Agenda item

To consider the report of the Planning Conservation Working Group.

requested the planning division to hold regular meetings with a representative of Hinchingbrooke and Kimbolton Schools (and Abbey College, Ramsey if appropriate) with the aim of developing a good working relationship on conservation issues and planning future maintenance requirements and nominated Councillor R J West as an intermediary between the Division and each of the schools to attend (and potentially) chair those meetings;

agreed to offer specific training to town and parish councils in heritage and conservation issues to raise awareness locally on the subject and on the value of conservation character statements, buildings at risk register, etc.;

suggested that town and parish councils be encouraged to work with the District Council on heritage and conservation issues by alerting the Council of any deterioration in the condition of listed buildings and unauthorised works to listed buildings or in conservation areas in their parishes;

requested that consideration be given to regular meetings between conservation officers and parish councils with a view to refreshing the training provided;

suggested that town and parish councils be encouraged where conservation groups or civic societies currently do not exist to seek the establishment of such bodies to promote an interest in the local heritage;

  agreed that ways of improving the District Councils website be explored to provide additional information on conservation issues and procedures;

requested the Conservation Team to publicise the availability of grants from potential sources to help owners of listed buildings fund the cost of maintenance and repairs;

  requested that representations be made through the Local Government Association to alter the present arrangements for value added tax so that repairs and maintenance of listed buildings become zero rated, thereby reducing the cost of maintaining heritage assets; and

encouraged officers to use ‘plain English’ in their communications with the public to help in an understanding of complex conservation issues and explain what is required.

(Councillor P M D Godfrey, Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Environmental Well-Being) and Councillor R J West, a Member of the Planning Conservation Working Group, were in attendance and spoke on this Item.)

A report by the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Environmental Well-Being) was submitted (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) which summarised the findings of a study by the Panel’s Planning Conservation Working Group regarding the performance of the Council’s Planning Conservation Team.

With regard to the Panel’s recommendations, the Cabinet noted that several of the proposals have been already implemented by the Planning Policy Service.  In concurring with the Panel that the current process was working well, although some areas mostly relating to communication, pro-active support and, with the advent of the localism agenda, the potential roles that Members themselves and town and parish councils can play in mediation and alerting the District council as to what is happening in their wards and parishes could be improved, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

(a)  that, because of the particular importance of the listed buildings and the practicalities of their use as educational establishments, the Planning Division be requested to hold regular meetings with a representative of Hinchingbrooke and Kimbolton Schools (and Abbey College, Ramsey if appropriate) with the aim of developing a good working relationship on conservation issues and planning future maintenance requirements and that Councillor R J West be nominated as an intermediary between the Division and each of the schools to attend (and potentially) chair those meetings;

(b)  that specific training be offered to town and parish councils in heritage and conservation issues to raise awareness locally on the subject and on the value of conservation character statements, buildings at risk register, etc.;

(c)  that town and parish councils be encouraged to work with the District Council on heritage and conservation issues by alerting the Council of any deterioration in the condition of listed buildings and unauthorised works to listed buildings or in conservation areas in their parishes;

(d)  that consideration be given to regular meetings between conservation officers and parish councils with a view to refreshing the training provided and in pursuance of recommendation (c) above;

(e)  that town and parish councils be encouraged where conservation groups or civic societies currently do not exist to seek the establishment of such bodies to promote an interest in the local heritage;

(f)  that ways of improving the District Councils website be explored to provide additional information on conservation issues and procedures;

(g)  that the Conservation Team be requested to publicise the availability of grants from potential sources to help owners of listed buildings fund the cost of maintenance and repairs;

(h)  that representations be made through the Local Government Association to alter the present arrangements for value added tax so that repairs and maintenance of listed buildings become zero rated, thereby reducing the cost of maintaining heritage assets; and

(i)  that officers be encouraged to use ‘plain English’ in their communications with the public to help in an understanding of complex conservation issues and explain what is required.