Agenda and minutes

To receive and note any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor V Richichi.

Under the Code of Conduct members are reminded that in declaring disclosable interests you should make clear the nature of that interest and whether it is pecuniary or non-pecuniary.

There were no interests declared.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 31 January 2018.

Consideration was given to the minutes of the meeting held on 31 January 2018.

It was moved by Councillor J Legrys, seconded by Councillor R Johnson and

RESOLVED THAT:

The minutes of the meeting held on 31 January 2018 be approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

Terms of Reference attached.

The Chairman reminded members that the purpose of the Advisory Committee was to enable cross-party discussion, guidance and support for the development of the Local Plan.

The terms of reference were noted.

Report of the Strategic Director of Place

The Planning Policy Team Manager presented the report to members and gave a presentation outlining the process which had been undertaken so far to identify sites and the reasons for preparing the allocations document.  He highlighted the risks of failing to identify sufficient sites in terms of unauthorised sites and the impact upon the local plan review.  He emphasised the importance of the revised definition of gypsies and travellers, which meant that travellers who were not travelling on a regular basis were no longer included in that definition.  He explained that a new needs assessment had been undertaken last year across Leicestershire, and the changes to the definition of traveller had resulted in a dramatic reduction in the assessed level of need.  In terms of transit provision it was suggested that around 36 spaces were needed over 2 – 3 sites across Leicestershire, and it was also suggested that this need was greatest in the city and in the north west of the county. 

The Planning Policy Team Manager explained that the initial call for sites undertaken in 2016 had involved consulting with landowners, agencies, parish and town councils and other stakeholders.  Unfortunately no sites had been put forward as a result of this exercise.  Officers had therefore undertaken a very detailed search for sites and he outlined the process which had been undertaken to filter out sites that were too small, where there was an existing planning permission for residential development or had an uncertain likelihood of being delivered.  He added that sites identified in the SHLAA and on the East Midlands Gateway route had also been excluded.  He explained how the list of potential sites had been sifted further by undertaking a detailed sustainability assessment which tested the economic, social and environmental sustainability of each site.  He explained the reasons why sites had been omitted at this stage, leaving 3 sites in total as proposed in the document at Appendix A.

The Planning Policy Team Manager summarised the proposals set out in the DPD and advised that the proposed site at Sinope had obtained planning permission after the study was completed, and therefore this site effectively met the identified need for permanent traveller accommodation.  The landowner of the former Measham Mine had confirmed that they were willing to make the site available and the site was capable of accommodating the 20 plots identified in the needs assessment to accommodate travelling showpeople.  On the issue of transit provision, the Planning Policy Team Manager advised that there was an identified need for 36 pitches across Leicester and Leicestershire.  He advised that study also highlighted that there was some uncertainty in these figures as the changes to the definition of what constitutes a traveller had happened to recently to enable an understanding of the impact this might have on future need.  He explained that a managed approach seeking to manage unauthorised encampments was preferred, and in view of the fact that the study showed that there was a need for a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 24.

Report of the Strategic Director of Place

The Planning Policy Team Leader presented the report to members, explaining that the purpose of the SHELAA was to identify a list of possible housing and employment sites and assess their overall potential.  He emphasised that the SHELAA was a technical document only, and inclusion of a site did not necessarily mean it was suitable for development or that planning permission would be granted.  He added that although local plan policies had to be taken into account, a site could not be excluded from the SHELAA because it did not accord with local plan policies and where constraints were identified, the SHELAA needed to consider hat circumstances were needed to overcome them.  He summarised the methodology and the constraints that would prevent a site from being included in the SHELAA.  He gave a presentation outlining the new sites put forward as potential sites. 

Councillor J Legrys made reference to a number of local groups who were putting together a development plan.  He asked where the SHELAA fit in with the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland growth strategy and the need to build 10,000 homes in the area.

The Head of Planning and Infrastructure advised that a joint methodology had been agreed to enable a single evidence base to be utilised for the total capacity across the region.  He explained that this helped to demonstrate that the required development could be accommodated and provided as much flexibility as possible to identify sites.  It also gave confidence that the growth plan was possible. 

Councillor J Legrys referred to a site at Appleby which had not been included.  He asked if this had been deliberately omitted. 

The Head of Planning and Infrastructure confirmed that it had been omitted deliberately and explained that it was optional for landowners to put sites forward for inclusion in the SHELAA.  He added that the SHELAA was a snapshot in time so it a site became known to officers after its production it would not be included.  He advised that the site in question was the subject of a scoping request rather not the subject of a planning application. He emphasised that the SHELAA gave people the opportunity to inform the Council that land was available for development within the timescales indicated, and inclusion of a site did not mean that planning permission would be granted.

Councillor A C Saffell addressed the meeting, expressing concerns that people were being encouraged to travel to work as the houses being built were not affordable for the employees in the area.  He added that only 22% of employees at East Midlands Airport lived in Leicestershire. 

RESOLVED THAT:

The content of the SHELAA be noted.