Archived decisions
AT A MEETING of the STRATEGIC PLANNING JOINT ADVISORY PANEL held on 10 March 2004 at The Castle, Winchester.
PRESENT:
Hampshire County Council:
Councillors: K.B. Estlin (Chairman); A.P. Collett; C.R.H. Davidovitz; J.K. Glen; M.J. Roberts
Portsmouth City Council:
Councillors: B. Maine; J. Patey
Southampton City Council:
Councillors: A. Samuels, J.M. Slade
Representatives of Hampshire District Councils were also in attendance as follows:-
Councillors: S.H.B. Cook, Winchester City Council
R.L.G. Dibbs, Rushmoor Borough Council
A. Jackson, Test Valley Borough Council
A. Mandry, Fareham Borough Council
S. Parker, Hart District Council
35. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Members were mindful that, where they had a personal or personal prejudicial interest in any matter to be considered at the meeting, they should declare their personal interest and, having regard to the circumstances described in paragraphs 9, 10, 11 and 12 of the County Council's Code of Conduct, consider whether to leave the meeting whilst the matter was discussed, any declarations to be made at the time of the debate. No declarations were made.
36. MINUTES
The Minutes of the meeting held on 19 November 2003 (Item 2 in the Minute Book) were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.
Arising thereon:
Minute 30: Draft Addendum to Structure Plan Supplementary Planning Guidance `Implementing Policy H4' - in response to a request for an update on this matter, it was confirmed that the process detailed in the second paragraph of the Minute 30 was currently in train. Hampshire's Executive Member for Environment had considered a report at his decision making meeting on 9 March 2004. District Councils would be informed of the overall outcome once the Executive Members at Portsmouth City Council and Southampton City Council had also formally taken a decision.
37. CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS
The Chairman of the Panel welcomed everyone to the meeting of the Panel and reported that the Leader of Hampshire County Council, the Leader of Southampton City Council and the Deputy Leader of Portsmouth City Council had met with the Rt. Hon. Keith Hill, Minister of State for Housing and Planning on 8 March 2004 to discuss housing provision in Hampshire. Consequently, Councillor Thornber, the Leader of Hampshire County Council had written to the Leaders of all District Councils confirming the outcome of that meeting. The Minister had made it clear that he is determined to meet the Regional Planning Guidance 9 targets and although the delegation felt they were able to convince the Minister that there was no compelling reason to release any reserve sites in 2004/05, this was at the cost of an action plan being produced for him in one month's time. In his letter, Councillor Thornber strongly emphasised the urgency and importance of meeting the Minister's demands.
The Chairman highlighted the importance of all local authorities working and moving forward together as well as emphasising the need for Government Departments such as Health, Department for Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), Department for Transport (DfT), Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) and Ministry of Defence (MoD) to work in harmony. Whilst it was recognised that housing provision was a key issue for Hampshire, there were other key issues to address all of which could have far reaching implications:
· decision awaited from DfT in respect of funding for the Light Rapid
Transit Scheme linking Fareham, Gosport and Portsmouth
· outcome of the Dibden Bay Inquiry awaited
· timetable awaited for the release of MoD land - particularly important
for north Hampshire and Project Connaught
· support for transport infrastructure
· development of sustainable communities
In support of the Government's aim to encourage people to use public transport and an excellent example of partnership working, the Chairman reported on a new initiative - the Solent Travelcard - launched by Solent Transport. This new type of bus ticket could be used on any bus, for any route and at any time for every bus in southern Hampshire. The travelcard can be purchased direct from the bus driver at a cost of £5 for a daily ticket or £20 for a weekly (7 day) ticket. More information can be found on the website: www.solent-travelcard.org.uk and information on times and routes can be obtained by contacting "traveline", telephone number: 0870 608 2 608 or www.traveline.org.uk.
With the agreement of the Chairman, Standing Orders were suspended to allow Mr Darren Richards, the representative for the Government Office for the South East (GOSE) to respond to the issues raised. Mr Richards thanked the Chairman for the opportunity to address the Panel and reported on the main areas of concern raised by the Minister at the meeting on 1 March including the low number of adoptions of Local Plans, lack of progress with MDA's and an over reliance on windfall sites. Mr Richards confirmed that the comments made by the Chairman had been noted and would be shared with his colleagues at GOSE, and gave an assurance that the issues raised would be taken seriously.
In conclusion, it was agreed that officers from the three Strategic Authorities and District Councils would work together, in consultation with their Members, to produce an action plan for the Minister within the required timescale.
38. DEPUTATIONS
No requests to make a deputation had been received.
39. A: POLICY H4 MONITORING PAPER 2004 - OVERALL
CONSULTATION REPSONSE
B: POLICY H4 MONITORING PAPER 2004 - CONSULTATION
RESPONSE FROM THE GOVERNMENT OFFICE FOR THE SOUTH EAST
The Panel considered the reports of the Hampshire Director of Environment, Portsmouth City Planning Officer and Southampton Executive Director of Development (Items 5 and 6 in the Minute Book) detailing consultation responses arising from the Hampshire County Structure Plan Policy H4 Monitoring Paper 2004. Due to the close inter-relationship of the reports, the Panel discussed them as a single item.
During the course of a full discussion, Southampton and Portsmouth City Councils, followed by the District Councils updated the Panel and reported on progress with Local Plans as relevant. Although it was recognised that all local planning authorities must take proactive steps to meet their Structure Plan baseline figure, some reported on difficulties they were experiencing with the Highways Agency and English Nature in respect of specific sites which was seriously affecting their ability to move forward to meet their targets. Concern was also expressed about the length of time it took for the Inspector's report to be produced after a Local Plan Inquiry had been held and that pressure should be brought to bear on developers to commence and complete housing developments in a timely manner. These comments were noted by Mr Richards.
RESOLVED:
A: Policy H4 Monitoring Paper 2004 - Overall Consultation Response
That the three Strategic Planning Authorities:
(i) note the consultation responses;
(ii) agree that no reserve sites be released at the present time;
(iii) urge all local planning authorities to take proactive steps to manage housing land supply to meet or exceed their Structure Plan baseline housing requirement and make provision for the reserve provision, where required;
(iv) agree that a report should be brought to the next meeting of the Strategic Joint Advisory Panel on the actions being undertaken by local planning authorities to ensure that the predicted housing supply is forthcoming; and
(v) thank all consultees who responded to this year's Monitoring Paper for their comments and informing them of the decisions made by this Panel.
B: Policy H4 Monitoring Paper 2004 Consultation Response from
Government Office for the South East
That the Strategic Planning Authorities:
(i) welcome the comments by the Government Office which have helped test and refine the assumptions that underpin the monitoring process;
(ii) note the call to release the reserve, but consider that, on balance, the `compelling justification' to release it, as required by the Structure Plan, has yet to be satisfied;
(iii) conclude that there is no need to act in haste. The reserve could be released in 2005 or 2006 to address a future shortfall, in the event of the Monitoring Paper 2004 proving to be too optimistic;
(iv) urge local planning authorities to maintain progress towards the adoption of local plans without further delay;
(v) urge local planning authorities to raise and maintain the level of full and outline planning permissions from a three year to a five year supply;
(vi) urge local planning authorities to give consideration to expediting the local plan to deliver the baseline housing supply without significantly prejudicing local plan processes;
(vii) urge local planning authorities to implement any action plans that have been agreed with the Government Office;
(viii) request that local planning authorities report back to the next meeting of the Strategic Planning Joint Advisory Panel on points (iv) (v), (vi) and (vii) above;
(ix) urge the Government Office to support (iv), (v) and (vi) through representations to the Planning Inspectorate (to conduct Inquiries expeditiously and issue reports promptly), by sympathetic application of the Greenfield Directive and through representations to the Highways Agency, Environment Agency and English Nature regarding their approach and attitude towards development proposals;
(x) agree to assess urban capacity studies for consistency with the Good Practice Guide published by the Regional Assembly;
(xi) agree to undertake critical path analysis on large housing sites to create greater certainty as to when such sites can be expected to deliver house completions; and
(xii) recognise that, if enhanced certainty on housing delivery cannot be demonstrated next year, there may be no alternative but to release some of the reserve housing provision.
40. REGIONAL AND SUB-REGIONAL SPATIAL STRATEGIES - PROGRESS REPORT
The Panel considered the report of the Hampshire Director of Environment, Portsmouth City Planning Officer and Southampton Executive Director of Development and Sustainability (Item 7 in the Minute Book) outlining the new framework of regional and sub-regional spatial strategies, which it is proposed will replace Regional Planning Guidance and Structure Plans.
In amplifying areas of the report, the Hampshire Director of Environment drew particular attention to section 3 of the report and confirmed that work is well underway in respect of the sub-regional studies detailed in paragraph 3.4. A report would be presented to the next meeting of the Panel, which would aim to draw together the options identified for the sub-regional study areas.
RESOLVED:
That the progress being made on the preparation of the Regional Spatial Strategy and sub-regional studies affecting Hampshire be noted.
41. PLANNING FUTURE HOUSING PROVISION TO 2026
The Panel considered the report of the Hampshire Director of Environment, Portsmouth City Planning Officer and Southampton Executive Director of Development and Sustainability (Item 8 in the Minute Book) on planning future housing provision for the longer term. Although no decisions were required at this time, the report sought to initiate a debate and during the course of a full discussion, concerns were expressed inter alia:
_ difficulty faced by Portsmouth City Council in sustaining housebuilding
rates for the longer term given the already dense development in the city
and the lack of available land
_ the need to address transport infrastructure, especially for emerging
developments such as Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth and the
proposed development in respect of Project Connaught
_ doubts raised about the Barker Review and support shown for a much
wider debate to be conducted with other specialists in the field to analyse the conclusions
_ funding issues for the provision of affordable housing
_ effective use of existing housing stock and engage the help of Social
Services and Health
_ post 2011 and the difficulties posed by the possibility of brownfield
sites having been used up
_ consideration of the overall quality issue of how developments are
planned
In conclusion, the Panel welcomed the early opportunity to discuss these issues. There was consensus that the longer term planning process should commence now rather than later to include transport infrastructure, and the importance of adopting a strategic approach to address these issues.
RESOLVED:
That the need to plan for a significant amount of new housing in Hampshire be noted.
42. DATE, TIME AND VENUE FOR NEXT MEETING OF THE PANEL
The Panel agreed the arrangements for the next meeting of the Panel as follows:-
Thursday 15 July 2004 at 10.00am in the Council Chamber at Southampton City Council's Civic Offices.