Agenda and draft minutes

Minutes of the previous meetings held on 3 September and 11 September 2024.

The minutes of the Strategic Planning Committee held on 3 September and 11 September 2024 were confirmed as true records.

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

There were no declarations of interest.

Information on public speaking is available online

There were no public speakers.

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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.

There were none.

This report sets the scene for the redrafting of the written text of the Local Plan in respect of Chapters 10, 11, 12, 14 and 16.

In view of the comments received to the Regulation 18 draft Local Plan consultation the committee considered the first redraft of the wording and policies to the following chapters.

Committee noted that there was a need for further refinement in readiness for the proposed Regulation 19 draft of the Plan which would be brought back for members consideration in December 2024.

Chapter 10 Designing beautiful and healthy spaces and buildings

In addition to the proposed minor changes the committee proposed the following additions to be included:

Ø  Rural character should be included in policy DSO1 sub-section 3 as this needs to be valued alongside the historic and architectural character of the area;

Ø  A set approach on distances is required for policy DSO1 3(c) to avoid having to rely on officers’ general assessments on the impacts to adjoining residential properties.  The Assistant Director – Planning Strategy and Development Management advised that this could be included in the district design guide but was too detailed for the Local Plan.  Inclusion in a design guide would give members clearer guidance and reference to the guide could be added to justification for inclusion of policy on page 45;

The chair proposed the endorsement of the revised wording to Chapter 10 subject to the amendments discussed.

RESOLVED:

The revised wording to Chapter 10 be endorsed subject to the amendments discussed.

Chapter 11 Prioritising sustainable travel and providing the transport and communications facilities we need

In addition to key changes detailed in paragraph 4.3 in the report, the deletion of two policies in Chapter 11 to avoid the repetition of national policy and the amended wording removing the reference to 20-minute neighbourhoods, the Committee proposed the following additions to be included:

Ø  To change the words ‘where appropriate’ to ‘where possible’ in Policy TR01 (first paragraph, second sentence) as shared footways and cycleways do not work and should be segregated.  The Assistant Director – Planning Strategy and Development Management did agree in principle but suggested the implications would affect families with young children wanting to use the shared spaces.  He advised that the wording of the policy would need to be considered further to make a distinction between commuter and leisure routes and be brought back at the Regulation 19 stage for committee’s consideration.

Ø  The Otter Trail needs to be included in TR02 under a) strategic cycle network schemes;

Ø  Policy TR03 is too general and vague and specific detail is needed to determine when transport assessments are required.  The Assistant Director – Planning Strategy and Development Management advised the committee that such detail was best dealt with through validation checklist where it could be more readily updated; 

Ø  Secure battery charging for bikes should be considered;

Ø  Cycle routes for new development sites need to be connected to existing cycle routes;

Ø  Cycleways should not specifically be named in the policy as this will limit any new cycleways coming forward in the future.  It was suggested to include the wording ‘and any further  ...  view the full minutes text for item 37.