Agenda for Cabinet Planning and Parking Panel on Thursday 7th February 2019, 7.30 pm

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, Council Offices, The Campus, Welwyn Garden City, Herts, AL8 6AE

Contact: Gurdip Paddan 

Items
No. Item

119.

SUBSTITUTIONS

To note any substitution of Committee Members in accordance with Council Procedure Rules 19 – 22.

Minutes:

The following substitution of Panel Member had been made in accordance with Council Procedure rules 19-22:-

 

Councillor S. Markiewicz for S. Kasumu.

120.

APOLOGIES

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor S. Kasumu.

121.

MINUTES

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 10 January 2019 (previously circulated).

Minutes:

The Minutes of the meeting held on 10 January 2019 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

122.

DECLARATION OF INTERESTS BY MEMBERS

To note declarations of Members’ disclosable pecuniary interests, non-disclosable pecuniary interests and non-pecuniary interests in respect of items on this Agenda.

 

 

Minutes:

Councillors S. Boulton and P. Zukowskyj declared a non-pecuniary interest in items on the agenda as appropriate by virtue of being Members of Hertfordshire County Council.

 

123.

LOCAL PLAN - ANNUAL MONITORING REPORT pdf icon PDF 111 KB

Report of the Corporate Director (Public Protection, Planning and Protection) on the Annual Monitoring Report (AMR) which covers the period from 1st April 2017 to 31st March 2018. While the AMR may also refer to development and changes since the 31st March 2018, the 2018/19 AMR will report on these in more detail.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members considered the report of the Corporate Director (Public Protection, Planning and Governance) on the Local Plan – Annual Monitoring Report (AMR), which serves a number of objectives, including reporting upon the amount of development that has taken place in the Borough during the year, assessing whether this development meets targets across a number of indicators, as well as setting out expectations for future development in the Borough.  In addition, it also reports on progress against the Local Development Scheme, which sets out when and how the Council would produce new planning documents and policies and includes progress on the Council’s efforts under ‘duty to cooperate’ with other public authorities.

 

The 2017/18 AMR covered the period from 1 April 2017 to 31 March 2018.  While the AMR also referred to development and changes since the 31 March 2018, the 2018/19 AMR would report on these in more detail.

 

The report noted that the AMR was set out over nine chapters theme by topic.  The key conclusions from the AMR were summarised on pages four and five of the report.

 

The AMR presentation covered the following items:

 

·         The Borough and its people

·         Planning for the future

·         Monitoring of Local Plan policies

·         Centres, Services and Facilities

·         Housing

·         The Economy

·         Environmental Assets

·         Infrastructure and Movement

·         Site-Specific Monitoring

 

Members raised and discussed the points below:

 

·         Good report but concern expressed in terms of 93% of new builds having access to a hospital – did it mean that the remaining 7% would not be able to get to hospital?  Officers clarified that this related to 30 minutes of walking or travelling by public transport to a hospital.  Further discussion ensued on the QEII not having an accident and emergency unit.

·         Loss of employment land was considered and it was noted that Panshanger airfield had been omitted from the AMR.  It was agreed that reference would be made to airfield in Panshanger text.  It was noted that other sites for an airfield had been identified.

·         Noted that CO2 omissions were above average.

·         Members expressed their concern of the current Welwyn Garden City bus station in terms of its design; the angle at which the buses parked up and access for wheelchair users.  Officers advised that this would be brought to Hertfordshire County Council’s attention.

·         Noted that there was no change to the deprivation statistics.

·         A Member raised a question in respect of housing numbers, delivery timescales and windfall projections. Officer advised that the projected numbers against the Local Plan were lower than anticipated last year – main reason being that some sites not completed due to bad weather and others having started earlier than expected but with the demolition works without any completions.  In terms of the review of the analysis of windfall completion; it was noted these were not available at present.

·         Officers advised that the inspector (Local Plan) would be looking at other sites that can used within the green belt. Members will have the opportunity to consider the sites identified for development.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 123.

124.

STRATEGIC PLANNING, INCLUDING A414 CORRIDOR STRATEGY pdf icon PDF 917 KB

Report of the Corporate Director (Public Protection, Planning and Governance) on the new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) which contains text on the merits of local planning authorities working together to prepare strategic plans that cross administrative boundaries.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Report of the Corporate Director (Public Protection, Planning and Governance) on the Strategic Planning, including A414 Corridor Strategy.  The new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) contained text on the merits of local planning authorities working together to prepare strategic plans that cross administrative boundaries.

 

The report identified a number of ways in which this Council is involved in strategic planning:

 

Hertfordshire Growth Board, Hertfordshire Infrastructure and Planning Partnership (HIPP) and a North-Central-East Hertfordshire grouping of authorities; through the preparation of strategic documents such as the Hertfordshire Infrastructure and Funding Prospectus (HIFP) and the A414 Corridor Strategy; and through engagement in strategic activities such as the London Plan and the Oxford-Milton Keynes-Cambridge corridor.

 

Members were advised that a copy of the Strategy had been published for consultation until 23 February 2019.  The report noted that the corridor is divided into 14 segments based on current usage and predicted use in the future.  Member discussed the highway network and movement of traffic along inappropriate roads leading to rat runs.  Further consideration was given to public transport services, congestion during rush hour, well-being and public behaviour.

 

The Officer advised that the East of England Local Government Association would be representing eastern region authorities at the forthcoming London Plan Examination.  The Oxford – Milton Keynes – Cambridge corridor was discussed due to its relevance to Welwyn Hatfield’s transport links and potential growth pressures extending to Hertfordshire.

 

Members expressed their concern in terms of the decline in the bus service, transport links and emerging groups to prepare joint plans to secure growth deals from the Government.

 

Members agreed that the detailed comments on the A414 Strategy, as set out in Appendix A be strengthened and the implications from the Mineral Plan proposals be included.

 

            RESOLVED

 

1.    That the Panel notes the contents of the report.

 

2.    That the Panel authorises the Head of Planning in consultation with the Corporate Director and Executive Member for Planning to respond to the A414 Corridor Strategy consultation on the basis of the response in paragraphs 3.15 to 3.35 and at Appendix A to the report.