The Chairman informed Members that he may be required to leave the meeting before it had finished.  As the Vice-Chairman had sent his apologies, Members of the Cabinet were asked to propose a Vice-Chairman for the meeting in line with Standing Order 34.

Following a proposal, which was duly seconded, it was agreed that Councillor Ian Sherwood be appointed as Vice-Chairman of the meeting.

To confirm the Minutes of the meeting held on 7 February 2022.

The minutes of the meeting held on 7 February were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive apologies for absence. 

An apology was received from Councillor Paul Claussen.  The Chief Executive had also forwarded her apologies.

To note whether the Chairman proposes to accept any item as urgent business, pursuant to Section 100(B)(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972.

The Chairman continued to meet with Officers in relation to the Ukraine crisis to discuss the support that Breckland and Norfolk could provide, and a briefing would be issued to Members shortly that would provide further clarity.  As the picture of the crisis continually changed, the website would remain up to date and Steve James, Executive Director would be the point of contact for Breckland Council.

The duties to register, disclose and not to participate for the entire consideration of the matter, in respect of any matter in which a Member has a disclosable pecuniary interest are set out in Chapter 7 of the Localism Act 2011.  Members are also required to withdraw from the meeting room as stated in the Standing Orders of this Council.

Councillor Philip Cowen said that as he was an Architect in practice, whilst he had no direct Declaration of Pecuniary Interest, for transparency he would leave the room for Agenda Item 8: Breckland Local Plan: Call for Sites.

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

The Chairman welcomed all Members present to the meeting.  

Nothing to report.

To consider the grants put forward (if any). 

Councillor Alison Webb, Executive Member for Housing, Health and Communities said there had been no applications.

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

The Chairman asked the Executive Support Member, Councillor Mark Kiddle-Morris to support with the presentation of this item. 

The report sought approval to undertake an initial consultation on a ‘Call for Sites’ exercise to invite anyone with a potential development or a Local Green Space site to submit it to the Council for consideration as part of the Local Plan process.

Councillor Hewett said it was a necessary step in the first stage of the review of the Local Plan, and the Council needed to be clear on where there could be opportunities for land available for future development.

Councillor Atterwill stated that as Saham Toney and Swanton Morley had both recently completed Neighbourhood Plans as well as including additional land for development, he asked if they could be excluded from the consultation as they had undertaken everything that had been asked of them.

Andrew D’Arcy, Planning Policy Manager confirmed that any sites that had been provided within the Neighbourhood Plans would be taken into account when housing numbers were considered.

As Saham Toney and Swanton Morley already had allocated sites, the Chairman asked for it to be clarified, that, if through this process, the Council still expected further housing from those parishes or would they be excluded.

Simon Wood, Director for Planning and Building Control explained that there was a housing number the Council was required to meet and was required to undertake this piece of work to achieve the housing strategy.  Whilst he understood the point made by Councillor Atterwill, additional sites were necessary and may or may not be required within those parishes.  He could not confirm at this stage that they should not be involved but would take into consideration the allocation that had been provided within their Neighbourhood Plans.

Councillor Atterwill added that Saham Toney and Swanton Morley had gone above and beyond their allocations within their Neighbourhood Plans and suggested would it not be better for the Council to exclude those parishes within the first stage of the call for sites, and then ask for further sites should more housing be required at a later stage.

Members were informed that whilst the work of both Saham Toney and Swanton Morley had been acknowledged, including the submission of over-allocation, it would be inappropriate to exclude them at this stage.  t Neighbourhood Plans should be continually updated and reviewed and there would be a need to revisit some of the work that Saham Toney and Swanton Morley had already done.

Councillor Kybird asked if existing applications needed to be resubmitted and felt it should be made clear within the announcements.  It was confirmed that this was the case and had been made clear within the guidance notes.

Councillor Bambridge said that whilst he fully supported and noted that both Saham Toney and Swanton Morley had submitted additional spaces within their Neighbourhood Plan, he felt it would go against democratic principles if they were to be excluded from this process.

The Chairman thanked both Saham Toney and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 33/22

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 34/22

To note that the date of the next meeting of Cabinet will be held on 25 April 2022 at 9.30am in the Anglia Room, The Conference Centre, Elizabeth House, Walpole Loke, Dereham, NR19 1EE.

The arrangements for the next meeting on 25 April at 9.30am in the Anglia Room, The Conference Centre, Elizabeth House, Walpole Loke, Dereham were noted.