To receive any apologies for absence

Apologies for Absence were received from Councillors Bicknell and Saunders.

To receive any declarations of interest

Councillor Bathurst declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in any item relating to the Windsor Link Railway (WLF) however he had been issued a dispensation from the former Managing Director to take part in discussions at LPWG meetings that related to the WLR.

To consider the Part I minutes of the meeting held on 7 March 2016

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That the Part I minutes of the meeting held on 7 March 2016 be approved.

To receive and consider the above report.

Members considered the draft communication strategy for the Borough Local Plan, as requested at the last meeting.

The strategy highlighted that Councillor D. Wilson, as the Lead Member for Planning, was the official spokesperson. Shauna Hichens (Corporate Communications Officer) was the named press contact. The strategy set out the four key messages as to why a Local Plan was needed, and the council’s obligations in terms of accommodating development.

The Local Plan had been through two Regulation 18 consultations and was now in the process of a Regulation 19 consultation, which would take place 6 weeks prior to submission to the Secretary of State. All comments previously made had been built in to the document that would be the final submission to the Secretary of State. Comments on the soundness of the plan could be made in August and September 2016. If the timetable were delayed, the council risked intervention by the DCLG. Members noted that the target audience defined in the strategy was not exhaustive.

Councillor Walters commented that the first bullet point of the council’s obligations should read:

·        Dwellings that need to be built……..

Councillor Bathurst commented that he felt the key messages were too narrowly focussed and needed to highlight the positive case for change, including sustainable development, outcomes for residents and public facilities. The Strategic Director commented that although the strategy was in the main an internal document, it would be a good idea to include positive potential outcomes as key messages. 

Councillor Hilton commented that the third bullet point under key messages should read:

·        Adoption of the Local Plan will give residents greater  certainty about the development strategy and future land uses within the Royal Borough.

Councillor Bateson suggested that the second bullet point under key messages should read:

·        To seek to avoid planning decisions being made at appeal, which may not factor in local preferences.

ACTION: The Draft Communications Strategy to be revised in light of comments by Members as detailed above and submitted by Councillor Saunders via email, and circulated to all Members of the Group. Members of the Group were requested to respond with comments within 24 hours of the revised draft being circulated.

To receive and consider the above report.

Members considered a summary of the results from the Summer 2015 consultation. It was noted that a full report on the consultation would be brought to the Group.

Councillor Beer arrived at 6.52pm.

It was highlighted to Members that:

·        643 responses were received

·        Respondents did not have to live in the borough to comment

·        Poundfield was the area of land most people suggested was suitable for designation as a local green space, followed by Ray Mill Road East and Braywick Park

·         A wide variety of responses were given to questions about leisure facilities; these were still being analysed

·        The areas most popular for tall buildings were the station, Stafferton Way and the Broadway Triangle

·        The majority of respondents were in favour of the Windsor Link Railway, although a variety of concerns about the project were raised

To receive and consider the above report.

Members received an updated version of the Local Development Scheme (LDS) which covered the timetable of the Borough Local Plan. Members noted that:

·        A new paragraph had been added to explain the background to plan making.

·        The LDS included a list of current Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs) and new ones to come

·        A joint waste and minerals plan was being developed with Wokingham and Bracknell; there was no political appetite from Reading to be involved

·        A separate Gypsy and Traveller Local Plan (not an SPD) would be developed

·        The Statement of Community Involvement had been revised

·        The LDS would be reviewed every year

The Team Leader – Borough Local Plan explained that an SPD was adopted by the local authority but, unlike a local plan, was not examined in public. SPDs had to be consulted on and be in a prescribed format. The purpose of an SPD was to illustrate how policies should be implemented and to allow people to make successful planning applications.  SPDs did not allocate site or make policy.

Councillor Wilson commented that a borough-wide design guide had been desired for a long time. It would cover amenity space including areas around a development.

In relation to the Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area SPD Councillor Hilton commented that by the time a new SANG was published, capacity would have been reached therefore it would be important to allow a new SANG to be added without too much difficulty. The Team Leader – Borough Local Plan agreed; a SANG generally needed a planning application. It was noted that the Allen’s Field application was taken to Cabinet.

Councillor Beer asked whether the council was adequately covered in relation to flooding or would an SPD be needed? The Team Leader – Borough Local Plan responded that the requirements were in not in the gift of the local authority and had to be referred to the Environment Agency. The council would do as much as it could within the restrictions. It was not proposed at this stage to have a separate flooding SPD.

Members considered the timetables for the Borough Local Plan and various SPDs as detailed on pages 19-24 of the report. During discussions it was highlighted that:

·        All remaining saved policies of the Local Plan (2003) would be in place until a new Borough Local Plan was adopted. Recent court cases demonstrated that no weight could be given to the emerging Local Plan until it was formally adopted.

ACTION: The Team Leader – Borough Local Plan to send Cllr Walters copies of recent High Court cases.

·        In relation to CIL, the council was awaiting the Inspector’s decision on Tandridge District Council which was in a similar position as it did not have an up to date Local Plan in place.

·        The government’s Starter Homes Initiative was still being consulted upon and therefore the definition of Affordable Housing could widen

·        Members of the Group would be given an early opportunity to comment on the Borough-wide design guide

·        A completed  ...  view the full minutes text for item 63.

To consider passing the following resolution:-

“That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the remainder of the meeting whilst discussion takes place on items 6-7 on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1-7 of part I of Schedule 12A of the Act"

RESOLVERD UNANIMOUSLY: That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the remainder of the meeting whilst discussion takes place on items 6-7 on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1-7 of part I of Schedule 12A of the Act

To receive the above update.

To consider the Part II minutes of the meeting held on 7 March 2016

To receive and consider the above report.

To receive the above report.

To receive the above verbal update.