Agenda item

(Planning and Governance Portfolio Holder) To consider the attached report and appendices.

Mover: Councillor J Philip, Portfolio Holder for Planning and Governance

 

Councillor J Philip submitted a report seeking agreement to publish the Submission Version of the Epping Forest District Local Plan in accordance with Regulation 19 of the Planning regulations. When adopted this plan would supersede the combined policies of the Epping Forest District Local Plan (1998) and Alterations (2006) and would ensure that the Council had an up-to-date Local Plan to guide future development and infrastructure needs in the District, promote sustainable development and identify and update annually the five year supply of deliverable housing land. The Portfolio Holder drew attention to amendments to the submission version of the Local Plan that were tabled and appended as an appendix to these minutes. 

 

Amendment moved by Councillor C C Pond and seconded by Councillor R Jennings

 

“That in paragraph 1(a) add after ‘2017’:

 

‘subject to a statement excluding all public urban open space from development and the allocation of 300 extra dwellings in the Harlow and Gilston Garden Town’

 

Paragraph 1(b), delete whole paragraph and the first line of paragraph 2.”

 

During the debate Councillor Sandler proposed alternative wording for the amendment and this was accepted by Councillor C CPond who withdrew his original amendment in favour of the below wording which Councillor C C Pond seconded:

 

“That in paragraph 1(a) of the recommendations add ‘after 2017’ the following words – ‘subject to a statement by EFDC as landowner that excludes development on public urban open space in Chigwell and Loughton and the accommodation of 300 extra dwellings in the plot of land to the east of Theydon Bois station as delineated in the Regulation 18 draft and next to site THYB R1’.”

 

Councillor C Whitbread requested and was granted a short adjournment to get some advice about this new amendment.

 

On return and after a debate Councillors C Whitbread, J Philip, G Mohindra, S Kane and A Lion requested a recorded vote.

 

There voted for the amendment: (18) namely: Councillors R Baldwin, A Beales, R Brookes, L Girling, S Heap, B Jennings, J Jennings, H Kaufman, L Mead, S Murray, S Neville, C C Pond, CP Pond, C Roberts, D Roberts, B Sandler, B Surtees and D Wixley.

 

There voted against the amendment: (29) namely: Councillors N Avey, N Bedford, T Boyce, H Brady, G Chambers, K Chana, R Gadsby, A Grigg, L Hughes, S Jones, S Kane, P Keska, J Lea, A Lion, M McEwen, G Mohindra, R Morgan, A Patel, J Philip, B Rolfe, M Sartin, G Shiell, P Stalker, D Stallan, D Sunger, E Webster, C Whitbread, H Whitbread, and J M Whitehouse.

 

Abstentions: (4) namely: Councillors D Dorrell, H Kane, A Mitchell, and J H Whitehouse.

 

Lost

 

Amendment moved by Councillor B Surtees and seconded by Councillor J H Whitehouse.

 

That there be Inserted after ‘in consultation with the Planning Portfolio Holder’ the words “and a Portfolio Holder Advisory Group constituted for this purpose”

 

After a short discussion the mover, Councillor Surtees withdrew his amendment.

 

Withdrawn

 

 

Amendment moved by Councillor J M Whitehouse and seconded by Councillor J H Whitehouse.

 

“That in Policy P1 (B) of the plan paragraph (i) and (ii) (sites EPP.R1 and sites EPP.R2) be deleted and in PolicySP2 (B) Epping the number 1,305 be replaced with 355.”

 

Lost

 

 

Amendment moved by Councillor J M Whitehouse and Seconded by Councillor J H Whitehouse.

 

That in appendix 6 EPP.R5 (Epping Sports Centre) Development Requirements insert in final paragraph after ‘sports/ leisure facility’: ‘in Epping’ to read:

 

“Closure of the existing Epping Sports centre and the re-development of this site should not take place until a suitable replacement sports/leisure facility in Epping is delivered and is operational. This is to ensure that the public have uninterrupted access to sports/leisure facilities in the local area.”

 

Lost

 

Councillor Kaufman requested and was granted an adjournment in which to confer with counsel.

 

Amendment moved by Councillor J H Whitehouse and seconded by J M Whitehouse.

 

‘That in Appendix 6 EPP.R11 (Epping Library) Development Requirements a new paragraph be inserted at the end to read:

 

“The re-development of this site should not take place until it has been demonstrated that proposals for suitable replacement community leisure  and cultural facilities (including library services) in the centre of Epping will be delivered in accordance with Policy D4 (v) and (vi).”

 

Councillor Philip proposed alternative wording for the amendment which was accepted by Councillor J H Whitehouse.

 

Revised amendment to read:

 

“That in Appendix 6 EPP.R11 (Epping Library) the re-development of the site should only take place when a suitable replacement library service provision is delivered in Epping”

 

Carried

 

Amendment moved by Councillor B Surtees and seconded by Councillor J M Whitehouse.

 

“That in Policy P4 (B):

 

·         Delete paragraph (viii) (site ONG.R8)

·         In paragraph (ii) (site ONG.R2) delete ‘135’ and replace with ‘115’

·         In Policy SP2(B) Ongar delete 590 and replace with ‘561’

·         In Appendix 6 West Ongar Concept Plan, minimum net capacity delete 234 and replace with 214”

 

After a short discussion the mover, Councillor Surtees withdrew his amendment.

 

Withdrawn

 

 

Amendment moved by Councillor S Neville and Seconded by Councillor S Heap.

 

“That in paragraph 1(a), add after ‘2017’:

 

…subject to a statement excluding BUCK.R3 lower Queens Road Shops from development and the allocation of 15 extra dwellings in the Harlow and Gilston Garden Town.”

 

Withdrawn

 

 

At the conclusion of the debate a vote was taken on the report as amended and consequential changes to the plan and those reported by the Portfolio Holder which was ADOPTED

 

            RESOLVED:

 

(1)          That the Council agree and publish the Epping Forest District Local Plan Submission Version 2017 with the following amendments:

(a)  In Appendix 6 EPP.R11 (Epping Library) Development Requirements the following new wording be inserted: “The re-development of the site should only take place when a suitable replacement library service provision is delivered in Epping”

 

(b)  The amendments to the plan reported at the meeting and set out in Appendix 1 to these minutes.

 

(2)          That the following be agreed:

(a)  The Epping Forest District Local Plan Submission Version 2017 (Appendix A to the agenda) be agreed and published for a period of six weeks from 18 December 2017 to 29 January 2018 in accordance with Regulation 19 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 (as amended) ("the 2012 Regulations");

(b)  The Sustainability Appraisal/Equalities Impact Assessment and Habitats Regulation Assessment be agreed and published alongside the Submission Plan;

(c)  To note that the Local Plan Duty to Co-operate Statement of Compliance, Consultation Statement and Local Plan evidence base will be available on the Council’s website;

(d)  That following the conclusion of the Regulation 19 publication period, the Local Plan be submitted to the Secretary of State for Independent Examination under section 20 of the Planning Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (as amended) ("the 2004 Act"), together with the submission documents prescribed by Regulation 22 of the 2012 Regulations before  31 March 2018;

(e)  That the Director of Neighbourhoods, in consultation with the Planning and Governance Portfolio Holder, be authorised to make non-material typographical, formatting, mapping and other minor amendments to the Plan prior to publication on 18 December 2017 and prior to the submission of the Plan to the Secretary of State;

(f)   That the Director of Neighbourhoods be authorised to write to the Local Plan Inspector appointed to carry out the Examination of the submitted Local Plan ("the Local Plan Inspector") asking him/her to recommend such modifications of the submitted Local Plan as may be necessary to make the Plan sound and legally compliant, in accordance with section 20(7C) of the 2004 Act;

(g)  That the Director of Neighbourhoods be authorised to produce and submit any supplementary information and documentation to the Local Plan Inspector as may be required to complete the examination;

(h)  That the Director of Neighbourhoods, in consultation with the Planning Portfolio Holder, be authorised to submit a schedule of proposed main modifications of the submitted Local Plan to address any issues relating to soundness and legal compliance identified by the Local Plan Inspector; and

(i)    That the Local Plan Submission Version 2017 be endorsed as a material consideration to be used in the determination of planning applications and enforcement decisions to be given appropriate weight in accordance with paragraph 216 of the National Planning Policy Framework.