Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor R Boam.

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

Following advice from the Legal advisor Cllr Johnson declared a non-pecuniary interest in item 6 – Hugglescote and Donington-le-Heath Neighbourhood Plan as a Member of the Parish Council.

Councillor D Bigby declared a non-pecuniary interest in item 4 – Local Green Spaces as he had taken part in the consultation both as a member of the public and a member of Ashby de-la-Zouch Town Council.

Councillors D Bigby, J Bridges and J Legrys declared that they had been lobbied without influence in respect of item 4 – Local Green Spaces, and item 6 – Hugglescote and Donington-le-Heath Neighbourhood Plan.

To confirm and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 13 November 2019

Consideration was given to the minutes of the meeting held on 13 November 2019.

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

RESOLVED THAT:

The minutes of the meeting held on 13 November 2019 be approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

Report of the Head of Planning and Infrastructure

The Planning Policy Team Manager presented the report, highlighting the additional document as circulated at the meeting.

Councillor D Bigby commented on the importance of protecting local green spaces and was concerned that not including the designation of these areas in the Local Plan would leave many of them unprotected, especially as there was a reluctance in many parishes for a Neighbourhood Plan.  He understood the resource implication for the Planning Policy Team but did not feel that it was a reason to not include the designation in the Local Plan.

The Planning Policy Team Manager explained that open spaces such as parks and playing fields would still be protected under other policies within the Local Plan.  In response to a question from Councillor M B Wyatt, the Planning Policy Team Manager commented that unparished areas could form a Neighbourhood Forum to produce  a Neighbourhood Plan.  He added that Neighbourhood plans did not need to be complicated and this was the message going out to parishes.

Councillor N Smith felt that parishes should be designating local green spaces as they were in the best position to identify sites due to their local knowledge.  He was in support of Neighbourhood plans for Parishes.

Councillor J Legrys expressed his concerns that setting up a Neighbourhood Plan took a considerable amount of time and in the interim, areas would not be protected if the designation of local green spaces were not included in the Local Plan.  He thanked the officers in Planning and the Community Focus Team for the work undertaken in promoting Neighbourhood Plans and encouraging Parishes to get involved.    He expressed his disappointment that some of the larger parishes were refusing to have a Neighbourhood Plan.  In relation to the additional papers, he appreciated the critical response from the Officers as he agreed that the concerns from the Willesley Environment Protection Association were received very late. 

In response to a question from Councillor V Richichi in relation to the lack of evidence put forward from some Parish Councils, the Planning Policy Team Manager stated that detailed information was sent to all Parish Councils including the evidence required to justify a designation.  He referred members to paragraph 4.5 of the report which detailed the evidence required.

In response to further concerns regarding the protection from development for Parishes without a Neighbourhood Plan, the Planning Policy Team Manager explained that the usual planning considerations applied to green spaces under the Local Plan, it was not reliant on a designation.

In response to a question from Councillor M B Wyatt, the Planning Policy Team Manager stated that a Neighbourhood Plan produced by a Neighbourhood Forum held the same status as those produced by Parish Councils.  He agreed to provide further information regarding Neighbourhood Forums to Councillor M B Wyatt outside of the meeting.

In response to a question from Councillor V Richichi, the Planning Policy Team Manager explained that there was an opportunity for anyone to object to a designation and there were processes  ...  view the full minutes text for item 23.

Report of the Head of Planning and Infrastructure

The Planning Policy Team Manager presented the report to Members.

Councillor J Legrys welcomed the report but expressed concerns that feedback from the HMA authority’s discussions was not being received.  He appreciated that this was an update report but felt that Members needed to be involved in the discussions about where the sites would be and the mechanism for distribution outside of the city.

The Planning Policy Team Manager reported that the mechanism  for redistributing the unmet need from Leicester City was currently being considered and he was hopeful that a methodology/assessment would be available later in the year.  He believed that the decisions would eventually be the responsibility of each authority to make and further reports would be presented in the future.

With permission of the Chairman, the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Infrastructure addressed the Committee.  He reported that advice on the matter had been sought from the Planning Advisory Service to make sure that the distribution process was fair.  The Committee would be kept updated.

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

RESOLVED THAT:

(I)        The Statement of Common Ground for the partial review be signed by the District Council.

(II)       The level of unmet need declared by Leicester City be noted.

Report of the Head of Planning and Infrastructure

The Planning Policy Team Leader presented the report to Members.

Councillor R Johnson expressed how prudent the Neighbourhood Plan was for the village and was pleased with how the neighbourhood had engaged.  He added that it had taken a lot of hard work but the result was a very good plan.  He questioned some of the comments by officers, especially in relation to the community facilities and amenities as there was more than one shop in the village.

Councillor J Legrys congratulated the Parish on the work undertaken on the Neighbourhood Plan.  He concurred with Councillor R Johnson’s comments in that the officer’s report has understated some of the points, such as shops in the Parish.

In relation to the officer comments within the report on the aspirations for universal vehicle charging points, Councillor D Bigby acknowledged that there was no national requirement for universal vehicle charging points but did not want this to be the reason it was removed.  He felt it was something that was moving forward and an area where the Council’s Local Plan was falling behind.  The Planning Policy Team Manager fully supported the aspirations of the Parish but reported that there were some technical issues at the present time which was why the comments were included as a note of caution.

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

RESOLVED THAT:

(I)        The suggested Pre-Submission (Regulation 14) Response to Hugglescote and Donington-le-Heath Parish Council as set out in appendix B be endorsed.

(II)       Endorsement of any further response by officers at Submission (Regulation 16) Stage be delegated to the Strategic Director of Place, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Infrastructure.

(III)      It be noted that once the Neighbourhood Plan has been submitted, the Strategic Director of Place in Consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Infrastructure would:

a)    publish the plan for a six week period and invite representations;

b)    notify consultation bodies; and

c)    appoint an independent examiner to conduct the examination of the Neighbourhood Plan.

(IV)     It be noted that following receipt of the independent examiners report, the Strategic Director of Place in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Infrastructure would determine whether conditions had been met for the Neighbourhood Plan to proceed to referendum.

(V)      If the majority of those who voted in the referendum were in favour of the Hugglescote and Donington-le-Heath Neighbourhood Plan and the District Council does not consider the making of the Neighbourhood Plan to be incompatible with any EU or Human Rights obligations, and that there was no available meeting of the Cabinet within eight weeks of the referendum, then the decision whether to make the Plan be delegated to the Strategic Director of Place in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Infrastructure.

Report of the Head of Planning and Infrastructure

The Planning Policy Team Manager presented the report to Members.

Councillor J Legrys raised concerns that the development at Shepshed could become a catalyst for development in the surrounding areas, and asked what the Council was doing to protect the boundary on the A512 corridors.  The Planning Policy Team Manager reported that Charnwood Borough Council could build up to the boundary but not across it and the area was protected as it was designated.  He added that there was also an agreed position with Charnwood Borough Council on the Charnwood Forest.

It was moved by Councillor J Legrys, seconded by Councillor J Hoult and

RESOLVED THAT:

(I)        Charnwood Borough Council be thanked for consulting this Council on its emerging Local Plan.

(II)       The recommendations detailed at paragraphs 2.3, 2.10 – 2.11, 2.16 – 2.17. 2.26 – 2.28 and 2.31 of the report be agreed as the District Council’s response to the Draft Charnwood Local Plan.

Report of the Head of Planning and Infrastructure

The Planning Policy Team Leader presented the report to Members.

Councillors R Johnson and J Legrys wanted to see a breakdown in relation to developer contributions so Members could see what was going in, what was being spent and if anything was being returned to developers.  The Planning Policy Team Manager assured Members that officers were managing Section 106 monies better and agreed to provide further information outside of the meeting.

Councillor D Bigby raised concerns regarding the housing mix figures as he felt there were not enough two bedroom properties being provided.  The Planning Policy Team Manager explained that it was very difficult to refuse an application on the grounds of lack of mixed use.  However, he did understand the concerns and this data could be used to put pressure on developers if required.

It was moved by Councillor J Hoult, seconded by Councillor N Smith and

RESOLVED THAT:

The content of the recently published Authority Monitoring Report 2018/19 be noted.

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Following the conclusion of the items on the agenda, the Chairman agreed to hold a discussion regarding the ongoing government consultation regarding Future Homes Standards and energy efficiencies.  The Planning Policy Team Manager informed Members that a link to the consultation would be circulated to Members for information and asked for any comments to be submitted as soon as possible so they could be included in the Council’s response.

Councillor J Legrys thanked the Chairman for the recently held meeting with officers on the matter and for opening up the consultation to the Committee.

Councillor D Bigby commented on the importance of these types of government consultations and that they ought to be brought to Committee automatically without being raised by Members.  The Planning Policy Team Manager assured Members that a response would have been supplied to the consultation but it would have been completed by the Building Control Team.  He was pleased that it had been raised as it was also relevant to Planning.

The Chairman confirmed that these types of consultations were directed to the Building Control Team and he was pleased that officers were now looking at opening them up to more teams and Members.