Agenda item

To consider the Part I Decisions of the Executive taken on 30 April 2019.

Executive Agenda Item                                                                               Page No

2.         Minutes of the Executive – 14 March 2019                                   3

3.         Local Development Scheme (LDS)                                              13

4.         Stevenage Borough Council Local Plan: Pre-Adoption Draft    43

Notice of Decisions to be tabled at the meeting.

PLEASE BRING YOUR AGENDA AND REPORTS FOR THE EXECUTIVE MEETING HELD ON 30 APRIL 2019.

PLEASE ALSO RETAIN THE APPENDICES TO ITEM 4 (STEVENAGE BOROUGH COUNCIL LOCAL PLAN: PRE-ADOPTION DRAFT) FOR USE AT THE NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING.

Minutes of the Executive – 14 March 2019

The Committee noted the comments of the Executive.

Local Development Scheme (LDS)

In response to questions raised by Members, the Portfolio Holder for Environment and Regeneration and officers responded as follows:

·           Why were the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) rates for Stevenage low in comparison with other Hertfordshire Local Authorities?  The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) rates for Stevenage had been determined according to evidence produced by an external specialist consultant in this field.  There were certain viability issues relating to development in the town, and viability was likely improve further with the regeneration of the town centre.  However, officers were keen to bring in CIL in as early as possible to ensure the Council captured Local Plan schemes.  The Council had committed to a review of the CIL rates 12 months after adoption, where any changes in viability could be addressed.  In any event, the proposed CIL rates would be subject to examination by an Independent Inspector, who would review the rates in full;

·           When did the Council receive notification of the lifting of the Holding Direction?  The letter from the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government lifting the Holding Direction was undated, but it was confirmed that the letter had been received by the Council on 25 March 2019; and

·           Would the Council be able to reclaim its costs associated with work on the Judicial Review application?  Officers confirmed that the Council would be seeking to reclaim its legal costs associated with work on the Council’s Judicial Review application, and undertook to provide Members of the Committee with figures relating to these legal costs, together with an estimate of officer time spent over the past 18 months on matters relating to attempts made to obtain a lifting of the Holding Direction.  Officers indicated that costs could be made publically available.

Stevenage Borough Local Plan: Pre-Adoption Draft

In response to questions raised by Members, the Portfolio Holder for Environment and Regeneration and officers responded as follows:

·           Was there any significance in the Secretary of State’s requirement that reference in the Plan to a “new” Railway Station should be removed?  The Secretary of State’s requirement that reference in the Plan to a “new” Railway Station should be removed was of no major significance to the Local Plan.  Both amendments were minor modifications.  It had always been the intention of the Council to press for an improved and regenerated Station, which had received support from residents and local businesses;

·           Could planning matters not covered by the Local Plan be considered by the Council?  The Plan outlined the use for various areas of land, but the details of each development would be matters for consideration by the Planning and Development Committee.  All major site allocations would be subject to the production of Master Plans.  The Plan would not preclude planning applications to be considered by the Planning and Development Committee for sites and matters not contained within it;

·           Why had the Planning Inspector removed the words “at least” from “at least 30%” in respect of the level of affordable housing relating to Policy HO3 (Land North of Stevenage)?  Main Modification 57 (MM57) regarding removal of the words “at least” in relation to 30% affordable housing, was put forward by the Planning Inspector.  In her view, Policy HO3 (Land North of Stevenage) should not be seeking an affordable housing level above those rates set out in Policy HO7 (Affordable Housing Targets).  The Council would still be able to push for a greater proportion of affordable housing, but would not be able to insist upon it.

·           Officers undertook to provide Members of the Committee with details of any potential loss of affordable housing provision in the Borough as a result of the prolonged imposition of the Holding Direction.

·           The Committee had no other comments on the Executive’s initial proposal 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 Executive report, and associated Proposals Map, and also to revoke the District Plan Second Review 2004 (BD1 to the report).