Agenda item

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

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Strategy, Performance and Governance seeking approval to revoke five Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs) prepared between 2005 and 2007 following review against the current adopted Local Development Plan (LDP) and its supporting SPDs, the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and National Planning Policy Guidance (NPPG).  The five SPDs were:

·                 Children’s Play Spaces SPD, Adopted March 2006 (attached as Appendix 1 to the report);

·                 Developer Contributions Guide SPD, Adopted September 2006 (Appendix 2);

·                 Accessibility to Buildings SPD, Adopted December 2006 (Appendix 3);

·                 Heybridge Basin Timber Yard SPD, Adopted February 2007 (Appendix 4);

·                 Sadd’s Wharf SPD, Adopted September 2007 (Appendix 5).

The report provided background information regarding the review undertaken in respect of each of the SPDs.  Members were advised that following review the SPDs were all deemed to be out of date or redundant and did not align with the adopted LDP, NPPF or NPPG.  It was noted that a future review of the LDP would identify any new policy or future SPDs which may be required.

In response to a question regarding Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) the Director of Strategy, Performance and Governance provided Members with an update on CIL and the Government’s consultation regarding it.  Officers would be reviewing the guidance in the forthcoming weeks and would report back to Members regarding the timescale.

Following further discussion in relation to CIL it was agreed that an update report on CIL would be brought to the next meeting of this Committee to provide details regarding the current situation, government guidance etc.

There was some discussion regarding the revocation of these policies, their impact on the LDP and removal of developer contributions relating to CIL.  In response Members were advised that the policies were out of date, related to a different planning period, were not compliant with the NPPF and national guidance.  Members’ attention was drawn to paragraph 3.5.1 of the report and it was noted that these policies would have zero material weight in planning considerations and could not be used to influence any contributions from developers.

It was commented that a Member seminar to allow every Member to be informed of the CIL Update would be beneficial.  The Chairman then put the proposal as set out in the report with the request for an additional report and consideration of a Member briefing on developer contributions.  Upon a vote being taken this was agreed.

RESOLVED that an update report on CIL would be brought to the next meeting of this Committee to provide details regarding the current situation, government guidance etc.

RECOMMENDED that the following Supplementary Planning Documents prepared and approved between 2005 and 2007 be revoked.

·                 Children’s Play Spaces SPD, Adopted March 2006 (attached as APPENDIX 1 to these Minutes);

·                 Developer Contributions Guide SPD, Adopted September 2006 (APPENDIX 2);

·                 Accessibility to Buildings SPD, Adopted December 2006 (APPENDIX 3);

·                 Heybridge Basin Timber Yard SPD, Adopted February 2007 (APPENDIX 4);

·                 Sadd’s Wharf SPD, Adopted September 2007 (APPENDIX 5).