Agenda and minutes

Nominations were invited for the election of the Chairman of the South East

Lincolnshire Joint Strategic Planning Committee for the ensuing year.

DECISION:

That Councillor H R Johnson be elected Chairman for the ensuing year.

(To be from a different authority to that of the Chairman.)

The Chairman invited nominations for the election of the Vice-Chairman of the South East Lincolnshire Joint Strategic Planning Committee for the ensuing year.

DECISION:

That Councillor P Bedford be elected Vice-Chairman for the ensuing year.

To sign as a correct record the notes of the meeting of the South East Lincolnshire Joint Strategic Planning Committee meeting held on 5 April 2013 (copy enclosed).

The minutes of the meeting held on 5 April 2013 were signed by the Chairman as a correct record, subject to the insertion of the Committee’s approval of the Preferred Options version of the South East Lincolnshire Local Plan Strategy and Policies Development Plan Document for the purpose of public consultation subject to agreed amendments.

(Information report of the Joint Policy Unit Manager enclosed.)

The Joint Policy Unit Manager presented a report, which summarised the review of the emerging South East Lincolnshire Local Plan carried out by consultants (POS Enterprises) appointed by the Planning Advisory Service (PAS).  The consultants’ draft report on the review was attached as Appendix A.

During debate, the main points made by Members were:

·        It was essential to receive responses to consultation with neighbouring authorities in order to satisfy the ‘duty to cooperate’ with relevant public bodies.

·        Plan preparation to date lacked sufficient evidence and might not have a firm enough link between housing and economic development and how economic development could be delivered. 

·        The plan’s evidence base had to be robust and defendable; it would prove challenging to prepare a credible ‘Plan B’ in respect of housing provision.

·        The review stated that there should be consultation with the Highways Agency, yet it was considered that the agency had ‘abandoned’ Lincolnshire and no longer had any input. 

·        In response to the concern about the nature of “plan-wide viability”, Officers commented that a response had been sent to the report author to say “we have commissioned consultants to undertake a whole plan viability assessment.  A draft report was produced last November but further work is needed on land values”. This point had been made at the previous workshop, but the review’s report author had missed it.

·        The plan had to be robust enough not to concede housing requirements to neighbouring authorities to the disadvantage of South East Lincolnshire.

·        One Member considered that South Holland was totally dependent on one developer and that, if neighbouring districts were to be considered as locations for meeting the area’s housing needs, it may not deliver, 

·        Public transport provision in the fens was very poor and this point appeared not to have been properly appreciated in the report. 

·        The ‘Annual Review’ would enable identification of whether the main urban areas were unlikely to deliver their proposed levels of housing development and it could suggest that other settlements make a more significant contribution to housing delivery if this were to be the case.

·        Basing housing provision on migration-led demographic projections and not historical building rates might result in inappropriate housing for the area’s long-term needs; Eastern Europeans were now settling in the area instead of returning home so it was even more important to have a better understanding of the area’s housing needs to create the right type in the right location.

·        If housing growth was overestimated, South East Lincolnshire could end up giving housing stock to other areas, and create issues such as people living in Peterborough but working in South East Lincolnshire.

·        Holbeach had a substantial housing development planned, but it depended on road improvements that had not yet come forward.  Councillor Davie commented that this was on the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership’s (LEP’s) agenda.

·        There was doubt about the viability of a Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) and how it could be delivered. In respect of South Holland District, it was considered that if  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

(Information report of the Joint Policy Unit Manager enclosed.)

The Committee received an interim progress report by the Joint Policy Unit Manager, which summarised the response from the public consultation exercise on the Combined Preferred Options and Sustainability Appraisal Report.

The public consultation had run from 3 May to 28 June 2013 and had included a series of 14 officer-manned exhibitions across South East Lincolnshire.  It was reported that, despite extensive advertisement, attendance at the exhibitions had been low, which was not encouraging. 

Going through the points raised from a preliminary assessment of the comments received, it was reported that some members of the public had felt too much regard had been paid to flood risk and that a significant number of residents of Deeping St Nicholas were opposed to the proposed Spalding Rail-Freight Interchange.  A large number of the responses would be considered at the Committee’s next meeting.

In response to questions, it was reported that the level of opposition to the proposed Spalding Rail-Freight Interchange was indicated by the 126 comments listed under the economy chapter, most of which related to opposition to the proposal. Officers considered the Local Plan exhibitions had been widely publicised, including advertising them through the parish councils two months before. They had distributed literature about the public consultation exercise and promoted it on the Local Plan website. Those attending exhibitions had commented that they had seen the advertisements in the local papers and other locations. There had also been permanent exhibitions at the offices of Boston Borough and South Holland District Councils, though the numbers attending them had not been monitored. Officers, nevertheless, thought that further efforts would have to be made to ensure that public consultation on the submission draft document was well advertised. 

It was considered that attendance at the Swineshead exhibition had been significantly higher because people had heard incorrect rumours about development proposals which they had gone along to oppose.

In discussing the low attendance it was remarked that it was often the case that people only responded to planning consultations when something was proposed that affected them directly.  Some people had sent in comments after studying the documents at libraries.

It was suggested that officers should write to those bodies that were considered to be disappointing in their level of response, particularly those with interests in areas which have significant development proposed, and encourage them to take the opportunity to comment at the next stage. The Joint Policy Unit Manager advised the Committee that responses to the public consultation exercise had included proposals for new options which would have to be subject to further public consultation prior to the preparation of the submission draft. This would provide another opportunity to communicate with individuals and organisations that have not engaged in the process to date.

DECISION:

That the report be noted.

Friday 13 September 2013 at 10.00 am in South Holland District Council, Council Offices, Priory Road, Spalding.

The next meeting of the South East Lincolnshire Joint Strategic Planning Committee was scheduled to be held on 27 September 2013 at 10.00 am at South Holland District Council, Council Offices, Priory Road, Spalding.