Issue - meetings

(Planning Services) To consider the attached report (C-033-2019-20).

(1)        That the publication of the draft Harlow and Gilston Garden Healthy Town Framework for a six-week period of public consultation be agreed; and

(2)        That, following the end of the public consultation, the Harlow and Gilston Garden Healthy Town Framework be updated; and

(3)        That the final version of the Harlow and Gilston Town Healthy Town Framework be submitted to a subsequent meeting of the Cabinet to be agreed as a material planning consideration for the preparation of masterplans, pre-application advice, assessing planning applications and any other development management purposes.

The Planning Services Portfolio Holder, Cllr J Philip, presented a report on the draft Healthy Town Framework for the Harlow and Gilston Garden Town (HGGT) proposed for pubic consultation.

Cllr J Philip reminded the Cabinet that Harlow and Gilston was designated as a Garden Town by the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government in January 2017 and would comprise new and existing communities in and around Harlow. The District Councils, Harlow, East Herts and Epping Forest were working together with Hertfordshire and Essex County Councils to ensure plans for the Garden Town supported sustainable living and a healthy economy; provided a good quality of life for existing and future residents; and responded to local landscape and character.

Cllr J Philip reported that the Harlow and Gilston Garden Town (HGGT) Vision had set out, as one of the objectives, that the Garden Town would be a healthy place to live. To ascertain the features that make a healthy town, the HGGT Team had commissioned the Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA) to prepare a Healthy Town Framework (draft Framework). A number of key stakeholders were involved in the preparation, including the NHS Clinical Commissioning Groups, NHS Trusts (including Princess Alexandra Hospital), Public Health England and the Harlow Health Centres Trust.

Cllr J Philip stated that the draft Healthy Town Framework provided a framework for realising the HGGT Vision and would provide guidance for development proposals to ensure the Garden Town became a healthy place to live and supported the wellbeing of existing and future residents. The draft Framework was agreed by the HGGT Member Board in July 2019 and the next stage was to seek agreement from this Council to publish for consultation.

Cllr S Neville enquired whether cycleways would be part of the plan for the Garden Town? Cllr J Philip confirmed that they would, and that cycle and pathways would be properly overlooked by residents to ensure the safety of the walkers and cyclers.

Decision:

(1)        That the publication of the draft Harlow and Gilston Garden Healthy Town Framework for a six-week period of public consultation be agreed; and

(2)        That, following the end of the public consultation, the Harlow and Gilston Garden Healthy Town Framework be updated; and

(3)        That the final version of the Harlow and Gilston Town Healthy Town Framework be submitted to a subsequent meeting of the Cabinet to be agreed as a material planning consideration for the preparation of masterplans, pre-application advice, assessing planning applications and any other development management purposes.

Reasons for Decision:

Following consultation and any subsequent revisions to the document, including the preparation of an accompanying Health Framework Action Plan, it was intended to give planning weight to the Framework by endorsing it as a material planning consideration. This status would ensure that development proposals would achieve garden town ambitions, and that clear parameters were established for future master planning pre-application advice, assessing planning applications and any other development management purposes within the Garden Town.

Other Options Considered and Rejected:  ...  view the full minutes text for item 109