Agenda item

Cranbrook Plan Development Plan Document - Inspector's report and proposed plan adoption

Minutes:

The Committee considered and discussed the report presented by the Service Lead – Planning Strategy and Development Management that updated Members on the viability of the Cranbrook Plan that the Planning Inspector had found sound subject to a number of modifications outlined in the report.

 

Members noted the legal and procedural considerations for adoption in paragraph 4 detailing the following three options:

 

a)    To accept the Inspector’s recommendations and to adopt the Cranbrook Plan with main modifications incorporated

b)    To accept the Inspector’s recommendations and to adopt the Cranbrook Plan with main modifications and additional modifications incorporated;

c)     To withdraw the Cranbrook Plan and not adopt it.

 

Given this information, the Service Lead – Planning Strategy and Development Management sought Members endorsement of the Cranbrook Plan subject to the modifications and to recommend adoption by Council.

 

Discussion on the Cranbrook Plan included:

·       At the last Strategic Planning Committee meeting there were comments in relation to the expansion of Feniton and Whimple and how this would affect Coleridge Medical Centre which is already full to capacity.  As part of Cranbrook is in the catchment area of Ottery St Mary clarification was sought about how the existing infrastructure would support this.   The Service Lead – Planning Strategy and Development Management acknowledged there were short time issues and advised there were plans to deliver the health and wellbeing centre and other medical facilities in Cranbrook and officers had set up a working group with the NHS, CCG and other stakeholders to ensure delivery of these facilities;

·       Councillor Bloxham, Ward Member for Cranbrook, advised that the Cranbrook Plan had been a long time in development and has been found sound by the Inspector.  It might not be perfect, it may not contain everything that we all wanted, but it is a plan which delivers on the key elements which will see the town grow to around 8,000 homes.  Cranbrook is central to the delivery of homes in East Devon delivering between 50% – 60% of strategic development in the current local plan and urged Members to recommend to Council that the Cranbrook Plan be adopted;

·       There will be implications if the plan is adopted.  South West Water need to take responsibility and develop a new pumping station to take the additional load. 

 

During discussions the following motion was proposed by Councillor Mike Allen:

 

‘Recommend approval of the Cranbrook Plan subject to further discussion on infrastructure with South West Water’. 

 

Councillor Mike Howe supported and seconded the motion advising that these issues need to be addressed along with the adoption of the plan.  He referred to Mr Smith’s statement where he addressed the use of portaloo’s and said South West Water are to blame and it needs to be sorted. 

 

The Chair sought legal advice on the outcome if the motion was supported.  In response the Service Lead – Planning Strategy and Development Management advised that South West Water had been consulted with throughout the examination process and they had not raised any objections. He acknowledged the issue did need to get resolved but emphasised delaying the adoption of the Plan would not resolve these issues and highlighted that the planning process could not fund South West Water and suggested that Members move to adoption of the Plan and continue ongoing discussions with South West Water about their infrastructure.  The Strategic Lead – Governance and Licensing reiterated the Service Lead – Planning Strategy and Development Management’s advice that the Plan had been found sound and that guidance was very clear that Members should move to adoption. 

 

Councillor Allen with the agreement of Councillor Howe withdrew the recommendation. Councillor Allen advised it was not his intention to block the Cranbrook Plan but to acknowledge that South West Water was not doing its job and proposed the following motion with the agreement of Councillor Mike Howe and with assistance from Mr Hunter, Planning Solicitor and Strategic Lead – Governance & Licensing:

 

‘Strategic Planning Committee expresses serious concerns about the issue of South West Water infrastructure and there is a clear expectation that East Devon District Council with Exeter City Council and Teignbridge District Council will work with South West Water to obtain confirmation that any applications coming forward as part of the Cranbrook Plan DPD will be able to deal with waste water from environmental and sustainability grounds.’

 

Councillor Geoff Jung, Portfolio Holder for Coast, Countryside and Environment advised he had been involved in a lot of discussions with the Service Lead – Planning Strategy and Development Management and South West Water about the issues with sewage and said he agreed with the Service Lead – Planning Strategy and Development Management that South West Water had been a consultee throughout the Cranbrook Plan process and as no objections had been received Members need to endorse the Plan.  South West Water are aware of the issues, in particular the pumping station at Countess Weir which cannot expand due to the SSSI and that they have identified a further pumping station would be required to counteract the issues currently being experienced with Teignbridge, Exeter and East Devon.

 

Councillor Kevin Blakey, seconded by Councillor Olly Davey proposed the recommendations as written in the report and were happy to include the third recommendation proposed by Councillor Allen and seconded by Councillor Howe.  The proposer, Councillor Blakey acknowledged that a lot of valid points had been made throughout the meeting and agreed that South West Water’s performance was beyond woeful but the council was not in a position to tell them what they needed to do. It was a matter for Members, MPs, and other authorities to lobby South West Water to take responsibility.  

 

Strategic Planning Committee were happy to note the final report of the Planning Inspector on the examination of the Cranbrook Plan.

 

RECOMMENDATION:

That Strategic Planning Committee expresses serious concerns about the issue of South West Water infrastructure and there is a clear expectation that East Devon District Council with Exeter City Council and Teignbridge District Council will work with South West Water to obtain confirmation that any applications coming forward as part of the Cranbrook DPD will be able to deal with waste water from environmental and sustainability grounds.

 

RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL:

That the Cranbrook Plan incorporating the proposed main modifications, minor additional modifications and the changes to the Cranbrook Plan policies map be adopted by Council.

Supporting documents: