Agenda item

The report provides a basis for debate to the motion submitted to the meeting of Full Council on 30 July 2024 in relation to the release of Green Belt through the Local Plan process.

Following consideration, the Committee resolved to;

(5 for, 1 against, 2 abstaining, and the Chair not voting)

(1)      Note the motion and take no further action in light of the content of the report.

The Committee received a report providing a basis for debate to the motion submitted to the meeting of Full Council on 30 July 2024 in relation to the release of Green Belt through the Local Plan process.

The following matters were considered:

a)            High Performing Greenbelt. A Member of the Committeeadvocated for the exclusion of high performing Greenbelt land from the Local Plan. The Member expressed that residents have been left in the dark, and the Local Plan process is nearly at the point where public input may no longer have a meaningful impact. The Member reminded Councillors of their duty to act on Residents’ concerns, and not to prioritise the bureaucratic process over the democratic role and responsibility of elected Members.

b)            Regulation 19. The Chair made clear the public will be able to have their say throughout the Regulation 19 Consultation period. The explained to the Committee that all public consultation comments will get submitted alongside the Local Plan document and evidence base, to the Inspector to be examined. The Chair did not agree with comments that the public will not have a say or opportunity to input. The Chair highlighted that the Council will only go out to public consultation if the Licensing and Planning Policy Committee and Full Council agree the Local Plan.

c)            Response to Motion. A Member of the Committee raised that the motion is poorly written and does not make clear which sites it is talking about. The Member highlighted that the Liberal Democrat group are supportive of building on previously developed land in the Greenbelt and is acutely aware of the homelessness issue and housing need in the borough. Another Member echoed the comments and states that no Councillors across any of the political groups want to build on untouched Greenbelt land. The Member stated that there is a procedure the Council has to follow, and the Council runs the risk of the Local Plan being found unsound, if all Greenbelt sites are removed.

d)            Housing need and Standard Method. A Member of the Committeeraised that Members have already told Officers that the Council will not meet the housing target set out by the previous Government or current Government, which puts the Council at risk, therefore, the Council cannot afford to reduce the number of homes to be built annually even further. The Member urged the Committee to be realistic and highlighted the need to submit a Local Plan that will be found sound. The Member raised that the Council cannot lose control of planning development, by being stuck with a dated and not fit for purpose Local Plan even longer.

e)            The Local Plan Process. The Chair raised that when the Local Plan was unpaused, a motion was proposed to remove all the greenbelt from the Plan, and it was made clear that the Council could not do that. The Chair emphasised that the Local Plan process is not set by the Council or the Residents’ Association, it is set by Central Government and the Council must follow it. The Chair highlighted that the Council would love to share more information and have more autonomy over the process, but it must follow the process as set out. The Chair called attention to the fact that the process was shortened, due to the pause, meaning now Officers are working as hard as they can to ensure the Council meets deadlines. The Chair informed the Committee that the November LPP Committee Agenda has been cleared so Members can discuss the Local Plan document and evidence base fully. The Chair informed the Committee that Officers can try and produce papers earlier and arrange a pre-meeting to give Members as much time as possible to digest the Local Plan documents.

f)             Summary. The Member who proposed the motion, raised that Epsom & Ewell can state that the Council has exceptional circumstances to not build on the greenbelt, and does not need to give a reason to the Inspector as to why we should build on greenbelt land. The Member stated that the Council are giving up Greenfield sites instead of Brownfield sites to deal with housing need. The Member raised that the Local Plan is a Residents’ Association Planas they are the majority Group. The Member raised that the housing targets are not mandatory so the Council did not need to try and meet them and should instead think of the Residents and their wishes.

Following consideration, the Committee resolved to;

(5 for, 1 against, 2 abstaining, and the Chair not voting)

(1)      Note the motion and take no further action in light of the content of the report.