Agenda and minutes

To receive any Member(s)’ Declaration(s) of Interest

Councillor M Newman declared a personal interest in Minute 4 – LDF Core Strategy: Responses to Issues and Options Public Consultation 2 September 2010 to 25 November 2011 – by virtue of his involvement with the “Stop Harlow North” campaign.

Councillor M Carver declared a personal interest in the whole agenda by virtue of his involvement with Hertford Regional College and undertook to take no part in discussion if something specifically related to this arose, which was not expected.

The Chairman welcomed the public, press and Members, including in particular, those who were newly elected, to the meeting.

He said the Local Development Framework (LDF) was one of the most important issues for the Council.  Recommendations from the Panel would go to the Executive and on to Council for decision.  He wanted all Members to attend Panel meetings and had specifically invited a number who would represent various areas in the District to ensure greater awareness of progress on the LDF.

The Executive Member for Planning Policy and Economic Development submitted a report on the Localism Bill and its likely implications for planning policy.

Members commented on grants being offered for residents to prepare Neighbourhood Plans and how these funds would be found.  They noted the high cost of the plans and said areas would not have the opportunity to prepare them if they did not have the funds to do so.  It was felt the issue could be discussed at the Rural Conference and through Member training.

The Panel decided to make the recommendations detailed below to the Executive.

RECOMMENDED – that (A) priority be given to progressing the Local Development Framework (LDF) as quickly as possible in order to provide an effective strategic planning policy framework for the new tier of neighbourhood planning; and

(B)   communities wait, before they do any substantive work on neighbourhood plans, until the Localism Bill has received Royal Assent later this year, so that there is more certainty about the neighbourhood planning process and the Council is in a better position to support and advise

The Executive Member for Planning Policy and Economic Development submitted a report on a summary of the issues raised, and an analysis of the responses received, to the Local Development Framework Core Strategy Issues and Options consultation. It also set out the need for further technical work to inform the East Herts housing requirement.

The Panel Chairman explained that the responses received would be incorporated into the next stage of the LDF which would be consulted on again.  All responses were treated equally but some which were identical were grouped together.

Members commented on the position regarding the Regional Spatial Strategy which still had to be taken into account and how precedents for certain types of development had already been set.

The Panel decided to make the recommendations now detailed to the Executive.

RECOMMENDED - that (A) the issues raised from the Core Strategy Issues and Options consultation be noted;

(B)   the responses received and issues raised are used to inform the preparation of the next stage of the East Herts Core Strategy called Preferred Options; and

(C)   the ongoing and further technical work being undertaken to inform the East Herts housing requirement, be noted.

The Executive Member for Planning Policy and Economic Development submitted a report seeking  agreement to the Core Strategy Preferred Options Project Plan and Methodology Statement, which set out how the Council would reach an initial view on the broad locations for development in the District to 2031.  It also set out the Work Programme for this stage of the project, culminating in public consultation in Spring 2012.

Members commented on the need to be aware of proposals for adjoining areas and Officers assured them these were taken into account.  Officers explained that use of the Green Belt and sites suggested for development by builders had to be considered as part of the LDF process.

The Panel decided to make the recommendation detailed below to the Executive.

RECOMMENDED– that the East Herts Core Strategy Preferred Options Project Plan and Methodology Statement, together with accompanying Work Programme, contained at Essential Reference Papers ‘B’ and ‘C’ of the  report now submitted, be agreed.

The Executive Member for Planning Policy and Economic Development submitted a report  to enable Members to consider the implications of the New Homes Bonus and Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), which were being introduced as an incentive to new development, and to consider and endorse a suitable approach towards the introduction of these new revenue streams.

Members asked if the New Homes Bonus could be used to fund Neighbourhood Plans and commented on the cost of setting up the CIL and the need for the level of it not to deter development.

The Panel decided to make the recommendations detailed below to the Executive.

RECOMMENDED – that (A) a preliminary Draft Community Infrastructure Levy Charging Schedule be published for consultation alongside the Core Strategy Preferred Options; and

(B)   the importance be acknowledged of the New Homes Bonus and Community Infrastructure Levy, in assisting the delivery of the infrastructure required by the Local Development Framework Core Strategy.

The Executive Member for Planning Policy and Economic Development submitted a report seeking endorsement of the Strategic Land Availability Assessment (SLAA) Project Plan and establishment of a formal SLAA Partnership to provide technical advice and guidance to East Herts Council, in respect of land availability and the deliverability of sites. The SLAA was ongoing technical work that would inform the East Herts LDF.

Members commented on the difficulty of ensuring a fair representation for Parish Councils in the SLAA Partnership.  A number of drafting amendments were suggested.

The Panel decided to make the recommendations now detailed to the Executive.

RECOMMENDED - that (A) the East Herts Strategic Land Availability Assessment (SLAA) Project Plan (July 2011), contained at Essential Reference Paper ‘B’ of the report now submitted, be agreed subject to the drafting amendments discussed at the meeting; and

(B)   a formal SLAA Partnership be established, in order to allow work to commence as soon as possible to inform the next stage of the Core Strategy.

The Executive Member for Planning Policy and Economic Development submitted a report updating Members on the submissions received to the Call for Sites consultation between 6May and 10 June 2011 and seeking Members’ agreement for the responses to be taken into account as part of the preparation of the East Herts Strategic Land Availability Assessment (SLAA).

Members said that the exercise had caused concern amongst residents and were assured the sites included would not necessarily be developed.  Members asked for this to be made clearer in future consultations.

The Panel decided to make the recommendations detailed below to the Executive.

RECOMMENDED - that (A) the responses received to the Call for Sites consultation between 6 May and 10 June 2011, attached at Essential Reference Paper ‘B’ of the report now submitted, be noted and taken into account as part of the preparation of the East Herts Strategic Land Availability Assessment (SLAA); and

(B)   any future Call for Sites suggestions be included and assessed as part of the preparation of the SLAA in Summer/Autumn 2011, and subsequently as part of the annual monitoring and review of the SLAA.

The Executive Member for Planning Policy and Economic Development submitted a report presenting the East Herts Green Infrastructure Plan and Hertfordshire Strategic Green Infrastructure Plan for consideration and agreement.

Members noted the update on the issues.

The Panel decided to make the recommendations detailed below to the Executive.

RECOMMENDED – that the East Herts Green Infrastructure Plan (March 2011) and the Hertfordshire Strategic Green Infrastructure Plan (March 2011) be agreed and published as follows:

(A)       as a technical study, forming part of the evidence base to inform and support the East Herts Local Development Framework;

(B)       as a basis for informing future Development Control decisions concerning development and green infrastructure; and

(C)       as a basis for green infrastructure planning in the District.

The Executive Member for Planning Policy and Economic Development submitted a report presenting the draft Assessment of East Herts Sports Facilities (ASF) and a range of recommendations and long term aspirations for consideration and agreement.

The Panel decided to make the recommendations detailed below to the Executive.

RECOMMENDED – that the draft Assessment of East Herts Sports Facilities be agreed and published as follows:

(A)                as a technical study, forming part of the evidence base to inform and support the East Herts Local Development Framework;

(B)                as a basis for informing future Development Control decisions concerning the development of, and developments affecting sports facilities; and

(C)                as a basis for sports facility planning in the District.

The Executive Member for Planning Policy and Economic Development submitted a report seeking endorsement for the Morphology and Place Shaping (MAPS) technical study project plan.  The MAPS technical study sought to embed a settlement-wide approach to design in the East Herts LDF.

Officers gave a presentation explaining morphology by giving an example of what it would involve for an imaginary town.

The Panel decided to make the recommendation detailed below to the Executive.

RECOMMENDED – that settlement-wide design based technical work is undertaken to inform the preparation of the East Herts LDF, and the Morphology and Place Shaping (MAPS) Technical Study Project Plan, contained at Essential Reference Paper ‘B’ of the report now submitted , be agreed.

To approve the Minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on 23 September 2010 (circulated with Executive agenda for 12 October 2010 )

RESOLVED – that the Minutes of the Panel meeting held on 23 September 2010 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

The Panel agreed that Council Procedure Rules be suspended so that the meeting could continue beyond 10.00 pm, if necessary.

RESOLVED – that Council Procedure Rules be suspended, so that the meeting could continue beyond 10.00 pm, if necessary.