Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed all in attendance to the March meeting of Development Plan Panel.

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.

There were no declarations of interest at this stage, however a declaration was made at a later point in the meeting.  (Minute No. 38 refers)

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were submitted by Councillors Hamilton and Mitchell.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the Development Plan Panel meeting held on 6^th December 2011.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 6^th December 2012 be approved as a correct record.

To receive and consider a report from the Director of City Development requesting Development Plan Panel’s consideration and agreement to the proposed scope of Leeds Site Allocations DPD.

The Director of City Development submitted a report which requested the Development Plan Panel’s consideration and agreement to the proposed scope of Leeds Site Allocations Development Plan Document (DPD).

Appended to the report was a copy of the initial draft timetable for Leeds Site Allocations DPD.

The Chair welcomed the following officers to present the report and respond to Members’ questions and comments:

-  David Feeney, Head of Forward Planning and Implementation

-  Lois Pickering, Team Leader – Local Plans West.

The key areas of discussion were:

• Concern about the process undertaken under 3.2 to the report which stated that the Council was asking known operators and agents if they wished to suggest any sites for retail use (a ‘call for sites’) in a similar way to that established for the Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA).  It was agreed that clarification was required on the Council’s website to emphasise that responses were also being sought from members of the public.  There should also be appropriate cross referencing, e.g. DPD and SHLAA, etc.
• Development of housing within S2 centres and boundaries, particularly issues around car parking.
• Confirmation that Core Strategy Policy SP10 will inform the assessment of sites, including an assessment against the 5 purposes of greenbelt.
• Acknowledgement that some communities engaged more effectively than others in developing neighbourhood plans.  Members discussed the role of Community Planners working at a local level, particularly in areas that weren’t supported by Town or Parish Councils.
• Update on the National Planning Policy Framework (NPFF).  It was anticipated that the NPFF would be finalised at the end of March 2012.
• Acknowledgement of the need to provide adequate transport links in accommodating housing growth.
• Promoting the expansion of local employment.
• Safeguarding existing employment land through Core Strategy Policy EC3 and application of an evidence based approach.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the contents of the report and appendices be noted

(b)  That the scope of the Development Plan Document (DPD), as outlined in the report, be approved.

(Councillor Anderson joined the meeting at 1.42pm during the consideration of this item.)

(Councillor Nash declared a personal interest in this item in her capacity as a Member of The Co-operative Group – Leeds and Wakefield Group.)

(Councillor Fox withdrew from the meeting at 3.04pm during the consideration of this item.)

To note that the next meeting will take place on Tuesday, 3^rd April 2012 at 1.30pm in the Civic Hall, Leeds.

To note that the next meeting will take place on Tuesday, 3^rd April 2012 at 1.30pm in the Civic Hall, Leeds.

(The meeting concluded at 3.10pm.)