Agenda item

To consider the report of the Director of City Development  seeking approval of the Site Allocations Plan (SAP) and Aire Valley Leeds Area Action Plan (AVLAAP) Publication Draft Plans, for the purposes of public consultation during Autumn 2015 (to commence in September). The Publication draft documents are attached to the covering report, together with accompanying Plans.

Further to Minute No. 144, 11^th February 2015, the Director of City Development submitted a report which sought approval of the Site Allocations Plan (SAP) and Aire Valley Leeds Area Action Plan (AVLAAP) Publication Draft Plans, for the purposes of public consultation to take place during Autumn 2015. In addition, the report noted that the matter was scheduled to be referred to the relevant Scrutiny Board for consideration following the public consultation exercise.

In considering the submitted report, the following key points were discussed:-

·  Responding to a specific enquiry regarding the clarity of a description for the location of a gypsy and traveller site in the Outer West area of the city, officers undertook to meet with the relevant Ward Member in order to discuss this particular issue;

·  In response to a Member’s enquiry, the Board was provided with details of the methods which would be used to undertake the associated consultation exercise and it was confirmed that such consultation would be 8 weeks in duration;

·  Furthermore, the Board was also reassured that the consultation exercise would be robust, made as accessible as possible and would provide a genuine opportunity for all parties, including Ward Members, to contribute towards the process;

·  A Member noted that new brownfield sites had emerged, and raised the question of whether such sites could be included in the plan at this stage as alternatives to proposed greenfield allocations. It was pointed out that the plan already allowed for new sites through a windfall allowance, but that should Members ultimately decide to make changes to the plan, it would be important to ensure that the plan remained consistent with the requirements of the Core Strategy;

·  Officers also emphasised that Members were being requested to approve the publication plans for Site Allocations and Aire Valley, and that national guidance advised that the publication stage plan was a document that the Local Authority considered ready for examination;

·  The Board discussed the Government’s recent announcement regarding proposed changes to the process by which the development of brownfield sites was permitted and the potential impact that such changes may have upon Leeds;

·  Alongside the Site Allocations Plan, it was suggested that consideration be given to the ways in which the Council could further encourage smaller developments which were located within local communities.

In noting that there were currently planning consents for 17,000 housing units across the city which remained undeveloped, Members highlighted the need for private developers to be required to not only declare those sites where they have obtained planning permission to build, but to also declare those sites where they do not have planning permission, but have an ‘option agreement’ in place. Further to this, it was proposed that such matters and concerns, together with details of the actions being taken by the Council to increase development completion levels, be raised on a cross party basis, with both the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and also the Treasury.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That approval be given to the publication of the draft Site Allocations Plan and Aire Valley Leeds Area Action Plan, together with the sustainability appraisal reports and other relevant supporting documents for the purposes of public participation and to formally invite representations;

(b)  That the necessary authority be delegated to the Chief Planning Officer, in consultation with the Executive Member, to make any factual and other minor changes to the Publication Plans and supporting material, prior to public consultation;

(c)  That it be noted that the Publication Draft Plans will be referred to Scrutiny Board (City Development) in line with the Budget and Policy Framework following public consultation;

(d)  That the matters and concerns detailed above be raised on a cross party basis, on behalf of the Board, with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and also the Treasury.

(Under the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 16.5, Councillors A Carter and Golton required it to be recorded that they both abstained from voting on resolutions (a)-(c) above)

(In accordance with the Council’s Executive and Decision Making Procedure Rules, the matters referred to within this minute were not eligible for Call In as the power to Call In decisions does not extend to those decisions made in accordance with the Budget and Policy Framework Procedure Rules, which includes the resolutions above)