Agenda item

Report of Head of Strategic Planning and the Economy

Summary

To seek approval of the Local Development Framework’s Annual Monitoring Report (AMR) for submission to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, and to present the district’s current housing land supply position.

Recommendations

The Executive is recommended to:

(1)               Approve the Annual Monitoring Report for submission to the Secretary of State and authorise the Head of Strategic Planning and the Economy, in consultation with the Lead Member for Planning, to make any necessary minor amendments prior to submisison.

(2)               Note the district’s housing delivery position.

(1)               Authorise the preparation of a more detailed land supply update for approval by the Executive in February 2012.

Recommendations approved

The Head of Strategic Planning and the Economy submitted a report which sought approval of the Local Development Framework’s Annual Monitoring Report (AMR) for submission to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, and to present the district’s current housing land supply position.

In introducing the report, the Lead Member for Planning explained that the Local Development Framework’s Annual Monitoring Report (AMR) presented information on development that had taken place or was permitted over the period from 1 April 2010 to 31 March 2011, provided a comprehensive review of housing land supply and reported on progress against the Local Development Framework. The Council was required to submit the AMR to the Secretary of State by 31 December 2011.

In terms of housing supply, the Lead Member for Planning reported that Planning Policy Statement (PPS) 3 required Local Planning Authorities to maintain a five year rolling supply of deliverable sites and states that where this cannot be demonstrated they should consider planning applications favourably having regard to other policies and considerations in the PPS. The draft National Planning Policy Framework would retain this requirement of a five year rolling supply plus an additional 20% above that level. The Council currently had a supply of 2.8 years for 2011-2016 and 2.9 years for 2012- 2017. Members were advised that a detailed report on housing land supply would be submitted to Executive for consideration in February 2012. The Council was currently on target to bring the Core Strategy to Executive for consideration in April 2012. Should this be approved, it would then be subject to public consultation prior to submission to the Government Inspector in July 2012.

Members raised concerns that there was too much emphasis on housing land supply and the hard work Members and officers had undertaken on the Local Development Framework was not taken into consideration. In the course of the discussion, Members commented that sustainability should take precedence over housing supply figures, particularly in the current economic climate. Members also commented on the application of the Planning Obligations Supplementary Planning Document and its impact on small schemes and the Lead Member for Planning agreed to discuss its use as a tool for negotiation further with the relevant officers.

Resolved

(1)               That the Annual Monitoring Report be approved for submission to the Secretary of State and that authority be delegated to the Head of Strategic Planning and the Economy, in consultation with the Lead Member for Planning, to make any necessary minor amendments prior to submission.

(2)               That the district’s housing delivery position be noted.

(3)               That the preparation of a more detailed land supply update showing details at a sub-district level for approval by the Executive in February 2012 be authorised.

Reasons

The Annual Monitoring Report provides important information to assist policy making and development control decision making and is a statutory mechanism for monitoring housing delivery.  Its most significant conclusion is that the district cannot report a 5 year housing land supply position.  Changes to the plan making process and to national planning policy are also expected and the Local Development Scheme (programme) will be revised once the full implications of these changes are clear.

Options

(Martin Henry joined the meeting during the discussion on this item. Councillor Macnamara left the meeting at the end of this item.)