Agenda and minutes

To consider any appeals in accordance with Procedure Rule 15.2 of the Access to Information Rules (in the event of an Appeal the press and public will be excluded)

(*In accordance with Procedure Rule 15.2, written notice of an appeal must be received by the Head of Governance Services at least 24 hours before the meeting)

There were no appeals against the refusal of inspection of documents.

The agenda contained no exempt information.

There were no formal late items of business. However, a supplementary pack had been despatched to Members prior to the meeting in respect of agenda item 7 Core Strategy Selective Review (Publication Draft) - Appendix 2. The document was also available on the Council’s website. (Minute 46 refers).

To disclose or draw attention to any disclosable pecuniary interests for the purposes of Section 31 of the Localism Act 2011 and paragraphs 13-16 of the Members’ Code of Conduct

No declarations were made.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor G Latty  

To approve the minutes of the meeting held 21^st November 2017 as a correct record.

(Copy attached)

RESOLVED – That, subject to an amendment to minute 36 to record the abstention of Councillor Leadley from voting, the minutes of the Development Plan Panel meeting held on 21^st November 2017 be approved.

Viability Assessments – Comments regarding recent media coverage of the bonus structure and profit margins of a national housebuilding company and whether the Council’s approach to viability assessments could be included within the Panel’s future work programme were noted.

Student Accommodation & the City Centre – Comments regarding the development of a strategic approach (to cover saturation; impact; space and related issues) were noted.

It was noted that both of the matters above were included within the CSSR (Minute 46 refers)

Informal workshop – Recognising the pressures between planning policy and planning development, the Panel agreed to hold an informal workshop in the New Year (to cover closer working between the two sections, maintaining the Council’s policies and developing an approach to viability issues) .

Housing Build Out Rates – A housing implementation update to be presented to a future meeting

DCLG consultation – Although it had been anticipated that the March 2018 publication of new Guidance documents would reflect responses to the DCLG consultation, this had altered to spring 2018. Central Government advice was for Councils to continue with their plan making processes.

To consider the report of the Director of City Development setting out the proposed Publication draft policies for the Core Strategy Selective Review (CSSR) for consideration. Following initial public consultation and further technical work, the draft policies cover the housing requirement for a new plan period of 2017 – 2033, update affordable and green space policies, introduce new policies on housing standards (size and accessibility) and update the sustainable construction Policies EN1 and EN2 to reflect national advice.

Report attached

(Appendix 2 to follow)

The Director of City Development submitted a report setting out the proposed Publication draft policies for the Core Strategy Selective Review (CSSR) for consideration. Following initial public consultation and further technical work, the draft policies covered the housing requirement for a new plan period of 2017 – 2033, updated affordable housing and green space policies, introduced new policies on housing standards (size and accessibility) and updated the sustainable construction Policies EN1 and EN2 to reflect national advice.

Appendix 1 to the report set out the proposed Policy and Paragraph changes to the Adopted Leeds Core Strategy 2014 for Members consideration. Appendix 2 contained the CSSR Review Sustainability Appraisal (SA) - Draft Non-Technical Summary which included the essential scoping components of the SA and summarised the results and significant effects of reasonable alternatives and policy options on the SA objectives in relation to those elements of the CS for review.

The Planning Strategy Team Leader presented the report, highlighting the background to the review, the process undertaken so far, the findings and proposals for public consultation. General discussions covered the following topics:

Viability – The Council’s approach to viability should reflect the view that costs associated with an application (such as land costs, reparation works) are not unforeseen and can be calculated prior to application submission – in order to support planning officers in their discussions with applicants over policy commitments and Members’ desire to maintain those policies. Members were reminded that a Local Planning Authority (LPA) was under a duty to assess viability during Plan making, however at the time planning applications were considered, each application would need to be considered on a case by case basis.

Dale Robinson of GVA Consultants further explained that the NPPF did not contain formal guidance or define ‘a reasonable land value’. Discussion considered whether this issue was a policy matter, or whether it related to considerations “at the point of the determination”.

Planning Development and Planning Policy – Members expressed support for round table discussions between Members, Development Management officers and Planning Policy officers on issues and pressures relating to policy implementation at the point of dealing with planning applications. It was noted that the Head of Policy & Plans was due to meet with Mr Jonathon Carr - the recently appointed Head of Planning Services where this could be discussed.

The Panel then dealt with specific Policy proposals:

Policies SP6 & SP7 Housing Requirement for 2017-33 and distribution

The impact of larger and unidentified sites; should a landowner come forward with a site for 200+ homes, was difficult to predict and evidence. It was anticipated that larger windfall sites were more likely to come forward for development towards the end of the plan period.

The suggestion to establish a ‘ready reckoner’ to calculate windfall sites throughout the year was supported – to enable monitoring and review of the policy in the future. It was agreed that further research on the number of windfall sites and the amount of housing provided over the last three  ...  view the full minutes text for item 46.

RESOLVED – To note the following matters were included within a programme of work for future Development Plan Panel meetings:

Negotiated Stopping Sites for Gypsies & Travellers (July 2017 minute 7) -

The number of occurrences of stopping on unauthorised sites 2016/17

Start date for the 24 hour service to respond to negotiated stopping

Housing Land Supply (July 2017 minute 8) -

Feedback from small and medium sized building firms on their view of the market and delivery of the overall housing target

Information on the number of permissions granted/permissions implemented and started on site.

CSSR (September 2017 Minute 18) -

Production of a Frequently Asked Questions companion to the CSSR

A review of the city-wide Community Infrastructure Levy requirements to identify whether the requirements remain appropriate for each area and assess the impact of CIL on redevelopment.

Consider the policy for Commuted Sum use; whether there was any flexibility and support for cross-ward financing; undertake reviews of the calculation mechanism and best practice operated elsewhere.

SAP (November 2017 Minute 32) - A request for information on the trajectory for the delivery of 1&2 bed Affordable Housing

SHLAA (November 2017 Minute 37) -

Outcome of discussions with volume house building industry on volume house building rates and reasons for the fall in the ratio of build out-rate: delivery

5 Year Land Supply – A report on the outcome of a recent Court decision which provided clarity on how Local Planning Authorities take a view on  the 5 Year Housing Land Supply and the balance between what is deliverable and what is actually delivered.

Housing Build-out Rates (December 2017 Minute 45) – An implementation update to be presented to a future meeting

CSSR Policies SP6 & SP7 (December 2017 Minute 46) - Establish a ‘ready reckoner’ to calculate windfall sites throughout the year and undertake further research on the number of windfall sites/amount of housing provided over the last three years.

To note the date and time of the next meeting as Tuesday 16^th January 2018 at 9.30 am

RESOLVED – To note the date and time of the next meeting as Tuesday 16^th January 2018 at 9.30 am. It was noted that an informal workshop for Panel Members will be held at the conclusion of the formal meeting.