Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Director of Strategy, Performance and Governance (copy enclosed).

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Strategy, Performance and Governance presenting the draft Tiptree Neighbourhood Plan (the Plan) and comments received.

Councillor Mrs M E Thompson declared a non-pecuniary interest in this item of business as she was a member of Tolleshunt Knights Parish Council.

It was noted that Tiptree Parish Council were currently consulting on the draft Tiptree Neighbourhood Plan and as a neighbouring Authority Maldon District Council had been consulted.  The report provided a summary of the contents of the Plan along with Maldon District Council’s proposed response to the consultation.

In response to a Member raising concern regarding the impact of the proposed additional housing to Tiptree on this District, particularly in respect of traffic and accessing the A12, the Chairman suggested that this could be incorporated into the Council’s consultation response.

In response to questions and comments, the Specialist – Local Plan provided Members with the following additional information:

·                 Improved access to the A12 and the junctions on the A12 itself were outside the remit of the Neighbourhood Plan.

·                 The Draft Colchester Local Plan showed indicative locations of the proposed Tiptree additional housing allocation

·                 The Appleford bridge, Great Braxted and Grey Mills bridge, Kelvedon were included in respect of routes via them onto the A12.

·                 A Community Forum on the A12 was scheduled for 24 July and following a Member / Officer forum the Officer provided Members with information regarding the A12 preferred routes including surveys and design work to be undertaken.

It was agreed that Members’ comments would be incorporated into the consultation response and the wording of this would be agreed in consultation with the Director of Strategy, Performance and Governance.

RESOLVED

(i)              that the following additional comments from Members, agreed in consultation with the Director of Strategy, Performance and Governance, be included as part of the Council’s consultation response to the draft Tiptree Neighbourhood Plan:

Maldon District Council is concerned that despite the Neighbourhood Plan’s approach to mitigating the impact of vehicular traffic through Tiptree village, the scale of additional housing in the village will nevertheless impact on traffic flows, through and around the village, especially the routes to the A12, including the routes via the historic Appleford and Grey Mills bridges at Great Braxted and Kelvedon respectively.  Maldon District Council does, however, recognise that improvements to the access roads to the A12 and to the junctions on the A12 itself are outside the remit of the Neighbourhood Plan.

(ii)            that subject to (i) above, the draft consultation responses to the draft Tiptree Neighbourhood Plan, as detailed below be approved and submitted to Tiptree Parish Council.