Issue - meetings

To receive a report by the Head of Planning Services on the consultation responses received on the Draft Developer Contributions Supplementary Planning Document.

Adopted the Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) – “Developer Contributions” as supplementary planning guidance.  

By way of a report by the Head of Planning Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) Members were acquainted with the outcomes of the consultation exercise undertaken on the draft Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) – “Developer Contributions”. 

Members were informed that the initial aim of the Strategy was to establish a framework for securing planning obligations from new developments that require planning permission.  It was explained that it had been necessary to update the SPD to complement the draft charging schedule for the Huntingdonshire Community Infrastructure Levy which also was subject to a preliminary consultation in November/December 2011 and examination in public by Spring 2012.

Having noted the document had been endorsed by the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Environmental Well-Being) and the Development Management Panel, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

  that the Developer Contributions Document be adopted as Supplementary Planning Policy Guidance.

To consider a report by the Head of Planning Services.

 (Appendices A and B to the document have been circulated separately to Members of the Panel only).

As a consultee in the process, the Panel considered a report by the Head of Planning Services to which was attached a supplementary planning document (SPD) on developer contributions which would establish the Council’s framework for securing planning obligations from new development that required planning consent (copies of both documents are appended in the Minute Book).

The Panel was informed that it had been necessary to update the SPD to complement the draft charging schedule for the Huntingdonshire Community Infrastructure Levy which also was subject to preliminary consultation in November/December 2011 and Examination in Public by Spring 2012.  The updated SPD also would comprise the Government’s statutory tests for developments capable of being charged CIL.

In discussion, Members raised their concern at the need for infrastructure improvements in St. Neots and notably to the A428 before further development occurred.  It was noted that the SPD would help to direct funds towards infrastructure improvements generally but that there clearly were issues with all main roads around St. Neots about which leading Members were continuing to lobby the Highways Agency.

In response to further questions, the Head of Planning Services assured Members that an annual monitoring report would be produced to identify where CIL funds had been directed and on what items.  It also was confirmed that Section 106 Agreements would continue to be used to secure affordable housing and more local site specific infrastructure requirements such as open space.  Although it was envisaged that local communities which accepted new development in their areas would be allocated a “meaningful proportion” of CIL funds to support infrastructure projects, the Panel noted that the Government had not yet specified what percentage of contribution this would be. 

Whereupon, it was

RESOLVED

  that the content of the Developer Contributions Supplementary Planning Document be endorsed and the Cabinet recommended to adopt the document as District Council planning policy guidance.