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 P Bedford be elected Chairman for the ensuing year.

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

DECISION:

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

(Councillor H R Johnson in the Chair.)

To sign as a correct record the notes of the meeting of the South East Lincolnshire Joint Strategic Planning Committee meeting held on 27 April 2012 (copy enclosed).

The minutes of the meeting held on 27 April 2012 were signed by the Vice-Chairman as a correct record.

To seek approval for a revised Local Development Scheme for South East Lincolnshire.  (Report of the Joint Policy Unit Manager enclosed.)

Consideration was given to the report of the Joint Policy Unit Manager which sought approval for a revised Local Development Scheme (LDS) for South East Lincolnshire.

Councillor H R Johnson explained that the main difference between the current draft and the earlier scheme was that the draft now included provision for a  ‘preferred options’ stage in the preparation of the Strategy and Policies  Development Plan Document. 

The Joint Policy Unit Manager reminded members that the LDS had been approved by Committee and submitted to the Secretary of State in September 2011. Following submission, work on the preparation of the South East Lincolnshire Local Plan had been gathering momentum, particularly since two new full-time members of the Joint Policy Unit had commenced work earlier in the year.

The Joint Policy Unit Manager advised that, following the submission of the original LDS and further reflection on how  best to progress the preparation of the Local Plan, he was recommending the inclusion of a ‘preferred options’ stage in the preparation of the Strategy and Policies Development Plan Document.   He informed members that it was planned to submit the draft preferred options document to the Committee by the end of the year, to approve for public consultation. 

Members raised the following points:

• Careful risk assessment of managing the plan-preparation process is required, and there is a need to keep the new Committee informed of progress.
• Engagement with the public – need to ensure that the public consultation processes are robust.
• The need to address gaps in  policy as a result of the publication of the new National Planning Policy Framework.
• The need to consider training/awareness-raising for members of the new  Committee.
• The implications of preparing a Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), including those relating to Section 106 agreements.
• The  approach towards neighbourhood planning and the definition of ‘community’.
• Concern about the loss of conservation policies from the list of saved policies in the LDS appendices.
• The need for the LDS to include a position statement regarding current Boston Borough Council informal policies.
• The need for an annual monitoring report to comment  on progress in meeting the targets set out in the LDS timetable .
• The position regarding a policy on wind turbines.

The Committee discussed and noted the points which had been raised.  Officers would make amendments to the LDS arising out of the discussion.

DECISION:

a)      That the contents of the report and the draft Local Development Scheme be considered;

b)      That the relevant amendments be made to the Local Development Scheme;

c)      That the draft Local Development Scheme, as amended, be approved; and

d)      That the draft Local Development Scheme takes effect from 31 July 2012. 

(Councillor C J T H Brewis entered the meeting at 10.20 am, during consideration of the above item.)

To allow the Committee to consider and amend the draft Vision and Objectives of the Strategy and Policies Development Plan Document.  (Report of the Deputy Manager of Joint Policy Unit enclosed.)

Consideration was given to the report of the Joint Policy Unit Manager which sought consideration of the draft Vision and Objectives of the Strategy and Policies Development Plan document. 

Members raised the following points:

• Concern regarding the statement about the rail-freight interchange and its  potential impact on the public’s perception of the project.
• The need to explore the A16 road link between Boston and Spalding and the concerns about roundabouts along the route that were not fit for purpose.
• The need for a roundabout at Peppermint Junction on the A17.
• The questioning of the need to protect agricultural land in South Holland District.
• The role of Boston town centre and the opportunity to enhance its status through the Boston Barrier Initiative.
• The need for more emphasis on promoting villages.
• The need to encourage new industries in rural areas, taking advantage of new technologies. 
• The need to balance residential and employment development in settlements.
• Taking forward the objectives of the Spalding Waterspace Study.
• How will ‘singularly innovative’ comments made in response to the visioning exercise be explored further?

The Committee discussed and noted the points which had been raised. Officers would take these into account in reviewing the documents. 

DECISION:

a)      That the contents of the report be noted; and

b)      That the draft Vision and Objectives of the Strategy and Policies Development Plan document be reviewed and re-submitted to a future Local Plan Steering Group meeting for final approval. 

(Councillor F Biggadike left the meeting at 11.50 am, during consideration of the above item.)

(The Planning Policy Officer left the meeting at 11.50 am and returned at 11.52 am, during consideration of the above item.)

(Councillor R Gambba-Jones left the meeting at 12.03 pm and returned at 12.06 pm, during consideration of the above item.)

(The Principle Planning Officer left the meeting at 12.03 pm, during consideration of the above item.)

To provide information on settlement assessment.  (Report of the Joint Policy Unit Manager enclosed.)

Consideration was given to the report of the Joint Policy Unit Manager which provided information on the settlement assessment work.

Members requested that the information regarding the provision of services and facilities within settlements, contained within Appendix A of the report, be updated.  Officers requested that members provide information to assist this revision process.

DECISION:

a)      That the contents of the report and the ‘South East Lincolnshire – An assessment of settlements and their sustainability credentials’ document be considered;

b)           That the contents of the report be noted; and

c)            That officers liaise with ward members and parish councillors to assist the collection of up-to-date information on the location of services and facilities.

(The Joint Policy Unit Manager left the meeting at 12.05 pm and returned at 12.10 pm, during consideration of the above item.)

(The Head of Planning and Strategy left the meeting at 12.06 pm and returned at 12.08 pm, during consideration of the above item.)

(Councillor B Alcock left the meeting at 12.12 pm, during consideration of the above item.)

(Councillor M Brookes left the meeting at 12.15 pm and returned at 12.17 pm, during consideration of the above item.)

(Councillor R Rudkin left the meeting at 12.17 pm, during consideration of the above item.)

NOTE:   No other business is permitted unless by reason of special circumstances, which shall be specified in the minutes, the Chairman is of the opinion that the item(s) should be considered as a matter of urgency.

There was none.

Friday 21 December 2012 at 10.00 a.m., Boston Borough Council

Friday 21 September 2012 at 10.00 am, Boston Borough Council.