Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed all in attendance to the September meeting of Development Plan Panel.

To identify items which have been admitted to the agenda by the Chair for consideration.

(The special circumstance shall be specified in the minutes).

In accordance with his powers under Section 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972, the Chair agreed to accept the following late information, which was not available at the time of agenda despatch:

• Affordable Housing Thresholds – response in relation to previous issues raised by Councillor Leadley
• Further clarification provided in relation to Policy CC3
• Amendments to reflect Council’s duty to improve Public Health.

These documents were not available at the time of the agenda despatch, but were subsequently made available to the public on the Council’s website.

Affordable Housing Threshold

Members expressed concern that the report on affordable housing threshold had not addressed key issues raised at the July Development Plan Panel meeting.  In particular, Members suggested that all schemes made a contribution to affordable housing provision and that this be reflected in Policy H5.  It was agreed that officers should review the revised wording in the light of Members’ comments and circulate to the Chair in the first instance.  Subject to the Chair’s considerations, for the matter to be decided by email or by a future Panel Meeting as necessary.

To disclose or draw attention to any disclosable pecuniary interests for the purposes of Section 31 of the Localism Act 2011 and paragraphs 13-18 of the Members’ Code of Conduct.  Also to declare any other significant interests which the Member wishes to declare in the public interest, in accordance with paragraphs 19-20 of the Members’ Code of Conduct.

There were no declarations of interest made at this stage, however a significant interest was declared at a later point in the meeting. (Minute No. 55 refers)

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were submitted by Councillors B Anderson, P Gruen, R Harington and K Mitchell.  Notification had been received that Councillor J Proctor was substituting for Councillor B Anderson and Councillor J Hardy for Councillor P Gruen.

To receive and consider a report from the Director of City Development reviewing the consultation responses in relation to the housing requirement (Policy SP6) and housing distribution (Policy SP7).

The Director of City Development submitted a report which reviewed the consultation responses in relation to the housing requirement (Policy SP6) and housing distribution (Policy SP7).

A copy of the proposed changes were appended to the report.

The following officers attended the meeting and responded to Members’ questions and comments:

-  David Feeney, Head of Forward Planning and Implementation

-  Steve Speak, Deputy Chief Planning Officer

-  Robin Coghlan, Team Leader (Policy).

The key areas of discussion were:

• Policies SP6 and SP7 concluding that the windfall allowance of 500 dwellings per annum should be presented as a conservative figure that could be higher.
• Concern that there was a suggestion of sequential testing in section 4.6.9 of the report.  Officers subsequently agreed to delete the last sentence of paragraph 4.6.9 (reference to PAS land, UDP Allocations and Green Belt being an alternative to windfall be deleted entirely).
• The need for a built-in mechanism for re-appraisal of SP6.  Officers advised that the policy was subject to annual monitoring through the Authority Monitoring Report and substantial deviation from expectations would be a prompt for an early review of the plan.
• The importance of ward based meetings as part of the site allocations process.

RESOLVED – That the Development Plan Panel endorses the analysis of the issues raised and suggested Core Strategy text changes, subject to amendments, for presentation to Executive Board for approval.

To receive and consider a report from the Director of City Development reviewing the consultation responses in relation to Policies H1, H2, H3, H4 and H8 of the housing chapter.

The Director of City Development submitted a report which reviewed the consultation responses in relation to Housing Policies H1 (Phasing), H2 (Development on non-allocated sites), H3 (Density), H4 (Mix) and H8 (Independent living).

A copy of the proposed changes were appended to the report.

The following officers attended the meeting and responded to Members’ questions and comments:

-  David Feeney, Head of Forward Planning and Implementation

-  Steve Speak, Deputy Chief Planning Officer

-  Robin Coghlan, Team Leader (Policy).

The main areas of discussion were:

• Understanding how the managed approach will work with site criteria set out in the Core Strategy and the placing of sites into sequential phases in subsequent plans, including the Site Allocations DPD.
• Agreed to improve clarification by adding a footnote to the word ‘phase’ in line 1 of Policy H1.  This will explain that “phase” means to establish a series of sequential bandings of sites.
• Clarification sought about the density levels reported in Policy H3.

RESOLVED – That the Development Plan Panel endorses the analysis of the issues raised and suggested Core Strategy text changes, subject to amendments, for presentation to Executive Board for approval.

(Councillor M Coulson withdrew from the meeting at 3.30pm during the consideration of this item.)

To receive and consider a report from the Director of City Development reviewing the consultation responses in relation to SP12 ‘Managing the growth of Leeds Bradford International Airport’.

The Director of City Development submitted a report which reviewed the consultation responses in relation to Policy SP12 ‘Managing the Growth of Leeds Bradford International Airport (LBIA)’.

A copy of the proposed changes were appended to the report.

The following officers attended the meeting and responded to Members’ questions and comments:

-  David Feeney, Head of Forward Planning and Implementation

-  Steve Speak, Deputy Chief Planning Officer

-  Robin Coghlan, Team Leader (Policy).

-  Tim Harvey, Project Manager (Transport Initiatives).

The main areas of discussion were:

• Concerns about the long term ambitions of LBIA to develop on green belt and the impact on the surrounding area.
• Suggested amendment to 4.9.13 of the report to reflect that the public transport network to and from LBIA was insufficient.  Officers agreed to amend the report.

RESOLVED – That the Development Plan Panel endorses the analysis of the issues raised and suggested Core Strategy text changes, subject to amendments, for presentation to Executive Board for approval.

(Councillor J Lewis withdrew from the meeting at 4.30pm during the consideration of this item.)

To receive and consider a report from the Director of City Development reviewing the consultation responses in relation to Spatial Policy 10: Green Belt.

The Director of City Development submitted a report which reviewed the consultation responses in relation to Spatial Policy 10: Green Belt.

A copy of the proposed changes were appended to the report.

The following officers attended the meeting and responded to Members’ questions and comments:

-  David Feeney, Head of Forward Planning and Implementation

-  Steve Speak, Deputy Chief Planning Officer.

The key areas of discussion were:

• Cross boundary issues and ensuring a duty to co-operate with other local authorities.

RESOLVED – That the Development Plan Panel endorses the analysis of the issues raised and suggested Core Strategy text changes, subject to amendments, for presentation to Executive Board for approval.

(Councillor C Fox withdrew from the meeting at 4.45pm during the consideration of this item.)

To receive and consider a report from the Director of City Development reviewing the consultation responses in relation to a number of Miscellaneous topics (including Soundness, NPPF compliance, General Environment & Economy, Consultation, Habitat Regulations Assessment, Sustainability Appraisal, Equality Impact Assessment and Health Impact Assessment.)

The Director of City Development submitted a report which reviewed the consultation responses in relation to Miscellaneous Topics (including Soundness, NPFF compliance, General Environment & Economy, Consultation, Habitat Regulations Assessment, Sustainability Appraisal, Equality Impact Assessment and Health Impact Assessment)

A copy of the proposed changes were appended to the report.

The following officers attended the meeting and responded to Members’ questions and comments:

-  David Feeney, Head of Forward Planning and Implementation

-  Steve Speak, Deputy Chief Planning Officer.

RESOLVED – That the Development Plan Panel endorses the analysis of the issues raised and suggested Core Strategy text changes, subject to amendments, for presentation to Executive Board for approval.

(Councillor Taggart declared significant interest in this item in his capacity as Chair of West Yorkshire Joint Services Committee.)

To receive and consider a report from the Director of City Development reviewing the consultation responses in relation to Spatial Policy 1: Location of Development.

The Director of City Development submitted a report which reviewed the consultation responses in relation to Spatial Policy 1: Location of Development.

A copy of the proposed changes were appended to the report.

The following officers attended the meeting and responded to Members’ questions and comments:

-  David Feeney, Head of Forward Planning and Implementation

-  Steve Speak, Deputy Chief Planning Officer.

RESOLVED – That the Development Plan Panel endorses the analysis of the issues raised and suggested Core Strategy text changes, subject to amendments, for presentation to Executive Board for approval.

• Tuesday, 2^nd October 2012 at 1.30pm
• Tuesday, 23^rd October 2012 at.1.30pm.

Tuesday, 23^rd October 2012 at 1.30pm.

(The meeting concluded at 5.00pm.)