To receive from Members any declarations and the nature thereof in relation to:-

(a)    personal interests in any agenda item

(b)    personal and prejudicial interests in any agenda item

(c)     any political whip in relation to any agenda item.

To receive any announcements from the Chairman and any matters of communication.

None.

To receive petitions from members of the public in accordance with the Public Participation Procedure as set out in Annex 2 of Part A4 of the Constitution.

No petitions were received from members of the public in accordance with the Public Participation Procedure as set out in Part D2 of the Constitution.

To receive any questions, statements or deputations from members of the public in accordance with the Public Participation Procedure as set out in Annex 1 of part A4 of the Constitution.

The Committee were told that 5 speakers had registered to speak at the meeting in accordance with the Public Participation Procedure as set out in Annex 1 of Section A4 of the Constitution.  Submissions from 2 speakers were also circulated to Members of the Committee at the meeting.  The speakers raised issues and questions in relation to Item 8 (Minute SCOSC/12/7 refers), that included:-

·              Whether the draft Development Strategy was employment-led or housing-led and what would happen if additional jobs were not provided to the level proposed in the draft strategy.  It was also queried whether housing would be held back by the Council if the proposed level of additional jobs were not provided. 

·              Why the Council had proposed 28,750 new homes when previous feedback from residents suggested a low level of growth was preferred.  The sustainability appraisal had also highlighted that 27,700 homes was the most sustainable figure. 

·              The level of affordable housing that the Council was seeking to deliver on new developments.

·              The importance of providing necessary infrastructure before new developments were delivered whilst also attempting to reduce congestion for current residents of Central Bedfordshire.  The draft Development Strategy commented that the delivery of some homes would be permitted prior to the delivery of infrastructure.  Assurances were sought that critical infrastructure such as the northern bypass would be delivered before homes and that new developments would not make things worse for those currently residing in areas.

·              The draft Development Strategy (policy 58) should be more explicit regarding a joined up approach to delivering the northern bypass, including how the potential phasing of employment may effect its delivery.  Assurances were also sought on the current status of funding and deliverability of the bypass.

·              Policy 51 would benefit from greater recognition of grey water and the provision of additional water supplies.

·              The results of previous stakeholder workshops should be made public prior to the commencement of the next phase of public consultation.  It was important that the Council took the results of consultation fully into consideration and that the Council delivered the consultation in relation to its policy on community engagement.

·              Assurances were sought  that the Council would make information publically available in relation to the timetable for producing the Statement of Community Involvement.

·              It was suggested that the draft Development Strategy needed to be amended to assist residents to respond.  In particular it was suggested that a summary of key evidence be made available via the Council’s website and that the appraisal methodologies and the overarching policies be more clearly explained prior to the public consultation taking place.

·              It was suggested that the Council’s presumption against inappropriate development within the Green Belt did not seem to correlate with proposals to provide 38% of homes within the Green Belt.  It was also suggested that residents should be invited to comment on the existing purposes of Green Belt within Central Bedfordshire as part of the consultation.

·              The draft Development Strategy (policy 58) would benefit from greater recognition of the Chilterns Area  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

To consider any decision of the Executive referred to this Committee for review  in accordance with Procedure Rule 10.10 of Part D2.  

The Panel was advised that no decisions of the Executive had been referred to the Panel under the Call-in Procedures set out in Appendix “A” to Rule No. S18 of the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules.

To consider any items referred to the Committee at the request of a Member under Procedure Rule 3.1 of Part D2 of the Constitution.

No items were referred to the Committee for consideration at the request of a Member under Procedure Rule 3.1 of Part D2 of the Constitution.

To consider the draft Development Strategy for Central Bedfordshire.  The Committee is asked to consider the draft strategy and comment as appropriate prior to a formal public consultation being undertaken.

The appendices to the report will follow.

The Committee received a report from the Executive Member for Sustainable Communities, Strategic Planning and Economic Development, that provided the draft Development Strategy for Central Bedfordshire.  The Committee were asked to provide their views to the Executive Member prior to a 6-week public consultation.  The Head of Development Planning and Housing Strategy explained that the Council was presently at an early stage of consultation on the draft strategy and that there would be further consultation undertaken after this initial 6-week consultation period towards the end of the year.  It was commented that all residents who had previously responded to consultations would be consulted on the draft strategy and would be invited to comment during the consultation.

In response to questions from the public the Head of Development Planning and Housing Strategy commented that the strategy aimed to find a balance between housing and employment development for the area and the environment.  The key issues identified within the draft Development Strategy would stimulate debate locally about the most favoured approach to development.   It was also commented that the draft Development Strategy was both housing and employment-led as an appropriate mix of the two was necessary to ensure sustainable communities.  The Development Planning Project and Process Team Leader further explained the consultation process for the draft Development Strategy and the ways in which it corresponded with the Council’s Statement of Community Involvement.

A Member commented that the draft Development Strategy had been predicated on infrastructure based on the number of homes that were proposed to be developed.  Concerns were raised that there would be a temptation to ‘glue’ on housing in existing urban areas.  It was suggested that the draft Development Strategy should emphasise the development of a new urban settlement as opposed to developing housing in existing urban areas if the demand for housing exceeded the levels identified in the draft strategy.  There were concerns that there may be an increase in the number of houses proposed after the strategy had been subject to an examination in public.  In response the Strategic Planning and Housing Team Leader commented that the number of homes proposed in the strategy was based on local population trends (the number of households plus 3.8%).  A majority of the 28,750 homes proposed in the strategy had already been provided for.

The Executive Member for Sustainable Communities, Strategic Planning and Economic Development commented there was a need for solid and sustainable infrastructure to be delivered alongside housing.  It was intended to stick with the numbers of homes and jobs that resulted from the consultation process and the draft strategy had proposed an approach to the delivery of housing in several areas such as South Wixams and being sympathetic to rural exception sites and neighbourhood plans.  If there was a need for a strategic change to the plan this would require a strategic change in the proposed infrastructure.  The Executive Member stated that the Council would stick with the number of 28,750 homes unless the outcomes of the consultation  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.