Issue - meetings

Minute 446 refers

Minute 23 refers

The Executive considered and supported the recommendations of the District Planning Executive Panel meeting held on 8 December 2014, on the Authority Monitoring Report 2013/14.

RECOMMENDED – that the Authority Monitoring Report 2013/14 contained as Essential Reference Paper “B” and Essential Reference Paper “C” as now detailed be agreed for publication.

(see also Minute 454)

Consideration was given to a report seeking approval for the publication of the Authority Monitoring Report.  The Panel noted that Local Planning Authorities were no longer required to prepare an Annual Monitoring Report (AMR) for submission to the Secretary of State before the end of each year.  In addition, the enactment of the Localism Act in 2011 had led to the withdrawal of the national core output indicators, giving local authorities the freedom to choose to report on indicators that were considered relevant to their local area and plan-making process.

This AMR, now called the ‘Authority Monitoring Report’, reported on the period 1 April 2013 to 31 March 2014.  The Council was in the process of developing an updated monitoring framework alongside the emerging District Plan and it was likely that the format of the AMR would continue to evolve as part of this process.

In respect of the projected shortfall in housing completions and the different methods of addressing this, the Panel Chairman referred to the unrealistic requirements of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) in favouring the Sedgefield method and the need to continue lobbying for a more common sense approach.

In view of the shortfall in demonstrating a five year housing land supply, some Members commented on the pressures brought to bear on Development Management Committee in having to consider inappropriate planning applications.

The Panel supported the recommendation as now detailed.

RECOMMENDED – that the Authority Monitoring Report 2013/2014 contained as Essential Reference Paper ‘B’ and Essential Reference Paper ‘C’ to the report now submitted, be agreed for publication.