Issue - meetings

The report of the Planning Policy and Land Charges Team Manager

The Planning Policy and Land Charges Team Manager presented the report.

Labour Group Members commended the consultation which Officers and the Portfolio Holder for Infrastructure had involved the Labour Group in regarding the matter.

Members discussed the issue of land banking, a perennial problem, and how the Council could attempt to mitigate against the problem. The Planning Policy and Land Charges Team Manager advised that the issue was not really one which was in the power of the Council to solve. He also discussed the consultations around cross boundary strategic planning the Council undertook with other local authorities across the East Midlands.

A discussion was had about unmet need. The Planning Policy and Land Charges Team Manager advised the Committee on changes brought in by central Government would lead to a reduction in the unmet need from Leicester City, as set out in the Statement of Common Ground. However, changes to how the standard method was calculated would lead to a significant increase from 357 dwellings to 621 required.

The Committee discussed the effects on the logistics sector, a significant contributor to the economy within North West Leicestershire, by the proposed changes. Relatedly they also discussed contingency planning if a large logistics site in Hinckley and Bosworth was rejected permission to proceed by the Secretary of State. The Planning Policy and Land Charges Team Manager said that as a general principle Officers balanced the economic contribution of the logistics industry with the negative impacts such as traffic congestion and air quality impacts. In regard to the specific site, he said that the demand for that development would likely need to be met elsewhere in Leicestershire and discussions were ongoing with other nearby authorities on how best to manage this.

A discussion was had about efforts to increase the provision of green energy across the country via the local plan process. Officers regarded this as a significant contribution to their workloads, though some Members debated whether this would actually be the case.

It was agreed that the Planning Policy and Land Charges Team Manager would inform the committee about the nature of the Future Homes Standard, scheduled to come in in 2025, outside of the meeting.

The Planning Policy and Land Charges Team Manager advised that Officers supported the extension of the deadline to complete the drafting process until December 2026. His Team had the resources in place to meet this deadline.

It was moved by Councillor D Bigby, seconded by Councillor J Legrys and

RESOLVED THAT:

1.     The proposed reforms to the planning system and the Council’s response as set out in the report be noted.

2.     The contents of the correspondence between the Government and the Planning Inspectorate and the potential implications for the new local plan be noted.