Minutes:
T Ritchie asked how much of the 2017 Local Plan Issues and Options consultation has been taken into account in the new document. T Ritchie also asked for clarification when the document was published and distributed as it still seems to be a draft one year on. Also T Ritchie mentioned that Members had contacted him and were finding it difficult to access the document, so queried how this had been circulated. T Ritchie also wanted more details on the extensive discussion with infrastructure providers including Herts County and Herts Valley Care Commissioning Group.
J Doe said the report has been published on the website, it had, in error, a draft watermark on it but it had been removed as the report published is the final version. A link has been circulated to Members of the Committee. The document will be used to inform the Local Plan which is in draft and there will be the opportunity for everyone to comment in the public consultation from November to January subject to the approval by Cabinet in November. There will be a topic paper which goes through the consultation. The main issues that were highlighted in the 2017 consultation were the high housing numbers and the use of green belt land. We need to meet the objectively assessed housing targets and even though we will make the best use of our urban land, we will still need to make some use of green belt land. The concerns around provision of infrastructure will be addressed by the Infrastructure Delivery Plan, which is in progress of development at the moment. When the infrastructure will be delivered will be linked in the detailed processing of each site. Work on the infrastructure plan has been ongoing for a year and we have consulted extensively with the appropriate providers. Members will have the chance to comment when we are in a position to report on that plan.
Cllr Anderson mentioned that the report had previously been to Committee and has already been considered. The Chairman advised that not many of the Members of this current Committee were part of this committee at that time.
Cllr Taylor said that his question relates to the meeting last week and the response sent out on Monday. The Chairman confirmed that the response hasn’t been sent out yet and advised that we will get to that later in the correct agenda item.
Cllr Timmis wanted comment about the proposed number of houses in the green belt. The idea that we’re not building homes or trying to avoid doing so, is not the relevant issue. What is relevant is that more than a third will be on green field growth areas, which is excessive. Cllr Timmis also mentioned that in parliament today the algorithm used to assess the amount of numbers of housing that is being proposed was questioned by a Conservative MP and asked why we can’t challenge these numbers as a Council.
The Chairman mentioned that this question also is best considered during the next item on the agenda.