Agenda item

This Council recalls that all Opposition Groups on the Council opposed the administration’s 70,000 housing target, regarding it as unrealistic and unnecessary. Council believes that these fears are now being realised.

The ongoing issue of the city’s inflated housing target and the recent findings on 5 year land supply mean that many Leeds communities face the prospect of unsustainable and unwanted housing development. This Council therefore resolves to immediately implement a review of housing numbers, while continuing to move ahead with the Site Allocations Plan. The results of this review should be reported to Executive Board at the earliest opportunity.

Council further resolves to write to the Housing and Planning Minister calling for a suspension of the 5 year land supply requirement on Councils that are progressing quickly towards a Site Allocations Plan hearing.

In addition, while generally welcoming the National Planning Policy Framework, we are concerned that it gives developers too much control over housing delivery. This Council calls on the government to consider introducing penalties against developers who are found to be land banking, and for a report to be brought to Executive Board outlining what more can be done in Leeds to address this problem.

It was moved by Councillor Andrew Carter, seconded by Councillor J Procter that this Council recalls that all Opposition Groups on the Council opposed the administration’s 70,000 housing target, regarding it as unrealistic and unnecessary. Council believes that these fears are now being realised.

The ongoing issue of the city’s inflated housing target and the recent findings on 5 year land supply mean that many Leeds communities face the prospect of unsustainable and unwanted housing development. This Council therefore resolves to immediately implement a review of housing numbers, while continuing to move ahead with the Site Allocations Plan. The results of this review should be reported to Executive Board at the earliest opportunity.

Council further resolves to write to the Housing and Planning Minister calling for a suspension of the 5 year land supply requirement on Councils that are progressing quickly towards a Site Allocations Plan hearing.

In addition, while generally welcoming the National Planning Policy Framework, we are concerned that it gives developers too much control over housing delivery. This Council calls on the government to consider introducing penalties against developers who are found to be land banking, and for a report to be brought to Executive Board outlining what more can be done in Leeds to address this problem.

An amendment was moved by Councillor Leadley, seconded by Councillor Finnigan;

Delete the figures and words ’70,000 housing target’ and insert the words and figures ‘housing targets of 74,000 gross, 70,000 net of demolitions’ in their place.

A second amendment was moved by Councillor Campbell, seconded by Councillor Downes

In paragraph four, following “land banking”, to insert the words “or who fail to fully implement their planning permissions”

A third amendment was moved by Councillor B Anderson, seconded by Councillor G Latty

Replace paragraph 1 with:

“This Council believes that the 70,000 housing target in the core strategy is unrealistic and unnecessary particularly in light of further population projections from the Office of National Statistics.”

Motion will read:

This Council believes that the 70,000 housing target in the core strategy is unrealistic and unnecessary particularly in light of further population projections from the Office of National Statistics.

The ongoing issue of the city’s inflated housing target and the recent findings on 5 year land supply mean that many Leeds communities face the prospect of unsustainable and unwanted housing development. This Council therefore resolves to immediately implement a review of housing numbers, while continuing to move ahead with the Site Allocations Plan. The results of this review should be reported to Executive Board at the earliest opportunity.

Council further resolves to write to the Housing and Planning Minister calling for a suspension of the 5 year land supply requirement on Councils that are progressing quickly towards a Site Allocations Plan hearing.

In addition, while generally welcoming the National Planning Policy Framework, we are concerned that it gives developers too much control over housing delivery. This Council calls on the government to consider introducing penalties against developers who are found to be land banking, and for a report to be brought to Executive Board outlining what more can be done in Leeds to address this problem.

A fourth amendment was moved by Councillor R Lewis, seconded by Councillor Walshaw.

Delete all after “This Council” and replace with:

“notes that the Secretary of State, a Conservative MP, has overturned local decisions on planning applications in Leeds based on a supposed lack of a 5 year housing land supply. Council believes that decisions like this primarily benefit developers at the cost of local communities.

Council further notes that the Labour administration has a longstanding commitment to selectively review the Core Strategy, including the housing target. Council welcomes the work that is underway to review the government inspector approved target of 70,000 homes in the light of recent evidence and wishes to see this concluded swiftly, whilst continuing to move ahead with the Site Allocations Plan. The results of this review should be reported to Executive Board at the earliest opportunity.

Council notes the Planning Green Paper published in 2010 states that “these radical reforms aim to:

·  Restore democratic and local control over the planning system;

·  Rebalance the system in favour of sustainable development;

·  Produce a simpler, quicker, cheaper and less bureaucratic planning system.

Council laments that in 6 years of Conservative government that this has clearly not been achieved.

Council believes the National Planning Policy Framework needs fundamental change to ensure communities voices can be heard clearly. In particular, Council believes that the practical operation of the 5 year housing land supply undercuts local, democratic decision making and makes a mockery of a plan-led process. In addition, Council notes that inconsistent decisions have been made on the 5 year land supply from government appointed inspectors, with Leeds communities finding themselves at the mercy of housing developers.

Council calls for an overhaul of the planning framework that puts powers truly in the hands of local authorities to reflect local needs and vision, encourages sustainable development and seeks to remove the perverse incentives of holding deliverable land and limiting development on sites in order to increase profits.

In light of the current uncertainty, Council therefore requests that group leaders collectively write to the Housing and Planning Minister to highlight these concerns and, at the very least, call for a suspension of the 5 year land supply requirement on Councils that are progressing quickly towards a Site Allocations Plan hearing.  Council also calls on the government to consider introducing penalties against developers who are found to be land banking, and for a report to be brought to Executive board outlining what more can be done in Leeds to address this problem.”

The full motion will then read:

“This Council notes that the Secretary of State, a Conservative MP, has overturned local decisions on planning applications in Leeds based on a supposed lack of a 5 year housing land supply. Council believes that decisions like this primarily benefit developers at the cost of local communities.

Council further notes that the Labour administration has a longstanding commitment to selectively review the Core Strategy, including the housing target. Council welcomes the work that is underway to review the government inspector approved target of 70,000 homes in the light of recent evidence and wishes to see this concluded swiftly, whilst continuing to move ahead with the Site Allocations Plan. The results of this review should be reported to Executive Board at the earliest opportunity.

Council notes the Planning Green Paper published in 2010 states that “these radical reforms aim to:

·  Restore democratic and local control over the planning system;

·  Rebalance the system in favour of sustainable development;

·  Produce a simpler, quicker, cheaper and less bureaucratic planning system.

Council laments that in 6 years of Conservative government that this has clearly not been achieved.

Council believes the National Planning Policy Framework needs fundamental change to ensure communities voices can be heard clearly. In particular, Council believes that the practical operation of the 5 year housing land supply undercuts local, democratic decision making and makes a mockery of a plan-led process. In addition, Council notes that inconsistent decisions have been made on the 5 year land supply from government appointed inspectors, with Leeds communities finding themselves at the mercy of housing developers.

Council calls for an overhaul of the planning framework that puts powers truly in the hands of local authorities to reflect local needs and vision, encourages sustainable development and seeks to remove the perverse incentives of holding deliverable land and limiting development on sites in order to increase profits.

In light of the current uncertainty, Council therefore requests that group leaders collectively write to the Housing and Planning Minister to highlight these concerns and, at the very least, call for a suspension of the 5 year land supply requirement on Councils that are progressing quickly towards a Site Allocations Plan hearing.  Council also calls on the government to consider introducing penalties against developers who are found to be land banking, and for a report to be brought to Executive board outlining what more can be done in Leeds to address this problem.”

The amendments in the name of Councillors Leadley, Campbell and B Anderson were declared lost.

The amendment in the name of Councillor R Lewis was carried and upon being put to the vote it was

RESOLVED – That this Council notes that the Secretary of State, a Conservative MP, has overturned local decisions on planning applications in Leeds based on a supposed lack of a 5 year housing land supply. Council believes that decisions like this primarily benefit developers at the cost of local communities.

Council further notes that the Labour administration has a longstanding commitment to selectively review the Core Strategy, including the housing target. Council welcomes the work that is underway to review the government inspector approved target of 70,000 homes in the light of recent evidence and wishes to see this concluded swiftly, whilst continuing to move ahead with the Site Allocations Plan. The results of this review should be reported to Executive Board at the earliest opportunity.

Council notes the Planning Green Paper published in 2010 states that “these radical reforms aim to:

·  Restore democratic and local control over the planning system;

·  Rebalance the system in favour of sustainable development;

·  Produce a simpler, quicker, cheaper and less bureaucratic planning system.

Council laments that in 6 years of Conservative government that this has clearly not been achieved.

Council believes the National Planning Policy Framework needs fundamental change to ensure communities voices can be heard clearly. In particular, Council believes that the practical operation of the 5 year housing land supply undercuts local, democratic decision making and makes a mockery of a plan-led process. In addition, Council notes that inconsistent decisions have been made on the 5 year land supply from government appointed inspectors, with Leeds communities finding themselves at the mercy of housing developers.

Council calls for an overhaul of the planning framework that puts powers truly in the hands of local authorities to reflect local needs and vision, encourages sustainable development and seeks to remove the perverse incentives of holding deliverable land and limiting development on sites in order to increase profits.

In light of the current uncertainty, Council therefore requests that group leaders collectively write to the Housing and Planning Minister to highlight these concerns and, at the very least, call for a suspension of the 5 year land supply requirement on Councils that are progressing quickly towards a Site Allocations Plan hearing.  Council also calls on the government to consider introducing penalties against developers who are found to be land banking, and for a report to be brought to Executive board outlining what more can be done in Leeds to address this problem.”

On the requisition of Councillors Finnigan and G Latty the voting on the amendment in the name of Councillor Leadley was recorded as follows; 

YES – 34

B Anderson, C Anderson, S Bentley, A Blackburn, D Blackburn, Buckley, Campbell, Andrew Carter, Amanda Carter, Chapman, Cleasby, Cohen, Collins, Downes, Elliott, Finnigan, Flynn, Gettings, Golton, Harrand, Lamb, G Latty, P Latty, Lay, Leadley, J Procter, R Procter, Robinson, Stephenson, Varley, Wadsworth, Wilford, Wilkinson and Wood

NO – 60

Akhtar, Arif, Blake, Bruce, Charlwood, Congreve, Coulson, Coupar, Davey , Dawson, C Dobson, M Dobson, Dowson, Dunn, Field, Gabriel, Garthwaite, P Grahame, R Grahame, C Gruen,  P Gruen, Groves, Hamilton, Harland, Hayden, Heselwood, A Hussain, G Hussain, Hyde, Illingworth, Iqbal, Jarosz, J Lewis, R Lewis, Lowe, Lyons, Macniven, Maqsood, J McKenna, S McKenna, Mulherin, Nagle, Nash, Ogilvie, Pryor, Rafique, Ragan, Renshaw, Ritchie, Selby, Smart, Sobel, E Taylor, Towler, Truswell, Tunnicliffe, Walker, Walshaw, Wakefield , and Yeadon. 

ABSTAIN - 0

On the requisition of Councillors Campbell and Cleasby the voting on the amendment in the name of Councillor Campbell was recorded as follows; 

YES – 34

B Anderson, C Anderson, S Bentley, A Blackburn, D Blackburn, Buckley, Campbell, Andrew Carter, Amanda Carter, Chapman, Cleasby, Cohen, Collins, Downes, Elliott, Finnigan, Flynn, Gettings, Golton, Harrand, Lamb, G Latty, P Latty, Lay, Leadley, J Procter, R Procter, Robinson, Stephenson, Varley, Wadsworth, Wilford, Wilkinson and Wood

NO – 60

Akhtar, Arif, Blake, Bruce, Charlwood, Congreve, Coulson, Coupar, Davey , Dawson, C Dobson, M Dobson, Dowson, Dunn, Field, Gabriel, Garthwaite, P Grahame, R Grahame, C Gruen,  P Gruen, Groves, Hamilton, Harland, Hayden, Heselwood, A Hussain, G Hussain, Hyde, Illingworth, Iqbal, Jarosz, J Lewis, R Lewis, Lowe, Lyons, Macniven, Maqsood, J McKenna, S McKenna, Mulherin, Nagle, Nash, Ogilvie, Pryor, Rafique, Ragan, Renshaw, Ritchie, Selby, Smart, Sobel, E Taylor, Towler, Truswell, Tunnicliffe, Walker, Walshaw, Wakefield , and Yeadon. 

ABSTAIN - 0

On the requisition of Councillors Lamb and G Latty the voting on the amendment in the name of Councillor B Anderson was recorded as follows; 

YES – 34

B Anderson, C Anderson, S Bentley, A Blackburn, D Blackburn, Buckley, Campbell, Andrew Carter, Amanda Carter, Chapman, Cleasby, Cohen, Collins, Downes, Elliott, Finnigan, Flynn, Gettings, Golton, Harrand, Lamb, G Latty, P Latty, Lay, Leadley, J Procter, R Procter, Robinson, Stephenson, Varley, Wadsworth, Wilford, Wilkinson and Wood

NO – 60

Akhtar, Arif, Blake, Bruce, Charlwood, Congreve, Coulson, Coupar, Davey , Dawson, C Dobson, M Dobson, Dowson, Dunn, Field, Gabriel, Garthwaite, P Grahame, R Grahame, C Gruen,  P Gruen, Groves, Hamilton, Harland, Hayden, Heselwood, A Hussain, G Hussain, Hyde, Illingworth, Iqbal, Jarosz, J Lewis, R Lewis, Lowe, Lyons, Macniven, Maqsood, J McKenna, S McKenna, Mulherin, Nagle, Nash, Ogilvie, Pryor, Rafique, Ragan, Renshaw, Ritchie, Selby, Smart, Sobel, E Taylor, Towler, Truswell, Tunnicliffe, Walker, Walshaw, Wakefield , and Yeadon. 

ABSTAIN - 0

On the requisition of Councillors J Procter and G Latty the voting on the amendment in the name of Councillor R Lewis was recorded as follows; 

YES – 60

Akhtar, Arif, Blake, Bruce, Charlwood, Congreve, Coulson, Coupar, Davey , Dawson, C Dobson, M Dobson, Dowson, Dunn, Field, Gabriel, Garthwaite, P Grahame, R Grahame, C Gruen,  P Gruen, Groves, Hamilton, Harland, Hayden, Heselwood, A Hussain, G Hussain, Hyde, Illingworth, Iqbal, Jarosz, J Lewis, R Lewis, Lowe, Lyons, Macniven, Maqsood, J McKenna, S McKenna, Mulherin, Nagle, Nash, Ogilvie, Pryor, Rafique, Ragan, Renshaw, Ritchie, Selby, Smart, Sobel, E Taylor, Towler, Truswell, Tunnicliffe, Walker, Walshaw, Wakefield , and Yeadon. 

NO – 30

B Anderson, C Anderson, S Bentley, A Blackburn, D Blackburn, Buckley, Campbell, Andrew Carter, Amanda Carter, Chapman, Cleasby, Cohen, Collins, Downes, Flynn, , Golton, Harrand, Lamb, G Latty, P Latty, Lay, Leadley, J Procter, R Procter, Robinson, Stephenson, Wadsworth, Wilford, Wilkinson and Wood

ABSTAIN - 4

Elliott, Finnigan, Gettings and Varley.