Issue - meetings

Council is asked to:

1)    propose a Main Modification to the Inspector to remove Bridge Street car park/Hanover House/Sea Cadet building (ST4/002) and Riverside surface car park (ST4/010) as site allocations from the Local Plan,

2)    propose a Main Modification to the Inspector to agree to new policy wording in relation to site allocations at risk from access and egress issues and for such wording to be finalized by the Group Head of Place, Protection and Prosperity in consultation with the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Corporate Policy & Resources Committee; and

3)    agree that the Chair of the Environment & Sustainability Committee write to the Inspector with further proposed Main Modifications (if agreed) in order to progress the Local Plan back to Examination.

Councillor Saliagopoulos left the meeting before this item was considered as she had declared a pecuniary interest in relation to this item.

Councillor Gibson declared a pecuniary interest in one of the buildings listed in Appendix C of the report and left the Chamber whilst this item was considered.

Following an email received from the Environment Agency it was proposed by Councillor Sexton and seconded by Councillor Beecher that the wording within the report at paragraph 3.11 be amended to reflect the wording suggested by the Environment Agency.

The revised wording was as follows:

“The site will not be available for development until a safe route for access and egress can be provided and maintained during a flood event (ie the 1% AEP fluvial flood event and surface water event including an appropriate climate change allowance)”.

Council resolved to agree to the amended wording as outlined above.

It was proposed by Councillor Sexton and seconded by Councillor Bateson that Council approve to:

1.    Propose a Main Modification to the Inspector to remove Bridge Street Car Park/Hanover House/Sea Cadet building (ST4/002) and Riverside surface car park (ST4/010) as site allocations from the Local Plan,

2.    Propose a Main Modification to the Inspector to agree to new policy wording in relation to site allocations at risk from access and egress issues and for such wording to be finalised by the Group Head of Place, Protection and Prosperity in consultation with the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Corporate Policy & Resources Committee; and

3.    Agree that the Chair of the Environment & Sustainability Committee write to the Inspector with further proposed Main Modifications (if agreed) in order to progress the Local Plan back to Examination.

Council resolved to approve the recommendations as outlined in the report.

Committee is asked to:

1)    Make a recommendation to Council to propose a Main Modification to the Inspector to remove Bridge Street car park/Hanover House/Sea Cadet building (ST4/002) and Riverside surface car park (ST4/010) as site allocations from the Local Plan

2)    Make a recommendation to Council to propose a Main Modification to the Inspector to agree to new policy wording in relation to site allocations at risk from access and egress issues (flooding)

3)    Make a recommendation to Council that the Chair of the Environment & Sustainability Committee write to the Inspector with further proposed Main Modifications (if agreed) in order to progress the Local Plan back to Examination.

The Committee resolved to make the following recommendations to Council:

1.    To propose a Main Modification to the Inspector to remove Bridge Street Car Park/Hanover House/Sea Cadet Building and Riverside Surface Car Park as site allocations from the Local Plan;

2.    To propose a Main Modification to the Inspector to agree to new policy wording in relation to site allocations at risk from access and egress issues and for such wording to be finalised by the Group Head of Place, Protection and Prosperity in consultation with the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Corporate Policy and Resources Committee;

3.    That the Chair of the Environment and Sustainability Committee write to the Inspector with further proposed Main Modifications (if agreed) in order to progress the Local Plan back to examination.

The Committee was advised that work had been undertaken with the Environment Agency (EA) to reach a statement of common ground following the EA’s concerns around flooding and the access and egress of certain sites. The Group Head of Place, Protection and Prosperity advised the Committee that the EA’s concerns would not, on their own make the Local Plan unsound but their comments would be considered by the Planning Inspector when reaching a decision as to whether the Council’s Local Plan was sound or not. As a consequence of the EA being a Specific Consultee Body and therefore having a high ranking status, the Planning Inspector has advised that any concerns from them would be taken very seriously.

It was proposed by Councillor Boughtflower and seconded by Councillor Mooney that any changes to the wording within the policy should be brought back before the committee for them to agree to and not be finalised by the Group Head of Place, Protection and Prosperity in consultation with the Chair and Vice of this committee.

A vote was taken as follows:

For the motion – 7

Against the motion – 9

The motion FELL

The Committee resolved to make the following recommendations to Council:

1.    To propose a Main Modification to the Inspector to remove Bridge Street Car Park/Hanover House/Sea Cadet Building and Riverside Surface Car Park as site allocations from the Local Plan;

2.    To propose a Main Modification to the Inspector to agree to new policy wording in relation to site allocations at risk from access and egress issues and for such wording to be finalised by the Group Head of Place, Protection and Prosperity in consultation with the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Corporate Policy and Resources Committee;

3.    That the Chair of the Environment and Sustainability Committee write to the Inspector with further proposed Main Modifications (if agreed) in order to progress the Local Plan back to examination.