Issue - meetings

Report of the Head of Planning and Infrastructure

The Planning Policy Team Manager presented the report to Members.

Councillor J Legrys noted that if the figure of 910 per annum was agreed it would almost double the amount of houses that currently needed to be built. He sought clarity on when it would be known which base line figure the authority would be working to, whether it would hold up the review and what the “social housing for rent need” in the district was.

The Planning Policy Team Manager advised that he was unsure of when the Government would give an indication on the method however, he felt that work needed to be done to get a better understanding on how the forecasts were put together. He hoped to bring back a report as soon as he could once the base line was known and that he did not want it to hold up the review. In terms of affordable housing, he hoped to commission a piece of work using the household predictions to give an indication on the level of need that may arise.

Councillor D Bigby noted that it would take some time to establish the figures and asked that if whilst waiting for the information, whether officers would begin work on identifying suitable sites for development. In relation to employment needs, he highlighted the work that was required following the changes to the NPPF and sought clarification on what the key changes were and its significance. He was pleased to see that the report mentioned the need for more carbon friendly distribution operations and the need to understand and use rail freight when possible, as there were railheads that could be used. He stated that it was good to see that local employment opportunities were being looked at and taken seriously, and the intention to commission work on the start-up premises. He advised that, when he had first read the paragraphs on climate change, he was worried that the new evidence was some sort of backdoor attempt to water down some of the crucial objectives of the Council’s Climate Change action plan. He stated that having read the remit for the study he was pleased that it did cover the climate areas that needed clarification. He asked if it would be possible for officers to provide the committee with a framework setting out all aspects of the areas to be covered in the review, and when they were likely to come forward for consideration.

The Planning Policy Team Manager advised that officers were working to identify suitable sites to accommodate the additional houses that would be required and that in relation to the NPPF, there were not many changes and for the first time it made reference to meeting the needs of the logistics industry including a need to identify sites for lorry parks. In terms of climate change, a consultant had been appointed and a meeting would take place the following week and that he would look at pulling together a framework  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5