Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED: (Unanimously)

That Councillor Bill Evans be appointed as Chair for the meeting.

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and explained that, due to current government guidance surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, the meeting was being held virtually and livestreamed to YouTube during open session.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors John Potter and Javid Iqbal and County Councillors Keith Iddon, Jim Marsh and Barrie Yates.

Members are reminded of their responsibility to declare any pecuniary interest in respect of matters contained in this agenda.

If you have a pecuniary interest you must withdraw from the meeting. Normally you should leave the room before the business starts to be discussed. You do, however, have the same right to speak as a member of the public and may remain in the room to enable you to exercise that right and then leave immediately. In either case you must not seek to improperly influence a decision on the matter.

None.

Held on Tuesday, 10 November 2020 at Chorley Council, to be signed as a correct record.

RESOLVED: (Unanimously)

That the minutes of the previous meeting, held on Tuesday, 10 November 2020, be approved as a correct record.

Report of the Central Lancashire Local Plan Co-ordinator attached.

The Central Lancashire Local Plan Co-ordinator, Carolyn Williams, presented a report which detailed the outcome findings of the Local Plan Issues and Options consultation which was undertaken between November 2019 and February 2020.

Members were informed that 1616 responses had been received from residents, housing developers, parish councils and community groups across Central Lancashire.

Responses to the consultation focused on the need for economic development in the area; more employment sites; fair distribution of housing across the area; a need for specialist housing; protection of the character of rural areas; and a need for additional infrastructure provisions.

Town and city centres and areas close to planned or existing transport links and employment zones were suggested as potential development sites by respondents.

A need to retain graduates from local universities such as UCLAN and to improve apprenticeship opportunities in Central Lancashire was also recognised in the consultation.

Support was expressed for sustainable transport options such as park-and-ride facilities, on-street electric vehicle charging and pedestrian-only zones in town and city centres.

There was also extensive support among respondents for Chorley and South Ribble A&E to be supported by local health hubs, which was acknowledged as important due to population increase.

Members were pleased to note that 593 responses to the Youth Questionnaire had been received.

In response to a query regarding the potential impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the responses to the consultation, members were informed that there may be challenges in improving town centres and the retail sector. There may also be a need to assess housing and employment land studies, due to changes in working patterns and arrangements.

RESOLVED: (Unanimously)

That

1.    the Central Lancashire Strategic Planning Joint Advisory Committee endorses the publication of the Outcomes Reports;

2.    stakeholders be notified that the outcomes reports have been published on the Central Lancashire Local Plan Website; and

3.    schools and colleges be written to thank them for responding to the youth questionnaire and invited to continue to engage with us going forward.

Report of the Central Lancashire Local Plan Co-ordinator attached.

The Central Lancashire Local Plan Co-ordinator, Carolyn Williams, presented an update on the progress of the Local Plan review.

Work on draft policies was ongoing and was expected to be presented to the Local Plan working groups in spring 2021.

All initial site assessments had been completed with detailed assessments and site visits now underway to ascertain suitability for inclusion in the Local Plan.

Other updates were provided on the progress of the Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA), which was anticipated to be completed by the end of January 2021; a Housing Needs Study commissioned by Chorley and Preston City Councils; a Climate Change study for the whole of Lancashire; and the consultation on the Local Development Scheme.

Members welcomed the ongoing work on the Local Plan and the assurance that officers remained confident in meeting the set deadline for the review. A further update would be provided at the next meeting.

The report was noted.

To consider the exclusion of the press and public for the following items of

business on the ground that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

By Virtue of Paragraph 3: Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)

Condition:

Information is not exempt if it is required to be registered under- The Companies Act 1985

The Friendly Societies Act 1974 The Friendly Societies Act 1992

The Industrial and Provident Societies Acts 1965 to 1978

The Building Societies Act 1986 (recorded in the public file of any building society, within the meaning of the Act)

The Charities Act 1993

Information is exempt to the extent that, in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

Information is not exempt if it relates to proposed development for which the local planning authority may grant itself planning permission pursuant to Regulation 3 of the Town & Country Planning General Regulations 1992(a).

RESOLVED: (Unanimously)

That the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 Schedule 12a of the Local Government Act 1972.

A verbal report will be provided at the meeting.

Officers from each authority’s Planning Policy team provided an update on planning matters for each of their areas.

Issues discussed included housing need figures; applications to develop on safeguarded land; ongoing and upcoming public inquiries; and progress on major development sites.

There was no further business to discuss.

The next meeting of the Central Lancashire Strategic Planning Joint Advisory Committee will be held on Tuesday, 16 March at Preston City Council from 6:30pm.

The next meeting of the Central Lancashire Strategic Planning Joint Advisory Committee will be held on Tuesday, 16 March 2021 from 6:30pm.

Presentation provided at the meeting attached.