Minutes:
Bromsgrove District Plan 2011-2030 Adoption
The recommendations from Cabinet in relation to the Bromsgrove District Plan were proposed by Councillor C. B. Taylor and seconded by Councillor G. N. Denaro. In addition to the five recommendations from the Cabinet proposing adoption of the Plan, Councillor Taylor also proposed an additional recommendation relating to the establishment of a cross party Working Group to monitor the implementation and subsequent review of the Plan.
In proposing the recommendations Councillor Taylor referred to the importance of the Council having an adopted District Plan. Without the protection of the planning policies contained within the Plan, there was a danger that applicants may gain planning approvals on an ad hoc basis through planning appeals. There would be a lack of control by the Council over development within the District.
Councillor Taylor also referred to the benefits of having a current District Plan when working with partners such as the County Council on highways and of the infrastructure issues. There was an opportunity to develop a Community Infrastructure Levy on this basis. The Plan also gave the Council the ability to move forward with meeting some of its priorities such as delivery of affordable housing and economic development and employment opportunities.
Councillor Taylor acknowledged that whilst some Members may not agree with all of the contents of the Plan, it had been the subject of very detailed public consultation and Member consideration over a very long period. The Planning Inspector had undertaken an Examination in Public and modifications had again been the subject of public consultation over an extended period. After careful consideration of all the evidence the Inspector had been satisfied that the proposed sites for housing were correct. Clearly the responsibility of determining specific applications was the responsibility of the Planning Committee.
During the discussion on the proposals Members raised a number of points of concern:
· that the very lengthy and costly process had resulted in a Plan which was not the best solution for Bromsgrove and indeed was fundamentally flawed ;
· Central Government policy was supporting a process which would result in loss of Green Belt land;
· much of the data on which policies had been based was now out of date;
· there was a disconnect between the location for housing growth in the Plan and the location of proposed highways infrastructure;
· there had been the opportunity to make changes to the Plan in line with the views of Members but these amendments had not been made;
· the Plan did not adequately address the imbalance in the housing supply in Bromsgrove in terms of increasing the affordable/social housing provision;
· the potential impact on traffic, air quality, school provision and health had not been sufficiently addressed;
· it was likely that Bromsgrove District would be required to accept housing from Birmingham, Solihull and Dudley as well as from Redditch;
· the Plan failed to recognise problems and mistakes which had occurred in the past and to learn from them;
· the Redditch cross border housing development was not in the correct location and would led to the loss of prime agricultural land;
· there were concerns that the current Infrastructure Delivery Plan was not fit for purpose.
During the debate a number of Members sought to balance the many benefits of having the protection of an adopted Plan against some of their misgivings and concerns regarding some of the Policies within the Plan. Members welcomed the opportunity which the prospective cross party Working Group would provide to monitor and review policies within the Plan.
Councillor Taylor acknowledged the concerns of some Members but stressed that throughout the process the Inspector had been provided with updated information upon which to base his recommendations. Whilst there were issues which required to be addressed such as the Infrastructure Delivery Plan, Councillor Taylor felt that the benefits of adopting the Bromsgrove District Plan greatly outweighed any disadvantages.
On a requisition under Council Procedure Rule 18.3 the following details of the voting on the recommendations relating to the adoption of the Local Plan were recorded:
For the recommendations: Councillors C. Allen-Jones, R. J. Deeming, G. N. Denaro, R. L. Dent, M. Glass, J. M. L. A. Griffiths, R. J. Laight, K. J. May, S. R. Peters, M. A. Sherrey, C. J. Spencer, C. B. Taylor, P. L. Thomas, M. J. A. Webb and S. A. Webb (15)
Against the recommendations: Councillors C. J. Bloore, M. T. Buxton, R. E. Jenkins, L. C. R. Mallett, P. M. McDonald, C. M. McDonald, S. P. Shannon, M. Thompson and L. J. Turner (9)
Abstentions: Councillors S. R. Colella, C. A. Hotham and P. J. Whittaker (3)
Councillors then voted on the proposal to establish the cross party Working Group. In addition to the proposal it was agreed that the Working Group would be open to all Councillors to attend and would be open to the public. This was agreed unanimously.
RESOLVED:
1. (a) that the content of the Bromsgrove District Plan Planning Inspectorate’s Report (Appendix 1) and the associated Schedule of Main Modifications (Appendix 2) be noted;
(b) that the Bromsgrove District Plan 2011-2030 as submitted and subsequently amended by the modifications set out in Appendix 2 and Appendix 3 to the report be adopted;
(c) that the Policies Map which accompanied the submission version of the Bromsgrove District Plan and remains unchanged as a result of the examination process, be adopted;
(d) that the Bromsgrove District Plan Adoption Statement and Strategic Environmental Assessment and Sustainability Appraisal Adoption Statement which form Appendix 4 and 5 of the report be noted; and
(e) that authority be delegated to the Head of Planning and Regeneration to undertake further minor editorial changes deemed necessary in preparing the adopted District Plan for publication, following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Planning.
2. That officers establish a cross party working group in consultation with group leaders, that will monitor the implementation and subsequent review of the Bromsgrove Development Plan, with particular attention to the green belt review, future growth and infrastructure; in addition the group will oversee and monitor the progress of the policies identified within the Bromsgrove District Plan; all members of the Council will be able to attend and participate in meetings of the group and meetings will be held in public.