Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests.

Members of the Panel paid  tribute to Councillor Clive Fox who had recently passed away.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors M Coulson, K Mitchell, J Procter and T Leadley.

Councillors M Harland and C Towler were in attendance as substitutes.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the Development Plan Panel meeting held on Monday 24^th February 2014.

RESOLVED-  That the minutes of the Development Plan Panel meeting held on 24 February 2014 be approved.

To consider the report of the Director of City Development updating Members of the work currently being undertaken by officers from City Development and Children’s Services to consider the requirements for schools provision arising from the Site Allocations Plan.

The report of the Director of City Development updated Members of the work currently being undertaken by officers from City Development and Children’s Services to consider the requirements for school provision arising from the Site Allocation Plan.

Issues highlighted from the report included the following:

·  Further work was being carried out regarding the prediction of school place requirements.  Although it was proposed to construct 70,000 new houses, considerations had to take account of whether this target would be reached.

·  A joint study was being carried out between Children’s Services and Planning regarding population forecasts.

·  Reference to work of the East Leeds Regeneration Board and how to carry out something similar citywide to get the right infrastructure.

·  Section 106 contributions and the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL).

·  Concern regarding the significant number of applications without Section 106 contributions.

·  Legislation and policy changes with regards to provision of new schools and school expansion.

·  Main issues that drove demand for places:

o  Population/birth rates – there had been a significant increase over the last 4 years.

o  Impact of housing growth.

o  Pupil movement.

·  Physical feasibility for expanding current schools.

·  Identifying sites for new schools and availability of land.

·  School performance – how far can schools be expanded before it becomes detrimental to the provision of education?

·  Sustainability issues – highways, health provision, drainage, public transport provision.

·  The need for a cross directorate approach.

·  The need to build in flexibility for delayed construction.

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

·  Development of a robust formula to reflect demand in the housing characteristic areas – it was hoped to identify the number of expansions and new schools that would be required as part of the site allocation process.

·  Concern that land was more valuable for housing development than school development and that this would make development of schools economically unviable.

·  Funding for new schools and school expansion.

·  Concern that Children’s Services should be more involved in the planning process.

·  How to support Plans Panels and ensure objections are weighted correctly.

·  Planning at a local level – workshops had been carried out with Area Committees.

·  Concern that developments were being sold on the basis that local school places were available.

·  Predicting school needs across each Housing Characteristic Area.

·  School Admission arrangements.

·  Impact of development around the boundary areas with other local authorities – work was carried out with neighbouring authorities in respect of this.

RESOLVED – That the report and discussion be noted.