Decision details

The following Motion was proposed by Councillor Freedman and seconded by Councillor Uttley:

This Council resolves:

·      to require all public firework displays within the local authority boundaries to be advertised in advance of the event, allowing residents to take precautions for their animals and vulnerable people

·      to actively promote a public awareness campaign about the impact of fireworks on animal welfare and vulnerable people–including the precautions that can be taken to mitigate risks

·      to write to the UK Government urging them to introduce legislation to limit the maximum noise level of fireworks to 90dB for those sold to the public for private displays

·      to encourage local suppliers of fireworks to stock ‘quieter’ fireworks for public display.

A vote was held:

17 for,

26 against,

2 abstentions,

Therefore the motion failed.

The following Motion was proposed by Councillor Tindall and seconded by Councillor Williams:

The recent changes to planning law made by the Government are causing a stir across the country, removing the right of local people to have a say in the planning process.

In protecting the public’s say in the planning process;

A. This Council notes:

1.  The publication by Government of the White Paper, ‘Planning for the Future’ on 6 August 2020, which set out proposals on reforms to the planning process for the future.

2.  That the vast majority of planning applications are given the go ahead by local authority planning committees, with permission granted to around 9 out of 10 applications.

3.  That research by the Local Government Association has said that there are existing planning permissions for more than one million homes that have not yet been started.

B.   This Council is concerned that the proposals seek to:

1.  Reduce or remove the right of residents to object to applications near them.

2.  Grant automatic rights for developers to build on land identified as ‘for growth’.

3.  Remove the consultation role of Parish and Town Councils to comment and make recommendations on local planning applications.

C.   This Council Further Notes:

1. The Royal Institute for British Architects called the proposals ‘shameful and which will do almost nothing to guarantee delivery of affordable, well-designed and sustainable homes’. RIBA also said that proposals could lead to the next generation of slum housing.

2. The reforms are opposed by the all-party Local Government Association, currently led by Conservative Councillors.

3.  That the reforms remove section 106 payments for infrastructure and proposes their replacement with a national levy, paid direct to councils and non-negotiable by developers.

D.  This Council Believes:

1.  That existing planning procedures, as currently administered by our own team in   Dacorum Borough Council allow for local democratic control over future development, and provides an opportunity for local people to make contributions regarding planning proposals that affect them.

2.  That proposals for automatic rights to build in ‘growth’ areas, and increased permitted development rights, risk unregulated growth and unsustainable communities.

3.  That local communities must be in the driving seat on shaping the future of their communities, and local determination of the planning framework and planning applications play an important part in this process.

E.   This Council requests that, when considering the response from Dacorum Borough Council, the Strategic Planning and Environment O&S Committee takes into account the sentiments expressed in this motion.

A vote was held:

42 for,

0 against,

0 abstentions,

Therefore the motion was carried.