Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interest stated.

Consideration was given to a report on the Issues Paper Consultation Document for the Joint Local Plan. 

The report was to be submitted to Cabinet on 20 January and the Planning Committee was now given the opportunity to comment on the document and make its views known to Cabinet.

Members discussed the item and attention was drawn to Paragraph 1.4 of the report which referred to a report of a panel of experts which is expected this month which could have implications for the Joint Local Plan timetable.  The Council’s Planning Policy Manager advised Members that it was unlikely that the timetable would have to be extended as a result of the appointment of this Panel by the Minister. 

Members were invited to make comments on the Local Plan Issues Consultation which would then be passed on to the Cabinet.

The consultation had been broken down into eight sections: Economy; Transport; Heritage; City, Town, Local and other Centres; Housing; Health and Communities; Energy and Climate Change; Natural and Rural Environment.

Members made no comments on the above although a concern was raised in respect of extending village envelopes.

Resolved:    (i)       That the Cabinet be advised that this Committee

recommends approval of the Issues Paper Consultation Document in line with the methods of consultation set out in the adopted Joint Statement of Community Involvement, although Cabinet were asked to note the Committee’s view that the village envelopes should not be allowed to grow as this would constitute urban sprawl.

(ii)      That a report be submitted to a subsequent meeting of

the Committee on the results of the Issues public consultation exercise, as part of the next stage in the Joint Local Plan Process – Strategic Options in summer 2016.

                    (iii)      That the Cabinet be advised that this Committee agrees

to the revised work programme for the production of the Joint Local Plan, set out in the report, and that this be published as an update to the Council’s Local Development Scheme.

Consideration was given to a report on the Five Year Housing Land Supply Statement – Mid year update.  The purpose of the report was to update Members on the calculation of the five year housing land supply position in the Borough.  Members were advised that it was considered that the Council could not demonstrate a five years supply of deliverable housing sites.

Members attention was brought to the table at Paragraph 2.35 of the report and the stage that this Council was at and also to Paragraph 3.2 which referred to paragraph 49 of the NPPF.  Paragraph 49 states that housing applications should be considered in the context of the presumption in favour of sustainable development and that relevant policies for the supply of housing should not be considered to be up to date if the local planning authority cannot demonstrate a five year supply of deliverable housing sites.

Members discussed the item, requesting clarification of areas and the basis for figures contained within the Joint Strategic Housing Market Assessment which covers Newcastle-under-Lyme and Stoke on Trent.

Resolved:              (i)       That the results of the mid-year update to the five

year supply statement be noted.

(ii)       That the significance of the five year supply

position in Development management decision

making be noted.

(iii)      That Members note that the Five Year Housing Land Supply position need not be the sole determinant of development management decision making, in accordance with the NPPF.

There was no Urgent Business.