Oral Update
Minutes:
The item was included on the agenda to consider the policies of environmental services identified within the scope of the draft Local Plan (Local Development Framework). The Head of Planning Strategy attended the meeting to provide further background on the draft Plan and respond to Member questions.
Consultation on the Proposed Submission Draft Local Plan took place in November/December 2016 being the latest round of consultation and the plan that the Council considers sound and intends to submit to the Secretary of State for examination by a Planning Inspector. A number of policies within the Plan concern environment matters such as those related to transport, crossover policies and general design of development including considerations such as recycling facilities. Environmental challenges such as flooding and sustainable urban drainage are also covered as well as matters related to noise and lighting. Responses to the latest consultation would be reported to Members and will be included in the submission to the Secretary of State. An examination process would then follow involving a planning inspector and hearings. Should the Council wish to make any modifications to policies then a further round of consultation would be required. However, on the basis of the Council considering the Proposed Submission Draft Local Plan ‘sound’ then modifications are not anticipated, subject to considering the responses to the formal consultation. The plan refers to guidelines and policies prepared by Environmental Services, for example, the Council’s Crossover Policy, and if these guidelines and policies are reviewed and updated, these would be the reference point for the Draft Local Plan.
The Chairman indicated that the purpose of the item was to consider the interfaces between the draft Local Plan and Environmental Services and where Environmental Services policies could be updated to support the Local Plan. General environmental issues would have been included during the consultations completed whilst developing the Local Plan.
A Member suggested that the Plan was not sufficiently strong on highlighting light pollution concerns but it was confirmed that planning policy worked with environmental officers on noise and light pollution policies and the policies were considered robust. Should the Committee consider application of the Street Design Manual, it would be possible to consider light pollution matters in the context of street lighting. A Member confirmed that new street lighting in her ward projected light down on to the road.
In response to a query on the Local Plan making reference to waste storage facilities at developments, officers advised that Draft Policy 37, General Design of Development, clause i), provided the relevant policy. Neighbourhood teams would also be approached for comment in regard to any major developments.
Officers in Highways and Traffic were always consulted on traffic management matters and planning applications and contributed to the development of the Draft Local Plan – including consultation on policies for congestion relief and road safety. The Plan also makes reference to Design Manuals. Client officers and Idverde would be similarly consulted on matters related to parks and amenity space (including provision in town centres) e.g. use of S106 monies from the Orpington Tesco development for amenity space. An Infrastructure Delivery Schedule sets out the infrastructure required to support the development and vision set out in the Draft Local Plan
The Chairman suggested that a working group considers the Environmental Services guidance and policy and ensures that the local plan process is kept advised of any changes made or new guidelines prepared so they can be referred either during the examination if appropriate or when the plan is reviewed.