Public Document Pack To: All Members of the Economic, Planning and Housing Committee Councillor S Frost (Chair) Councillor A Konieczko (Vice-Chair) Councillor O Cubitt Councillor P Gaskell Councillor D George Councillor G James Councillor D Leeks Councillor P Miller Councillor G Watts Dear Councillor Economic, Planning and Housing Committee Thursday, 9 January 2020 Your attendance is requested at a meeting of the Economic, Planning and Housing Committee on: Date: Thursday, 9 January 2020 Time: 6.30 pm Place: Committee Rooms 1 & 2 - Deanes Yours sincerely Melbourne Barrett Chief Executive For more information please contact the Democratic Services team: 01256 844844 Or email: [email protected] Visit: www.basingstoke.gov.uk/committeemeetings Page 1 Chief Executive Melbourne Barrett MBA MRICS Executive Director of Borough Development Ian Boll Executive Director of Borough Services Rebecca Emmett BSc (Hons), AIEMA Executive Director of Finance and Resources (Section 151 Officer) Sue Cuerden CPFA ACMA PUBLIC PARTICIPATION SCHEME Members of the public are invited to address the committee on all items presented at a committee meeting. Public speaking on these items will take place at the same time that the item is considered. If members of the public wish to address the meeting they should notify Democratic Services prior to the meeting. The public participation scheme is available to access through the council’s website - www.basingstoke.gov.uk/participation COMMITTEE PAPERS If you need this information in a different format, such as large print, please contact Democratic Services. Alternatively all documents associated with this agenda can be accessed through the Council’s website on http://www.basingstoke.gov.uk/committeemeetings WEBCASTING The open proceedings of the meeting will be webcast live and can be viewed through the Borough Council’s website at https://www.basingstoke.gov.uk/webcast Webcasts of previous meetings can be viewed through the following link https://www.youtube.com/user/BasingstokeGov Page 2 AGENDA FOR THE ECONOMIC, PLANNING AND HOUSING COMMITTEE Members are encouraged to obtain any points of clarification on the reports on the Agenda in advance of the meeting. Members of the public will be invited to speak at the relevant item 1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND SUBSTITUTIONS 2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST 3. URGENT MATTERS To consider any items of business, other than those shown on this agenda and which, by reason of special circumstances to be stated at the meeting, in the opinion of the Chairman, should be considered at the meeting as a matter of urgency. 4. MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 5TH SEPTEMBER 2019 5 - 8 The Chair will move that the minutes of the meeting be signed as a correct record. The only part of the minutes that can be discussed is their accuracy. 5. AUTHORITY MONITORING REPORT FOR PLANNING, 2018/19 9 - 292 Contact officer: J Brombley The Authority Monitoring Report (AMR) was published in December 2019 and provides monitoring information and statistical data for the borough for the period from 1 April 2018 to the 31 March 2019. The report monitors progress with the production of planning policy documents and considers the effectiveness of the council’s planning policies against relevant performance indicators or targets. The document is published annually in accordance with the requirements set out in Regulation 34 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012. This is the third report to be published since the adoption of the Local Plan in May 2016. 6. GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE STRATEGY - PROGRESS REPORT 293 - (YEAR 1) 310 Page 3 Contact officer: P Johnston The report sets out the progress that has been made on the aims and objectives during the first year of the Green Infrastructure Strategy and will also help to provide a benchmark against which to assess progress in future years. It also includes an update to the list of sites included on the Parks Protection list following the proposed inclusion of an additional site at Portacre Rise in the Brookvale and Kings Furlong ward. 7. REVIEW OF WORK PROGRAMME 311 - 312 The Committee is asked to note and review its Work Programme and to receive updates from the Lead Members of Task and Finish Groups. 8. EXCLUSION OF PRESS AND PUBLIC To consider whether, in view of the nature of the remaining items on the agenda, any of them are likely to involve the disclosure of exempt or confidential information within the terms of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972. 9. CONFIDENTIAL/ EXEMPT ITEMS FOR INFORMATION Page 4 Agenda Item 4 Minutes of the Economic, Planning and Housing Committee meeting held on Thursday, 5 September 2019 in Committee Rooms 1 & 2 - Deanes, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council at 6.30 pm Members of the Economic, Planning and Housing Committee in attendance: Councillor S Frost (Chair), Councillor A Konieczko, Councillor O Cubitt, Councillor D George, Councillor P Harvey, Councillor L James, Councillor D Leeks, Councillor C Phillimore and Councillor G Watts Also present: Leader of the Council 15/19 Apologies for absence and substitutions Councillor Miller was replaced by Councillor Falconer. Councillor Gavin James sent apologies. 16/19 Declarations of interest There were no declarations of interest. 17/19 Urgent matters There were no urgent items. 18/19 Minutes of the meeting held on 4th July The minutes of the meeting held on 4 July were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair. 19/19 Local Plan Update The Leader of the Council introduced the Local Plan Update report. The Leader commented that he was in communication with the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) on a regular basis to ensure that they were aware of the long-term aspirations of the borough and the requirement for combining infrastructure improvements with the plan. The Planning Policy Manager discussed potential areas where the update could focus and explained that the review of the Local Plan represented a significant piece of work. Legislation required a review of all the policies, but not necessarily to update all, as a number were currently working effectively and well. That said, legal requirements would still require considerable evidence based work to justify that current policies were fit for purpose. It was confirmed that work would be undertaken in conjunction with key infrastructure partners to support the plan. The committee commended the report and made the following observations and comments: Page 5 It was clarified that it was not currently possible to calculate a housing allocations figure due to general uncertainty. It was reported that the figure was likely to be higher than the current requirement for 850 dwellings per annum, but would change at least once a year due to the calculation being based on frequently updated population projections and affordability data. The new figure would be imposed on the borough in May 2021, when the Local Plan was five years old. Concern was expressed at the new method of calculation and particularly any proposed increase to the 850 new homes housing figure, and how the government’s statutory target of 300,000 homes a year would be apportioned across the country. Members were opposed to the number being increased. The Leader commented that he was due to meet with the Minister for Housing Communities and Local Government and would make representations that the government should focus on quality and to raise the standard of buildings rather than the number. He further stated that he would lobby for a housing figure appropriate to the borough. There was a general view from members that the current Local Plan was working well and that policies should only be changed where changes were necessary in light of national guidance. Clarification was sought in relation to the suggested introduction of a more prescriptive housing mix policy. It was explained that in support of the Local Plan a new strategic housing market assessment would be undertaken which would help to inform the size and type of dwellings required to meet local need. It was noted that the current Local Plan policies CN3 (Housing Mix for Market Housing) and CN4 (housing for Older People), were quite high level. Officers explained that a more detailed policy approach could provide a stronger negotiating tool. It was suggested that the Local Plan update should consider including a policy on Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs), and a clearer and tighter approach to viability. Two-bed above ground floor flatted policy should also be considered. It was queried whether the policy that allowed a developer to avoid paying Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), by producing a 100% flatted development would be reviewed. The Planning Policy Manager confirmed that the CIL policy would be considered as part of the review. It was noted that take up of neighbourhood plans had been particularly successful in rural areas, but had not been taken forward in urban areas due to the lack of local bodies, such as parish councils to orchestrate. It was stated that community plans, which were less onerous, had proven more popular in urban wards. Neighbourhood plans were perceived as important in shaping development Page 6 and in some instances delivering new developments. It was agreed that the Local Plan should continue to work alongside neighbourhood plans, with the Local Plan providing high-level strategic direction and the neighbourhood plans offering more specific local guidance. There was a call to strengthen the powers of the Planning Compliance Team. The Head of Planning and Infrastructure stated that the challenge relating to enforcement was not a Local Plan issue as the process was constrained by government legislation which encouraged negotiation and resolution rather than sanctions. Concern was raised that current planning legislation did not permit the council to impose sufficient planning requirements to move towards carbon neutrality by 2030.