Council and councillors

To receive Report No. 139/2016 from the Director for Places (Development and Economy)

Report No. 139/2016 from the Director for Places (Development and Economy) was received.

The Chairman, Mr Lammie, informed Members that Council was looking to undertake a different approach to Scrutiny, with policy creation; looking to bring forward areas without policy for the Panel to look at, consider and work on.  Three issues had been highlighted within the Places Directorate.  The proposal was to look at one area over a one year cycle with a firm policy being in place by the 2017 summer meeting of this Panel.

The Director for Places (Development and Economy), Mr Phillipson, introduced the report the purpose of which was to consider how the Places Scrutiny Panel should engage in the development of policies for neighbourhood plans, refugee housing and fairness in localism.

The following points were raised during the discussion:

i)             That there was a need for a Neighbourhood Plan policy given the complexities emerging.  There was a realistic requirement for a working group to look at policies and governance requirements to overlay over existing policies; giving a clear steer around policy where not already picked up; to guide on existing and future Plans and look at directives around RCC existing policies providing a prospective of these.

ii)            That Rutland had engaged in the Syrian Vulnerable People Relocation (SVPR) Scheme and was likely to receive its first refugees in December.  Rutland did not have a clear policy therefore there was a need to review the process.  Funding had been increased by the Government with changes to the Immigration Act allowing the redistribution of unaccompanied asylum seeking children.  Under the SVPR Scheme Rutland was working with surrounding local authorities and in particular with Leicester City to outsource their services.

iii)           That there were a number of services delivered by RCC or parish/town councils where there was disparity across the county.  There was a need to local at more broadly and approach parishes to ascertain a more appropriate level of service in the area.

Following a detailed discussion Members agreed to focus on Neighbourhood Plans. 

Aim: Policy to work across all Neighbourhood Plans, existing and future; to correlate Neighbourhood Plans and the Council’s existing policies and how these should be prioritised to create a structured local Neighbourhood Plan in accordance with the Local Plan Framework whilst retaining the community’s aspirations.

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8.23pm Mr Dale left the meeting and did not return.

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Deadline: Summer 2017 meeting. Policy to be brought to this Panel.

The Director for Places, Mr Phillipson confirmed that there would be full officer support, with immediate effect.

Sub Group to set the Terms of Reference and look at data to fulfil scope.  Terms of Reference to be brought to the September meeting of this Panel.

Working Group: Mr Bird, Mr Lammie, Mr Mann, Mr Oxley and Mr Stewart.

Working Group meeting date would be confirmed by email correspondence.

AGREED:

1.    To consider the Terms of Reference and scope of a Neighbourhood Plan Policy and how it should be developed.

2.    To a deadline of Summer 2017 with the policy to be brought to this Panel.

3.    That the Terms of Reference would be brought to the September meeting of this Panel.

4.    The membership of the Working Group as detailed above.

5.    That the Working Group meeting date would be confirmed by email correspondence.