Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors J Lewis and K Mitchell

Councillors M Harland and J McKenna were present as substitutes.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the Development Plan Panel meeting held on 27 August 2013

RESOLVED- That the minutes of the Development Plan Panel meeting held on 27 August 2013 be confirmed as a correct record.

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To receive and consider the attached report of the Director of City Development

The report of the Director of City Development referred to the Natural Resources & Waste Local Plan which formed part of the Local Development Framework and was adopted by the Council in January 2013.  Following this, the Council had received a High Court challenge into a discreet part of the plan.  The report updated Members on the outcome of the challenge and explained the further steps now required to address the Judge’s ruling.  Members were asked to note the outcome of the High Court challenge and the further steps required.

It was reported that the High Court hearing had been held in August 2013 and the judgement had been made in September 2013.  The two policies that Council had lost on concerned planning for a shift to non-road based freight and the challenge had been submitted jointly by two parties both of whom were landowners with land affected.

The Judge had found that the inspector who had examined the plan had acted irrationally because his report did not adequately explain his reason with regard to those matters.  It was ordered that the policies be re-submitted.  This would give opportunity for further consultation with the interested parties.

In further discussion it was reported that though the policy had been submitted on the recommendation of the independent inspector, that ultimately it was the Council’s policy and responsibility.

RESOLVED – That the outcome of the High Court Challenge and further steps required to address the Judge’s ruling be noted.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Director of City Development

The report of the Director of City Development informed Members of the

recent independent examination of the Core Strategy.  It provided an update

on the issues arising, the current position and next steps.

Members were reminded that the Core Strategy had been submitted to the

Secretary of State in April 2013, followed by further submissions in September

2013 and examination in October 2013.

Main Issues highlighted included the following:

·  Affordable Housing

·  Accommodation for Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Show People

·  Houses in Multiple Occupation/Student Housing

·  Housing Need and Supply

The inspector had raised concerns with regard to affordable housing and accommodation for travellers. On both issues it was felt that further was work needed.

In response to Members comments and questions, the following was discussed:

·  Methodology used for traveller accommodation requirements – it was reported that a further report was hoped to be submitted to Executive Board in March 2014.

·  Concern regarding the inspector’s comments on affordable housing.  A further report would be submitted to the December meeting of Executive Board.

·  Concern regarding the delay in getting the Core Strategy approved and that it could be affected by the two areas of concern.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Director of City Development

The report of the Director of City Development summarised the number of

respondents who had commented on the recent Site Allocations Plan Issues

and Options consultation.  The draft report of consultation provided details of

the consultation process and the responses received.  No analysis of the

comments had yet taken place and further reports would be presented to

Development Plan Panel in due course.

Issues highlighted from the report included the following:

·  The report presented the first stage of consultation that had been held over an 8 week period.

·  There had been no analysis of the responses at this stage and the report contained statistical information broken down into the areas of consultation.

·  Responses may have been included more than once if they covered more than one area.

·  There had been high numbers of response in the Aireborough, Morley and Outer North East Areas.

·  The comments for each of the housing market characteristic areas had been further broken down to housing, employment, retail and greenspace.

·  The comments regarding housing sites were being broken down into those which were supportive, objective or neutral.

·  Comments regarding retail, employment and greenspace were low when compared to the housing responses.  In response to Members comments and questions, the following was discussed:

·  Comments that had been offensive or racist had been removed.

·  Difficulties with using the website for consultation.

·  Issues relating to existing and forthcoming planning applications.

RESOLVED –

(1)  That the key headlines from the consultation be noted.

(2)  That the Draft Report of Consultation be noted.  Further analysis of the responses and consideration of the outcomes of the consultation and subsequent actions will be reported to Panel at future meetings.

Wednesday, 8 January 2014 at 1.30 p.m.

To be confirmed.