarations of Interest

To receive and record any declarations of Interests from members present in respect of any of the various matters on the agenda for this meeting.

 

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interests relating to matters on the agenda.

30.

Nutrient Neutral Development pdf icon PDF 168 KB

With regard to Questions 13 and 14 there may be a need to exclude the Press and Public under Paragraph 5 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (legal advice).

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chairman thanked the Officers for their work towards the item and advised the public gallery of the reports given to the Board before the meeting’s commencement.

 

Representatives from Natural England, the Environment Agency and Southern Water were invited to join the meeting and answer questions posed by the Board.

 

In response to questions raised by the Board, the representative from Natural England advised that:

 

1)           the Dutch case had identified that if a European site was failing in respect of its condition, it is Natural England’s advice that projects must not add further to the circumstances which had led to that failure;

 

2)           the impact of Nutrient deposition into the Solent will affect both the overall condition of the SPA and also different species differently;

 

3)           Natural England undertakes regular environmental testing based on peer reviewed evidence. It was for competent authorities to choose whether to use the methodology arising from that evidence;

 

4)           Natural England are confident given the situation that their methodology is strong enough despite potential challenges;

 

5)           Inputs from agriculture are greater than inputs from other nutrient sources so at present it is easier to demonstrate that farmed greenfield sites are nutrient neutral than  reusing brownfield sites, even if it is less desirable environmentally.

 

In response to questions raised by the Board, the representative from the Environment Agency advised that:

 

i             Havant Borough is a water stressed area which is why 110 litres of water per person per day as a water efificency standard for new development is advisable;

 

ii            Water use can be measured by water meters in new development;

 

iii.          The need to adhere to the Habitats Regulations is vital;

 

iv.          The Environment Agency sets permits in respect of wastewater discharges;

 

v.           A review of consented permits has taken place to ensure that effluent levels are appropriate – this has affected  Southern Water’s investment decisions

 

vi.          The Environment Agency undertake their  own monitoring  on a 5-yearly basis;

 

iv.          The Environment Agency agree with Natural England’s position that action needs to be taken in the long term.

 

In response to questions raised by the Board, the representative from Southern Water advised that:

 

a)           Meeting the targets set through Environment Agency permits delivers environmental acceptability in their view;

 

b)           Waste water treatment works can back-calculate emissions to establish water usage;

 

c)           In newer developments water meters are the best way to calculate water usage per household as they consider water pressure;

 

d)           Southern Water seek to offer offsetting opportunities to third parties;

 

e)           Southern Water hope to cap the volume of discharge by recycling the treated wastewater effluent into other areas that can use grey water in this way rather than by releasing it into the Solent;

 

f)            Any changes to permits can only come about through the 5-year plan with funding.

 

In response to questions raised by the Board, the Cabinet Lead for Planning, Regeneration and Communities advised that:

 

i)            The Partnership for South Hampshire are seeking to formulate common solutions to help  ...  view the full minutes text for item 30.

31.

Exclusion of the Press and Public

Minutes:

RESOLVED that the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the remainder of the item as:

 

a)          It was likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the public were present during that item there would be disclosure to them of exempt information of the descriptions specified in paragraphs of Part 1 of Schedule 12A (as amended) of the Local Government Act 1972; and

 

b)          In all circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

 

This item was considered to be exempt under Paragraph 3 – Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

32.

Nutrient Neutral Development

Minutes:

Having excluded the Press and Public the Committee then adjourned to thank the speakers and ensure the room was cleared.

 

The committee adjourned from 6.49pm and reconvened at 6.54pm.

 

(The remainder of this item was taken in Camera).

 

The Planning Policy Manager gave a presentation. The Planning Policy Officer gave a list of short term potential mitigation options explored by individual PfSH authorities.

 

The Board agreed there should be a Briefing for all Councillors on the issue prior to potential policy implementation at Cabinet in December, in order to educate all Members on the subject of Nutrient Neutrality and the impact it would have on developments around the Borough and elsewhere. The Chairman also intimated that Nutrient Neutrality training for Councillors specifically on the Development Management Committee and standing deputees would also be beneficial.