Agenda and minutes

To confirm the minutes of the previous meeting held on 23 October 2024

The minutes of the meeting held on 23 October 2024 were confirmed as a correct record.

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

None.

Information on public speaking is available online

A statement was read out on behalf of Clem Davies, from the Lympstone Water Quality Group.  The Lympstone Water Quality Group, which is coordinating a catchment-based project to assess, protect, and improve the water quality in the Wotton Brook and adjacent Exe Estuary.  The statement set out the need for a strategy which embeds water quality into all stages of the planning process, along with flood risk and biodiversity.  The lack of any real attention to water quality throughout the Local Plan, including Chapter 7, was concerning considering the following:

1. The fundamental importance of water quality to biodiversity, human health, and the local economy;

2. The widely reported range of pollutants in our natural watercourses from sewage

systems, agriculture, roads, and urban developments;

3. The impact of climate change – increasing surface water runoff which carries pollutants and causes flooding;

4. Wide public concern.

Neither the Sustainability Appraisal or the Site Selection Methodology adequately address water quality issues - and the draft Habitats Regulations Assessment has little clarity on this issue.  Fundamentally, it needs to ensure that:

1. Water quality is considered early in the planning process - at the site selection, project concept, and design stages.

2. Consideration is given to catchment-based risks and the capacity of the sewage system.

3. Every planning application is supported by a water quality risk assessment.

4. Risk management controls are incorporated into the design, e.g., an effective surface water treatment system to prevent pollution.

5. The controls are maintained in perpetuity.

6. A temporary surface water treatment system is developed before construction work commences to prevent pollution (e.g., from sediment and oil).

Dr Karen Goaman, a Hawkchurch resident, addressed the committee on the lithium ion battery energy storage, covered under Chapter 7 being considered at the meeting.  The risk of thermal runaway leading to a fire and explosion in a lithium ion battery energy storage system (BESS) cannot be eliminated. Suppression systems cannot stop an exothermic reaction.  She outlined the extensive requirements needed to manage such a risk.  No farming or biodiversity is possible on a BESS.  She outlined changes needed to policy C03, including not permitting farming on a BESS site; and that developers should provide robust evidence including insurance cover for loss of life and livelihood; any decommissioning costs should also be met by the developer.  She also made reference to substations and requested help to prevent developers taking advantage of rural land, not to industrialise it.

Mr Mo Dobson, representing the parish of Hawkchurch, also outlined the risks with lithium battery energy storage. He welcomed the improvements to the policy but asked for further enhancement by including a clear indication that the Environment Agency would be engaged with any proposals for containment in the event of an incident.  He also asked for clear mapping of ground water source protection zones so that developers and officers were aware and clear on their location in relation to any BESS proposals, to avoid significant risks to private residents. Decommissioning guarantees were  ...  view the full minutes text for item 228.

Information on matters of urgency is available online

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

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The report set out redrafted chapters of the local plan for proposed inclusion in the Regulation 19 draft of the plan. It was highlighted that at this stage the wording provided is not regarded as necessarily being the final wording that should be included, but it is intended to give a very clear steer on the policies that officers would advise for inclusion in the plan and a draft of wording that should apply.

The chapters considered were:

·       Chapter 3 – the spatial strategy

·       Chapter 5 – future growth and development on the western side of East Devon

·       Chapter 7A – responding to the climate emergency

·       Chapter 7B – adaptation and resilience to climate change

·       Chapter 13 – protecting and enhancing our outstanding biodiversity and geodiversity

An element of renumbering of chapters would come forward in the proposed Regulation 19 draft plan.

Chapter 3 The Spatial Strategy

Redrafting included:

·       Brief explanation of the terms “significant development” at Principal/Main Centres and “local needs” at Local Centres and Service Villages added in the supporting text to Strategic Policy 1, with minor amendments to the policy itself;

·       Deleted Strategic Policy 2 – ‘Housing Distribution’ as it is a description of where houses will be built, based upon allocations already in policy elsewhere, rather than adding any ‘new’ policy content. The figures in the table would also date very quickly, as the housing monitoring is updated annually;

·       The policy on ‘Levels of future housing development’ (Strategic Policy 3 in the Reg. 18 Draft Local Plan, now SP 02) had been simplified;

·       For clarity, the Designated Neighbourhood Area Housing Requirement had been separated into a standalone dedicated strategic policy. This is policy SP 03: Housing Requirement by Designated Neighbourhood Area. This makes it clear that the figures are minimums and what the net (residual) requirement is, if any, to be met by future Neighbourhood Plans. The supporting text explained how this will be monitored and applied, including where there is any shortfall;

·       The former Policy 4, now SP04, had been simplified and clarified to establish the approach to supporting economic development of office, industrial, and storage/distribution job sectors across the District, and the allocations that are expected to deliver these uses. The justification now refers to the EDNA assessed level of minimum need and to the Council’s Economic Development Strategy as sources of evidence;

·       Deleted Strategic Policy 5 – ‘Mixed use developments incorporating housing, employment and community facilities’ based on concerns of economic viability, whether it would work in practice and whether there is real demand for what may be delivered. Instead, the Local Plan allocates a number of larger developments site as mixed use – to incorporate both housing and employment uses;

·       Policy on ‘Development inside settlement boundaries’ and  ‘Development beyond settlement boundaries’ had minor re-drafting;

·       A new strategic policy (SP 07) has been added on the delivery of infrastructure.

Discussion included:

·       The optional standard on minimum space/size of homes was raised as an example  ...  view the full minutes text for item 231.