Agenda item

Greater Exeter Strategic Plan (GESP)

Minutes:

The Chairman welcomed officers from the GESP Team.

 

The Portfolio Holder for Planning referred to the report circulated with the agenda, the recommendations therein, and the purpose and strengths of the GESP.

 

Teignbridge, Mid Devon and East Devon District Councils, and Exeter Council formed some four years ago to work in partnership on GESP. The purpose of the draft policies and site options consultation is to invite comments on a number of draft strategic planning policies which would apply across the Greater Exeter area.  It also enables discussion of the proposed spatial development strategy for the area and provide the first indication of the potential housing and employment site options which may form part of the GESP.  The proposed consultation document contains a total of 39 site options on which comments will be sought.

 

The Principal Policy Planner reported on the context of the GESP which had been produced following extensive engagement with Councillors. It is being prepared jointly by the four authorities in partnership with Devon County Council, and Homes England. Once adopted it would be the strategic planning document for the four authorities covering the period 2020-2040, providing an effective addressing of planning issues and securing government funding for delivery. GESP would work with the other local plans for the area, such as Neighbourhood Plans and Local Plans.

 

Public engagement and consultation on GESP would commence in September for an eight week period.

 

Comments by Members included: concern that the consultation was taking place during the restrictions of Covid-19, set report for results of consultation and where changes will be implemented; the financial implications of the Plan then Plan would not benefit Teignbridge; housing numbers were being reviewed in the Teignbridge Local plan Review; the employment allocation and how this will be achieved is welcomed; what would happen to the Plan should either of the four authorities pull out; is eight weeks appropriate for the consultation; the document provides the policies on which to base future development.

 

In response the Committee was advised that: it was statutory requirement for public consultation and a detailed summary of all comments and how the Plan should be consequently amended would be provided; delaying GESP would affect the Council’s five year land supply, required by central Government, and control over where development could take place; the GESP Leadership Group would consider the effect of any Authority withdrawing from the partnership; Exeter was meeting its own housing needs; the current documents is an options allocation document to provide homes to meet the housing needs; it would ensure the infrastructure would be provided for the larger developments; the statutory consultation period is six weeks; this has been extended to eight week period is recommended given the restrictions of Covid-19;  most consultation comments are received within the last two weeks of the consultation period irrespective of the length of consultation time; specific site options for 5,250 dwellings over the four authority areas were included in the Plan; Teignbridge was required by Government to provide housing irrespective of whether the council was part of GESP;  it would enable assistance with infrastructure and bring other much needed benefits for the area.

 

It was proposed by Councillor Rollason and seconded by Councillor Goodman-Bradbury that recommendations 1,2,3,4 and 7 be approved as set out in the agenda report.

 

The vote was taken by roll call as follows:

 

For:  Councillors Austen, D Cox, H Cox, Eden, Foden, Goodman-Bradbury, Hayes, Jenks, Morgan, Nutley, Nuttall, Parker-Khan, Peart, J Petherick,

L Petherick, Purser, Rollason, Thorne, Bullivant -  19

 

Against:  Councillors Daws, Hocking, Mullone  - 3

Not Voted: Councillor Patch – 1

 

The Proposal was carried.

 

It was proposed by Councillor Parker-Khan and seconded by Councillor Peart that recommendation 5 be approved as set out in the agenda report subject to …… minor changes…….

 

It was proposed by Councillor Jenks and seconded by Councillor D Cox that the above proposal also be subject to the addition of ….in consultation with the PH, the Leader of the Opposition and Managing Director, to agree minor editorial changes ……and to email all Members within 24 hours of those changes.

 

The amendment was accepted by Councillor Parker-Khan and Peart to be incorporated into the original motion. 

 

It was noted that minor would include points of clarification and would not include changes to context or site specific allocation. Councillor Eden proposed that editorial be added to minor changes. This was agreed by Councillors Parker-Khan, Peart, Jenks and D Cox,

 

The vote was taken by roll call as follows:

 

For:  Councillors Austen, D Cox, H Cox, Daws, Eden, Foden, Goodman-Bradbury, Hayes, Jenks, Morgan, Mullone, Nutley, Nuttall, Orme,

Parker-Khan, Peart, J Petherick, L Petherick, Purser, Rollason, Thorne, Bullivant - 22

 

Against:  Councillors Hocking - 1

Not Voted: Councillor Patch - 1 

 

The proposal was carried

 

It was proposed by Councillor Bullivant and seconded by Councillor J Petherick that recommendation 6 be approved as set out in the agenda report.

 

The vote was taken by roll call as follows:

 

For:  Councillors Austen, D Cox, H Cox, Eden, Foden, Goodman-Bradbury, Hayes, Jenks, Morgan, Nutley, Nuttall, Orme, Parker-Khan, Peart,

J Petherick, L Petherick, Purser, Rollason, Thorne, Bullivant - 20

 

Against:  Councillors Daws, Hocking, Mullone - 3

Not Voted: Councillor Patch - 1 

 

The proposal was carried.

 

In relation to recommendation 8 the Committee was referred to Appendix F of the agenda report. The Principal Policy Planner advised that two officers from each authority would form the officer group for GESP and resources from Devon County Council. This would bring the resources into an equitable level from one which was unbalanced due to other work commitments.  The current resources were not sufficient to meet the timescales. Although an additional resource for Teignbridge, the equitable level of resources would result in a saving of around £45,000 for Teignbridge as compared to the resources the council was providing previously. This would ensure commitment to delivering the project and resourcing it.

 

 

In answer to a Member question as to whether the Council could meet the costs of GESP, the Chair advised that as a 114 Notice had not been issued the Council has the funds to commit to this obligation.

 

It was proposed by Councillor Peart and seconded by Councillor Rollason that recommendation 8 be approved as set out in the agenda report.

 

The vote was taken by roll call as follows:

 

For:  Councillors Austen, D Cox, H Cox, Eden, Foden, Goodman-Bradbury, Hayes, Jenks, Morgan, Nutley, Nuttall, Parker-Khan, Peart,

J Petherick, L Petherick, Purser, Rollason, Thorne, Bullivant - 19

 

Against:  Councillors Daws, Hocking, Mullone, Orme - 4

Not Voted: Councillor Patch - 1 

 

RECOMMENDED

 

The Executive is recommended to:

 

1. Approve the GESP Draft Policies and Site Options consultation document (attached at Appendix A) for public consultation as detailed in Appendix A to the agenda report.

 

2. Approve the GESP Draft Policies and Site Options Sustainability Appraisal Report for public consultation as detailed in Appendix B to the agenda report.

 

3. Approve the Initial Habitat Regulations Assessment Report for public consultation as detailed in Appendix C to the agenda report. 

 

4. Note the content and conclusion of the GESP Equality Impact Assessment Screening Report as detailed in Appendix E to the agenda report. 

 

5. Delegate authority to the Leader, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder, the Leader of the Opposition and Managing Director, to agree editorial changes to the above documents arising from decisions by the other GESP authorities before they are published for consultation, and to advise all Members by email within 24 hours of those changes.

 

6. Approve a further ‘call for sites’ process, to be held alongside the consultation on the GESP Draft Policies and Site Options document;

 

7. Note the content of the consultation statement for the 2017 Greater Exeter Strategic Plan Issues consultation as detailed in Appendix D to the agenda report. 

 

8. The GESP team is brought up to 8 full time equivalent members of staff and all Local Planning Authority staff resources are provided equitably to the team through equalisation arrangements. Subject to future confirmation of the additional GESP staff roles that will be required, for Teignbridge this is likely to equate to a total contribution of approximately £62,000 per annum towards staff costs, or up to an additional c£30,000 per annum on top of existing staff contributions.

 

Supporting documents: