Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Paul Abbey and Angela Goodwin.  Councillor Liz Hogger was present as a substitute for Councillor Angela Goodwin.

In accordance with the local Code of Conduct, a councillor is required to disclose at the meeting any Disclosable Pecuniary Interest (DPI) that they may have in respect of any matter for consideration on this agenda. Any councillor with a DPI must not participate in any discussion or vote regarding that matter and they must withdraw from the meeting immediately before consideration of the matter.

If that DPI has not been registered, the councillor must notify the Monitoring Officer of the details of the DPI within 28 days of the date of the meeting.

Councillors are further invited to disclose any non-pecuniary interest which may be relevant to any matter on this agenda, in the interests of transparency, and to confirm that it will not affect their objectivity in relation to that matter.

The Chairman reported that legal advice obtained in respect of the business to be discussed at this meeting had confirmed that the business was too general in nature to warrant declarations of interest unless councillors wished to make declarations.  In the event, there were no declarations of disclosable pecuniary or non-pecuniary interests.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting of the Joint Executive Advisory Board held on 24 June 2021.

The minutes of the meeting of the Joint EAB held on 24 June 2021 were confirmed as a correct record, and would be signed by the Chairman at the earliest opportunity.

The draft Local Plan Development Management Policies (LPDMP) and the Draft Parking Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) 2021 were before the Joint Executive Advisory Board (EAB) for consideration.  The Planning Policy Lead gave a brief introductory presentation that identified which current policies, Development Plan Documents (DPDs) and SPDs in the 2003 Local Plan would be replaced by planned policies in the LPDMP.  The key stages in preparing the LPDMP document included research; preparation of issues and options; consultations; submission to the Secretary of State; independent examination by an Inspector; publication of the Inspector’s report and acceptance of the main modifications prior to adoption.  The EAB was advised of the timings associated with these stages and it was anticipated that these would culminate in the LPDMP being ready for adoption in Spring 2023.  The document would assist with the determination of planning applications and its two key themes related to protecting the environment and to securing high design standards.

Following the presentation, the EAB discussed the draft Local Plan documents on a chapter by chapter basis and made the ensuing comments for forwarding to the Executive.

Housing Chapter

Policy H4: Housing Density

·             EAB members repeatedly expressed the view that Policy H4 should be retained.

·             Further guidance in the form of a Local Residential Design Guide, Borough Character Study, Design Codes and various SPDs was sought.  It was clarified that SPDs would be developed when the LPDMP was adopted to elaborate on the policies.

Policy H5: Housing Extensions and Alterations including Annexes

·             A related Character Study and Green Belt SPD were required in this area.

·             Proportionality was raised as an issue requiring consideration, particularly in the Green Belt, due to the risk that homes could be extended and altered in an out of character manner in terms of size, scale, mass and height, with taller homes dwarfing smaller homes.  Using 1968 rather than 1948 as a measurement starting point was suggested.

·             Permitted Development Rights needed to be controlled, where possible, with a view to enabling rational extensions in the Green Belt and related guidance should be included in the Reasoned Justification section.

·             There was a need to differentiate between Green Belt, Countryside and Urban areas (as was the case with 2003 H8 and H9 Policies).

·             The provision of greater clarity in Policy D9 was sought.

Policy H6: Housing Conversion and Sub-division

·             There was a request to transfer the specific elements (character, proportion, amenity space, adequate parking) from Policy H7 back to Policy H6.

·             Sub-division of infill properties was seen as an issue and it was felt that it would be beneficial to cross-reference and strengthen wording in relevant Policies to prevent it.

·             There was a need for a Houses in Multiple Occupation SPD to provide guidance in respect of property conversions and sub-divisions in order to prevent loss of family homes and negative impact on the character and amenities of affected areas.

·             It was requested that this Policy be expanded to secure an element of affordable housing as part of the conversion of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 38.