The Chairman advised that many Members had enjoyed an interesting and informative tour of the sites put forward around the whole district.  What was before Members was the culmination of a long process which had been extensively consulted on.  She reminded all present that the decision to consult would be made by Cabinet on 6 December 2018 and to submit the draft plan, by Council on 26 February 2019.  This Committee would merely be making a recommendation to Cabinet.  She urged everyone to respond to the Regulation 19 consultation, stating that all responses would be read and collated for submission to the Inspector.  Even if a site was not in the Council’s final document anyone could request to make their case to the Planning Inspector and it would be up to the Inspector to decide at that point who they would let speak.  She advised that she had decided not to exercise her discretion and allow members of the public to speak, however she would allow local ward councillors who were not members of the committee to address the meeting.  

The Chairman moved the recommendations as set out within the agenda papers.

The Strategic Planning Manager and Planning Policy Team Leader, gave a presentation as an introduction to the report which provided a summary of the outcome of the draft Local Plan consultation, undertaken for an eight-week period from Monday 16 July to Monday 10 September 2018. The report set out the key content of the Regulation 19 Proposed Submission version of the Plan and the process for taking it forward to examination. It was also proposed to consult on the Affordable Housing SPD; Development in the Green Belt SPD; and Design Review Panel SPD.  The Council had received four additional proposed Greenfield Green Belt sites in response to the Regulation 18 consultation process, and following assessment, those considered as being potentially suitable for inclusion would be consulted on alongside (but not part of) the Regulation 19 Proposed Submission version of the Local Plan. 

The Chief Planning Officer reported that an email had been received the day before the meeting from the promoters of the Broke Hill site who had sought Counsel’s opinion which had concluded that to submit the draft Local Plan in its current form would be unlawful.  Advice from the Head of Legal & Democratic Services (and Monitoring Officer), was that this opinion did not alter the role of the Planning Advisory Committee, as it was indeed merely an Advisory Committee, and only reinforced the approach already agreed and being taken.  In the meantime the Council would seek further legal advice and examine the document submitted.

The Chairman exercised her discretion and allowed local ward Cllrs Grint, McGarvey and Searles to address the Committee with their local concerns.  Cllr Grint was pleased that Broke Hill had been removed, and Cllrs McGarvey and Searles expressed concern that Pedham Place had been identified as a broad location for growth due to its potential adverse impact on neighbouring villages and infrastructure  ...  view the full minutes text for item 25