Council and councillors

(KEY DECISION)

Report No. 132/2017

(KEY DECISION)

Report No. 132/2017 from the Director for Places (Development and Economy) was received.

The Portfolio Holder, Mr Hemsley, introduced the report, the purpose of

which was to provide Cabinet with the draft Local Plan which was recommended for Cabinet approval for the purposes of conducting initial non-statutory public consultation.

During discussion the following points were raised:

i.             Mr Foster asked that Mr P Phillipson’s details were removed from the report as he no longer works for the Council and Mrs Briggs – Chief Executive would need to be added.

ii.            Mr Ranson confirmed that the General Consultation Bodies that RCC consider appropriate to consult with are set out in the Statement of Community Involvement. This had previously been approved by Cabinet.

iii.           The consultation would take place over 8 weeks and in the following ways:

·                     8 Roadshows

·                    2 briefing had taken place at the Parish Council Forum and an additional 2 hour briefing was taking place on 3 August 2017 for Parish Councillors.

·                    Hardcopy information available at Libraries and at the Council offices.

·                     RCC Website

iv.           Mr Ranson informed Cabinet that due to the consultation taking place over the summer holiday period the Planning Policy team would take late comments. Mr Mathias asked for a date to be applied to the time period that late comments would be accepted.

v.            The allocation of land for housing would be reviewed annually to ensure the Council was meeting the need within the County.

vi.           An Employment Land Study had been completed and was kept under review. 29 hectares had been allocated which included a buffer on 9 hectares.

vii.         Mr Ranson informed cabinet that with strong land allocations in place, if future planning applications are not policy compliant this would give a good basis to refuse permission.

viii.        Mr Ranson confirmed that additional clarification had been added to the document regarding windfall sites, there was a reduced in the requirement from windfall sites than in the previous Local Plan.

ix.           The number of houses on each site was calculated using a standard methodology net density calculation; this was subject to change depending on the design of planning applications submitted.

x.            Mr Ranson confirmed that RAMSAR sites are wetlands of international importance designated under the RAMSAR Convention, named after the city in Iran where this convention was first made in the 1970s. Rutland Water is a designated RAMSAR site which means under Government policy that a Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) of plans and planning applications is required to consider the impacts of plans and proposed development on this site. This would be added into the Glossary within the report.

xi.           Concern was raised with regard to housing land allocated within Ryhall. It was suggested that a meeting with the Parish Council would be of benefit. Mr Ranson informed Cabinet that the draft document looks at the principle of land use. A meeting could be arranged in the future when a developer was in place.

xii.         Mr Ranson encouraged all members of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 157