Agenda and minutes

To declare any personal / prejudicial interests for the purpose of Section 81(3) of the Local Government Act 2000 and paragraphs 8 to 12 of the Members’ Code of Conduct.

Councillor D Blackburn declared a personal interest in the item entitled, ‘Leeds Local Development Framework Core Strategy – “Towards Preferred Options”’ due to his position on the governing body of the West Leeds Country Park (Minute No. 15 refers).

To receive any apologies for absence from the meeting.

An apology for absence from the meeting was received from Councillor Ogilvie. 

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the Development Plan Panel meeting held on 2^nd September 2008.

RESOLVED-  That the minutes of the Development Plan Panel meeting held on 2^nd September 2008 be approved as a correct record, subject to a Minute No. 9 being revised to read as follows:-

‘The Local Development Scheme will need to be resubmitted by March 2009 if any changes are necessary to the overall Local Development Framework programme, as a result of Planning Policy Statement 12.’

Leeds Local Development Framework Core Strategy – “Towards Preferred Options” (Minute No. 9 refers)

The Panel received clarification regarding the consultation process for the ‘Preferred Options’ document, and noted that such a process was now scheduled to take place in early 2009.

To consider the report of the Director of City Development providing an update on the progress made in relation to Leeds’ Local Development Framework Core Strategy and to highlight the next steps in the process.

Further to Minute No. 9, 2^nd September 2008, the Director of City Development submitted a report which provided an update on several key work streams which were required to be undertaken as part of the process to develop Leeds’ Local Development Framework Core Strategy – ‘Towards Preferred Options’ document.

In considering the report, the Panel received information on, and discussed several of those key work streams which had been highlighted. The main points raised were as follows:-

 ‘Towards Preferred Options - Draft Structure’

• Members noted the structure of the ‘Towards Preferred Options’ document which included a series of chapter headings based around a number of core themes, with further sections on the ‘Delivery Plan’, ‘Implementation’, and also potentially on ‘Area Spatial Policies’;
• The need for the current draft structure to be refined and adjusted as further technical work was undertaken;

• Members discussed the timescales in place for the required consultation and approval processes regarding the ‘Towards Preferred Options’ document.

Green Infrastructure

Members noted the following:-

• The greater significance that the issue of Green Infrastructure had gained in the planning process over recent years;
• The distinctive nature of the Leeds district and the need for the Core Strategy to embrace this;
• The need for the issue of Green Infrastructure to be considered from both a local and from a wider, more strategic perspective, which would require a co-ordinated approach to be taken by the neighbouring authorities throughout the Leeds City Region.

Members discussed the following:-

• The Panel highlighted the importance of adequate public transport provision and the need for all public rights of way to be mapped in order to improve access to the network of green spaces across the district. The Panel also highlighted the role which could be played by local Parish and Town Councils and the Public Rights of Way Forum in providing information on those rights of way which were no longer accessible;
• Members underlined the need for a co-ordinated approach to be taken with neighbouring authorities in this field;
• The importance of voluntary sector involvement in any consultation processes;
• The need for issues and developments relating to Green Infrastructure to be considered more formally by Plans Panels;
• Emphasis was placed upon the need for new developments to be sustainable.

Scenario Quantification

·  The Panel noted that the 3 scenarios identified by the Issues and Alternative Options consultation process were, ‘The Compact City’, ‘Dispersed Development’ and ‘New Urban Neighbourhoods’, and that a process was now being undertaken to quantify such scenarios in terms of quantity of land required for employment and housing. Members were advised that the Employment Land Review had suggested that 390ha of land was required for non-office employment, with the quantity of housing required, as set by the Regional Spatial Strategy being 4300 dwellings (net) per annum.

Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA)

·  Members noted that the SHLAA was a technical exercise which was required to be undertaken to identify potential future land for housing development, that a “call for sites” had  ...  view the full minutes text for item 15.

To consider the report of the Director of City Development advising of the consultation process being undertaken as part of the partial review of the Regional Spatial Strategy which the Yorkshire and Humber Assembly are now leading on.

A report was submitted by the Director of City Development advising of a consultation process which was currently being undertaken as part of an early and partial review of the recently adopted Regional Spatial Strategy.

Copies of a draft version of a consultation document which was to be formally issued by the Yorkshire and Humber Assembly on 10^th November 2008 were tabled at the meeting for Members’ consideration.

In presenting the report, the Panel noted the following:

• The consultation document for the Regional Spatial Strategy was subdivided into six key sections with a range of questions relating to each section;
• That the period of public consultation on the document ran from 10^th November 2008 to 30^th January 2009;
• That a response to the consultation document would be compiled and submitted to the Panel for consideration prior to being subsequently submitted to Executive Board.

A question and answer session then ensued, and the main areas of debate were as follows:-

• Members discussed the extent to which the document would be consulted upon and highlighted the sub regional consultation event which was to be held in Leeds on 10^th December;
• The Panel discussed and questioned the targets relating to housing provision within the document, bearing in mind the current economic situation;
• Members highlighted issues relating to the presentation of the consultation document.

RESOLVED – That the contents of the report be noted.

(Councillor Anderson left the meeting at 3.40 p.m., during the consideration of this item)

1.30 p.m. on Tuesday, 2^nd December 2008 in the Civic Hall

Tuesday, 2^nd December 2008 at 1.30 p.m. in the Civic Hall, Leeds.