Issue - meetings

To consider a report by the Head of Planning Services seeking approval for the Council’s Development Control Policies. 

The Development Management DPD and Sustainability Appraisal are attached to the agenda separately.

Agreed the content of the Development Management DPD: Development of Options and the Sustainability Appraisal for the purpose of consultation and authorised the Head of Planning Services, after consultation with the Executive Councillor for Planning Strategy and Transport, to make any minor additional editing and updating which may be needed prior to publication and to take in the views of the Overview and Scrutiny (Service Support) Panel.

The Cabinet considered a report by the Head of Planning Services to which was attached a copy of the draft Development Plan Document (DPD) (copies of both documents are appended in the Minute Book).  Members noted that the DPD formed part of the Local Development Framework, would support the Core Strategy and East of England Plan and would set out the Council’s policies for managing development in Huntingdonshire including the assessment and determination of planning applications.  The views of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Service Support) on the document were received (copies of which also are appended in the Minute Book).

Executive Councillors were advised that the draft policy had evolved from the Huntingdonshire Interim Planning Policy Statement, 2007 and from those representations received during the Issues and Options Consultation and Initial Sustainability Appraisal and had been updated to reflect changes in national guidance.  It was anticipated that public consultation would commence in mid January.  Having regard to the comments submitted by the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Service Support), Members were assured that the Master Plan for the Great Fen Project would be considered separately by the Cabinet and therefore it was

RESOLVED

  (a)  that, subject to an amendment to the ninth word in the first line of the draft policy on page 78, to replace the word “will” with “may”, the content of the DPD, Development of Options and the Sustainability Appraisal be approved for the purposes of consultation; and

  (b)  that the Head of Planning Services be authorised, after consultation with the Executive Councillor for Planning Strategy and Transportation to undertake any minor editing and updating of the text of the document considered to be necessary prior to publication.

To consider a report by the Head of Planning Services.

(A copy of the report – Development Management DPD: Development of Options 2009 is enclosed with Members’ copies only).

(Councillor P L E Bucknell, Executive Councillor for Planning Strategy & Transportation was in attendance for this item).

With the assistance of a report by the Head of Planning Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Panel considered the draft document which set out the Council’s detailed policies for managing future development in Huntingdonshire

The Panel was informed that the policies were designed to complement the strategic framework established in the Core Strategy and reflected the representations received during the Issues and Options consultation and the Initial Sustainability Appraisal. Attention was drawn to the key sections within the document and the recent amendments made by the Development Plan Advisory Group following its consideration of the report. In particular Members were informed that because of a delay in the preparation of the Great Fen Master Plan, the references within the document to the Master Plan would be changed to reflect the fact that this had yet to be completed.

In considering each of the proposed policies, Members commented upon a variety of issues including parking provision in new development, the implications of the new Community Infrastructure Levy, the retention of historic orchards and energy conservation measures in new development. Specific questions also were raised in relation to the definition of key service centres, cycleway development and building in the flood plain. Members also noted that a framework had now been developed for the first time to establish contributions from developers towards indoor sports facilities.

In respect of the draft policy concerning development as part of the Great Fen Project, Members expressed concern that the policy could be construed as being overly prescriptive and not consistent with the more conditional language adopted elsewhere in the document. Members felt that the terminology used whereby “planning permission for development….. will be granted for proposals which will deliver the implementation of the Great Fen Project as identified on the Proposals Map and which are consistent with the Master Plan” could fetter the Council’s discretion when considering future applications. Particularly as the content of the Master Plan was not yet known, Members felt unable to support the policy as drafted. Concerns were also expressed about the references in paragraph 4.31 to the possible restriction of permitted development rights for specific farming or operational purposes  which could disadvantage local landowners operating in the Master Plan area.

Having noted that the report would be considered by the Cabinet at its meeting on 18^th December 2008 and that further public engagement would take place with effect from January 2009, the Panel

RESOLVED

that the Cabinet be recommended to change the words “will be granted” to “may be granted” in the first line of the policy relating to the Great Fen Project.