Issue - decisions

Matter for Decision

Monitoring is an important part of the planning process, providing feedback on the performance of development plan policies in terms of their use and implementation. The Council is required to produce an Annual Monitoring Report on at least a yearly basis.

 

The draft Annual Monitoring Report was attached as Appendix A of the Officer’s report for agreement.

 

Decision of Executive Councillor for Planning and Climate Change

Agreed the content of the Annual Monitoring Report (Appendix A of the Officer’s report).

 

Reason for the Decision

As set out in the Officer’s report.

 

Any Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

Not applicable.

 

Scrutiny Considerations

The Committee received a report from the Planning Policy Officer.

 

In response to Members’ questions the Head of Planning Services and Planning Policy Officer said the following:

 

       i.          Circa 700 houses needed to be completed each year for the Council to meet projected need. Provision was below this amount prior to 2007, but increasing from 2011.

     ii.          Housing trajectory has assessed using housing completions and projections looking at:

·       Existing site allocations from the 2006 Local Plan;

·       Sites of 10 or more dwellings with planning permission

·       Allocations identified in the Local Plan 2014: Proposed Submission.

   iii.          The Council as local planning authority had done all that it could to make sites available for development. House building figures had been affected by the economic down turn. Completion figures were higher since 2011 due to growth sites and urban extensions coming forward.

   iv.          A rise in demand had led to pressure to bring development sites forward. Annual Monitoring Report figures were based on evidence provided by developers. Demand was expected to rise in future.

    v.          An Annual Monitoring Report would be produced on an annual basis as the Local Plan progresses.

 

Councillors requested a change to the recommendations. Councillor Reid formally proposed to withdraw the following recommendation from the Officer’s report as it was no longer required (no amendments were made at DPSSC):

·       (Former 2.1b) To agree that if any amendments are necessary, these should be agreed by the Executive Councillor in consultation with Chair and Spokes of Development Plan Scrutiny Sub Committee.

 

The Committee approved withdrawing this recommendation unanimously.

 

The Committee resolved unanimously to endorse the recommendation (former 2.1a) as amended.

 

The Executive Councillor approved the recommendation.

 

Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Executive Councillor (and any Dispensations Granted)

No conflicts of interest were declared by the Executive Councillor.