Issue - meetings

Report of the Head of Planning and Regeneration

The Head of Planning and Regeneration presented the report to Members, highlighting the key features of the draft growth plan.  He reported that the consultation would run for 12 weeks and would include two consultation events within the district, the first being in Ashby.

Councillor T Eynon expressed her disappointment that Members did not have a physical copy of the draft plan due to the timing of the consultation and unfortunately the online document had still not been released.  To be able to scrutinise the document thoroughly, she requested that the full draft growth plan be brought to the next meeting.  The Head of Planning and Regeneration was happy, in principle, to bring the draft growth plan to the next meeting but he would need to check that the consultation deadlines would fit in with timescales.  He suggested instead that an all Member briefing be arranged to look into the draft growth plan in more detail when the consultation has commenced.  Members were happy with this suggestion.

Regarding the number of homes to be built per year, Councillor J Geary asked how many would be affordable homes, as Section 106 Agreements were often made by the developers regarding numbers and then not delivered.  The Head of Planning and Regeneration explained that the target for affordable homes would be calculated and set by the Local Plan, and that the Strategic Growth Plan was intended to address how many new homes and jobs were expected to be needed between 2031 and 2050, and where best to build them, but not local detail. 

Councillor J Geary commented that there was still no mention of re-using the Coalville to Burton railway line for mass transit, which was a shame as he felt it was needed.  The Head of Planning and Regeneration explained that the consultation was a good opportunity to raise these type of comments, and noted that the Local Plan did support this in principle, if suitable proposals were to come forward, this would be fed back as he was aware it was a local aspiration.

At this point a heated discussion ensued between a number of Members, in response to a comment from the Chairman, regarding Planning Committee decisions and affordable homes, which due to its political nature was not relevant to the item being considered.

In response from a question from Cllr Clarke, the Head of Planning and Regeneration reported that the draft plan should be available to view on the website following the link within the report as of the following day.

Councillor P Purver asked if the major highway improvements could be undertaken sooner as they were really needed.  The Head of Planning and Regeneration explained that the development of strategic roads was a lengthy process and took decades rather than months to plan.  Due to this, unfortunately it was unlikely that the works would be undertaken any time soon.

By affirmation of the meeting it was

RESOLVED THAT:

The report be noted.