Agenda and minutes

(Assistant to the Chief Executive) To declare interests in any item on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest pursuant to the Council’s Code of Member Conduct.

To confirm the minutes of the last meeting of the Cabinet Committee held on 3 October 2011 (previously circulated).

Resolved:

(1)        That the minutes of the meeting held on 3 October 2011 be taken as read and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

To note the Terms of reference for the Cabinet Committee, as agreed by the Council on 17 February 2009; minute 113(a) refers.

(1)        That a Local Development Framework Cabinet Committee be appointed with the following terms of reference:

(a)        To oversee and submit recommendations to the Cabinet as appropriate on:

(i)         the preparation of the Local Development Framework (LDF);

(ii)        the preparation of the Core Strategy including agreement of consultation stages and documentation, and the responses that should be made to any representations received;

(iii)       the preparation of other Development Plan Documents including agreement of consultation stages and documentation, and the responses that should be made to any representations received;

(iv)       the preparation of Supplementary Planning Documents including agreement of consultation stages and documentation, and the responses that should be made to any representations received; and

(v)        the revision of the Local Development Scheme and monitoring the achievement of milestones;

(b)        To consider and provide input to consultants’ reports which contribute to the establishment of an up-to-date evidence base to influence preparation of the LDF;

(c)        To consider options for joint or coordinated working with other councils, which best meet the needs of this District, as required by the East of England Plan and (where relevant) the London Plan and to make recommendations to the Cabinet thereon;

(d)        To consider the comprehensive review of the East of England Plan, and make recommendations to the Cabinet on any responses to be made;

(e)        To liaise with the Planning Services Scrutiny Standing Panel as appropriate; and

(f)         To work within the budgetary provision for the LDF, as approved by the Cabinet and the Council.

The Cabinet Committee noted their terms of reference, as agreed by the Council on 17 February 2009 (minute 113(a) refers).

(Director of Planning & Economic Development) To consider the attached report (LDF-006-2011/12).

The Principal Planning Officer presented a report concerning the Rye Meads Water Cycle Strategy.

The Principal Planning Officer reported that the Rye Meads Wastewater Treatment Works served the whole of Harlow and the part of the District which adjoined Harlow’s boundary. It served a further five local authority areas, either entirely or partly: Broxbourne, East Herts, North Herts, Stevenage and Welwyn Hatfield. The capacity of Rye Meads works had been recognised as an issue in the East of England Plan (EEP), because 70,000 new houses were originally proposed in the catchment area during the period up to 2021; by 2009 about 8,000 of this total had been built. The proposed urban extensions to Harlow in this District would be served by the Rye Meads works.

The Principal Planning Officer stated that the 2009 Water Cycle Strategy (WCS) had assessed these constraints and recommended suitable infrastructure provision, with the main implications for this District being a new sewer from Harlow to Roydon south of the railway line and a possible new sewer to the west of Harlow immediately east of Roydon. In addition to wastewater treatment and sewerage network capacity, the Water Cycle Strategy had also considered the wider water resources such as potable water supply, flood risk and mitigation, water quality and conservation opportunities.

The Cabinet Committee was advised that Three Valleys Water and Thames Water were confident that the current measures being implemented would mean that water supply would not be a constraint to growth. For the treatment of wastewater, the Rye Meads works would require upgrades to ensure future capacity would meet the proposed growth, but this would only effect any development adjacent to Harlow. However, there was uncertainty about capacity in the period beyond 2021, and this could be a significant constraint on further development. It was important that new development and water infrastructure upgrades were properly coordinated, and a full review of the current Water Cycle Strategy was recommended by 2013. It was proposed to include the Strategy as part of the Evidence Base for the new Local Plan.

The Principal Planning Officer added that there was currently no undue concern about the watercourses within the catchment area failing to meet the new quality standards under the Water Framework Directive, as this would not restrict any development before 2021.

The Cabinet Committee felt that the required infrastructure needed to be in place for any new developments, and concern was expressed about the disruption that would be caused by installing the proposed new sewerage pipes in the Roydon area. It was also felt that the County Council would have a much greater role in scrutinising the activities of the Water companies. The Principal Planning Officer declared that the route of the proposed new pipe had been recommended after studying a number of alternative routes. The Water Companies had committed to meeting certain standards in respect of the treatment of wastewater, and Officers would – in conjunction with Officers from Harlow District Council – ensure that the Water  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.

(Director of Planning & Economic Development) To consider the attached report (LDF-007-2011/12).

N.B.     A copy of the full monitoring report has been placed in the Members’ Room, distributed to all members of the Cabinet Committee and is available on the Council’s website as a supplementary agenda. If any other Member requires a hardcopy of the full monitoring report then please contact either the Responsible Officer or Democratic Services Officer listed on the report before the date of the meeting.

The Principal Planning Officer presented a report on the Annual Monitoring Report for 2010/11.

The Cabinet Committee was reminded that the Government required a monitoring report to be prepared and submitted at least once a year, which reported on activity within the previous financial year, including housing completions, employment land provision, and the protection of areas of natural conservation value. The report was also used to measure progress with the Local Plan. The Annual Monitoring Report for the 2010/11 financial year, indicated that performance against housing targets, which had historically been the Government’s highest priority, was shown to be good with 368 new housing units constructed.

The Principal Planning Officer reported that the Annual Monitoring Report would be used as a mechanism for further review of the Local Plan in the future and to test the Council’s future policies. It also included information, for example on deprivation, which planning policy could not have a significant impact upon. The Cabinet Committee expressed concern about the possible use of data from the 2001 census, rather than the 2011 census. The Principal Planning Officer stated that the report had used the 2010 population estimates where possible, but that it was difficult to find other credible sources of data.

The Principal Planning Officer undertook to provide further information to Members, either directly or via the Members’ Bulletin, regarding the: decent home figures within the report; the Indices of Deprivation link; and the reduction in permanent planning permissions granted for private caravans. The Report was agreed, subject to some minor amendments, for submission to the Secretary of State and publication on the Council’s website.

Resolved:

(1)        That the content of the Annual Monitoring Report for 2010/11 be noted; and

(2)        That the Annual Monitoring Report for 2010/11 be approved for submission to the Secretary of State and publication on the Council’s website.

Reasons for Decision:

To fulfil the Council’s statutory requirement and ensure a clear and robust annual Monitoring Report was published.

Other Options Considered and Rejected:

To not publish and submit an Annual Monitoring Report. However, this option would conflict with the requirements of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 and the Localism Act 2011.

(Director of Planning & Economic Development) To consider the attached report (LDF-008-2011/12).

The Principal Planning Officer presented a report concerning the revised project plan for the preparation of the Local Plan.

The Cabinet Committee was advised that, following the recent consultation on the National Planning Policy Framework, the Leader and Portfolio Holder for Planning & Technology had requested the Forward Planning team to investigate achieving the submission of the Local Plan to the Planning Inspectorate earlier than had originally been intended.  Detailed analysis had shown it to be possible to reach submission by February 2013, however there were some significant risks to achieving this timetable, not all of which were in the Council’s direct control.

The Principal Planning Officer added that further additions to the Evidence Base were currently being commissioned where necessary, with the intention that all of these substantial pieces of research work would be completed by April 2012, to inform the preparation of the Draft Local Plan. Budgetary provision existed for 2011/12 and 2012/13, but a further allocation would need to be agreed for 2013/14. The staffing resources available to the Forward Planning team would also need to be kept under regular review to ensure delivery of the Local Plan within the revised challenging timetable.

The Cabinet Committee acknowledged that further efforts were required to make sure the Council met its new statutory requirement regarding the Duty to Cooperate, as this would avoid parts of the Local Plan being found ‘unsound’ in the future. The Director of Planning & Economic Development highlighted that the Council had actively cooperated with a number of bodies over the past few years. The Leader added that the Council had been engaging with Harlow recently over its future development, but that East Herts District Council had not engaged in discussions with other authorities. The Principal Planning Officer stated that meetings at Officer level had taken place over the future planned developments within the East Herts District, but no meeting had been scheduled involving Councillors from East Herts District Council. It was suggested that the Leader should offer to meet the Leader of East Herts District Council initially, with further joint meetings between the two Leaders and Chief Executives. It was important to ensure that the Council’s Local Plan was not found ‘unsound’ due to a lack of cooperation from East Herts District Council.

The Cabinet Committee queried whether it would be possible to reduce the time currently scheduled between submitting the Plan to the Planning Inspectorate in February 2013 and commencing the Examination in Public during the autumn of 2013. The Principal Planning Officer indicated that this could be discussed further with the Planning Inspectorate; the timetable as set out in Appendix 1 of the report was currently only broadly indicative, and required further analysis.

With respect to Neighbourhood Plans, the Principal Planning Officer reported that the regulations regarding their preparation had not been finalised. The focus was currently concentrated on preparing the Local Plan, and consideration of the available resources to assist Town and Parish Councils with the preparation of their Neighbourhood Plans would be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 23.

Section 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972, together with paragraphs (6) and (24) of the Council Procedure Rules contained in the Constitution requires that the permission of the Chairman be obtained, after prior notice to the Chief Executive, before urgent business not specified in the agenda (including a supplementary agenda of which the statutory period of notice has been given) may be transacted.

In accordance with Operational Standing Order (6) (non-executive bodies), any item raised by a non-member shall require the support of a member of the Cabinet Committee and the Chairman of the Cabinet Committee. Two weeks’ notice of non-urgent items is required.

There was no other urgent business for the Cabinet Committee to consider.