(a)

Personal Interests:-

None notified.

(b)

Personal and Prejudicial Interests:-

None notified.

(c)

Any political whip in relation to any agenda item:-

None notified.

The Sustainable Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee received a note of a meeting of the Development Strategy Task Force held on 23 October at which the allocation of sites for additional housing and employment development in the northern part of Central Bedfordshire (the former Mid-Bedfordshire District Council area) had been considered.  The Chairman of the Task Force introduced the note of the meeting and outlined the deliberations that had taken place.  He acknowledged that the opportunity for public consultation had been limited but he reminded the meeting that substantial consultation had taken place previously under the legacy authority.  It was also noted that the Task Force had received representations from a number of Town and Parish Councils during its meeting and their input had influenced the Task Force’s recommendation to the Committee.

Members noted that the Task Force had recommended that development should be supported at the sites set out in the appendix attached to the note of its meeting.  The Committee considered the note and the appendix and, in particular, discussed concerns relating to the allocation of a site for 24 dwellings at Shillington. A Ward Member and a local resident commented that the allocation of this site was in contravention to policies detailed in the Local Development Framework and to the Shillington Parish Plan. Furthermore, previous planning applications for the site had been refused by Mid Bedfordshire and at appeal. On this basis it was requested that the Committee reconsider the suitability of this site prior to supporting its allocation. The Ward Member stressed that she would welcome development in the village but that the site identified was, for various reasons, totally unsuitable and an alternative should be sought. 

Further debate followed during which the Head of Development Plan advised the meeting that Parish Plans had no statutory status.  Nonetheless, in view of the uncertainty which had arisen regarding the site at Shillington, the Committee felt that the officers should investigate the issues raised and provide additional information.

RECOMMENDED to the Executive:

1      That, subject to Recommendation 2 below, the sites allocated for additional housing and employment in the northern part of Central Bedfordshire, as set out in the attached appendix, be approved.

2      That, in consideration of the allocation of site H006 in Shillington, additional information be received from officers by the Chairman of the Development Strategy Task Force regarding the Shillington Parish Plan and Local Development Framework policies and then this information be submitted to the Executive for further consideration as necessary.

The Committee considered a report by the Portfolio Holder for Sustainable Development which sought Members’ views on four scenarios relating to the rate of housing and economic growth in Central Bedfordshire and Luton for the ten years from the end of the current East of England Plan period in 2021 to 2031 and where that growth might be located.

The Committee unanimously agreed that scenario 1, as detailed in the body of the report, was the only practical option as it represented a “roll forward” of the current Plan’s growth rates over the additional ten years and this was felt to be the highest level of development which could be achieved.  The meeting was aware that the other scenarios sought growth rates in excess of those achieved in the past.  Scenario 1 set out the following in relation to new dwellings for 2011-2031:-

Local Authority

New dwellings 2011- 2031

Former Mid-Bedfordshire

14,400

Former South Bedfordshire

28,000

Central Bedfordshire Total

42,400

Luton

2,840

Total

45,240

However, the Committee used the opportunity to raise specific concerns regarding what were felt to be excessive numbers of new dwellings that Central Bedfordshire was being requested to accommodate up to 2031. It was also commented that any regional growth needed to be provided in a sustainable manner.

RESOLVED

That the Sustainable Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee supports the recommendations detailed in the officer’s report but that it be stressed that all growth must be provided in a sustainable manner.

The Committee considered a report by the Director of Sustainable Communities which sought Members’ views on the Core Strategy and Development Management Policies Development Plan Document (DPD).  Members were advised that Public Examination of the document had taken place in June and July 2009 following a period of public consultation and that the Inspector had determined the DPD to be ‘sound’.  The Committee noted that the Council could only agree to accept the DPD as it now stood, including the Inspector’s changes, or reject it altogether and begin the process from the beginning.  It was not possible to introduce further amendments.

The meeting noted that the biggest change by the Inspector had been his rejection of the Council’s proposal for an extension to the Green Belt to the south-east of Milton Keynes which had arisen as a result of concerns relating to the city’s expansion and the impact on nearby villages.  The Inspector had felt that this was a strategic rather than local issue and should be dealt with in the Council’s response to the review of the East of England Plan.

Despite this disappointment the Committee unanimously recognised that the DPD’s benefits outweighed any disadvantages to Central Bedfordshire Council.   The document provided guidance and an overall strategy for development and, by doing so, substantially reduced the opportunity for speculative planning applications and costly and time consuming appeals.  It was also commented that officers should be congratulated for achieving a ‘sound’ Core Strategy which had only been achieved by around 20% of councils in England.

RESOLVED that the Sustainable Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee endorse the Core Strategy and Development Management Policies Development Plan Document.

RECOMMENDED to the Executive

That the Core Strategy and Development Management Policies Development Plan Document be adopted.