northlincs.gov.uk

Chairman: Councillor Wardle
Venue: Function Room 1, Pittwood House, Scunthorpe
Time: 2pm

1. Substitutions.
2. Declarations of personal or personal and prejudicial interests .
3. Local Development Framework – Local Development Scheme 2006.

Note: Reports are by the Head of Planning and Regeneration unless otherwise stated.

Councillors Long (vice-chairman), Bunyan, Clark, Collinson, England, Grant, Kirk, Phillips, Rowson and Whiteley.

Councillors Regan and Wells attended the meeting in accordance with the provisions of Procedure Rule 37 (b).

The committee met at Pittwood House, Scunthorpe.

781 DECLARATIONS OF PERSONAL AND PERSONAL AND PREJUDICIAL PERSONAL INTERESTS – There were no declarations of personal interests.

782 (86) NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE LOCAL DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK – LOCAL DEVELOPMENT SCHEME 2006 – The Head of Planning and Regeneration submitted a report seeking approval to revise and update the Local Development Scheme (LDS) for the local development framework.

The first Local Development Scheme, which set out the timetable for the preparation of Local Development Documents (LDDs) had taken effect on 30 June 2005. The first document to be prepared was the Statement of Community Involvement which it was expected would be adopted in April 2006.

The Core Strategy, which would set down the overall strategy for the future development of North Lincolnshire over the next 15 to 20 years was currently being progressed and consultation on the issues and options for the strategy was to commence this month.

It was proposed that the Housing and Employment Land Allocations Document would be commenced shortly. Other documents currently in the programme included the Proposals Map and Waste LDD’s.

The LDS had to be updated annually and submitted to Government Office before the end of March. Consideration had to be given as to whether or not any of the documents currently in the “waiting list” for inclusion in the LDS should be introduced into the scheme at this time. It was considered that because of the amount of work involved in the preparation of those documents currently in the scheme, that no further documents should be introduced and that the situation be reviewed in 2007. However there would be some minor changes to the text to reflect updated guidance 2005.

With regard to existing documents, the programme for the Core Strategy would be amended slightly in order to fully meet the requirements for member and public consultation. This might mean delaying the publication of the Preferred Options document as set out in the appendix to the report.

The Head of Service circulated a letter received from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister advising of a ruling by the European Court of Justice in relation to the Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC. The effect of this was that an “Appropriate Assessment” would have to be carried out to assess the impacts of any land use plan against the conservation objectives of a European Site and to ascertain whether it would adversely affect the integrity of the site. The Humber bank was designated as a European site. It was anticipated that the consultants currently engaged to work on the sustainability survey for the LDF would be able to undertake this additional work.. The effect could be a delay in tbe proposed timetable of up to six months.

A seminar had been arranged for all members of the council on 7 April, 2006.

Recommended to Council – That the changes to the LDS, as indicated in paragraphs 3.1. and 3.2 of the report be authorised.

783 (87) DRAFT REGIONAL SPATIAL STRATEGY – YORKSHIRE AND HUMBER PLAN – The Head of Planning and Regeneration submitted a report informing members about the release of the Draft Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) – The Yorkshire and Humber Plan for public consultation and the implications that it would have for North Lincolnshire.

The Draft would replace the current RSS for Yorkshire and the Humber, which was published in December 2004. An independent Government appointed Panel would publicly test the Plan in autumn 2006 and then issue a Report on their findings. The Secretary of State would then consider the report and consult on any proposed changes to the draft. It was expected that the Plan will become formally approved and fully operational late in 2007.

The RSS set out the scale, priorities and broad locations for change and development in the region over the period to 2021 whilst providing a framework for ‘where things go’ and ‘how much’ development should take place. It also included a regional transport strategy, and links all this with broader issues such as the environment, sustainable development and quality of life.

The RSS would form part of the statutory ‘development plan’ for North Lincolnshire, the council’s Local Development Framework had to be in general conformity with it.

In general the Draft RSS’s policies and proposals well considered to be well-founded and provided the strategic background for the economic growth and development of North Lincolnshire through the Local Development Framework process. However, the report highlighted a number of issues in relation to housing land allocations, employment land and renewable energy targets. There were also a number of other minor issues to be addressed.

Recommended to Council – That the comments contained in paragraphs 3.3, 3.4 and 3.5 of the report be approved as this Council’s formal representations on the Draft Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) – The Yorkshire and Humber Plan.

784 (88) PLAY A PART IN THE FUTURE – RESULTS OF DIRECT MAGAZINE QUESTIONNAIRE – The Head of Planning and Regeneration submitted a report informing members of the outcomes of the planning questionnaire featured in Direct Magazine in October 2005 and outlining how these would influence the Local Development Framework (LDF) and how they had been fed back to the public.

October 2005’s Direct magazine had featured a questionnaire- ‘Play a Part in the Future’, designed by the Development Plans Team to ascertain the views of the public on various planning issues and on how they would like to see North Lincolnshire grow and develop in the future. The questionnaire had been delivered to all households and more than 400 responses had been received. A summary of the responses was appended to the report.

Recommended to Council – That the findings of the survey be taken into account when preparing future LDF documents.