Report of Paul Claussen, Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Economic Development and Growth.

The Chairman asked the Director of Planning and Building Control, and Councillor Mark Kiddle-Morris, Executive Support Member for Planning to present the report.

The report sought approval to adopt the Norfolk Green Infrastructure and Recreational Avoidance and Mitigation Strategy (GIRAMS) and associated Statement of Common Ground.  All planning applications that affected protected areas would be subject to a habitat assessment.  Members were invited to approve the strategy and were informed of the implications it would have for neighbouring authorities as well as planning applications going forward, if they did not.

The Strategy would be managed by Norfolk County Council and there would be a Member Board to oversee the management of that strategy of which the District would be represented.  Members heard that neighbouring Local Authorities had already agreed and implemented the strategy.

Councillor Hewett acknowledged that the strategy was required but the report suggested it would act as a shield to protect recreational impact and he did not want to see the strategy used to prohibit development.

Councillor Cowen had noted in the report that every new dwelling should pay £185.93 but asked how it would work for student accommodation or care homes where there were multiple rooms. He was also keen to understand the governance arrangements and how the fees raised would be ringfenced for the district.

Members heard that there was a formula which addressed the accommodation issue (2.5 units was equal to 1 dwelling).  It was agreed that it was important for the Governance to be in place and that any fees would be collected and distributed through a Section 106 process or a Unilateral Undertaking for minor development.  Continual monitoring would be undertaken to ensure that the monies were being used within the appropriate timescale.

Councillor Kybird asked if this would affect the future development already planned for the sustainable urban extensions.  He also felt that the collection recommendations should highlight a detailed breakdown of costs. 

The Director of Planning and Building Control felt that the recommendation encompassed the collection of tariffs for all developments and was more appropriate rather than referring to specific parts of the strategy.  In addition, Norfolk County Council had taken legal advice on how the financial elements would be taken into account for the Sustainable Urban Extensions and that recreational impact of development should be discussed at reserved matters stage of an application.  Where an application failed to do this, then reserved matters applications would need to be re-assessed and therefore the new tariffs would apply.  Members were informed that the Planning Authority were in discussions with the developers regarding the Thetford and Attleborough Urban Extensions applications.  

Options:

1)    To approve the Norfolk Green Infrastructure and Recreational Avoidance and Mitigation Strategy (GIRAM Strategy) and the Statement of Common Ground which commits planning authorities to an immediate review of the GIRAMS mitigation package.

2)    To not approve the Norfolk Green Infrastructure and Recreational Avoidance and Mitigation Strategy (GIRAM Strategy) and the Statement of Common Ground which commits planning authorities to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 34