Issue - meetings

(A)   To accept the changes to the published appendix A and appendix B, as laid out in the supplementary table document.

(B)   That the Green Belt Assessment, attached as the main report at Appendix A, as amended by the supplementary table document, and a series of individual parcel maps and reports at Appendix B (parts 1 to 19), as amended by the supplementary table document, be agreed as part of the evidence base to inform the new East Herts Local Plan and as a material consideration for Development Management purposes in the determination of planning applications, and

(C)  That any minor amendments to the content of the Green Belt Assessment be delegated to the Director for Place, in consultation with the Executive Member for Planning and Growth.

The Executive Member for Planning and Growth presented the Green Belt Assessment, which had been commissioned to support the evidence base for the new Local Plan and future planning decisions.

Members were advised that the assessment reviewed Green Belt land across the district against National Planning Policy criteria, including the recently introduced concept of Grey Belt. The study assessed approximately 260 land parcels and would help inform future Local Plan strategy.

It was emphasised that the assessment did not determine whether land was suitable for development, however solely evaluated its contribution to Green Belt purposes. The findings would be considered alongside other evidence in preparing the new Local Plan.

The Executive Member for Planning and Growth proposed the recommendations as detailed in the report. The Executive Member for Wellbeing seconded the proposal.

Members received a verbal update on a number of amendments to the Green Belt Assessment following consideration by the District Planning Executive Panel and the receipt of additional representations.

Officers advised that amendments had been made to ensure all designated Local Green Spaces were correctly referenced within the assessment and associated maps. Further clarifications had been included to explain the methodology used when assessing Green Belt land adjacent to allocated development sites.

Members were also advised that a representation had resulted in a reassessment of one parcel at Hertford Heath. Following review by the study’s authors, the parcel’s assessment had been amended, resulting in its reclassification from Green Belt to Grey Belt for assessment purposes. Officers emphasised that this related solely to the parcel’s performance against Green Belt purposes and did not indicate suitability for development.

Councillor Crystall proposed an adjournment to the meeting to consider the amendments. Councillor Hoskin seconded the proposal.

Following the adjournment, the Executive Member for Planning and Growth, in agreement with the Executive Member for Wellbeing, proposed the following amendments to the recommendation.

•             Replace recommendations:

(A)   That the Green Belt Assessment, attached as the main report at Appendix A and a series of individual parcel maps and reports at Appendix B (parts 1 to 19), be agreed as part of the evidence base to inform the new East Herts Local Plan and as a material consideration for Development Management purposes in the determination of planning applications, and

(B)   Any minor amendments to the content of the Green Belt Assessment be delegated to the Director for Place, in consultation with the Executive Member for Planning and Growth.

With:

(A)   To accept the changes to the published appendix A and appendix B, as laid out in the supplementary table document.

(B)   That the Green Belt Assessment, attached as the main report at Appendix A, as amended by the supplementary table document, and a series of individual parcel maps and reports at Appendix B (parts 1 to 19), as amended by the supplementary table document, be agreed as part of the evidence base to inform the new East Herts Local Plan and as a material consideration for Development Management purposes in the determination of planning  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10