To confirm the Minutes of the meeting held on 18 September 2007.

The minutes of the meeting held on 18 September 2007 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Mr I. Monson, Mr P. Duigan, Mrs M. Chapman-Allen and Mrs P. Quadling.

Members are asked at this stage to declare any interests that they may have in any of the following items on the agenda.  The Members' Code of Conduct requires that declarations include the nature of the interest and whether it is a personal or prejudicial interest.

The following declarations in regard to agenda item 6 were made:

• Mr S.G. Bambridge – Personal interest from professional interest in LDF
• Mr  J.P. Cowen – Personal interest as Architect in practice in relation to LDF and planning matters
• Councillor C. Bowes – Personal interest as owns land in Watton
• Mr R. Childerhouse – Personal interest as family are landowners in the district
• Mr J.R. Rogers – Personal & prejudicial interest in relation to LDF matters relating to Carbrooke
• Mr J.P. Labouchere – Personal interest as landowner in North Elmham
• Mr W.P. Borrett – Personal interest as business company has made representations in regard to the LDF
• Mr A. Byrne – Personal interest as property owner in Snetterton

To note the names of any non-members wishing to address the meeting.

Members of the Development Control Committee are cordially invited to attend for agenda item 6.

The following members were in attendance for agenda item 6:

Mr S.G. Bambridge

Mr W.P. Borrett

Councillor Claire Bowes

Mr A.J. Byrne

Mr J.P. Cowen

Mr P.S. Francis

Mrs S.R. Howard-Alpe

Mrs D.K.R. Irving

Mr R. Kemp

Mr M.A. Kiddle-Morris

Mr J.P. Labouchere

Mr B. Rose

Mrs A.L. Steward – Executive Member (Planning & Housing)

The Environmental Planning Manager introduced the report, which was to go forward to Cabinet on 20^th November for approval to consult on a series of Preferred Policy Options (Reg. 26) for the Core Strategy and Development Control Policies Development Plan Document that would form part of the Local Development Framework (LDF).

The Options had been devised following extensive community and stakeholder consultation during 2005 and 2007.

The proposed consultation period would run for a minimum period of six weeks and the results would be reported back to members in due course, prior to submitting a final document to the Government later in 2008.

Members’ views were being sought on the Core Strategy and suggested Preferred Policy Options, which would form the Council’s broad overarching strategy for the next 20 years.

The report set out the background and policy framework against which the Core Strategy and policies were being developed, which had to be consistent with the Statement of Community Involvement, together with details of the consultations undertaken to date; the background to the preferred policy options (Reg. 26) and sustainability appraisal, as well as the tests of soundness against which the policies would be examined by the Planning Inspectorate. 

The life of the Development Plan had been extended from 2021 to 2026 to take in the new Government guidance under PPS3 for a 15 year land supply for housing; this proposal had been consulted on and agreed previously.

Copies of the supporting documents folders were circulated to members at the meeting.  Members were asked to retain their copies of all documents for reference purposes at succeeding meetings.

Consideration was then given to the following elements of the Development Plan, as outlined in the Executive Summary for Members (Appendix 2 of the report) and detailed in Appendix 3 (Core Strategy and Development Control Policies Preferred Options 2007).  The debate took the form of members’ comments, questions and answers, the main points arising from which are summarised as follows:

Spatial Vision for Breckland to 2026

• Delivery of the aims under the Spatial Vision would flow through the wider strategic objectives and core policies contained in Appendix 3, which had been drafted and designed to deliver the strategy.  Added to this, delivery went beyond sole issues of land use within Breckland; it had to be balanced with consideration by the other authorities and agencies that had responsibility for delivery of certain elements of the strategy.
  
  
• Of the target for delivery of 19,000 new homes in the period to 2026, existing allocations (including those completed and with existing planning permission) totalled some 10,841, which meant that the requirements for new sites amounted to approximately 11,000.  Of these, 6,000 were targeted for Thetford and the remaining 5,000 targeted in the remainder of the district.
  
  
• Concern was raised that the ‘Green Agenda’ was not sufficiently embedded within the core strategy and its policies.  It was explained that additional and more detailed information in relation to this would be given and considered as part of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 68.

Members are invited to consider any additional items or topics for inclusion on the future work programme.

Items currently listed in the Panel’s programme are:

• LDF and associated issues (ongoing)
• New Planning Regulations – when developed
• Regional Framework – interrelation with LDF and compatibility of policies
• Thetford Growth Point Programme – periodic updates
• A47-A1067 Link Road Improvement – periodic updates

23 October 2007

• LDF: Preferred Options (part 1)

8 November 2007

• LDF: Preferred Options (part 2)

Item deferred to the next meeting.

To note the arrangements for the next meeting of the Panel to be held on Thursday, 8 November 2007 at 10.00 a.m. in the Norfolk Room, Conference Suite, Elizabeth House, Dereham.

The arrangements for the next meeting on 8 November 2007 were noted.  The meeting would conclude the adjourned items from agenda item 6 (Minute 68/07 above) and would consider the second part of the Preferred Options: Development Control Policies.