Issue - meetings

The draft Open Space, Sport and Recreation Supplementary Planning Document (SPD), as set out in Essential Reference Paper ‘B’, be agreed and published for a six-week period of public consultation; and

In accordance with the Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes Regulations 2004 it be determined that a Strategic Environmental Assessment of the emerging Open Space, Sport and Recreation SPD is not required as it is unlikely to have significant environmental effects.

The Leader submitted a report on the draft Open Space, Sport and Recreation Supplementary Planning Document (SPD).  She said the Council took open spaces, sport and leisure seriously.  The documents set out the requirements and funding expected of developers.  The document would be published for consultation, and then adopted by the Council. 

The Executive Member for Wellbeing said this was a welcome part of the policies of the District Plan and would be important in the discussions with developers and stakeholders in the masterplanning of strategic sites.  He said it was vital that the developments should include infrastructure to keep residents well.  He trusted there would be a wide response to the consultation.

Councillor J Wyllie referred to the purpose of the SPD, which included the objective of retaining access to open spaces.  He asked how this aim might  be affected for example in Thorley, where developers, rather than the Council, owned land, and where small parcels of land were sold. The Leader  said she was not aware of the particular circumstances in Thorley, but if it was not appropriate for such land to be sold if they were in the Green Belt, then Article 4 provisions could be used.  She asked that Councillor J Wyllie send her details of the pieces of land to enable Officers to provide further advice. 

Councillor M Goldspink said recommendation “B” was that a strategic environment assessmentwas not required, as it was unlikely to have significant environmental effects.  She sought clarification on what these might be, and what the definition of “significant”was. 

The Leader  said this was a strategic document which would be used by developers.  If strategic environmental assessment was needed for each site, then that provision would apply. 

Councillor T Page, as Chairman of the Development Management Committee, said he welcomed the document which created transparency for provision of sports infrastructure, supported health and wellbeing, and sat neatly with Masterplanning.   He said that it would help the Committee in deciding aspects of applications.  The aims included reference to “retaining and improving access for all to open space, sport and recreation facilities so as to support increased participation in sport and leisure, particularly amongst groups and individuals with greatest social disadvantage”.  Councillor T Pagesaid such facilities should be provided for all residents.  He felt  a cost effective way of helping the groups referred to could be  by improving access to such services, rather than the provision of such services.  He also considered it was important to balance the demographic factors so that provision of this important infrastructure did not impact on affordable housing.

The Leaders  said the report did not refer to provision of special facilities for people who were disadvantaged, but meant provision of access to them.  She agreed there was an ageing population, but that the facilities could be easily adapted for older people. 

The Executive Member for Wellbeing….r said that Masterplanning took this kind of factor into account, as Members understood their local communities and could ensure these factors were  ...  view the full minutes text for item 127