Agenda and minutes

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

To identify items which have been admitted to the agenda by the Chair for consideration.

(The special circumstance shall be specified in the minutes).

In accordance with his powers under Section 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972, the Chair agreed to accept the following late information, which was not available at the time of agenda despatch:

-  Leeds Site Allocations Development Plan Document – Proforma for site assessment prior to issues and options stage (Minute No. 12 refers)

-  Response from the Environment Agency in relation to the Core Strategy, paragraph 5.5.51 and policy EN5. (Minute No. 27 refers)

To disclose or draw attention to any disclosable pecuniary interests for the purposes of Section 31 of the Localism Act 2011 and paragraphs 13-18 of the Members’ Code of Conduct.  Also to declare any other significant interests which the Member wishes to declare in the public interest, in accordance with paragraphs 19-20 of the Members’ Code of Conduct.

There were no disclosable pecuniary interests made at the meeting, however, a significant interest was declared by Councillor Taggart in relation to agenda item 10, LDF Core Strategy – Publication Draft, Analysis of Consultation Responses: Urban Design, Conservation, Landscape and Managing Environmental Resources, in his capacity as Chair of West Yorkshire Joint Services Committee (Minute No. 27 refers).

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were submitted by Councillors Harington and Mitchell.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the Development Plan Panel meeting held on 2^nd July 2012.

The following amendments were raised at the meeting:

-  Inclusion of Councillor Gruen’s apologies for absence

-  The site assessment proforma be amended to not refer only to grade 1 agricultural land, of which there is very little in Leeds, but all agricultural land use classifications.

RESOLVED – That subject to the above amendments, the minutes of the meeting held on 2^nd July 2012 be approved as a correct record.

Members were advised that a request had been made for the latest interim affordability limits.  It was agreed to forward this information to Members in due course.

Members briefly discussed the impact of the scrutiny inquiry report in relation to affordable housing and the role of Members in supporting this area of work.

To receive and consider a report from the Director of City Development outlining the consultation responses in relation to Policy H7, Accommodation for Gypsies Travellers and Travelling Show People.

The Director of City Development submitted a report which outlined the consultation responses in relation to Policy H7, Accommodation for Gypsies Travellers and Travelling Show People.

A copy of proposed changes to the Core Strategy was appended to the report.

The following officers attended the meeting and responded to Members’ questions and comments:

-  David Feeney, Head of Forward Planning and Implementation

-  Steve Speak, Deputy Chief Planning Officer

-  Lois Pickering, Team Leader (Local Plans West).

The key points of discussion were:

• Acknowledgement of the different requirements of travellers and travelling show people.
• The benefits of producing a checklist so that travellers could identify their own sites.

RESOLVED – That the Development Plan Panel endorses the analysis of the issues raised and suggested Core Strategy text changes, subject to amendments, for presentation to Executive Board for approval.

To receive and consider a report from the Director of City Development setting out further changes to Policy H6 suggested by Councillor Walshaw for consideration by Development Plan Panel.

The Director of City Development submitted a report which set out further changes to Policy H6 suggested by Councillor Walshaw for consideration by Development Plan Panel.

A copy of proposed changes to the Core Strategy was appended to the report.

The following officers attended the meeting and responded to Members’ questions and comments:

-  David Feeney, Head of Forward Planning and Implementation

-  Steve Speak, Deputy Chief Planning Officer

-  Gareth Read, Senior Planner.

The key areas of discussion were:

• Concern about grouping together 3 distinct areas, HMOs, student accommodation and flat conversions.
• Concern about the surplus of student accommodation.  It was suggested that scope for adjustments be included as part of the review process.
• The impact of the reduction in student numbers.
• Concern about the number of empty properties.
• The need for clarification of ‘appropriately located off and on street parking’.

RESOLVED – That the Development Plan Panel endorses the analysis of the issues raised and suggested Core Strategy text changes, subject to amendments, for presentation to Executive Board for approval.

To receive and consider a report from the Director of City Development outlining the consultation responses in relation to affordable housing.

The Director of City Development submitted a report which outlined the consultation responses in relation to Policies SP8, SP9, EC1- EC3, Employment.

A copy of proposed changes to the Core Strategy was appended to the report.

The following officers attended the meeting and responded to Members’ questions and comments:

-  David Feeney, Head of Forward Planning and Implementation

-  Steve Speak, Deputy Chief Planning Officer

-  Ann Stewart, Senior Planner.

The main areas of discussion were:

• Confirmation of the need to avoid reference to specific venues in ensuring that the policy did not favour named sites even before planning permission for enabling development had been sought.
• Clarification sought regarding the requirement for offices expressed as floorspace, the margin of space equalling 8,611 square metres of floorspace per annum.  Members were advised that the figure was derived from the Employment Land Review.  It was agreed to provide Members with a breakdown of the calculation.
• That reference be made to altering Policy EC3 following a representation submitted by Councillor Leadley.
• Minor typographical alterations suggested in relation to paragraphs 4.7.3 and 4.7.5
• Development of apprenticeships through city working and ensuring developers made provision for this as part of planning conditions.
• Concern about conversion of existing buildings in cases where the building was unsuitable for conversion.  It was suggested that a further review of the NPFF may be required.

RESOLVED – That the Development Plan Panel endorses the analysis of the issues raised and suggested Core Strategy text changes for presentation to Executive Board for approval.

To receive and consider a report from the Director of City Development outlining the consultation responses in relation to Urban Design, Conservation, Landscape and Policies contained within the Managing Environmental Resources theme.

The Director of City Development submitted a report which outlined the consultation responses in relation to Urban Design, Conservation, Landscape and Policies contained within the Managing Environmental Resources theme.

A copy of proposed changes to the Core Strategy was appended to the report.

The following officers attended the meeting and responded to Members’ questions and comments:

-  David Feeney, Head of Forward Planning and Implementation

-  Steve Speak, Deputy Chief Planning Officer

-  Lois Pickering, Team Leader (Local Plans West)

-  Jenny Fisher, Principal Design Officer

-  George Munson, Energy and Climate Change Manager.

The main points of discussion were:

• Amendments to Policy GX – Cemeteries and Burial Space, as follows:

-  Removal of the word ‘easy’ in the first bullet point to read ‘access by public transport, walking and cycling’

-  Removal of the word ‘local’ in the third bullet point to read ‘the scale is appropriate to identified need’.

• Concerns about the challenges in meeting the requirements of Policy GX, particularly in terms of the frequency of public transport to and from cemeteries.
• In relation to Policy EN1: Climate Change – Carbon Dioxide Reduction, clarification was sought about the rationale of 10 dwellings or more.  Members requested justification of the number of dwellings, particularly in terms of ensuring consistency.
• Amendment to Spatial Policy 13: Strategic Green Infrastructure, as follows:

-  (iv) The Wharfe Valley and Chevin Ridge.

• Amendment to Climate Change, paragraph, 5.5.33, last sentence, as follows:

-  ‘Therefore, the policy imperative is to constrain emissions from all development as soon as possible’.

• Para. 5.5.37, should make cross reference to the policy areas covered in the ‘Building Tomorrow for Today: Sustainable Design and Construction Supplementary Planning Document.
• Acknowledgement that clarification was required in relation to the additional text inserted under hydro power, paragraph 5.5.41.

RESOLVED – That the Development Plan Panel endorses the analysis of the issues raised and suggested Core Strategy text changes, subject to amendments, for presentation to Executive Board for approval.

To receive and consider a report from the Director of City Development outlining the consultation responses in relation to the Implementation and Delivery chapter.

The Director of City Development submitted a report which outlined the consultation responses in relation to the Implementation and Delivery chapter.

A copy of proposed changes to the Core Strategy was appended to the report.

The following officers attended the meeting:

-  David Feeney, Head of Forward Planning and Implementation

-  Steve Speak, Deputy Chief Planning Officer

-  Lora Hughes, Principal Planner

RESOLVED – That the Development Plan Panel endorses the analysis of the issues raised and suggested Core Strategy text changes for presentation to Executive Board for approval.

Tuesday, 11^th September 2012 at 1.30pm.

Tuesday, 11^th September 2012 at 1.30pm.

Tuesday, 25^th September, 2012 pm (to be confirmed) – workshop for Development Plans Panel Members and Chairs of Plans Panels on the Site Allocations DPD and process of site assessment.

Members agreed to re-arrange the meeting date scheduled to take place on Wednesday, 2^nd January 2012.  Confirmation of the re-arranged meeting date to be agreed at a later date. 

(The meeting concluded at 3.30pm.)