Issue - meetings

The report of the Principal Planning Policy Officer.

The Principal Planning Policy Officer presented the report.

A discussion followed during which several questions of clarity were addressed by the planning policy officers and the Legal Advisor.

Members questioned whether local councils (including parish and town councils) could have the first option to adopt open spaces and play areas on new estates, and also if thatcould be included in a policy.

Members were advised that the Council could not direct a private landowner in such a way, and that these would be managed by the developer. It was added by the Legal Advisor that if there was a policy, it could say that the preferred option would be for it to go to parish and town councils but ultimately it was for the developers to decide on how they dispose of the land, and up to the parish and town councils to accept it.

The Legal Advisor commented that these concerns were being looked at by the Government, and legislation could be introduced in the future to prevent unsustainable development from happening.

Following the request of a member, it was minuted that members were frustrated about the length of agendas, and that they had been given insufficient time to study the content. Officers were urged to provide members with sufficient time to read lengthy documents prior to the meeting.

As recommendations 1, 2, and 3 were to note the contents of the report, members were thanked for their comments.

Councillor M Wyatt moved recommendation 4. It was seconded by Councillor P Lees and

RESOLVED THAT:

Subject to the findings of the whole plan viability assessment, the Local Plan Committee agrees to Policy IF4: Open Space, Sport and Recreation Facilities, as amended at Appendix E, for inclusion in the Regulation 19 version of the Local Plan.