Agenda item

To consider a report by Councillor Eryl Williams, Lead Member for Education (copy enclosed) updating Cabinet on the Local Development Plan and responses to the public consultation on additional housing sites and draft phasing policy.

RESOLVED that Cabinet  –

(a)        confirms the need to have an up to date adopted Local Development Plan for Denbighshire;

(b)        supports the phasing policy attached at Appendix 1 to the report and the intention to apply it to any additional housing sites submitted by Council to the Planning Inspectors;

(c)        notes the report and the representations received in response to the Council’s consultation on proposed additional housing sites and draft phasing policy and recommends that they be considered by full Council, and

(d)        agrees that any late representations be included for consultation by full Council.

Councillor Eryl Williams presented the report which provided an update on the Local Development Plan (LDP) including responses to the public consultation on additional housing sites and draft phasing policy together with an outline of the next steps.

The report provided some background history leading up to the current situation including a summary of key stages since work began on the LDP in 2006.  The main focus of the report was to feedback on the process and representations received in response to the consultation on proposed additional housing sites and the draft phasing policy which had been put forward in response to Planning Inspectors’ findings regarding housing need and supply issued in June 2012.  Cabinet’s support was sought for the draft phasing policy together with their recommendation that the phasing policy and consultation responses be considered by full Council.  Councillor Julian Thompson-Hill proposed that late representations also be considered in this case.  The Head of Planning and Public Protection (H:P&PP) advised that the acceptance of late representations would need to be drawn to the Inspectors’ attention and any late submissions would also need to be identified as such at full Council.  Cabinet agreed that late submissions should be accepted in line with the agreed process for Planning Committee.

Councillor Eryl Williams elaborated upon progress with the LDP and advised that 21 potential additional housing sites had been identified for consideration by full Council.  He highlighted the importance of ensuring relevant safeguards were in place to guarantee the phasing policy would not be considered unless the housing land supply fell below 5 years.  He added that he felt aggrieved by the Inspectors request for further sites to be included within the plan and let down by Assembly Members whose support had been sought over housing provision.

Cabinet discussed the report and expressed disappointment regarding the need to find additional housing sites in light of the extensive process which had already taken place.  Some members had concerns regarding individual sites proposed and the Leader advised that any site specific questions must be raised at full Council.  It was confirmed that each of the 21 sites would be voted upon individually.

Members took the opportunity to ask questions and discuss a number of issues with the Lead Member and officers arising from the report who responded as follows –

·        any additional housing sites agreed by full Council would be submitted to the Inspectors and hearing sessions would be held in January at which objectors would be given the opportunity to speak; objectors would be encouraged to elect a spokesperson but they did have the right to appear individually

·        the Inspectors would issue a report following the close of the hearing sessions and their recommendations would be binding on the Council

·        the Inspectors supported the new homes target of 7500 but did not believe enough land had been provided to deliver that amount before 2021.  Accordingly the Inspectors asked that further sites equating to 1000 houses be included in the plan; the potential 21 sites would provide 980 houses

·        reported upon a range of factors which had been taken into account to reach the housing need figure of 7500

·        officers believed that an acceptance of the phasing policy would protect those sites because they could only be released for development in specific circumstances

·        elaborated upon the extensive consultation process over the lifetime of the plan’s development and more recently on the additional housing sites which had also been consulted upon in the earlier stages

·        in considering affordable housing and projections for growth the census had shown population growth had not been as high as anticipated

·        density on sites had been discussed with the Inspector together with the levels of affordable housing which could be achieved and there was a need to ensure the most appropriate development for each particular area.

Councillor Arwel Roberts commented on the legalities of expressing his personal opinion and the Head of Legal and Democratic Services explained that members could express their opinion but reminded members that comments should be measured and all relevant facts must be taken into account before making a decision.  He added that he would be circulating an advice note to councillors before full Council on interests and declarations.

Councillor Alice Jones expressed her concerns regarding the LDP process including conclusions drawn from the study into housing occupancy and population growth and the affordable housing statement of common ground.  She also questioned whether Cabinet members would be obliged to vote in favour of the proposals at full Council.  The Leader stated that all councillors would vote as they saw fit which had always been the case.  Officers responded to the concerns regarding the housing study advising that 3000 houses had been built in Denbighshire but the population had only increased by 600 leading to the conclusion that the majority of those houses had not been occupied by people moving into the county.  The study showed that 87% of occupants had moved into the area from Wales with 67% having moved from elsewhere within Denbighshire.  The statement of common ground was a public document which had been produced following the Inspector’s request that the Council and representatives of house builders discuss the issues concerned.

Councillor Huw Williams welcomed additional housing in Llanbedr which would benefit the local businesses and school within the community.

Councillor Eryl Williams proposed the recommendations contained within the report and the amendment to accept and consider late representations and it was –

RESOLVED that Cabinet  –

(a)       confirms the need to have an up to date adopted Local Development Plan for Denbighshire;

(b)       supports the phasing policy attached at Appendix 1 to the report and the intention to apply it to any additional housing sites submitted by Council to the Planning Inspectors;

(c)        notes the report and the representations received in response to the Council’s consultation on proposed additional housing sites and draft phasing policy and recommends that they be considered by full Council, and

(d)       agrees that any late representations received by 5.00 p.m. on Monday 3 December would be reported to full Council on 4 December 2012.