Public Participation
To consider questions (if any) by members of the public of which the appropriate notice has been given to the Assistant Director (Chief Executive’s Unit).
Decision:
Questions were asked by the following to the Leader of the Council.
1. Anne Lyne
2. Stuart Batchelor
3. Heather Ebdon
4. Catherine Duvall
5. Julie James
6. Henry Wallis
7. Lee Royal (on behalf of WHAG)
8. Leo Bedford
9. Sam Graham
(The full questions and responses are detailed in the minutes)
Minutes:
Question from Anne Lyne to the Leader of the Council
The Core Strategy and assumed housing demand on which the Local Allocations are quantified, was set in 2013. Some 3 years later, how does proposed housing supply outside the LAs exceed the Core Strategy assumptions; what is the current status of the five year consented supply of housing; and to what extent does this reduce the numbers of houses required in the LAs?
Answer from the Leader of the Council.
Currently the Council can demonstrate a supply of available sites for housing for a period of 5.9 years. This Government’s requirement is for us to demonstrate a minimum of 5 years.
All sites, including the six Local Allocations are required to meet the housing delivery targets in the Core Strategy. Delivery of new housing has been below the annual target of 430 new homes in the past 2 years. While the supply of housing through planning permissions has increased recently, at the present time the Council does not anticipate the Core Strategy assumptions over housing provision being exceeded
The Mayor presented a question on behalf of Stuart Batchelor.
As I can't attend the meeting regarding the building of housing on Greenbelt land in Potten end/Chaulden lane area 20/01/16, I would like the Mayor to read this below question out on my behalf please. Thanking you in advance Can the council guarantee or give me assurances that all companies involved in the development of land for housing within the Dacorum area on Greenbelt land between Chaulden Lane and Potten End and any other Greenbelt land that it intends to build on are registered here in the UK and that they pay their correct amount of UK taxes, as after looking up the various developments within Dacorum's post code areas on the below website they all appear to be registered overseas for tax avoidance purposes and I don't think the council should be seen doing business with these sort of companies. Thank you S Batchelor I include the website address below so that others can also look this up themselves http://www.private-eye.co.uk/registry
Answer from the Leader of the Council.
The developers interested in building new housing at LA3 are Barratt Homes and Taylor Wimpey. Both are large, well established housebuilders within the UK. The Council has no contractual relationship between these companies or others in their capacity to deliver the Local Allocation sites. The purpose of the Core Strategy and Site Allocation documents is to set the proper planning policy, context and requirements for the development of these sites. Checking any company’s tax or financial credentials is therefore not necessary nor a material planning factor in the identification and selection of LA3 and other sites.
The Mayor presented a question on behalf of Heather Ebdon.
Would the Council agree that their strategy for growth in their Borough is one which allows the unbridled expansion of Hemel Hempstead whilst protecting the tranquillity of other communities such as Bovingdon, Berkhamsted and Tring? I cannot be ... view the full minutes text for item 41