Agenda item

To receive and note the report of the Chief Executive, (copy enclosed).

The Committee received the report of the Chief Executive, the purpose of which was to provide an update on local, sub-regional and national planning policy matters including duty to cooperate, neighbourhood plans, A12 and A120, five year housing land supply, Gypsy and travellers, London Plan and Recreational Avoidance and Mitigation Strategies.

The Planning Policy Manager presented the report and drew Members’ attention to the following:

·       The Examination hearing for the (Section 1) Braintree, Colchester and Tendring joint local plan hearing would commence on 16 January 2018 and the Council had until 4 December 2017 to make any representation to the Inspector’s Matters, Issues and Questions;

·       Officers had attended a meeting of Mayland Parish Council and progress was being made on its Neighbourhood Plan;

·       The Neighbourhood Plan section should also include Wickham Bishops and a verbal update was provided;

·       The current year’s assessment of the Five Year Housing Land Supply had been completed and the Council could demonstrate 6.28 years’ of housing land supply;

·       The London Plan – it was likely that [1]some of the housing need would impact on Essex and consultation on the Plan is due to start in early December 2017.

A Member advised that the Latchingdon Neighbourhood Plan was no longer proceeding.  The Planning Policy Manager would check this and advise Members accordingly.

Concern was raised regarding the Recreational Avoidance Mitigation Strategy (RAMS) and that there would not be a benefit to the District.  The Planning Policy Manager advised that plans had been challenged for not including a RAMS strategy.  The intention was that cross Essex RAMS strategy is developed to address the recreational impact of development growth in other parts of Essex.  If the Council joined with a group of other local authorities, then it could raise its own issues and have them placed on the agenda to be discussed.  The funding for this would be in the region of £11,000 and would come from the LDP budget.  If we did not work as part of the Essex consortium on this, then the Council would need to implement this strategy alone and have less influence on addressing the impact of increased recreation on parts of the District. 

The Chairman requested a Member Seminar on both RAMS and the Coastal Path so that Members could be better informed.

Members debated RAMS and raised concerns about the additional burden that it would place upon the District.  Although our LDP had been approved it was possible that it may have to be reviewed following the revised NPPF coming forward.  There were four significant sites within the Maldon District, so there would be a significant impact on the District.  Officers were of the opinion that by being part of a group with other local authorities the Council would be in a better position to protect the District. 

In response to a question, the Planning Policy Manager advised that European designation of sites would be incorporated into the Repeal Bill.

RESOLVED that the Planning Policy update outlined in the report be noted and at the appropriate time matters for decision would be brought to this Committee for consideration.