Agenda and minutes

To elect a Chairman for the ensuing municipal year.

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

RESOLVED THAT:

Councillor J Bridges be elected as Chairman for the forthcoming municipal year.

Councillor J Bridges took the chair.

To elect a Deputy Chairman of the ensuing municipal year.

It was moved by Councillor J Bridges, seconded by Councillor V Richichi and

RESOLVED THAT:

Councillor J Legrys be elected as Deputy Chairman for the forthcoming municipal year.

To receive and note any apologies for absence.

There were no apologies for absence received.

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.

Councillor J Legrys declared a non-pecuniary interest in item 7 – Local Plan – Update, in respect of the Coalville town centre boundaries, as a volunteer at Hermitage FM.

Councillor V Richichi sought advice on declaring interests relating to his land ownership.  The Legal Advisor explained that his current interest would remain until the Local Plan was adopted and the limits to development were defined.

Councillor V Richichi declared a non-pecuniary interest in item 7 – Local Plan – Update, as an owner of land in Packington which could be affected by possible changes to the limits to development.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 4 March 2015.

Consideration was given to the minutes of the meeting held on 4 March 2015.

RESOLVED THAT:

The minutes of the meeting held on 4 March 2015 be approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

Terms of Reference attached.

The Head of Planning and Regeneration advised that the Terms of Reference would require an amendment at the next Council meeting to reflect the changes to the political balance of the Council.

RESOLVED THAT:

The Terms of Reference be noted.

Report of the Director of Services

The Planning Policy Team Manager presented the report to members.  He explained that the Council had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with other Leicestershire authorities and had agreed to the provision of 7,000 dwellings up to 2031.  He advised that employment need in particular had been looked at and it was considered that this was a reasonable and robust piece of work.  However he advised that the forecast figures had not necessarily taken into account the Roxhill proposals and there may be a need to allocate an additional 1500 dwellings.  He explained that the assessment of employment need was a theoretical exercise. 

In response to questions from the Chairman, the Head of Planning and Regeneration advised that the National Planning Policy Framework required the Council to take account of the projected economic growth in setting the figure in respect of housing need.  He advised that ONS figures were utilised as a baseline.

Councillor J Legrys commented that the Memorandum of Understanding only focussed on Leicestershire and there had been a lack of consultation.  He stated that people travelling to work in Castle Donington may not live within North West Leicestershire.  He added that he was deeply critical of this methodology.  He felt that to assume a large number of additional dwellings would be required to accommodate the Roxhill, DHL and Aldi developments, which may not take place, was fanciful and farcical, and many of the employees would live in Long Eaton, which was outside of Leicestershire.  He stated that this would encourage the market to grow in other neighbouring authorities outside of Leicestershire, and nothing had been done to engage with those local authorities.  He expressed criticism of the direction of travel and the Memorandum of Understanding as the demographics of neighbouring authorities outside of the East Midlands was being completely ignored.

The Head of Planning and Regeneration advised that Housing Market Areas were a best fit.  He added that he had been meeting his counterparts for those districts with a view to finding a way forward and to ensure that all were content with the plans.  He stated that the direction of travel was quite clear, and that it was necessary to increase the amount of growth the district was planning to accommodate.

Councillor J Legrys made reference to the previous housing figures allocated under the Regional Spatial Strategy and commented that he was now inclined to say that those figures were in fact the true figures.  He expressed concerns that the Council was being blinkered by the strategy for Leicestershire, and stated that if this work was done on a regional basis, he was convinced that the figures would be completely different.

Councillor R D Bayliss stated that he was not going to be critical as this was informed guesswork, and ultimately the market would decide.

Councillor J Bridges expressed concerns about how flexible the Council could be to react to any changes.  He commented that there were developments in the district that would never be completed.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.