Agenda item

Cabinet resolved to recommend to Council:

1.    That the new Dacorum Local Plan to 2041 Pre-Submission Version (Appendix 1), Proposed Submission Policies Map Publication Version (Appendix 2) and supporting documents be made available for a six-week publication period under Regulation 19 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012;

2.    Following the six-week period as referred to in recommendation (1) above, to authorise the Strategic Director for Place, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to submit the Dacorum Local Plan to 2041 Pre-Submission Version and all associated documents, together with a Statement including how the responses from previous consultations have been taken into account and a summary of the main issues raised in the publication stage responses, to the Secretary of State for independent examination under Regulation 22 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012;

3.    To authorise the Strategic Director for Place, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to make non-material changes and corrections to the Dacorum Local Plan to 2041 and supporting documents, to address editorial, typographical and grammatical errors, up to the close of consultation period;

4.    To authorise the Strategic Director for Place, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to propose changes and corrections to the Dacorum Local Plan to 2041 and supporting documents, including policy updates, editorial, typographical and grammatical errors, during and following the publicity period, plan submission and during examination;

5.    To authorise the Strategic Director for Place, once the Dacorum Local Plan to 2041 has been submitted for examination, to invite the examining Inspector(s) to recommend any modifications they consider to be necessary in accordance with section 20(7C) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004; and

6.    To approve the new Local Development Scheme (October 2024), attached at Appendix 3

It was agreed that the Local Plan (item 8) would be considered ahead of item 7 to continue the discussion started during public participation. 

Cllr Allen addressed officers, advising he had a couple of questions of his own but also felt there were a couple of strands he would like to raise where he feels the resident’s questions hadn’t quite been addressed;

1.      Regarding grey belt, this has been addressed in terms of specific sites in Berkhamsted but where have we got to in terms of grey belt potential elsewhere in the Borough?

2.      The other item is the issue of the feeling in Berkhamsted that they’ve had things hoisted on them in a way that Tring residents had more warning; so what was the timing and dynamic of these sites coming forward again and Berkhamsted residents having an opportunity to comment on them?

3.      Given the sensitive nature of Marshcroft, does not putting Marshcroft into the Local Plan potentially cause more predatory development as nothing in Dacorum is sacred anymore?

4.      Cllr Allen observed that on one hand Dacorum is facing the danger of predatory development, on other hand the Borough is saying there is not enough well advanced sites available as alternatives; seem to be two contradictory statements being made.  He asked; is there any way to explain how those are being reconciled?

Following a point of clarification being raised (indicating it was not felt the question had been answered), Cllr England addressed officers and reiterated the question submitted by Emma Lelieveld under public participation.

Cllr England addressed officers and asked; we are trying to understand why there are not more sites which are capable of technical qualification and have willing land owners, is that because they do not exist or is it due to the resource we have available to identify these?

Cllr Smith-Wright addressed the committee and expressed she feels that we are being asked to make a decision that very much doesn’t feel comfortable.  Expressing that she would like to see that the environment is very much kept in mind for future building; for the Council to talk to developers from the word go to ask them to put sustainability and the ecological emergency at the forefront so that any houses that are built will not be a travesty to our towns and villages.

Cllr Dhyani expressed that the Cabinet want to be known as a listening Council; to take on board the feedback of residents as the people that have to live here, we want to ensure we get the right infrastructure alongside the right houses in Dacorum.

Cllr Bromham advised that he would like to push the sustainability of heating of homes and sustainable travel, want us to utilise this plan to put our aspirations forward to achieve actions that will reduce the cost of living and quality of life and pollution etc.

Cllr Bromham asked a point of clarification question regarding the west Berkhamsted sites and accessibility; the high street as we know is already very congested.  If sites 2, 3 and 4 in Berkhamsted do not meet that requirement in view of inspectors,

The officer responses to questions raised and the full discussion on this matter can be viewed through the video minutes.

Decision;

Cllr England presented the recommendations as set out in the report, which were

agreed.