AT A MEETING of the STRATEGIC PLANNING JOINT ADVISORY PANEL held on Tuesday 25 June 2002 at The Castle, Winchester.

PRESENT:

Hampshire County Council

Councillors: C.R.H. Davidovitz; K.B. Estlin; J.K. Glen; K. House; M.J. Roberts

Portsmouth City Council

Councillors: A. Bentley; B. Maine; J Patey

Southampton City Council

Councillors: S. Letts; A. Samuels

Representatives of Hampshire District Councils were also present.

1. APPOINTMENT OF CHAIRMAN

That Councillor K.B. Estlin be appointed Chairman of the Panel for the ensuing year.

_________________________________________

COUNCILLOR K. B. ESTLIN IN THE CHAIR

_________________________________________

2. MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting held on 8 February 2002 were confirmed by the Panel as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Arising thereon:

South Hampshire Study

Further to Minute 11, the Portsmouth City Planning Officer reported that copies of the draft Study had been passed to Hampshire County Council and Southampton City Council officers for distribution to their Members. A copy would be posted to District Council's shortly. The Panel would be asked to approve the Study at a future meeting.

The Planning Green Paper and Proposed National Parks

Further to Minute 12, the Hampshire County Planning Officer reported that the consultation period for the Planning Green Paper had expired. A Policy statement setting out how the Government intended to proceed was expected before the summer recess, followed by legislation in the autumn. However, it was not known whether the recent Cabinet reshuffle might affect the timetable.

A Public Inquiry would commence in mid-October for the proposed New Forest National Park. In respect of the proposed South Downs National Park,

the formal Local Authority consultation had commenced on the boundary and other issues. The closing date for comments was confirmed as 16 August 2002. Indications were that there would be a move towards a Public Inquiry in 2003/04. It was also noted that the County Council's Environment Policy Review Committee would be considering the consultation document at a meeting on Monday 15 July 2002, followed by consideration by the County Council's Cabinet on Monday 22 July 2002.

In respect of the Minerals and Waste Local Plan Review, an Issues Paper had been published earlier in June for consultation and a briefing for all County Councillors was being arranged. Meetings were being arranged with Portsmouth and Southampton to discuss how to take the matter forward. At the appropriate time in the future, a further report would be submitted to the Panel.

3. HAMPSHIRE COUNTY STRUCTURE PLAN: POLICY H4 MONITORING AND IMPLEMENTATION

The Panel considered the report of the Hampshire County Planning Officer, Portsmouth City Planning Officer and Southampton Executive Director of Development and Sustainability (Item 3 in the Minute book) in respect of a monitoring paper published for consultation in April 2002 assessing the need for the release of reserve provision of land for house-building. The Hampshire County Planning Officer confirmed that the monitoring paper concluded that although there was not a need to release any of the reserve provision this year, release might be justified in the future. The outcome of urban capacity studies were still uncertain and delays to the delivery dates for a number of baseline Major Development Areas were anticipated.

A full discussion ensured during which Members' detailed questions were answered. Particular concern was expressed about a number of issues, including the cause of the shortfall in housebuilding, lack of affordable housing and the impact on key workers, the uncertainty surrounding the release of Ministry of Defence sites across the Structure Plan area and the sustainability of development in areas where there was already a high level of activity. It was noted that the Monitoring Paper for 2003 would be submitted to the spring meeting of the Panel.


RESOLVED:

1. That it be a RECOMMENDATION to Hampshire County Council, Portsmouth City Council and Southampton City Council that no release provision is justified this year, but the possible need remains to release provision in future years.


2. That the Hampshire Local Planning Authorities:

(i) progress the preparation of their local plans as quickly as possible;


(ii) incorporate Major Development Areas in local plans as required by Policies MDA2-5 of the Structure Plan; and


(iii) identify sufficient reserve housing sites in local plans to meet all of the reserve provision set out in Policy H4 of the Structure Plan.


3. That work begin on the preparation of the next Monitoring Paper, including verification by the strategic planning authorities of the urban capacity studies undertaken by the local planning authorities.


4. That each District Council give a short presentation at the next meeting of the Panel on the current situation with their respective urban capacity studies and Major Development Areas.

Note: Councillor House requested that the opposition of the Liberal Democrat group on the County Council to resolution 2(ii) be recorded formally.

4. HAMPSHIRE COUNTY STRUCTURE PLAN MONITORING REPORT 2002

The Panel considered the report of the Hampshire County Planning Officer, Portsmouth City Planning Officer and Southampton Director of Development and Sustainability (Item 4 in the Minute Book) informing the Panel of the conclusions arising from the first comprehensive Annual Monitoring Report of the Hampshire County Structure Plan 1996-2011 (Review). The Hampshire County Planning Officer reported that it would take some time before the full effects of the policies could be accurately measured. In light of the discussion on Item 3 particular attention was drawn to the housing section of the Report which showed that measurement of affordable housing was underway. In addition, an exercise had recently been embarked upon to investigate why there was a shortfall in housebuilding compared to Structure Plan policy figures and a report would be submitted to a future meeting of the Panel.

The County Surveyor reported on Section 8 (Transport) of the Monitoring Report. The County Council was in the second year of delivery of the Local Transport Plan and some encouraging signs were emerging. However there were a number of major issues in the South East, which would require collective working with Portsmouth and Southampton City Council's. In order to achieve integrated transport, an integrated management approach was required to bring together all the key participants to ensure consistency of planning and operations, linking in with the Regional Transport Strategy. To take this forward a meeting was agreed, to be held on Thursday 5 September 2002 at 2.00pm at The Castle, Winchester to involve the Panel's representatives from Portsmouth and Southampton City Councils and District Councils in the south of the County. A formal letter of invitation would be sent in due course.




RESOLVED:

That it be a RECOMMENDATION to Hampshire County Council, Portsmouth City Council and Southampton City Council that the first Annual Monitoring Report of the Hampshire County Structure Plan 1996-2011 (Review) be approved for publication.

5. ROLL FORWARD/REVIEW OF THE STRUCTURE PLAN: THE NEXT STEPS

The Panel considered the report of the Hampshire County Planning Officer, Portsmouth City Planning Officer and Southampton Executive Director of Development and Sustainability (Item 5 in the Minute Book) detailing the next steps to be taken in respect of the roll forward/review of the Structure Plan. The County Planning Officer confirmed that the report brought Members' up to date on work conducted over the last year of rolling forward the Structure Plan process. A number of events had occurred which had influenced the report's recommendations and several `Task Teams' had been set up to consider key topics. Particular attention was drawn to the proposed programme for the Structure Plan roll forward/review appended to the report and the need to proceed in a timely manner.

RESOLVED:

1. That Hampshire County Council, Portsmouth City Council and Southampton City Council be recommended to endorse:-

(i) the principles for future work on the roll forward/review set out in paragraph 7.1 of the report; and


(ii) the provisional programme for the next stages of the roll forward/review set out in paragraphs 8.1 to 8.3 of the report and the attached appendix.

6. DATE, TIME AND VENUE OF NEXT MEETING

The next meeting of the Panel would be held on Tuesday 12 November 2002 at 10.00 am at the Civic Offices of Southampton City Council.

82M88602