Agenda item

1.      That the progress on preparing Dacorum’s Local Plan as set out in the report be noted.

2.      That the setting up of a Task and Finish group to consider key issues related to the Local Plan be agreed.

3.      That authority be delegated to the Corporate Director Housing and Regeneration in consultation with the Portfolio Holder Planning and Infrastructure to submit a bid for financial support from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government ‘Garden Cities Prospectus’.

Decision

1.      That the progress on preparing Dacorum’s Local Plan as set out in the report be noted.

2.      That the setting up of a Task and Finish group to consider key issues related to the Local Plan be agreed.

3.      That authority be delegated to the Corporate Director Housing and Regeneration in consultation with the Portfolio Holder Planning and Infrastructure to submit a bid for financial support from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government ‘Garden Cities Prospectus’.

Corporate objectives

The Council’s Local Plan helps support all 5 corporate objectives:

• Safe and clean environment: e.g. contains policies relating to the design and layout of new development that promote security and safe access;
• Community Capacity: e.g. provide a framework for local communities to prepare area-specific guidance such as Neighbourhood Plans, Town / Village Plans etc.;
• Affordable housing: e.g. sets the Borough’s overall housing target and the proportion of new homes that must be affordable;
• Dacorum delivers: e.g. provides a clear framework upon which planning decisions can be made; and
• Regeneration: e.g. sets the planning framework for key regeneration projects, such as Hemel Hempstead town centre and the Maylands Business Park.

Monitoring Officer/S.151 Officer comments

Monitoring Officer:  

If Cabinet approves the request to set up a Task and Finish Group, the request will be referred to the Programming Panel, which consists of the political group leaders or their representatives, who will appoint the membership of the group and decide upon the terms of reference for the group.

Deputy S.151 Officer

The submission of a funding application can be produced within the existing local plan approved funding and these funds will be profiled as required to support the delivery of the local plan.

Advice

Councillor G Sutton introduced the report to members and said it was an update on the progress of the Local Plan. Cabinet last considered the Local Plan in July and the timetable was agreed. The draft plan will be issued in Autumn 2019 alongside the production of a Growth and Infrastructure strategy. There is an intention to submit a bid to the Garden Communities programme to assist with the delivery of land.
Site falls to both sides of the boundary – HCC, DBC and St Albans. Major opportunity to bring forward new infrastructure. There is ongoing work to gather evidence for members to make informed decisions. This report also recommends setting up a Task and Finish Group.

Councillor Tindall referred to paragraph 14 and asked if this was a misphrasing as it sounds like Hemel Hempstead is being extended but placed in St Albans.

Councillor Williams said it refers to the St Albans extension to the East of Hemel Hempstead. The extension to the north is DBC. He said it was of benefit to DBC to emphasise the considerable issues arising from the east expansion. It may be in the St Albans district but the infrastructure, education and transport issues will fall heavily on DBC.

Councillor G Sutton said that Crown Estates are already marketing it as Hemel Hempstead East with no mention of St Albans.

Councillor Birnie said there might be an administrative problem with this area and who would be representing them.

Councillor Williams said it would fall under the Redbourn Ward in St Albans District Council.

Councillor Ritchie said it was disappointing that backbench members had not seen the responses from the original consultation. The link in the report does not work and members cannot wait another year to see the responses. He was also concerned that Task and Finish groups had clearly already been used.

Councillor Williams said this group took place in 2013.

Councillor Ritchie asked that backbench members were part of the task and finish group.

J Doe apologised that the link was not working and would resend a working link after the meeting.

Councillor Williams assured Councillor Ritchie that no work had already been undertaken to begin choosing sites for development. The ongoing technical work is to make sure the site is suitable for development.

Councillor Ritchie asked when the task and finish group would be formed.

Councillor Williams said the group leaders will need to meet to discuss who will sit on it and how many.

J Doe said the technical work was to ensure members had enough evidence to make decisions.

Councillor Williams said that the Cabinet had not seen this consultation feedback before so had seen it at the same time as the other members.

Councillor Marshall referred to the Garden Communities bid and asked what DBC would be asking for and what level of cooperation would be needed.

J Doe said they were still working out the details. The initial thoughts are for extra staffing for town planning, highway support and design guidance.

Councillor Elliot asked if we are on track to submit the bid in time.

J Doe said yes.

Councillor Elliot referred to paragraph 29 and asked what the Envelope Boundary Review was.

J Doe said that the borough had areas of Green Belt and the review would be to see if any of these boundaries need revising.

Councillor Tindall asked if the task and finish group would be working with the South West Herts Strategic Partnership or just standalone?

J Doe said it would just be working on DBC’s Local Plan. It wont just look at the sites but also look at the policies that will help shape development.

Councillor Williams said himself and the Chief Executive were attending fortnightly meetings with South West Herts partners.

Councillor Birnie said there was little mention in the report about the environmental considerations.

J Doe said the plan will be legally subject to a variety of assessments which will include the environment.

Voting

None.