Agenda and minutes

The Panel considered a report on a Settlement Appraisal for Bishop’s Stortford, together with a draft revised chapter, for subsequent incorporation into the Pre-Submission District Plan.

Councillor T Page sought and was provided with clarification on housing targets for Uttlesford District and East Herts Councils and how these were determined. 

Councillor Mrs D Hollebon expressed her concern at developments proposed for Bishop’s Stortford South.  The Chairman acknowledged her concerns and stated that  further work would be required over the coming months in order to address more detailed issues. Her concerns were echoed by Councillor J Wyllie.  Councillor N Symonds stated that one primary school in the District was teaching children in the corridor.

Councillor G Jones raised a number of concerns about development in Bishop’s Stortford based on the inadequacy of a supporting infrastructure, including education, health and transport.  He also referred to limited sports provision.  Officers responded to the points raised.

Councillor G Jones asked that his opposition to this Chapter of the District Plan (on the grounds of sufficient supporting infrastructure) be formally recorded.

The Panel supported the recommendations as now detailed.

RECOMMENDED – that(A) the Bishop’s Stortford Settlement Appraisal as detailed at Essential Reference Paper ‘B’ to the report submitted, be agreed; and

(B)  the draft revised Chapter 5 (Bishop’s Stortford), as detailed in Essential Reference Paper ‘C’ to the report submitted, be agreed as a basis for inclusion in the Pre-Submission District Plan.

The Panel considered a report bringing Members’ attention to the issues raised through the Preferred Options consultation in connection with Chapter 10 (Villages) of the Draft District Plan preferred Options version together with Officer responses.

The Panel supported the recommendations as now detailed.

RECOMMENDED – that (A) the issues raised in respect of Chapter 10 (Villages) of the Draft District Plan Preferred Options, as detailed at Essential Reference Paper ‘B’ to the report submitted, be received and considered; and

(B)  the Officers’ response to the issues referred to in (A) above, as detailed in Essential Reference Paper ‘B’ to the report submitted, be agreed.

The Panel gave consideration to a report on a Settlement Appraisal for the Villages together with a draft revised chapter, for subsequent incorporation into the Pre-Submission District Plan.

Councillor I Devonshire queried criterion VI of Policy VILL1.  Officers agreed to split the criterion to ensure clarity.

The Panel supported the recommendations as now detailed.

RECOMMENDED – that (A) the Villages Appraisal as detailed at Essential Reference Paper “B” to the report submitted be agreed; and

(B)   the draft revised Chapter 10 (Villages) as detailed in Essential Reference Paper ‘C’ to this report, be agreed as a basis for inclusion in the Pre-Submission District Plan.

The Panel considered a report bringing Members’ attention to the issues raised through the Preferred Options consultation in connection with the Appendices to the Draft District Plan Preferred Options version, together with Officer responses to those issues.  Members were also presented with a revised Appendix C: Monitoring Framework and Appendix D: Glossary.  The report sought agreement to include these appendices within the East Herts District Plan Pre-Submission Version, 2016.

The Officer explained that Appendix C: OpenSpace Standards’ was proposed for deletion.  As a result, the Monitoring Framework, formerly labelled as Appendix D, would be renamed as ‘Appendix C: Monitoring Framework’.  This updated position in respect of these appendices reflected both the Officer proposed responses to representations made to the Preferred Options Consultation in 2014 and also to ensure alignment with the Pre-Submission Plan. 

In respect of Appendix D ‘Glossary’, (previously Appendix E), the Officer explained that while no representations were made at the Preferred Options stage, this had been rewritten to reflect numerous changes in local and wider circumstances and was attached at Essential Reference Paper ‘D’ to the report, (and not Essential Reference Paper ‘C’ as detailed in paragraph 2.4 of the report).  Two further amendments were proposed within Essential Reference Paper ‘D’, which would be addressed within the following report on the agenda papers.

Councillor G Jones sought and was provided with clarification in relation to the Council’s Parking Standards and where these would be included within the District Plan i.e. that standards would not be included within the Plan itself, but that a revised Vehicle Parking at New Development Supplementary Planning Document would be produced to bring forward updated standards at the earliest opportunity post adoption of the Plan.

The Panel supported the recommendations as now detailed.

RECOMMENDED – that (A) the issues raised in respect of Appendices to the Draft District Plan Preferred Options, as detailed at Essential Reference Paper ‘B’ to the report submitted, be received and considered;

(B)   the Officer response to the issues referred to in (A) above, as detailed in Essential Reference Paper ‘B’ to the report submitted, be agreed;

(C)  the revised version of ‘Appendix C: Monitoring Framework’ to the East Herts District Plan Pre-Submission Version, 2016, as detailed at Essential Reference Paper ‘C’ to the report submitted, be agreed for inclusion in the Pre-Submission East Herts District Plan, 2016; and

(D)  the revised version of ‘Appendix D: Glossary’ to the East Herts District Plan Pre-Submission Version, 2016, as detailed at Essential Reference Paper ‘D’ to the report submitted, be agreed for inclusion in the Pre-Submission East Herts District Plan, 2016.

The Panel gave consideration to a report which presented Members with a schedule of proposed amendments to address issues which had arisen since consideration of related chapters at previous District Planning Executive Panel meetings, and sought agreement to include these within the East Herts District Plan Pre-Submission Version, 2016.

The Officer referred to the need to include an addendum to Essential Reference Paper ‘B’.

The Panel supported the recommendations as now detailed.

RECOMMENDED – thatthe amendments to the East Herts District Plan Pre-Submission Version, 2016, as detailed at Essential Reference ‘B’ to the report submitted, and the addendum, be agreed.

The Panel considered the Draft Harlow Strategic Sites Assessment, September 2016.

Councillor T Page queried whether all housing in the Gilston area would contribute towards East Herts housing needs, rather than those of Harlow.  The Chairman confirmed that they would.

The Panel supported the recommendations as now detailed.

RECOMMENDED – that (A) the Draft Harlow Strategic Sites Assessment,   September 2016, as detailed at Essential Reference ‘B’ to the report submitted, be supported as part of the evidence base to inform and support the East Herts District Plan; and

(B)    the Head of Planning and Building Control, in consultation with the           Leader of the Council, be authorised to agree the final version of the document.

Note – Appendices are enclosed as a separate document pack.

The Panel considered a report detailed the Strategic Flood Risk Assessment August 2016. 

The Panel supported the recommendations as now detailed.

RECOMMENDED – that (A) the Strategic Flood Risk Assessment, August 2016, be supported as part of the evidence base to inform and support the East Herts District Plan; and

(B)     the Head of Planning and Building Control, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, be authorised to agree an updated version of the document following completion of the climate change mapping.

The Panel considered a report presenting Members with a Sustainability Appraisal (SA) of the East Herts District Plan Pre-Submission Version 2016 and to seek agreement to publish the SA for consultation under Regulation 19 of the Town and Country (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 as amended.

Councillor G Jones referred to the Appraisal Findings within the supplementary document circulated separately and expressed concern regarding Air Quality and the “residual minor negative effect” on air quality.  He referred to the report’s findings on transport and its “negative effects” and the lack of mitigating actions to address this.  The Officer addressed his points of concern.

The Panel supported the recommendations as now detailed.

RECOMMENDED – that the Sustainability Appraisal of the East Herts District Plan Pre-Submission Version 2016, as detailed at Essential Reference ‘B’ to the report submitted, be agreed and published for consultation for a period of six-weeks in accordance with Regulation 19 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 as amended.

The Panel gave consideration to the Habitat Regulations Assessment (HRA) of the East Herts District Plan Pre-Submission Version 2016.

The Panel supported the recommendations as now detailed.

RECOMMENDED – that the Habitats Regulations Assessment, as detailed at Essential Reference ‘B’ and Essential Reference Paper ‘C’ to the report submitted, be supported as part of the evidence base to inform and support the East Herts District Plan.

The Panel gave consideration to the Infrastructure Delivery Plan (IDP) Version 1, September 2016.

Councillor J Jones sought and was provided with clarification in relation to the infrastructure requirement for Buntingford, specifically on the issue of transport and education.

Councillor Mrs D Hollebon sought and was provided with clarification on priority junction improvements on Obrey Way in Bishop’s Stortford and referred to the severe congestion at Whittington Way.  The Officer undertook to write to the Member with further information. 

The Chairman reminded Members that transport issues would need to be addressed through more detailed design work in consultation with Hertfordshire County Council and other consultees.  She stated she was cognisant of the Member’s concerns.

Councillor J Wyllie referred to the “critical” need for primary and secondary education provision as part of the proposed Bishop’s Stortford South development, and his concerns that current flight paths and the expansion of Stansted Airport could have health, noise and air pollution implications to children.  He reiterated his concerns about development in this location.

Councillor G Jones questioned the level of priority given to certain infrastructure schemes within the document.  The Head of Planning and Building Control explained that this was Version 1 of a ‘live’ document which would be refined prior to submission of the District Plan in March 2017.

The Panel supported the recommendation as now detailed.

RECOMMENDED – that the Infrastructure Delivery Plan (IDP), Version 1, September 2016, as detailed at Essential Reference ‘B’ to the report submitted, be supported as part of the evidence base to inform and support the East Herts District Plan.

Note – Essential Reference Paper ‘B’ is enclosed as a separate document pack.

The Panel considered the consolidated East Herts District Plan Pre-Submission Version 2016 and sought agreement to publish the Plan for Consultation under Regulation 19 of the Town and Country (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 as amended.  The Officer explained that the Pre-Submission District Plan set out the vision, policies and proposals to guide future development and the use of land within East Herts over the Plan-period to 2033. 

The Chairman referred to the lengthy and complicated process in developing the plan and thanked all Officers for their role in developing the Pre-Submission District Plan.  She asked all Members to ensure that Towns and Parishes reviewed the Plan as a whole, as the information within it, provided certainty as to where development was most likely to take place and would guide decision-makers on the most appropriate forms of development. 

Members complimented Officers on the preparation of the Plan.

The Panel supported the recommendations as now detailed.

RECOMMENDED – that (A) the East Herts District Plan Pre-Submission Version 2016, as detailed at Essential Reference ‘B’ to the report submitted, be agreed and published for consultation for a period of six-weeks in accordance with Regulation 19 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 as amended;

(B)   the Head of Planning and Building Control, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, be authorised to make non-material typographical, formatting, mapping and other amendments to the Plan, prior to its publication for consultation in November 2016; and

(C)   the ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ paper, as detailed at Essential Reference Paper ‘C’ to the report submitted, be agreed and published alongside the Plan.

The Chairman welcomed all to the meeting.  The Chairman outlined what agenda papers had been forwarded to Members.

The Chairman reminded Members that the Pre-Submission consultation on the District Plan would take place between 3^rd November and 15^th December.  All responses submitted during that time would be collated and sent to the Inspector in March 2017 for consideration as part of the examination process.  She stated that there would be another District Plan Executive Panel on 13 October 2016.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on 8 September 2016.

RESOLVED – that the Minutes of the meeting held on 8 September be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.