Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Kennett and Scannell.

To approve the minutes of the last meeting of the Planning Policy Committee.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Planning Policy Committee held on 22 February be approved as true record and signed by the Chairman.

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

The Committee received a report proposing a public consultation process for the preparation of a new Local Plan.

The Cabinet Lead introduced the report and the officers gave a presentation on the key themes that the plan should address and the proposed consultation process.

The Committee examined, via a question-and-answer session with the Cabinet Lead and officers, the aspects of the report set out below:

1.         the Council’s options, if the Council considered that a proposed development did not make the most efficient use of land;

2.         the obligations relating to nutrient neutrality;

3.         Southern Water’s role for the disposal of foul water and as a consultee on development proposals and the local plan;

4.         the performance of Southern Water and the capacity of the current foul and surface water drainage network to cope with future developments;

5.         the percentages required for affordable housing in proposed developments; and

6.         the need to differentiate between affordable housing from social housing.

With regard to the concerns raised about Southern Water, the Committee was advised that Southern Water were due to attend the Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee to discuss their performance.

In view of the concerns raised by members, the officers agreed to review the wording of the appendices relating to Government Policy and Legislation relating to the requirements for affordable housing.

RESOLVED that Council be recommended to:

a.         approve the consultation on the Building a Better Future Plan attached as Appendix A of the submitted report;

b.         approve the approach to consultation in line with the Consultation and Communication Plan attached as Appendix B of the submitted report;

c.         approve the Local Development Scheme attached as Appendix C of the submitted report for publication and delegate authority to the Planning Policy Manager to keep this document updated as the plan progresses;

d.         approve the Statement of Community Involvement attached as Appendix D of the submitted report for publication;

e.         endorse the setting up of a community representatives forum; and

f.          delegate authority to the Planning Policy Manager in consultation with the Cabinet Lead for Local Plan, Environment and Water Quality to make any necessary amendments which arise to the consultation document attached as Appendix A of the submitted report prior to the public consultation period.