Agenda and draft minutes

RESOLVED – That Councillor Paul Walmsley be appointed Chair for this meeting.

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and asked those present to introduce themselves.

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillor Bradley (Chorley Council), Councillor Swindells (Preston City Council), Councillor Rollo (Preston City Council), Councillor Noblet (South Ribble Borough Council), County Councillor Howarth and County Councillor Barrow.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the Central Lancashire Strategic Planning Joint Advisory Committee meeting held on 15 December 2014 be approved as a correct record for signature by the Chair.

Report attached.

The Director of Development at Preston City Council submitted a report which provided members of the Joint Advisory Committee with an update on the current position with regards to the timing of a review of the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL).

Mike Molyneaux gave an overview of the report.  There had previously been the intention that the Central Lancashire CIL charging authorities would carry out a review of CIL charges relating to residential development would be carried out in 2015, prior to the introduction of Code for Sustainable Homes Level 6 from January 2016.  However, earlier this year the government announced that Code Level 6 would no longer be introduced. This removed the immediate necessity to carry out a review of the relevant CIL charges.  In addition, it had been announced that the government would be undertaking its own review of CIL in 2016.

Mike Molyneaux advised that a review would still be beneficial with regard to the extent of charging and the potential changes to the Regulation 123 list, which indicated those types of infrastructure that could no longer be funded through either S106 of the Town and County Planning Act 1990 or S278 of the Highways Act 1980, and consequently could only be funded through CIL.  Nevertheless, officers considered that any review of CIL should be delayed until there was further clarity on both the timing of replacements for the Code for Sustainable Homes and on a review of CIL operation to be carried out by the Department from Community and Local Government later in 2015.

Members of the Joint Advisory Committee discussed the content of the report and agreed that a delay in the review of CIL was appropriate at this time and that the delay in the review be communicated on the Councils websites.

RESOLVED –

1.       that the current position with regard to the timing of a review of CIL be noted,

2.       it was agreed that a review of CIL was not currently appropriate,

3.       that each Central Lancashire CIL charging authority be responsible for communicating the delay of the review.  

Report attached.

The Director of Development at Preston City Council considered a report which advised members of the Joint Advisory Committee of the implications of enactment of the Deregulation Act 2015 for continued implementation of Policy 27 of the Central Lancashire Core Strategy, which was concerned with incorporating sustainable resources into new development. 

The Deregulation Act received Royal Assent on 26 March 2015.  In a written Ministerial Statement to Parliament on 25 March the Secretary of State set out the government’s policy on a range of matters that relate directly to the requirements of Policy 27 of the Central Lancashire Core Strategy.   The main outcome was that the three Central Lancashire Planning Authorities would no longer be able to implement the next stage of Policy 27, which was due to come into effect from January 2016.  There were also implications for a review of CIL which was considered in a separate report.

Members of the Joint Advisory Committee were advised that each local planning authority would have to consider the advice that it gave developers in the interim.  Preston City Council had produced a position paper with suggested wording as set out in the report which it recommended that all three local planning authorities should adhere to for consistency

Members of the Joint Advisory Committee were advised that challenges regarding the code level were not expected.

RESOLVED – That the implications for implementation of the Policy and the position with regard to advising developers of the standards required in new housing were noted.

Report attached.

The Chief Executive at Chorley Council submitted a report which informed members of the Joint Advisory Committee about the revised Central Lancashire Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Accommodation Assessment (GTAA) – June 2015.

Peter McAnespie gave an overview of the report which included the revised GTAA need for permanent pitches were as follows:

·         Chorley – 10

·         Preston – 22

·         South Ribble – 1

In addition to the figures above, there was also a Central Lancashire need for 4 transit pitches to 2026.  It was recommended that the Central Lancashire authorities work together to explore the opportunities of a joint provision to satisfy the need.

There was an aspirational need identified for 13 Travelling Showperson plots across Central Lancashire, even though there was no evidence to support there was an actual need for this number of plots.  In the absence of more complete information, the study recommended that further engagement work was undertaken as part of the Gypsy and Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Local Plan in order to establish whether there was in fact a need for permanent Travelling Showpeople Plots.

It was noted that Councils were obliged to take into account local circumstances in addressing need.  It was understood that the local Gypsy and Traveller Community in Chorley may consider the level of pitch need to be overstated and required further investigation which may result in a lower figure for permanent need than that contained in the Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment (GTAA).

Peter McAnespie continued that the government undertook a public consultation on updating the Planning Policy for Traveller Sites (PPTS). This paper proposed to change the definition of Travellers and also proposed that draft planning guidance on assessing accommodation needs of gypsies and Travellers would be laid in Parliament.  The commitment was re-affirmed in parliament on 10 June to be undertaken at the ‘earliest opportunity’.  Any changes to guidance may have an impact on the Gypsy and Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Local Plan, and the timetable for its adoption. It was therefore recommended that further work be undertaken by officers to ascertain when the government’s revised guidance on Travellers was likely to be issued and to further explore the issue of local circumstances that may apply in Central Lancashire authorities.

Members of the Joint Advisory Committee discussed various aspects of the report which included the need for further work to be carried out to gather as much intelligence as possible prior to the progression of the Local Traveller Plan.

RESOLVED – That officers views in respect of the Assessment Document and delay in the progression of the Traveller Local Plan be noted.

A verbal update will be given at the meeting.

Members of the Joint Advisory Committee received a verbal update on the Local Plans for each authority –

·           Chorley Council – Local Plan adopted on the 21 July

·           Preston City Council – Local Plan was adopted on 2 July 2015

·           South Ribble Borough Council – Local Plan adopted on 22 July

It was noted that there was still time for a Judicial Review challenge for each of the plans which needs to be lodged within 6 weeks of the adoption date.

Lancashire County Council Onshore Oil and Gas SPD

Members of the Joint Advisory Committee also received an update on Lancashire County Council Onshore Oil and Gas SPD.

Since the last meeting of the Joint Advisory Committee the SPD had been made available for public consultation.  However, the consultation did not generate as much interest as anticipated.

It was anticipated the final SPD would be finalised between late autumn and early new year. 

RESOLVED - That the verbal update had been noted.

A verbal update will be given at the meeting.

Members of the Joint Advisory Committee received a verbal update on the Affordable Housing SPD review. 

Once the review of the SPD had been completed, it would be brought before a future meeting of the Joint Advisory Committee for information.

RESOLVED – That the verbal update be noted.

Report attached.

Marcus Hudson submitted a report which provided an update on the delivery of the City Deal and work that had been carried out by local partners.

The report set out the latest position on several important aspects of the City Deal which included:

·             Infrastructure delivery of the end of Year 1

·             Monitoring Outputs in Year 1

·             Appointment of consultations to give property advise on new developments

·             Production of an Employment and Skills Plan

Members of the Joint Advisory Committee discussed the report with Marcus Hudson providing an update on various projects planned. 

In response to a query regarding how the Working Group referred to in point 4.26 of the report cascaded information to schools, Marcus Hudson advised that six form schools and colleges had been engaged to cascade information down to mainstream education.

RESOLVED – That the progress of City Deal had been noted.

The future meeting of the Central Lancashire Strategic Planning Joint Advisory Committee will be held as follows:

·         26 November 2015 – South Ribble Borough Council

·         3 March 2016 – Preston City Council

RESOLVED – That the dates and host for future meetings of the Joint Advisory Committee be confirmed as follows –

·             26 November 2015 – South Ribble Borough Council

·             3 March 2016 – Preston City Council

Biodiversity SPD

Peter McAnespie advised members of the Joint Advisory Committee that the Biodiversity SPD had been adopted by Chorley Council at its Council meeting on 21 July.

Farewell

The Chair announced that Helen Hockenhull (South Ribble) and Stephen Lamb (Chorley) were leaving their respective councils to take up new position elsewhere.  The Chair, on behalf of the Joint Advisory Committee wished to thank both Helen and Stephen for their contributions to the Joint Advisory Committee and wished them all the best for the future.