NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE COUNCIL
ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC PROTECTION COMMITTEE
(SPECIAL MEETING)
4 August 2000
PRESENT:- Councillor Gosling in the chair.
Councillors Appleyard, Barkworth, Berry, Billam, Carlile, Ellis, England, Fordham, M Kirk, Long, Mrs Martin, Mrs Metcalfe, Regan, Sherwood, Swift and Wardle.
Councillors Briggs, Delaney, Holgate, Mrs Simpson, Mrs Sidell, Smith, Vickers, Waldron and Whiteley attended the meeting under the provisions of Standing Order 40(b).
The committee met at Pittwood House, Scunthorpe.
104 DECLARATIONS OF PECUNIARY OR NON PECUNIARY INTERESTS -
(i) Councillors Appleyard, Berry, Billam, England, Long, Sherwood and Wardle (Briggs, Holgate, Mrs Sidell and Vickers), declared a non-pecuniary interest in respect of minute 105 (North Lincolnshire Local Plan) and left the meeting for consideration of both items (minutes 105 and 106 refer).
(ii) Councillor Mrs Metcalfe declared a non-pecuniary interest in respect of minute 105 (North Lincolnshire Local Plan, with any specific reference to Crowle Town Council and the relevant item on page 46 of 130 (Aims and Objectives (Strategy) of the representations).
(iii) Councillor Swift declared a non-pecuniary interest in respect of minute 105 (North Lincolnshire Local Plan), with any specific reference to Bottesford Town Council.
105 (67) NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE LOCAL PLAN - The Director of Environment and Public Protection referred to minute 2267 of the former Development and Environment Committee and submitted a report which considered representations received on the Deposit Draft of the North Lincolnshire Local Plan and sought approval of proposed changes to be incorporated into the Revised Deposit Draft to comply with recent government guidance.
The report explained that following the extensive public consultation exercise undertaken between September and November, 1999, 267 responses amounting to 1660 comments had been received.
Since November 1999 officers of the Directorate of Environment and Public Protection had considered suggested amendments to the draft plan and a number of meetings had been held with objectors to help clarify the comments made, and where possible agree appropriate changes to the plan. In some cases, officers had been able to negotiate with objectors to agree that representations should be withdrawn. This process of negotiation was extremely important as ultimately it would reduce the number of unresolved issues which would have to be considered at the Local Plan Inquiry.
Appendix 1 to the report (copies of which were available in political group offices and from the Directorate of Environment and Public Protection on request), set out a summary of the consultation comments in chapter and policy order, the Director's associated comments, and in some cases changes to the relevant policy and background text or proposed maps. Where significant changes were proposed copies of the specific proposed amendments had also been placed in political group offices and were available for inspection at the meeting.
The Director in his report stated that the response to the Local Plan had generally been supportive of the strategy of the plan, particularly in the rural areas where a number of parish councils had made positive comments. The general nature of comments received from all consultees, including statutory bodies were outlined in the report, together with subsequent proposed changes to the draft plan.
The report also emphasised that since the Deposit Draft plan was prepared nearly a year ago there had been significant changes in government advice, and consequently amendments had been needed in the Transport and Housing chapters to comply with this. These changes were also outlined in the report.
The Director at the meeting also made specific reference to two further amendments regarding retaining the school allocation at York Road, Brigg (policy C1-3) and new wording for revised policy T.26, Roadside Service Areas which needed to be incorporated in the draft plan, and explained the next stages for progressing the plan in accordance with government guidance.
Members made particular reference and sought clarification of specific aspects of the draft plan which were answered or noted as a matter of detail by the director.
Moved by Councillor Barkworth and seconded by Councillor M Kirk -
(a) That the Director's report on representations be approved as the basis for preparing the Revised Deposit Draft Local Plan; (b) that the Director, in consultation with relevant Cabinet members, be authorised to approve responses to any outstanding representations and approve the Revised Deposit Draft Local Plan for the purpose of further public consultation as required by PPG12; (c) that the Director's report be published and forwarded to organisations and individuals making representations on the Deposit Draft of the North Lincolnshire Local Plan; (d) that Appendix 1 of the director's report (subject to minor drafting amendments) or relevant extracts be published and made available on request, and (e) that all officers associated with the draft plan be thanked for their hard work carried out to date.
At the request of members and in accordance with Standing Order 18(b), the names of members voting for and against the motion are as follows:-
FOR: Councillors Barkworth, Carlile, Ellis, Fordham, Gosling, M Kirk, Mrs Martin, Mrs Metcalfe, Regan and Swift.
AGAINST: None
Motion Carried
106 (68) LOCAL PLAN TIMETABLE - Further to minute 2778, the Director of Environment and Public Protection submitted a report which proposed a revised timetable for the preparation of the North Lincolnshire Local Plan in the light of current progress in preparing the Revised Deposit Draft of the Plan.
The report explained, that as officers had to take account of new government advice in dealing with the consultation responses, progress in preparing the report on representations has been inevitably delayed. This meant that the publication and formal consultation on the Revised Deposit Draft would now take place between November 2000 and January 2001. A likely revised programme for the next stages of plan preparation was attached as Appendix 1 to the report.
The above changes would have implications for the budgetary provision for plan preparation but this would be considered at revised estimates.
Resolved - (a) That the Local Plan timetable set out in Appendix 1 be approved and adopted, and (b) that this committee consider the budgetary implications at revised estimates.
Resolved - That the report be noted.