Agenda and minutes

Venue: Online via the zoom app

Contact: Wendy Harris  01395 517542; email  wharris@eastdevon.gov.uk

Media

Items
No. Item

51.

Public speaking

Information on public speaking is available online

 

Minutes:

Four public speakers and two District Councillors spoke on the working draft of the proposed East Devon Local Plan 2020 – 2040.

 

Committee Member, Councillor Mike Howe raised concerns on behalf of the residents and the parish councils of Bishops Clyst about the new town proposed and addressed issues including highway and infrastructure implications and requested that surface water and sewage be considered as part of the infrastructure.

 

Mr Andrew Preston raised a question on behalf of Mr Peter Stodgell on why the village of Upottery had not been included in Tier 4.  He advised that out of the 23 settlements listed in Tier 4, 13 had a smaller working age population and 18 had fewer jobs than Upottery.  Upottery also had a primary school and community sports field and was in a sustainable location with a range of local services and good employment provision.

 

Mr Andrew Preston, also asked a question on behalf of Morrish Homes on why land on Oak Road on the southern side of West Hill (site reference West_05) was identified as Rank 1 given the similarities between its neighbours that were identified as Rank 3.  He advised that Morrish Homes had already undertaken a considerable amount of work to address the suitability of the site for housing which included to retain trees, appropriate open space between dwellings, appropriate means of access and foul and surface water drainage.  He referred to the distance of local facilities and local roads in West_13 & 14 that were Rank 3 advising West_05 was the same distance and was in walking distance and asked Members to consider West Hill as Rank 3 to maintain consistency with neighbouring sites.  In response to all the questions raised the Chair advised that a written response would be provided by the Service Lead, Planning Strategy and Development Management due to the anticipated length of the meeting.

 

Councillor Kelvin Dent, Chair of Planning, Sidmouth Town Council congratulated the officers on a tremendous job of preparing an extremely thorough detailed piece of work.  He acknowledged the difficulty of land allocation in Sidmouth and advised that Sidmouth Town Council supported Option C of less development as detailed on page 113.  He referred to three favourable sites, Sidmouth Sid_01 and Sid_19 in Sidmouth and Sid_10 in Sidbury.  He raised concerns about Sid_06 at Sidford which had been recommended for 30 dwellings with a potential for 300 dwellings and addressed the need to maintain a green separation between Sidford and Sidbury.

 

Councillor David Valentine representing Gittisham Parish Council sought reassurance that parish councils would be consulted with at all stages of the local plan process including the next stage with the forthcoming sustainability appraisal.  He raised concerns that site reference Gitti_01 and 05 on pages 188 and 189 would encroach within 400 metres of the village and that it was identified as Rank 2 whereas on page 22 it was identified at Rank 3.  He sought clarification on the caveat that should numbers not be met other land may need  ...  view the full minutes text for item 51.

52.

Minutes of the previous meeting pdf icon PDF 264 KB

Minutes:

Members were happy to accept the minutes of the consultative Strategic Planning Committee meeting held on 9 November 2021.

53.

Declarations of interest

Guidance is available online to Councillors and co-opted members on making declarations of interest

Minutes:

Minute 56. Infrastructure Funding Statement.

Councillor Andrew Moulding, Personal, Trustee of Axminster skatepark and President of Cloakham Lawns Sports Centre.

 

Minute 56. Infrastructure Funding Statement.

Councillor Dan Ledger, Personal, Seaton Town Councillor.

 

Minute 56. Infrastructure Funding Statement.

Councillor Eleanor Rylance, Personal, Broadclyst Parish Councillor.

 

Minute 56. Infrastructure Funding Statement.

Councillor Jake Bonetta, Personal, Honiton Town Councillor.

 

Minute 56. Infrastructure Funding Statement.

Councillor Jess Bailey, Personal, Devon County Councillor.

 

Minute 56. Infrastructure Funding Statement.

Councillor Kevin Blakey, Personal, Cranbrook Town Councillor.

 

Minute 56. Infrastructure Funding Statement.

Councillor Mike Howe, Personal, Bishops Clyst Parish Councillor and owner of a convenience store in Clyst St Mary which is in my ward as a district councillor.

 

Minute 56. Infrastructure Funding Statement.

Councillor Olly Davey, Personal, Exmouth Town Councillor.

 

Minute 56. Infrastructure Funding Statement.

Councillor Paul Arnott, Personal, Colyton Parish Councillor.

 

Minute 56. Infrastructure Funding Statement.

Councillor Paul Hayward, Personal, Employed as Clerk to All Saints and Chardstock Parish Councils and locum Deputy Clerk to Axminster Town Council.

 

Minute 56. Infrastructure Funding Statement.

Councillor Philip Skinner, Personal, Received lobbying emails from developers and constituents and one from one of the public speakers.

 

Minute 57. Working draft of the proposed East Devon Local Plan 2020 - 2040.

Councillor Andrew Moulding, Personal, Received letters from local residents.

 

Minute 57. Working draft of the proposed East Devon Local Plan 2020 - 2040.

Councillor Ben Ingham, Personal, Received lobbying emails.

 

Minute 57. Working draft of the proposed East Devon Local Plan 2020 - 2040.

Councillor Dan Ledger, Personal, Seaton Town Councillor and had received lobbying emails.

 

Minute 57. Working draft of the proposed East Devon Local Plan 2020 - 2040.

Councillor Eleanor Rylance, Personal, Broadclyst Parish Councillor and received lobbying emails.

 

Minute 57. Working draft of the proposed East Devon Local Plan 2020 - 2040.

Councillor Geoff Pratt, Personal, Received lobby email from one of the public speakers on their views on the working draft Local Plan.

 

Minute 57. Working draft of the proposed East Devon Local Plan 2020 - 2040.

Councillor Jake Bonetta, Personal, Honiton Town Councillor and received various lobbying emails including one from a public speaker and also from a developer from the south of Axminster.

 

Minute 57. Working draft of the proposed East Devon Local Plan 2020 - 2040.

Councillor Jess Bailey, Personal, Devon County Councillor.

 

Minute 57. Working draft of the proposed East Devon Local Plan 2020 - 2040.

Councillor Kevin Blakey, Personal, Cranbrook Town Councillor.

 

Minute 57. Working draft of the proposed East Devon Local Plan 2020 - 2040.

Councillor Mike Howe, Personal, Bishops Clyst Parish Councillor and owner of a convenience store in Clyst St Mary which is in my ward as a district councillor.

 

Minute 57. Working draft of the proposed East Devon Local Plan 2020 - 2040.

Councillor Olly Davey, Personal, Exmouth Town Councillor and have received a number of emails to do with specific villages, including one of the public speakers and also received an email regarding allocations and the suggestion that the village of Clyst St George and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 53.

54.

Matters of urgency

Information on matters of urgency is available online

 

Minutes:

There were no matters of urgency.

55.

Confidential/exempt item(s)

To agree any items to be dealt with after the public (including the Press) have been excluded. Thereare no itemswhich officersrecommendshould be dealtwithin thisway.

 

Minutes:

There were no confidential /exempt items

56.

Infrastructure Funding Statement pdf icon PDF 336 KB

This report summarises the contents of the East Devon District Infrastructure Funding Statement (IFS) and also highlights some of the key elements of the final IFS.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members considered the Service Lead – Planning Strategy and Development Management’s report summarising the outcome of the Infrastructure Funding Statement relating to Community Infrastructure Levy income and expenditure from 2021/21.

 

The Strategic Planning Committee noted the contents of the report and the requirement to provide an ‘Annual Infrastructure Funding Statement’ by 31 December 2021.

 

RECOMMENDATION:

Of approval for the publication and submission to government by 31 December 2021 of the 2020/21 ‘Annual Infrastructure Funding Statement’ based on the information detailed in the report.

 

DECISION:

The recommendation was approved by a Senior Officer.  The Senior Officer Decision Notice is listed above under Additional Documents.

57.

Working draft of the proposed East Devon Local Plan 2020 - 2040 pdf icon PDF 441 KB

This report introduces and highlights key matters within the working draft of the proposed new East Devon Local Plan covering the period of 2020 to 2040.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Service Lead – Planning Strategy and Development Management gave a short presentation to the Committee that introduced key issues to the initial proposed strategy and policies which had been developed in response to the vision and priorities of the Council Plan and outlined three priorities:

 

Better homes and communities for all

·         A strategy to deliver the right homes in the right places

·         Delivery of a range of dwellings of dwelling sizes, types and tenures

·         Delivery of more affordable housing

·         Deliver of housing for older people and those in need of accessible and adaptable homes

·         The requirement of self and custom build housing plots on developments of 20 homes or more

·         The implement of the nationally prescribed spaces standards to deliver better quality homes

·         To make provision for the needs of gypsies and travellers and travelling show people

·         The requirement of new developments to have access to superfast broadband

·         Conservation and enhancement of our built heritage

 

A Greener East Devon

·         To deliver net zero carbon development

·         To maximise opportunities to deliver renewable energy, district heat networks, zero carbon energy and energy storage facilities

·         To address the impact of embodied carbon from construction

·         To avoid developing land required for flood management

·         To incorporate sustainable drainage systems

·         To actively manage the impacts of coastal change in land use terms

·         Robust policies to protect important landscape features including AONBs, Coastal Preservation Areas, green wedges and land of local amenity importance

·         To protect and enhance bio-diversity including 20% net gain

 

A resilient economy

·         To locate employment development to improve settlement self-containment

·         To support the role and functions of the enterprise zone

·         The retention and reuse of existing employment land and buildings

·         To support urban regeneration schemes

·         To support farm diversification

·         To improve access to employment and raise skills levels through employment and skills statements

·         To promote town centres as cultural, leisure, retail and community hubs

·         To promote sustainable tourism

·         To protect local shops and community facilities

 

The Service Lead – Planning Strategy and Development Management addressed the spatial strategy which had been arrived at through an assessment of the available and suitable sites.  Officers favoured a proposal for a further new community in the west of the district with the opportunity of delivering high quality zero carbon development, to deliver sustainable growth that protects the AONBs and other designated natural and built heritage of the district from significant harm.

 

The Service Lead – Planning Strategy and Development Management asked Members to consider whether to accept sites that had scored low in assessments if they were to achieve the objectives of the Council Plan such as better self-containment within a settlement and drew Members attention to the shortfall of approximately 900 homes that had not been identified with a suitable site and asked Members to consider other options for meeting the housing shortfall.

 

The Chair advised the Committee that the order of the meeting would be to go through the working draft chapter by chapter and asked Members to start at Chapter 8 – tackling  ...  view the full minutes text for item 57.