Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed all in attendance to the meeting.

To receive any apologies for absence from the meeting.

No apologies for absence from the meeting had been received.

To approve the minutes of the Development Plan Panel meeting held on Tuesday, 10^th March 2009.

RESOLVED-  That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 10^th March 2009 be approved as a correct record.

Matters Arising from the Minutes (Minute No. 34 refers)

In response to Members’ enquiries, the Panel noted that further information on the outcomes from the meeting held on 13^th March 2009 by the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Assembly (now the Local Government for Yorkshire and the Humber) in relation to the informal consultation exercise on the 2009 update of the Yorkshire and Humber Plan, would be provided at a later point in the meeting.

To consider the report of the Director of City Development providing an update on the new arrangements for Spatial Planning within Yorkshire & the Humber, following the implementation of the conclusions of the Sub National Review.

A report was submitted by the Director of City Development providing an update on the new organisational and governance arrangements for Spatial Planning within Yorkshire and the Humber, which were being introduced in response to the implementation of the conclusions from the Sub National Review. As further information, copies of the Leeds City Region Forerunner Plan had been provided at the meeting.

Having received a brief overview of the key themes within the report, which included details of the revised regional governance arrangements for Spatial Planning and an update on the progress being made with respect to the Regional Spatial Strategy, a question and answer session ensued. The main areas of debate were as follows:-

Ÿ  Further to Minute No. 40 (above), and in response to Members’ earlier enquiries, it was confirmed that representatives of Leeds City Council had been in attendance at the meeting held on 13^th March 2009, however, the overall outcomes were not yet known;

Ÿ  The Panel acknowledged the inquiry into housing matters which had recently been undertaken by the Regional Assembly (now the Local Government for Yorkshire and the Humber) following the receipt of representations during the period of informal consultation on the 2009 update of the Yorkshire and Humber Plan. However, enquiries were then made as to whether the conclusions from the consultation exercise were likely to reflect the concerns relating to housing targets which had been raised by the Council;

Ÿ  Comments were raised in relation to some of the content of the Leeds City Region Forerunner Plan document which had been circulated at the meeting;

Ÿ  Members noted the information regarding the revised governance arrangements which had been provided within the report and the Leeds City Region Forerunner Plan, but expressed concern regarding the lack of detail available with respect to how the membership of each body would be comprised, how the various individual bodies would interact with one another, how the decisions to implement such governance arrangements had been made and the extent of the influence and representation that Leeds City Council would have as part of such arrangements.  

In response to Members’ concerns, it was requested that a report detailing further information on the issues raised in relation to the new organisational and governance arrangements with respect to Spatial Planning within Yorkshire and the Humber was submitted to the next meeting for consideration.

RESOLVED -

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

(b)  That a report detailing further information on the issues raised in   relation to the new organisational and governance arrangements with   respect to Spatial Planning within Yorkshire and the Humber be   submitted to the next meeting of the Panel for consideration.

To consider the report of the Director of City Development providing an update on the recent progress made in preparation of the EASEL Area Action Plan (AAP), and outlining the next steps, particularly with respect to proposals for further consultation and information sharing on the proposed plan changes with residents and stakeholders.

Further to Minute No. 29, 6^th January 2009, the Director of City Development submitted a report providing an update on the recent   progress which had been made in preparation for the East and South East Leeds (EASEL) Area Action Plan’s (AAP) eventual submission for independent examination, and outlining the next steps in the process, which particularly related to further consultation and information sharing with residents and stakeholders on the proposed changes to the AAP.

The Panel received a summary of the key themes detailed within the report. These included:-

Ÿ  An overview of the recent progress which had been made in relation to the EASEL and Aire Valley town and local centre assessment, the   EASEL drainage strategy and the EASEL transport strategy;

Ÿ  The next stages in the development of the AAP, particularly in relation   to greenspace;

Ÿ  The proposed methods and timescales intended to be followed as part   of the consultation and information sharing strategy;

Ÿ  The key changes to the AAP which appeared on the current deposit draft, following the conclusion of the ’Preferred Options’ stage. 

Following the introduction to the report, a discussion then ensued. The main areas of debate were as follows:-

Ÿ  Members received further detail on the potential levels of interest from supermarkets in acquiring those sites which had been identified as the most viable and sustainable in the area;

Ÿ  The Panel discussed several of the possible interventions which had been proposed by Mouchel as part of its strategy to improve the sustainability of transport in throughout EASEL;

Ÿ  Members received further details on the comprehensiveness of the proposed consultation and information sharing process and the methods which would be used to undertake it. Emphasis was then placed upon the need to ensure that all relevant Ward Members were involved in this process and that all relevant information relating to EASEL was communicated effectively between all parties, including internal departments;

Ÿ  The Panel sought clarification on several individual issues relating to flooding, provision of shops and greenspace in specific areas across EASEL;

Ÿ  Members received further information on the potential implications for those local residents residing in neighbourhoods which may be identified as ‘future regeneration areas’.

RESOLVED -  That the progress which has been made with respect to the EASEL Area Action Plan be noted, along with the next steps which relate to the further development of the EASEL AAP and the production of the submission draft.

(During the consideration this item, Councillor Gruen indicated that he was a Member of Plans Panel (East) and could possibly be considering matters relating to the EASEL initiative at a later date in that capacity.

He stated that in view of this, and in order to avoid any perception of pre-determination should any such matters be submitted to Plans Panel, any contributions he made at today’s meeting were merely on a strategic basis. Councillor Gruen also stated that he would not be bound by any discussions or decisions taken at today’s meeting should any related matters come before Plans Panel  ...  view the full minutes text for item 42.

1.30pm on Tuesday, 9^th June 2009 in the Civic Hall, Leeds

(To be confirmed)

Tuesday, 9^th June 2009 at 1.30 p.m. in the Civic Hall, Leeds.

(To be confirmed)