Issue - meetings

Council considered a report seeking approval of the Gilston Area Concept Framework (July 2018).  The Leader of the Council advised that the Inspector had found the proposed District Plan to be “sound”, and as such, would be submitted for formal adoption to an Extraordinary Council meeting on 11 September 2018.

In relation to the Gilston Area Concept Framework, Councillor R Brunton praised the efforts of Officers, the Leader and members of the local community to reach this stage.

The Leader moved, and Councillor E Buckmaster seconded, the recommendation now detailed.  After being put to the meeting, and a vote taken, the recommendation was declared CARRIED.

Council approved the recommendation now detailed.

RESOLVED – that the Gilston Area Concept Framework version dated July 2018, as detailed at Essential Reference Paper ‘B’ to the report submitted, be agreed as the final version for the purposes of considering Recommendations (A) and (C) made by the Executive on 12 June 2018 under Minute 46.

(see also Minute 134)

The Leader of the Council submitted a report on the Gilston Area Concept Framework document, which sought agreement to use the Concept Framework to inform further work, as now detailed, and act as a benchmark when considering future Development Management decisions in relation to the Gilston Area.

The Leader expressed her appreciation for the amount of hard work and effort put in by the communities of Hunsdon, Gilston and Eastwick and in particular, the members of the neighbourhood plan team.  She reiterated the commitment she had given to the local communities of an expectation that high quality design and build will be delivered by the developers.

The Leader referred to the relationship between Gilston and the Harlow and Gilston Garden Town project.  She introduced Claire Hamilton, the Harlow and Gilston Garden Town Director, who gave a brief overview of her role.

The Leader responded to a number of questions raised by Councillor R Brunton on behalf of the neighbourhood plan team, as follows:

1.      Would the Executive note and support the work put in by the community to date and the value it had added to the process so far?

The Leader reiterated her thanks to the local communities and recognised the efforts of the neighbourhood plan team.  The Council had established the Gilston steering group, involving the developer, the Council and community representatives. Whilst some of these meetings had been challenging, she believed that much progress had been made, in large part due to the community’s willingness to contribute their time and energy to a project which was not one they would have chosen.  She expected the critical friend challenge to continue.  She also believed that the reallocation of the designated neighbourhood plan area for Hunsdon to exclude the strategic site of Gilston had been helpful, as it allowed focus on the needs of this area.

2.      Given the preparation of neighbourhood plans for the parishes of Eastwick & Gilston and Hunsdon, will these be recognised in the planning process?

The Leader reiterated the importance of these plans as they went through due process and that once “made” by the Council would carry full weight when considering planning applications.

3.      Why was the Concept Framework document not being taken forward as a Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) in its own right?

The Leader reminded Members that the Concept Framework had been prepared to demonstrate the deliverability of the Gilston Area allocation to the District Plan Inspector.  It had never been intended to be a formal SPD and did not meet the requirements for producing such a document as set out in the regulations.  The framework identified high level design principles, potential land uses, infrastructure requirements and phasing, and illustrated the form that development might take.  As such, it would be used as a benchmark in reviewing any future proposals that came forward.

The Leader added that prior to the submission of any planning application, further design work through the pre-application engagement process would be required as set out  ...  view the full minutes text for item 46