Issue - meetings

(i)         Town and Country Planning

To consider the following motion submitted by the Labour Group:

In the Queen’s Speech on 11^th May 2021, the Conservative Government announced sweeping changes to the planning system that it is now clear to see amount to a ‘Developer’s Charter’.  This plan to introduce legislation to ‘zone’ areas for development and then allow developers a free rein with no further democratic planning process, is a recipe for untrammelled and inappropriate development in every town and community. No-one hear would argue that there is not a case for reform in the planning system, but these proposed reforms are taking planning absolutely in the wrong direction, away from the communities they affect.

Our Council has a very deep commitment to delivering the homes that people need, so we do not bring this motion forward as ‘nimbys’ who want no development at all.  But we believe that our new town principles should continue to be upheld, we believe in homes being built alongside the infrastructure to support them and with the creation of sustainable communities at the heart of the planning system.

Under these new proposals planning decisions will be taken away from democratically elected local councils and handed to development boards appointed by Ministers in Whitehall.  It is these new quangos that will decide where the ‘zones’ for development are located, with little local knowledge or input from local people.  Residents living in areas zoned for growth will find they no longer have an automatic right to object to individual planning applications on their own doorsteps, no right to object to inappropriate development on green space and no right to object to development that over-burdens local infrastructure like roads, doctors’ surgeries, schools, health facilities or public transport.

Plans to extend the permitted development regime are also of great concern to us in Stevenage as they too, see development taking place with no local democratic and community input and this regime does not require developers to contribute to infrastructure or affordable housing.  In Vista Tower where we see leaseholders facing huge and unaffordable charges to remedy fire safety issues, we see the worst of this permitted development regime.

So we bring forward the following resolution to urgently address the concerns we have relating to the Government’s proposals:

“That this Council believes that planning works best when the local community, councillors and developers work together to shape local areas and deliver the new homes that are necessary and therefore calls on the government to protect the right of communities to object to individual planning applications.  We demand that the Secretary of State urgently re-thinks these ill-conceived planning reforms.

Council requires that our Executive Member for Environment and Regeneration write to the Secretary of State setting out our concerns about all local democratic input being stripped from the planning system.

Council also pledges to lobby the Government to reconsider the extension to the permitted development regime.  Every local development should have the benefit of community input and  ...  view the full agenda text for item 9.

(i)         Town & Country Planning

Councillor John Gardner moved and Councillor Sharon Taylor seconded a motion in respect of Town & Country Planning.  Following debate and upon being put to the vote, it was RESOLVED that:

“This Council believes that planning works best when the local community, councillors and developers work together to shape local areas and deliver the new homes that are necessary and therefore calls on the government to protect the right of communities to object to individual planning applications.  We demand that the Secretary of State urgently re-thinks these ill-conceived planning reforms.

Council requires that our Executive Member for Environment and Regeneration write to the Secretary of State setting out our concerns about all local democratic input being stripped from the planning system.

Council also pledges to lobby the Government to reconsider the extension to the permitted development regime.  Every local development should have the benefit of community input and for both objectors and supporters to be able to express their view to decision-makers in public through the democratic process.”

(ii)        Electric Bus Link

Councillor Sharon Taylor moved and Councillor Lloyd Briscoe seconded a motion with regard to an Electric Bus Link.  Following debate and upon being put to the vote, it was RESOLVED that:

“This Council asks that every effort now be made to carry out a feasibility study on this initiative complete with costings.  This work should explore the possibility of delivering this service with partners, the highway authority (Hertfordshire County Council), the Local Enterprise Partnership, the Town Development Board and Hertfordshire Growth Board and explore all options for funding the project including use of grants, government initiatives, community infrastructure levy and section 106 funding and specific funds for sustainable transport initiatives. 

That a report be brought before the Council’s Executive setting out the options as quickly as possible and no later than the first quarter of 2022.”

(iii)       Supporting tougher action on pet thefts

The following motion was moved by Councillor Alex Farquharson and seconded by Councillor Jody Hanafin:

“That this Council notes:

§  Hertfordshire Constabulary data shows a 54% increase in dog thefts in the county during 2019/20 compared to the previous year.

§  Data for England and Wales shows an 11% increase in dog thefts nationally during 2020/21 compared to the previous year.

§  There are currently discussions in central government and parliament about increasing penalties for pet theft, which could potentially include custodial sentences.

That this Council resolves:

§  To encourage residents to ensure their pets, especially cats and dogs, are microchipped and that their microchip information is up to date. This is the best precaution to hinder the sale of stolen pets as well as identifying them once recovered by police.

§  To request that the Chief Executive of the Council writes to the Home Secretary to express this Council’s support for tougher pet theft penalties.

§  To request that the Chief Executive of the Council writes to Stephen McPartland MP to thank him for signing a parliamentary amendment calling for tougher  ...  view the full decision text for item 9.