Archived decisions

AT A MEETING of the ENVIRONMENT POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE held on Wednesday 6 March 2002 at The Castle, Winchester.

PRESENT:

Councillors: J.K. Glen (Chairman); Mrs P.G. Banks; F.J. Bright; Mrs E.M. Byrom; J.E. Coles; A.P. Collett; C.R.H. Davidovitz; Mrs P.M. Devereux; Mrs P. Dickens; A.G. Dowden; M.S. Geddes; Mrs K. Heron; K. House; R.J. Kimber; T.G. Knight;

P. Luffman; R.C. McIntosh; R.H. Price, JP; M.J. Roberts; Sir James J. Scott;

Miss J.D. Wride.

Also in attendance: Councillor K. B. Estlin

41 MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting held on 23 January 2002 (Item 1 in the Minute Book) were confirmed by the Committee and signed as a correct record by the Chairman.

Arising thereon:

    (i) Passenger Transport

    The County Surveyor confirmed that dialogue with the district councils was continuing and as a result meetings were being arranged as follows:

    Fareham Borough Council - 6 March
    East Hampshire District Council - 14 March
    Test Valley Borough Council and
    Winchester City Council - Date to be confirmed

    Five district councils had indicated that they did not wish to assist to fund bus services, but communication channels were still open and letters would be sent requesting a meeting to discuss, amongst other things, the longer term future and alternative transport methods.

    The Executive Member for Environment reported that he was committed to working with the district councils in order to provide an effective and improved public transport system for the whole of Hampshire and would be willing to visit any district council to conduct detailed discussions with them.

    Members were reminded that there would be a half day seminar on passenger transport on Tuesday, 19 March 2002 which would be focusing on the way forward.

    (ii) As agreed at the last meeting, the Chief Executive reported to the Committee on items that they had recommended for decision as follows:

    Revenue Budget Monitoring 2001/02     - Decision made by Executive Member for Environment on 25 January followed by County Council on 21 February.

    Revenue Budget 2002/03     - Decision by Executive Member for Environment on 25 January followed by County Council on 21 February.

    Capital Programme 2002/03 to 2005/06 and revised programme 2001/02     - Executive Member for Environment on 25 January followed by County Council on 21 February.

    Best Value Improvement Plans Road Safety Services     - Decision made by Executive Member for Environment on 12 February.

    Street Lighting Policy     - This report would be considered by the Executive Member for Environment at his forthcoming decision making meeting on 12 March.

    Sustainable Suburb Study     - Work was continuing on this report.

42 PORTSMOUTH AND SOUTHAMPTON - MINERALS AND WASTE LOCAL PLAN 1998 REVIEW - APPROVAL TO PUBLISH ISSUES PAPER FOR CONSULTATION

The Committee considered a report of the County Planning Officer (Item 2 in the Minute Book) detailing the background to the review. A key issues paper had been prepared for public consultation and the County Planning Officer confirmed that the Strategic Planning Joint Advisory Panel had recently agreed that subject to the views of the three strategic planning authorities, the issues paper would be published.

A full and detailed discussion ensued during which Members' questions were answered. In particular concern was raised that representatives from the minority groups had not been invited to a recent stakeholder meeting. The County Planning Officer agreed that the documentation that had been sent out to stakeholders would be sent to the minority groups representatives. Dates for future meetings had not been confirmed.

RESOLVED:

That it be a RECOMMENDATION to the Executive Member for Environment that the issues paper be approved for public consultation.

43 NEW FOREST NATIONAL PARK : DESIGNATION ORDER

The Committee considered the report of the County Planning Officer (Item 3 in the Minute Book) updating Members on the New Forest National Park (Designation) Order 2002, which was published on 21st February 2002. The County Planning Officer reported that this was a complex and lengthy process. Although he did not have any objections to the boundary area identified in the Designation Order, he did, however, disagree with the constitutional arrangements for the National Park as members would not be directly elected by local people. Members voiced their disappointment that the special criteria of the New Forest had, to a greater extent, been ignored.

RESOLVED:

    (i) That the Cabinet, on 25 March 2002, be recommended to advise the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs that the County Council:

        (a) welcomes the recognition of the importance of the New Forest inherent in the proposal, to designate it as a National Park;

        (b) supports the need for the New Forest to have a solution which gives it permanent protection; and

        (c) has no objection to the boundary of the area identified in the Designation Order as being appropriate for special measures, including the protection of the area.

    (ii) That the County Council, however, objects to the Designation Order on the grounds that it would result in a standard National Park Authority which, as a Local Authority, would have a democratic deficit since none of its membership would be directly elected.

    (iii) That the County Council believes that a tailor-made solution would be preferable.

44 PROJECT CONNAUGHT : REDEVELOPMENT OF ALDERSHOT MILITARY TOWN - DRAFT SUPPLEMENTARY PLANNING GUIDANCE

The Committee considered the joint report of the County Planning Officer and County Surveyor (Item 4 in the Minute Book) summarising the main proposals contained within the draft Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) recently published by Rushmoor Borough Council for public consultation on the redevelopment of Aldershot Military Town. The County Planning Officer reported that this proposal constituted potentially the largest brownfield site in Hampshire being released and was aimed at improving living conditions for the Aldershot Garrison. However, the final decision to release this site had not yet been taken.

A full discussion ensued during which Members' detailed questions were answered. In particular, it was noted that this proposal was an excellent opportunity to boost the regeneration process for Aldershot.

Members expressed an interest in working with the County Planning Officer on this important project and accordingly Councillors Collett, Mrs Devereux, Glen, Kimber and Roberts were nominated to assist the County Planning Officer as the project developed.

RESOLVED:

That it be a RECOMMENDATION to the Executive Member for Environment that:

    (i) Rushmoor Borough Council be:

        (a) thanked for consulting the County Council on the Supplementary Planning Guidance for Aldershot Military Town;

        (b) advised that the general content of the Supplementary Planning Guidance for Aldershot Military town accords with the Hampshire County Structure Plan Review 1996 to 2011 and is supported, but that the comments raised in paragraph 5.3 be noted;

        (c) asked to consider amending the Supplementary Planning Guidance to include guidance on where the military accommodation and support services, new private development and other land uses could be located within the site; and

    (ii) the County Planning Officer and County Surveyor, in consultation with the Executive Member as necessary, be authorised to make appropriate officer representation on the Supplementary Planning Guidance.

45 REFORMING PLANNING OBLIGATIONS

The Committee considered the joint report of the County Planning Officer and County Surveyor (Item 5 in the Minute Book) detailing the background to a consultation document published by the Government, containing proposals for the reform and improvement of the planning obligations system.

Members expressed concern in respect of recommendations (i) and (iii)c and the recommendations were subsequently amended as reflected in the resolutions below.

RESOLVED:

That the Executive Member for Environment be informed that the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions be advised that whereas the County Council in principle welcomed the proposed reforms to the planning obligations system, it considers that:

    (i) the tariff approach must be flexible in application and apply to all developments with no threshold;

    (ii) affordable housing should be excluded as an element in the tariff and an improved mechanism for the delivery of affordable housing introduced independently; and

    (iii) the proposed reforms should be expanded by:

        (a) making specific proposals for the use of obligations in minerals and waste planning;

        (b) incorporating highway obligations, currently under Section 278 of the Highways Act;

        (c) clarifying how the balance of provision for the needs of non-local Government agencies and services should contribute to the establishment of the level of tariff and negotiated agreements.

46 NEW PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURES FOR PROCESSING MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS

The Committee considered the report of the County Planning Officer (Item 6 in the Minute Book) summarising the main draft proposals unveiled by Lord Falconer, the Planning Minister, for dealing with major infrastructure projects of national significance.

RESOLVED:

That the Executive Member for Environment be informed that the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions be advised that where as the County Council, in principle, supports new procedures for speeding up decisions on major infrastructure development of regional and national significance, it considers that the:

    (i) types of project to be dealt with by Parliament should be restricted to a limited number of genuine national significance identified through the evolution of an integrated national spatial strategy and prescribed in legislation rather than left to the discretion of the Secretary of State;

    (ii) parliamentary scrutiny should focus on issues of national need and identifying those local and community matters that, when explored in detail at the subsequent local planning enquiry, might be sufficient to outweigh considerations of national need;

    (iii) 42 day period for consultation on the draft Designation Order was too short for organisations properly to respond to proposals which, by their nature, would have a significant impact, a 3 month (or 90 day) period would be more appropriate; and

    (iv) the necessary Parliamentary procedures should be worked out in detail and be the subject of a further round of consultation before parliamentary time is set aside to implement any measures.

47 HAMPSHIRE WATER MEADOWS POLICIES

The Committee considered the report of the County Planning Officer (Item 7 in the Minute Book) detailing the background to the drafting of the Hampshire Water Meadows Policy for inclusion in a Hampshire County Council publication.

A full discussion ensued during which Members' detailed questions were answered. In particular, it was noted that the Committee acknowledged that there was a financial element attached to these policies.



RESOLVED:

That it be a RECOMMENDATION to the Executive Member for Environment to agree the policies in the reports appendix for inclusion in the forthcoming Water Meadows booklet.

48 INTRODUCTION OF ON-STREET PARKING CHARGES IN WINCHESTER

The Committee considered the report of the County Surveyor (Item 8 in the Minute Book) detailing the proposed introduction by Winchester City Council of on-street parking charges for a limited period, of parking spaces in the City Centre for which no fee is currently payable.

Members raised concern in respect of Recommendation 1 of the report which was subsequently amended as reflected in resolution (i) below, subject to legal clarification:-

RESOLVED:

    (i) That the County Council had no objection in principle to on-street parking charges (monies accruing to the County Council) but the charges levied must be determined by the City Council with the approval of the County Council.

    (ii) That the account for any on-street car parking charges was transparent.

    (iii) That matters regarding parking revenue and expenditure were kept under review.

49 NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT INITIATIVE

The Committee considered the joint report of the County Surveyor and County Planning Officer (Item 9 in the Minute Book) detailing the background to the Natural Resource Management (NRM) initiative, its objectives and scope of the emerging plans that would guide work in the wider community and within the County Council respectively.

RESOLVED:

That following the Cabinet's agreement to natural resource management on 29 October 2001, the further progress and direction of this initiative was supported.

50 ENVIRONMENT POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE - FORWARD PLAN

The Committee considered the joint report of the Chief Executive, County Surveyor and County Planning Officer (Item 10 in the Minute Book) setting out issues which the Committee might wish to discuss at future meetings.

The County Surveyor stated that the key issues of the Project Integra Annual Business Plan (Board) were included in the "Interim Municipal Waste Management

Strategy". This item was on the agenda for the next meeting of the Committee on 17 April 2002.

Members asked for the Strategy for the Household Waste Recycling Centre Service to be submitted to a future meeting.

Members expressed the view that it was important that Policy Review Committees had the opportunity to consider reports that were to be the subject of key decisions, as detailed in the County Council's forward plan, prior to that decision being taken. The Chief Executive confirmed that Members would have the opportunity to put forward their views at a Lessons Learnt seminar, a review of the political arrangements to be held on the afternoon of Monday, 25 March 2002, details of which would be confirmed in writing shortly.

51 DATE, TIME AND VENUE FOR NEXT MEETING

It was confirmed that the next meeting of the Environment Policy Review Committee would be held on Wednesday, 17 April 2002 at 10.00 a.m. at The Castle, Winchester.

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