Agenda and minutes

Venue: Civic Hall, Leeds, LS1 1UR

Contact: Natasha Prosser 0113 3788021 

Items
No. Item

Prior to the formal business meeting, the Panel were provided with some guidance in relation to the pre-election Purdah ‘sensitivity period’, and were advised to avoid making speeches perceived for electoral advantage – this guidance was respectively noted.

 

29.

Appeals Against Refusal of Inspection of Documents

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)

Minutes:

There were no appeals against refusal.

 

30.

Exempt Information - Possible Exclusion of the Press and Public

1  To highlight reports or appendices which officers have identified as containing exempt information, and where officers consider that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information, for the reasons outlined in the report.

 

2  To consider whether or not to accept the officers recommendation in respect of the above information.

 

3  If so, to formally pass the following resolution:-

 

  RESOLVED – That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following parts of the agenda designated as containing exempt information on the grounds that it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the press and public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information, as follows:

Minutes:

There were no exempt items.

 

31.

Late Items

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

 

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

Minutes:

There were no late items.

 

32.

Declaration of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests

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

Minutes:

There were no declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests.

 

 

33.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

Apologies for absence hadn’t been received.

 

 

34.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 341 KB

To agree the minutes of the meeting held 15th October 2019.

 

Minutes:

RESOLVED- That the minutes of the Development Plan Panel meeting held on 15th October 2019, be approved as an accurate record.

 

35.

Matters Arising

Minutes:

Minute 25 Core Strategy Selective Review –

A Member queried whether a challenge had been made to the High Court, and in responding, officers confirmed there hadn’t been one.

 

Minute 26 Site Allocations Plan (SAP) Review –

The Head of Strategic Planning provided Members with an update on the position of the Aireborough Neighbourhood Development Forum Challenge to the SAP. Members were informed that the court had requested an oral hearing, and officers confirmed that the Council would seek to expedite the process as the Council is currently being prejudiced by the claim.

     

36.

Climate Emergency and Planning pdf icon PDF 252 KB

The report of the Chief Planning Officer provides Members with an update on the developing work programme for the Planning, Energy and Buildings Working Group which advises the Climate Emergency Advisory Committee (CEAC) and how this has key links with the work programme of DPP. The report provides background on the current national and local policy framework, largely provided by the Leeds Local Plan and sets out the work programme for how planning can help achieve the Council’s ambitious targets by 2030.

 

(Report attached)

 

 

Minutes:

The report of the Chief Planning Officer provided the Panel with an update on the developing work programme for the Planning, Energy and Buildings Working Group, which advises the Climate Emergency Advisory Committee (CEAC), and how this links with the work programme of Development Plan Panel (DPP).

 

The Head of Strategic Planning presented the report, and explained that the report outlined the positive policy framework included in the Council’s current Local Plan, including use of brownfield land and a focus of development on the main urban area which reduced the distance people had to travel to work. The Panel were informed that the initial focus of the Planning, Emergency, and Building Working Group (PEBWG) is summarised in 5 objectives outlined in the report and including a Local Plan Review in due course to look at stronger climate change policies.

 

In responding to the objectives outlined in the submitted report, Members discussed the following:

 

Good practice for developers. Members raised Concern around the difficulty on changing the mind-set of those ‘bad practice’ developers in relation to environmental improvements. The Panel referred to the list of ‘good practice developers’ and the Chair highlighted that this would be particularly useful for lobbying purposes and providing a good example.

 

Place-making. Members identified an opportunity for additional weight be afforded to the endorsement of grass verges, hedgerows and trees in new developments. It was further requested that development decisions reference the availability of local amenities, in order to support walking.

 

Developer checklist for climate change. A Member supported the positive use of the checklist contained within the existing Building for Tomorrow Today guidance, specifically at the pre application planning stage. In addition to this, officers added that this checklist was in already place; sharpening the existing tools for better master planning, and seeking quality through development.

 

Tree planting. A Member requested additional information onIdentifying appropriate locations for tree planting. Members were informed that as part of the work being undertaken, officers will be looking at biodiversity net gains and identifying specific sites for offsetting purposes. The Chief Planning Officer explained that DEFRA will be running a consultation which sets out requirements around tree planting locations; a further training session on trees would be held for Members and an update on that particular matter would be provided.

 

Additionally, a Member sought further clarity on the review of the Biodiversity Action Plan and whether a Woodland and Forestry Strategy would be written. In responding, officers agreed to provide this information at a later date, and would report back to Members of the Panel.

 

Reviewing SPD’s. The Panel were informed that a number of SPD’s had already been removed following a review in 2019 and reported at the meeting on 16th April, and for future purposes it was intended to take stock of SPD’s to ensure they’re up to date.

 

Greenspace in densely developed areas. The Panel identified an opportunity to better enhance greenspace in alternative locations, and seek to encourage developers. Members heard that the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 36.

37.

Transport Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) pdf icon PDF 244 KB

The report of the Chief Planning Officer provides an update on the contents of the Transport SPD, and the Development Plan Panel are invited to provide comments, as part of the consultation period. The report highlights that the SPD review has taken place over a couple of years and it is essential to move this forward to give certainty to those implementing the policies. 

 

(Report attached)

 

Minutes:

The report of the Chief Planning Officer provided an update on the contents of the Transport SPD, and the Panel were invited to provide comments, as part of the consultation period.

 

The report highlights that the SPD review has taken place over a couple of years and it is essential to move this forward to give certainty to those implementing the policies; there are 4 related SPD’s adopted as part of the Leeds Development Plan (Public Transport Developer Contributions 2006, Street Design Guide 2009, Travel Plans 2015 and Parking 2016), and these are subject to review in order to streamline and combine all relating guidance into one SPD.

 

The Transport Development Services Manager presented the report, and provided the Panel with a short presentation, that highlighted the following key points and changes:

 

Climate Emergency SPD

·  Re-emphasised the design guidance in terms of tree planting

·  Removal of increase larger car parking standards for larger dwellings

·  Re-including garages as counting towards parking spaces

·  Re-introduced Sustainable Urban Drainage

 

Changes to existing SPD’s

·  To review all existing Transport SPD’s, and updating guidance to produce one streamlined Transport SPD

·  Amendments to the street layout advice

·  Stronger advice relating to linked street layouts

·  Advice on requirements for private streets

·  Ensuring maximum footway gradients

·  Updating of guidance on cycle infrastructure

·  Updating of residential parking

 

How the SPD seeks to help deliver carbon reduction

·  Ensuring development sites address this

·  Design for health and wellbeing

·  Assessing development against accessibility criteria

·  Promoting travel plans that seek the use of cars

·  Supporting highways tree planting and green streets

 

Consultation requirements

·  The initial consultation will specifically target developers and consultants 16th January – 17th February; with adoption of the SPD expected May 2020

 

Members considered the following matters during discussions:

 

Cycling and walking infrastructure. Members were informed that work had taken place with Public Health and Active Leeds, in putting together a walking strategy; the strategy would cover a wide remit in promoting walking and how this fed into planning. Additionally Members heard that policy CC1: City Centre Development, CC2: City Centre South and CC3: Improving Connectivity between the city centre and neighbouring communities, focused on improving connectivity, and the Transport SPD provided guidance on new buildings and linking accessibility. The Head of Strategic Planning suggested that a stronger reference be added to the Transport SPD, to better connect those policies referenced above, to strengthen the policies within the plan.

 

Residential Parking. A Member sought clarity regarding the dimensions of a garage. Officers reported that garages have an internal dimension of 3 by 6 metres and could also be used for cycle space. Furthermore, it was confirmed that the guidance now included the width of garage doors, 2.4 being the minimum.

 

Speeding. Members sought additional information on whether traffic calming measures would be designed into street layouts. Officers explained that the SPD required most streets to be 20mph, apart from those which are bus routes and they would be 30mph.

 

Shuttlebuses. Members questioned the effectiveness of this  ...  view the full minutes text for item 37.

38.

Implementation of Core Strategy Policy H4 - Housing Mix pdf icon PDF 293 KB

The report of the Chief Planning provides the Panel with an overview on the effectiveness of the Council’s housing mix policy and its implementation. The report highlights that the implementation note will provide more clarity on the interpretation and application of Policy H4, with the aim of achieving the housing mix need requirement across the city and provides up-to-date evidence in support of the policy itself. 

 

(Report attached)

 

Minutes:

The Panel considered the report of the Chief Planning Officer which provided an overview on the effectiveness of the Council’s housing mix policy and its implementation. The report detailed that the implementation note would provide clarity on the interpretation and application of Policy H4, with the aim of achieving the housing mix need requirement across the city and provides up-to-date evidence in support of the policy itself.

 

The Principal Planner and Senior Planner, presented the report and highlighted that developments are not providing the right mix of house types.  As part of the Core Strategy Selective Review (CSSR) process, the Council updated its Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA) evidence on this and that shows that the targets in the current policies supporting text remain broadly correct but developers are delivering to the upper end of the range for 4-bed houses which leaves very few 1 and 2 bed homes being built especially in the outer areas.  Additionally, the Planning Protocol launched in March 2019, setting out the roles and expectations regarding the need for policy compliant schemes.

 

Additionally, it was noted that the implementation of Policy H4 would be monitored through the annual Authority Monitoring Report (AMR) to ensure the objectives of the original policy are met.

 

General discussion covered the following topics:

 

Members agreed that a better mix should be provided. 

 

Provision of bungalows. Members discussed the variation of housing mix and types, and how this would be implemented to reflect local circumstances. Officers explained that this formed part of the arc4 process, through the SHMA, and that evidence would be provided as part of an addendum to the public and in addition to being linked to an implementation note. Further to this, officers provided further clarity by explaining that the 40% target asks for dwellings on site to be two bed and of that, a specific house type isn’t required, providing a better balance overall. Additionally, the guidance states there has be some regard to housing demand.

 

Reviewing target numbers. Members were informed that household projections are released every two years, and subject to the target numbers no longer fitting in the direction of the policy, this can then be reviewed and amended; the AMR looked at how the housing mix should be achieved, but it is up to the nature of the development as to what is required.

 

(Councillor J McKenna left the meeting at 15.30)

 

RESOLVED

a)  To note the contents of the report and the discussions throughout the meeting;

b)  To note that a policy implementation note will be provided on the Council’s webpage in due course.

 

39.

Date and Time of Next Meeting

To note the date and time of the next meeting as 17th December at 13:30.

 

Minutes:

RESOLVED  - To note the date and time of the next meeting as 17th December 2019 at 1.30pm.

 

(The meeting concluded at 15:35)