Issue - meetings

To receive a report from the Planning Policy Team Leader on the Planning for the Future Consultation Response.

Executive Councillor: J Neish.

The Cabinet has commented on the consultation and the proposed responses and has delegated authority to finalise and submit the Council’s consultation responses to the Service Manager (Growth) and the Planning Policy Team Leader in consultation with the Executive Councillor for Strategic Planning.

With the aid of a report prepared by the Planning Policy Team Leader (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet were provided with an outline of the proposals set out in the government’s White Paper “Planning for the Future” and the draft consultation response highlighting how the proposals might affect the District and the Council’s corporate priorities and objectives.

By way of background, the Executive Councillor for Strategic Planning reported that the White Paper had been published for consultation on 6th August 2020, proposing fundamental reforms to the planning system in England including Local Plan reform and changes to both developer contributions and development management. Particular mention was also made of the District’s strategic planning relationship with neighbouring authorities and the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority by removing the formal “duty to cooperate” when preparing development plans.

The Executive Councillor for Corporate Services expressed his support for the draft responses proposed for questions 5, 13 and 14. It was felt that they strongly reflected the Council’s views on the matter. With regard to 9(c), comment was made by the Executive Councillor for Finance and Resources that the response should be amended to “No” as the residents of Huntingdonshire would want assurances that decisions on new settlements were being undertaken at a local level. Following a suggestion by the Chairman, it was agreed that the proposed response to 8(a) should be amended to either “No” or “Not Sure” to prevent the Council inadvertently agreeing to the proposals around a standard methodology for establishing housing requirements. Finally, it was confirmed that it was the Council’s intention not to provide a “Yes/No/Not sure” answer to the draft response to 17 as a means of ensuring the Council’s response would be fully considered. 

Following a suggestion, the Executive Councillor for Strategic Planning agreed to produce a covering letter for Huntingdonshire residents summarising the Council’s final response to the consultation.

In concurring with the comments of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Performance and Growth) and in noting that the response to the consultation would need to be submitted by 30th October 2020, it was

RESOLVED

that the comments of the Cabinet be noted and that delegated authority to finalise and submit the Council’s consultation response be given to the Service Manager (Growth) and the Planning Policy Team Leader in consultation with the Executive Councillor for Strategic Planning.

The response for the “Planning for the Future” White Paper consultation will be presented to the Panel.

With the aid of a report by the Service Manager – Growth (a copy of which has been appended in the Minute Book) the Council’s consultation response to the “Planning for the future” white paper was presented to the Panel.

The Executive Councillor for Strategic Planning introduced the report and informed the Panel that the paper reflected the District Council’s response to the consultation and that other bodies and individuals had the opportunity to submit their own responses.

Councillor Roberts raised a concern regarding the proposal for an infrastructure levy set nationally and asked whether the response could strongly emphasise that a locally set infrastructure levy is the preferred option for the Council. The Executive Councillor explained that the proposal for a nationally set levy lacked detail and agreed that a locally set levy would be preferable. Councillor Roberts raised a further concern regarding the proposal to allow borrowing against the infrastructure levy. He argued that this carries a very significant level of risk for the Council and this should be highlighted in the response.

A query was raised, by Councillor Gardener, on how the Council are able to manage change going forward if the proposals are adopted, particularly with larger developments. In response, it was noted that the Government would prefer planning permission granted at an earlier stage but that the response will emphasise that phasing should remain.

Councillor Dew stated that the proposed changes and subsequent response does not cover the significant planning issue of land banking, although he recognised that the response form does not give the opportunity to mention the issue.

Councillor Wakeford asked about the impact the Council’s response would have upon the proposals. Members were reassured that the proposals are not confirmed and that there is scope, through the consultation, to persuade the Government that there should be alterations to the proposals.

RESOLVED

That the Cabinet be recommended to consider Overview and Scrutiny’s comments on the consultation and delegate authority to finalise and submit the Council’s consultation response to the Service Manager – Growth and the Planning Policy Team Leader in consultation with the Executive Councillor for Strategic Planning.