Agenda item

To consider the report of the Director of Planning and Regulatory Services (copy enclosed).

The Committee received the report of the Director of Planning and Regulatory Services which provided an update on local, sub-regional and national planning policy matters including Duty to Cooperate and Essex Local Plans, Strategic Transport update, London Plan and legislative changes as they affected planning policy.

The Director of Planning and Regulatory Services advised the Committee of updates that had occurred since the report was drafted:

Duty to Cooperate:

·         Chelmsford City Council - had a draft pre-submission plan approved on 18 January 2018 and it would be published for 6 weeks consultation on 31 January 2018.  There were plans for 1k new homes at South Woodham Ferrers and a report on this would be presented to the next Planning and Licensing Committee.

·         North Essex Joint Local Plan examination was due to close on 25 January 2018

·         Basildon Borough Council - had sent the Council duty to cooperate meeting request for 15 February 2018 for both Members and Officers.

·         Brentwood Borough Council - a further round of preferred options consultation was to commence at the end of January 2018.

·         Rochford District Council – has commenced an issues and options consultation for their Local Plan with a closing date of early March 2018.

·         Tiptree Parish Council – there was an exhibition of their neighbourhood plan due on 7 February 2018.  This could have an impact on the north of the District.

A120 Route Options

• A12 -  there was a Community Forum on 30 January 2018.
• A12 – forum at Witham on 22 January 2018 had been cancelled.
• A120 – policy forum was taking place on Friday 26 January 2018.

Essex Planning Policy Portfolio Holder and Chairman meeting had taken place on 17 January 2018 and notes of that meeting would be forwarded to the Chairman of this Committee.  Key issues covered were integrating health into planning policy, Essex Highways taking account of the cumulative impact of development; a standardised approach to Section 106; issues around retaining and attracting planning workforce and the launch of the Essex Design Guide.  Finally, there would be a county-wide response to The London Plan.

The Chairman highlighted that it was important that matters from meetings held at County level were fed back to this Committee.

The Chairman advised Members:

·         That there would be a separate report on the Local Development Scheme (LDS) later in the meeting.

·         There would be a report to the Committee on the response on consultation to The London Plan.

·         There was a new legislative requirement for a review of the Local Development Plan (LDP) and Statement of Community Involvement every five years.

·         Through new legislation, the Secretary of State now has powers to direct local planning authorities to prepare a strategic plan for their area, as this would provide a local alternative to the Secretary of State’s intervention.

The Leader of the Council advised that Basildon Council was one of 14 authorities that had been put on notice by the Secretary of State to produce a plan by 31 March 2018.

There was concern about The London Plan and Members were advised that a consultation response was required by 1 March 2018 and that Officers would be providing a robust response on its contents.  The plan would have an impact on districts outside London.  There would be a report to the Planning and Licensing Committee in March 2018 on this.

Concern was raised about the impact the London Plan would have upon the District and the availability of affordable homes. 

By way of clarification the Leader of the Council advised that there was a South East of England Assembly in London on Friday 26 January 2018 where the Mayor of London was to provide more detail on the London Plan.

“A Green Future: our 25 Year Plan to Improve the Environment” – Members requested a report on the Government’s long term environmental strategy in due course.

RESOLVED:

(i)                 That the Committee receive the Planning Policy Update outlined in the report and that any matters for decision be brought back to the Committee as required;

(ii)               That a report on “A Green Future: our 25 Year Plan to Improve the Environment” be brought to this Committee at a future date;

(iii)             That a report on the London Plan be brought to this Committee at a later date.