Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillors D Bigby, D Everitt and M B Wyatt.

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

There were no interests declared.

To receive questions from members of the public under rule no.10 of the Council Procedure Rules.

There were no questions received.

To confirm and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 23 March 2022

Consideration was given to the minutes of the meeting held on 23 March 2022.

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

RESOLVED THAT:

The minutes of the meeting held on 23 March 2022 be approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

Report of the Head of Planning and Infrastructure

The Planning Policy and Land Charges Team Manager presented the report to members, which was accompanied by a presentation. He advised members that some errors had been noted in the Housing and Economic Needs Assessment, on the employment side, in relation to plot ratios. He informed the committee that the consultants had provided the Local Authorities with an updated assessment and highlighted that it did not relate to the housing side and that it did not change the figure of unmet need for Leicester, but it was not clear yet whether or not the Statement of Common Ground would need to go back to the Member Advisory Group for consideration.

A member stated that there was a public perception that the statement and figures before the committee had been reached without democratic input and questions had been raised as to why the total figure that Leicester could not meet had not been split equally amongst the seven District and Borough Councils. The member also noted that the calculations were based on the 2011 census and that in 18 months’ time, when the figures from the 2021 census would be available, the numbers in front of the Committee could all change.

Members noted the duty to co-operate, even though the district did not neighbour the city and felt that co-operation worked both ways and, as such, NWL should approach Leicester City to request support for improvements to the infrastructure provision, such as the Ivanhoe line, health services and education, as an acknowledgement of the district taking the additional homes to assist the city.

A number of members raised concerns over the impact the level of growth would have on the already over-burdened infrastructure of the district, with there needing to be sufficient infrastructure in place before development began, that serious consideration to the location of any development would need to be given due to the limited functional relationship between the district and Leicester City, and that, whatever housing was to be built, was of a type appropriate to meet the needs of the community it may be built in, including more affordable dwellings.

It was noted by all that the concerns that had been raised would be considered as part of the Local Plan Review and that all Council was being asked to agree was its position on the Statement of Common Ground and not where development should go.

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

RESOLVED THAT:

1. The Statement of Common Ground which addresses the issue of unmet housing and employment needs from Leicester City be noted.

2. The views of the Local Plan Committee on the Statement of Common Ground be forwarded to Council for it to have regard to when determining the Council’s position and

3. The Council’s position on whether or not to support the Statement of Common Ground will be formally agreed at the meeting of Council on 21 June 2022 be noted.

The meeting closed at 7:16pm.