Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the first “remote meeting” of the Development Plan Panel.

The Chair explained that internet connectivity may be an issue for some participants and suggested it may be appropriate to appoint a Deputy Chair who could assume the Chair should the Chair loose connectivity.

The Chair proposed that Councillor Kevin Ritchie be nominated as the Deputy Chair, the proposal was seconded, upon been put to the vote the motion was passed.

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.

There were no exempt items.

There were no formal late items. However, supplementary information had been circulated prior to the meeting in relation to agenda item 7 – Local Plan Update.

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

There were no declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors An Carter and R Finnigan.

To approve the minutes of the last meeting held on 21^st January 2020 as a correct record.

RESOLVED- That the minutes of the Development Plan Panel meeting held on 21 January 2020 be approved as an accurate record.

Matters Arising

A Member queried the position on the Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) – public consultation. The Head of Strategic Planning informed the Panel, one round of formal consultation with members of the public and a steering group involving local representatives had been undertaken. It was confirmed there had been a delay for the next round of consultation due to the Pandemic. A progress update would be provided at the next Panel meeting.

To consider the report of the Chief Planning Officer which provides an update on four key issues: the Legal Challenge to the Site Allocations Plan; the Site Allocations Plan Review; the Local Plan Review and the Local Plan Update. The report also provides the latest information on the legal challenge and uses the review of extant Local Plan policies to begin the process of updating the Local Plan and sets an initial broad scope of that update, alongside a timetable for preparation and consultation.

The Panel considered a report of the Chief Planning Officer that provided an update on four key issues: the Legal Challenge to the Site Allocations Plan; the Site Allocations Plan Review; the Local Plan Review and the Local Plan Update. The report provided context on the latest information on the legal challenge and used the review of extant Local Plan policies to begin the process of updating the Local Plan and set out an initial broad scope of that update, alongside a timetable for preparation and consultation.

A summary table of the Leeds Local Plan review 2020, had been appended to the submitted report.

The Head of Strategic Planning informed the Panel on the position of the Legal Challenge to the Site Allocations Plan. The case focused on the release of Green Belt land within the Aireborough Housing Market Characteristic Area for housing within the Site Allocations Plan, and the Judgement had been handed down in June 2020. The Judge had supported three of the seven grounds submitted (which involved errors with the independent Inspectors’ Report, not the Council’s submission), and on that basis the claim was allowed and the Judge had sought suggested relief on the three grounds. The Panel heard that the relief submissions had been received by the Judge, and that to date the Judgment had yet to be handed down.

Additionally, the implications the legal challenge had on the Site Allocations Plan created impacts upon the scope and future timescale of the Site Allocation Plan Review. There was still a need to review additional housing allocations and safeguarded land designations to deliver the adopted housing requirement post 2023, as set out in SAP policy HGR1.

In response to Members comments on the update, the following had been discussed:

·  Greenbelt sites implicated with the challenge. All submitted planning applications would be progressed and appropriate weight would be attached to policies until such a time as Relief was granted.

·  Downward housing trajectory (CSSR). The reference in the report was specific to the downward trajectory of the housing target and reduction from 70k homes to 52k set in 2019. It was confirmed that the Judgement did not raise any immediate implications over the distribution of housing.

·  Shortfall in housing and allocation. A Member raised concern regarding the allocation of housing through HMCAs, particularly the implications on the inner city areas and climate change, in terms of meeting housing requirements.

·  Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) Review. The Panel heard that the SHLAA provided an opportunity to receive up to date information on sites being brought forward, and any information (including contaminated land) provided on behalf of housebuilders, would be checked by the Council.

The Group Manager (Policy and Plans) provided an update on the Local Plan Update. Town and Country Planning Act Regulations and paragraph 33 of the NPPF require a review of Local Plan Policies every 5 years; following that review, it was considered that a number of policies across the Local Plan would benefit from being updated.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

To note the date and time of the next meeting is proposed as Tuesday 8^th September 2020 at 1.30 pm.

RESOLVED – To note the date and time of the next meeting as 8 September 2020 at 1.30 p.m.

The meeting ended at 12:55