Agenda item

(Planning Portfolio Holder) To consider the attached report (LPC-003-2012/13).

(1)        That the progress made with consultation on the ‘Local Plan Issues & Options – Community Choices’ document be noted.

The Forward Planning Manager presented a progress report on the consultation for the Local Plan ‘Issues & Options – Community Choices’ document.

The Forward Planning Manager reported that public consultation on the Local Plan ‘Issues & Options – Community Choices’ document commenced on 30 July 2012, and would run for 11 weeks until 15 October 2012. Press briefings had been held in July and leaflets advertising the dates and locations of the public drop-in sessions had been delivered to every household and business in the District. Problems with the delivery of leaflets in Chigwell had been resolved, and possible further problems in Ninefields, Waltham Abbey were being investigated. A total of 14 drop-in sessions throughout the District had been planned, and details had been sent to all Town and Parish Councils, as well as being posted on the Council’s website, Facebook and Twitter pages.

The Forward Planning Manager advised that letters had been sent to a variety of consultees and groups advertising the consultation, and specific hard-to-reach groups had been targeted to ensure they were aware of the consultation. There would be an exhibition in the Civic Offices throughout the consultation period, and temporary exhibitions would be staged in local libraries around the District. The number of responses to the consultation had started to increase following the first of the drop-in sessions taking place, and it was expected that more responses would be received as the consultation period progressed.

The Chairman added that a meeting had taken place between the Lea Valley growers, the National Farmers Union and the Local Strategic Partnership to discuss the recent Glass House Industry report, and work on some of the issues raised in respect of the Green Belt and Parkland areas, to enable the growers to concentrate on food production. The Local Strategic Partnership would lead this process, and the outcome would be reported back to the Cabinet Committee.

There were further claims made about the non-delivery of leaflets in other areas by Members present at the meeting. The Forward Planning Manager responded that the Council had access to telemetric data about the leaflet deliveries, but Officers could investigate further the details of any roads that had not been delivered to. The Chairman stated that further resources had been made available to hold extra local meetings, for which press releases would be issued, but the public could telephone Officers with questions at any time. A DVD would be made for distribution amongst the Gypsy & Traveller community, and this would also be made available on the Council’s website with copies available on request to the public. The Cabinet Committee was reminded that local Parish Magazines could also be used to disseminate information.

A local Member for Chigwell Village reported that there was huge suspicion in the Chigwell area. Residents believed that this was not a consultation, and that the Local Plan had already been finalised with building on Green Belt land in the area proposed. It was also felt that the consultation had been poorly put together and was biased; it was too complicated for ordinary people to understand and two computers were required to cross-reference the consultation document with the feedback form.

The Chairman reassured the Member that all the sites in the consultation document had already been assessed as part of the Strategic Land Availability Assessment, but that the Council would always look to develop brownfield sites first before building on Green Belt land. Work had recently been completed to improve the website, but residents always had the option to request a hard copy of the documents if that was easier. The Council would hold workshops with Members and local groups after the consultation period had finished and before any decisions were made about the Council’s preferred options. The preferred options would be subject to further public consultation and an Examination in Public. It was a long process but the Council had to follow the procedure correctly to prevent the Local Plan being found unsound. The Leader of the Council added that it had taken the Council four years to get to this stage and it was imperative for residents to respond to the current consultation. The documentation made it very clear that the current stage was only a consultation, and it was reiterated that the Council would prioritise new development on brownfield sites rather than green field sites.

The local Member for Chigwell Village welcomed the Leader’s comments regarding priority for development on brownfield sites and that message would be conveyed to his residents. However, it was still felt that the consultation documents used Forward Planning terminology, which residents did not understand. The Portfolio for Finance & Technology advised that Members were under a duty to consider the Local Plan for the whole District, not just the consequences for their own areas.

Decision:

(1)        That the progress made with consultation on the ‘Local Plan Issues & Options – Community Choices’ document be noted.

Reasons for Decision:

To keep the Cabinet Committee informed on the progress of the consultation.

Other Options Considered and Rejected:

None at the current time.