Agenda for Executive on Tuesday, 30 April 2019, 10.00am

Agenda and decisions

Venue: Shimkent Room, Daneshill House, Danestrete

Contact: Ian Gourlay (01438) 242703 

Items
No. Item

1.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Decision:

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Ralph Raynor.

 

There were no declarations of interest.

2.

MINUTES - 14 MARCH 2019 pdf icon PDF 115 KB

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on 14 March 2019 for signature by the Chair.

Decision:

It was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Executive meeting held on 14 March 2019 be approved as a correct record for signature by the Chair.

3.

LOCAL DEVELOPMENT SCHEME (LDS) pdf icon PDF 160 KB

To consider updates to the Local Development Scheme (LDS) and to approve a revised LDS.

Additional documents:

Decision:

The Portfolio Holder for Environment and Regeneration advised that the Council’s existing Local Development Scheme (LDS), approved in July 2016, needed to be updated as a result of the recent lifting of the Secretary of State’s Holding Direction on the Stevenage Borough Local Plan.  The proposed revised LDS now showed an anticipated adoption date for the Local Plan of 22 May 2019, as well as timetables for the Railway Station Area Action Plan and the introduction of the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL).

 

It was RESOLVED:

 

1.         That the Local Development Scheme (LDS) 2019, attached as Appendix A to the report, be approved as the programme for the new Stevenage Borough Local Plan and associated documents, subject to any necessary minor editorial modifications agreed by the Assistant Director of Planning and Regulation having consulted with the Portfolio Holder for Environment and Regeneration.

 

2.         That the LDS 2019 is brought into effect from 13 May 2019 and published on the Council’s planning web pages.

 

Reason for Decision:  As contained in report.

Other Options considered:  As contained in report.

4.

STEVENAGE BOROUGH COUNCIL LOCAL PLAN : PRE-ADOPTION DRAFT pdf icon PDF 233 KB

To consider initial proposals for recommendation to Council on the adoption of the Local Plan, incorporating main and minor modifications, for consultation with the Overview and Scrutiny Committee in accordance with the Budget and Policy Framework rules in the Council’s Constitution.

 

PLEASE WOULD EXECUTIVE MEMBERS RETAIN THE APPENDICES TO THE ABOVE ITEM FOR USE AT THE NEXT EXECUTIVE MEETING.

 

Additional documents:

Decision:

The Portfolio Holder for Environment and Regeneration referred to the Secretary of State’s lifting of the Local Plan Holding Direction on 25 March 2019, on the understanding that the Council committed to a number of actions, as set out in Paragraph 3.12 of the report.  Also set out in that paragraph were the Council’s responses to address those actions.

 

The Leader reminded Members that the Council was now at the stage where it could either adopt the Stevenage Borough Council Local Plan, incorporating the Main Modifications recommended by the Inspector, or must withdraw it completely.  There was no opportunity to open up for discussion issues previously considered during earlier consultation processes on the Plan or at the Examination in Public held in early 2017.

 

The Executive supported the Portfolio Holder for Environment and Regeneration’s suggestion that the following wording be added to Paragraph 3.12 of the report:

 

“The Council has worked proactively since the Holding Direction was put in place on 13 November 2017 to attempt to get the Direction lifted.  There were no technical issues outstanding at the end of January 2018.  A number of meetings and visits between Council Members and officers and civil servants and the Secretary of State have taken place during this time, alongside constant requests to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to release the Direction.  The support of other Hertfordshire Local Government Authorities and professional bodies during this period has been appreciated.”

 

It was RESOLVED:

 

1.         That the outcomes of the Main Modifications (and associated Sustainability Appraisal) consultation be noted (responses summary attached as Appendix A to the report).

 

2.         That the content of the Inspector’s Report be noted (attached as Appendix B to the report).

 

3.         That the Overview and Scrutiny Committee be informed that the Executive’s initial proposal is to recommend to Council to accept the Inspector’s recommendation to adopt the Stevenage Borough Local Plan, incorporating main and minor modifications (attached as Appendix C to the report), and associated Proposals Map, and also to revoke the District Plan Second Review 2004 (Background Document BD1).

 

Reason for Decision:  As contained in report.

Other Options considered:  As contained in report.

5.

URGENT PART I BUSINESS

To consider any Part I business accepted by the Chair as urgent.

Decision:

None.

6.

EXCLUSION OF PRESS AND PUBLIC

To consider the following motions –

 

1.         That under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as described in paragraphs1 – 7 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act as amended by Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006.

 

2.         That Members consider the reasons for the following reports being in Part II and determine whether or not maintaining the exemption from disclosure of the information contained therein outweighs the public interest in disclosure.

Decision:

It was RESOLVED:

 

1.         That, under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as described in Paragraphs 1 to 7 of Schedule 12A of the Act, as amended by SI 2006 No. 88.

 

2.         That, having considered the reasons for the following items being in Part II, it be determined that maintaining the exemption from disclosure of the information contained therein outweighed the public interest in disclosure.

7.

PART II MINUTES - EXECUTIVE - 14 MARCH 2019

To approve as a correct record the Part II section of the Minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on 14 March 2019.

Decision:

It was RESOLVED that the Part II Minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on 14 March 2019 be approved for signature by the Chair.

8.

URGENT PART II BUSINESS

To consider any Part II business accepted by the Chair as urgent.

Decision:

None.