Agenda, decisions and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber - Epsom Town Hall, https://www.youtube.com/@epsomandewellBC/playlists. View directions

Contact: Sandra Dessent, tel: 01372 732121  email:  sdessent@epsom-ewell.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Question Time

To take any questions from members of the the Public

 

Please note:  Members of the Public are requested to inform the Democratic Servicers Officer before the meeting begins if they wish to ask a verbal question to the Committee.

Decision:

A verbal question was asked by a member of the public relating to items on the agenda and a reply was given at the meeting. 

Minutes:

A verbal question was asked by a member of the public relating to items on the agenda namely the Annual Monitoring Report and Optimising Housing Delivery, and a reply was given at the meeting. 

2.

Declarations of Interest

Members are asked to declare the existence and nature of any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests in respect of any item of business to be considered at the meeting.

Decision:

No declarations of interest were made by Councillors regarding items on the agenda.

Minutes:

No declarations of interest were made by Councillors regarding items on the agenda.

3.

Minutes of Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 85 KB

The Committee is asked to confirm as a true record the Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 25 January 2018 (attached) and to authorise the Chairman to sign them.


Decision:

The Minutes of the meeting of the Licensing and Planning Policy Committee held on 25 January 2018 were agreed as a true record and signed by the Chairman.

Minutes:

The Minutes of the meeting of the Licensing and Planning Policy Committee held on 25 January 2018 were agreed as a true record and signed by the Chairman.

4.

Epsom & Ewell Local Plan Annual Monitoring Report 2016 - 2017 pdf icon PDF 112 KB

The Local Plan Annual Monitoring Report (AMR) assesses the performance of adopted planning policies and tracks the Council’s progress against the Local Plan Programme.  The Council is required to publish this information on an annual basis. 

Additional documents:

Decision:

Having noted the contents of the Local Plan Annual Monitoring Report, the Committee;

(1)            Approved the report for publication on the Council’s website subject to minor amendments agreed by the Committee

(2)            Agreed that future Annual Monitoring reports adopt a streamlined approach, which focusses upon key themes rather than reporting on individual policies and indicators

Minutes:

The Local Plan Annual Monitoring report (AMR) assesses the performance of adopted planning policies and tracks the Council’s progress against the Local Plan Programme.

The Committee received and discussed the Annual Monitoring report for 2016/17 and the following points were made:

·                     With regard to housing mix, the analysis refers to a reason for not meeting the Council’s Development Management Policy DM 22 as being in part due to that ‘market signals’ had indicated the need for delivering smaller units in contrast to the demand for 3 bed units detailed on the Council’s policy.  The discrepancy was noted and the Committee was assured that housing mix would continue to be a closely monitored aspect of the Local Plan.

·                     It was highlighted that meeting the Borough Council’s parking standards (through new development) remained a sensitive issue.  It was noted that procedures to monitor compliance would be set-up.

·                     It was agreed that cycle access for all new developments was becoming increasingly important because of the growing lack of capacity on the highway network.

It was also agreed to investigate the points below and make appropriate amendments:

 

Page 14, DM2 Infilling with the boundaries of Major Developed sites

Identify if original application for Care Home is included in the NESCOT applications

Page 37, Policy DM25, Development of Employment premises

Clarify which year the M Benz development falls into and amend if necessary

Page 57, E14 Depot Road/Upper High Street

Clarification required on the Upper High Street development

Page 70, first row

Clarify source of supply figures: 522 homes against total figure 507

Having noted the contents of the Local Plan Annual Monitoring Report, the Committee;

(1)          Approved the report for publication on the Council’s website subject to minor amendments agreed by the Committee

(2)          Agreed that future Annual Monitoring reports adopt a streamlined approach, which focusses upon key themes rather than reporting on individual policies and indicators

5.

Making Efficient Use of Land - Optimising Housing Delivery pdf icon PDF 106 KB

This report advises Members of the material considerations when assessing planning applications against the current adopted policies in relation to conflicting demand regarding different use, densities and building heights.  This advice should be reflected in the decisions of the Planning Committee.

Decision:

The Committee;

(1)            Considered the current situation relating to the use of land following the publication of changes in national planning policy

(2)            Acknowledged the national and local material considerations in relation to housing need, housing land supply and the need to optimise development land and that due weight should be attached to these matters when assessing planning applications against current adopted local policies

Minutes:

The Committee received a report outlining material considerations that should be taken into account when assessing planning applications against the current adopted policies in relation to conflicting demand from different use, densities and building heights.  Subject to the committee’s agreement the proposed strategy was to be communicated to the Planning Committee.  It would be deployed to assist them in determining applications in light of requirement to optimise housing supply. 

It was stressed that the proposed policy was an interim measure compiled in response to changes in National Planning Policy Framework, but would help to demonstrate that the Council was doing everything possible to boost housing delivery and give greater certainty to the local plan process. 

Concern was expressed that implementation of the proposals could result in over development, however it was noted that policies already in place would act as further checks and balances to mitigate the possibility.

It was further noted that as a result of the Planning Improvement Plan members had the opportunity to engage with developers on major planning applications, to discuss such matters as height and density much earlier in the process.

Accordingly, the Committee;

(1)            Considered the current situation relating to the use of land following the publication of changes in national planning policy

(2)            Acknowledged the national and local material considerations in relation to housing need, housing land supply and the need to optimise development land and that due weight should be attached to these matters when assessing planning applications against current adopted local policies

6.

Consultation on Draft National Planning Policy Framework pdf icon PDF 110 KB

The Government has published its draft revisions to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) for consultation.  The deadline for responses is 10 May 2018. The Committee is asked to consider the draft comments on the Government’s proposals and that, subject to any changes, agree that they form the basis of the Council’s response to the Consultation.

Additional documents:

Decision:

The Committee considered the draft responses to the government’s proposals and subject to minor amendments agreed by the Committee approved the Council’s response to the consultation.

Minutes:

The Committee was informed that the government had published its draft revisions to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) for consultation.  The final version was due to be published in the Summer 2018. 

A discussion on the Council’s response to the proposals ensued and the Committee proffered the following comments/suggested amendments:

 

Chapter 2, Q2, second paragraph,

Add:

‘The Borough Council’s understanding is that this acknowledges that there is likely to be areas where there is unmet housing need.’

Chapter 4, Q9 final sentence

Clarification required on the Council’s view of the benefits of mandating the use of review mechanisms

Chapter 5, Q11 and question 14, paragraph 4

Council responses to correspond with the NPPF terms for small sites (10 dwellings or fewer) and major sites (11 dwellings or more)

Chapter 8

Add additional comments around viability assessments:

·                 Introduction of further viability testing if developers haven’t commenced projects within 18 months of planning permission, through Section 106 agreement

·                 85% of planning permissions in the borough are for smaller sites (10 or fewer) – it would be beneficial to introduce viability testing for small sites as well as major developments.

·                 Policies to ensure developers can’t ‘sit’ on land

·                 Confirmation of claw back arrangements – not standard in the NPPF but the Council do have the authority to use them

·                 Processes for ensuring that developers who make large profits provide appropriate contributions towards affordable housing

Chapter 13, Q31 paragraph 4, first line

Committee agreed to amendment suggested by representative of the Jockey club:

‘The draft NPPF restricts opportunities for new equestrian development in the Green Belt except in very special circumstances’.

The Committee considered the draft responses to the government’s proposals and subject to minor amendments agreed by the Committee approved the Council’s response to the consultation.