Agenda and decisions

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 notparticipate in any discussion or vote regarding that matter and they must also 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.

There were no declarations of interest.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on 23 February 2023.

The minutes of the meeting held 23 February were agreed as correct. The Chairman signed the minutes.

Leader’s announcements were deferred to be delivered at full Council on 22 March.

The report was withdrawn prrior to the meeting as further work was required.

Decision:

The Executive approved the adoption of the Community Asset Transfer Policy, asset out in Appendix 1 to the report, incorporating the updated wording to page 7. subparagraph 6 as set out in the Supplementary Information Sheet.

Reason(s):

·         The Council did not currently have a policy on the transfer of assets to community groups.

·         To deliver community objectives.

Other options considered and rejected by the Executive:

Do nothing – Do not adopt the policy. This would not address having a consistent decision-making process and community groups and Council officers would not have a clear procedure to follow if a group wished to submit an expression of interest

Details of any conflict of interest declared by the Leader or lead councillors and any dispensation granted:

None.

Decision:

1.    Approved the progression of Guildford’s UKSPF and REPF plans, as outlined in the report.

2.    Delegated to the Strategic Director of Place, in consultation with the Leader, authority to enter into such other contracts and legal agreements connected with the UKSPF and REPF as may be necessary in compliance with Procurement Procedure Rules and within the allocated grant funding budget.

Reason(s):

The £1.4 million total funding Guildford Borough Council had been allocated from the UKSPF and REPF was a significant sum of money that could have a positive impact on the borough’s local communities and businesses.

Grounded on insights from local stakeholders, partners and GBC Councillors and Officers, the projects put forward in Guildford’s Investment Plan and REPF Addendum aligned with the borough’s local priorities and intent to leverage collaboration with the Council’s partners to maximise value for money.

Other options considered and rejected by the Executive:

OPTION 1: The Executive could have decided not to approve the proposed interventions (including changes) for Guildford’s UKSPF and REPF. This would make the Council unable to advance the proposed projects and make use of the £1.4 million allocated by DLUHC and DEFRA within the prescribed timescales to empower our local businesses and communities.

Details of any conflict of interest declared by the Leader or lead councillors and any dispensation granted:

None.

Decision:

1.    That subject to the adoption of the Local Plan: Development Management Policies, the Parking Standards for New Development Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) (at Appendix 6) be adopted.

2.    That the Lead Councillor with portfolio responsibility for Planning Policy be authorised, in consultation with the Joint Strategic Director of Place, to make such minor alterations to improve the clarity of the Parking Standards for New Development SPD as they may deem necessary.

3.    To note that Executive comments will be passed to the full Council meeting on 22 March 2023 via the Order Paper.

The Executive further

RECOMMEND (to Council):

(1)   That the Local Plan: Development Management Policies (as set out in Appendix 4 to the report), which incorporates the Inspector’s Main Modifications (at Appendix 2 to the report) and the Council’s Minor Modifications (at Appendix 3 to the report), be adopted.

(2)   That the Secretary of State be requested to exercise his powers to revoke the ‘residual’ policies of the 2003 Local Plan.

(3)   That updates to the Guildford Borough Policies Map be adopted in line with the Local Plan: Development Management Policies including additions proposed at Appendix A of the Local Plan: Development Management Policies, as amended by the Inspector’s main modification 6.

(4)   That the Lead Councillor with portfolio responsibility for Planning Policy be authorised, in consultation with the Joint Strategic Director of Place, to make such minor alterations to improve the clarity of the LPDMP as they may deem necessary.

Reason(s):

1.    To enable the adoption of the Parking Standards for New Development SPD to provide further guidance regarding the implementation of LPDMP Policy ID11 [now Policy ID10]: Parking Standards for New Development.

2.    To enable minor alterations to be made to the SPD should they be necessary prior to publication

3.    To enable the adoption of the LPDMP in line with the Council’s Local Development Scheme and for the plan to become part of the Council’s development plan, carrying full weight in the determination of planning applications.

4.    To enable the revocation of the ‘residual’ Local Plan 2003 policies that are not superseded by policies contained in the LPDMP.

5.    To ensure that changes are brought about to the policies map in line with the adoption of the LPDMP.

6.    To enable minor alterations to be made to the LPDMP should they be necessary prior to publication

Other options considered and rejected by the Executive:

None.

Details of any conflict of interest declared by the Leader or lead councillors and any dispensation granted:

None.