Issue - meetings

To consider the attached report of the Head of Planning, Regeneration and Development.

The Principal Heritage Officer presented the report on the Draft Deal Victoria Road and Wellington Road Conservation Area Character Appraisal.

Members were advised that that most of the conservation areas in the district did not have an approved character appraisal and due to the limited resources available to the Council to undertake them, local community groups were encouraged to carry out such appraisals in conjunction with the Council.

A conservation area appraisal was required to consider features that made a positive or negative contribution to the significance of the conservation area. This allowed for the identification of opportunities for beneficial change or areas where there was a need for further planning control. In addition, a conservation area character appraisal was a document that could be used as part of development management.

The Deal Society had prepared a draft conservation area character appraisal for the Deal (Victoria Road and Wellington Road) Conservation Area and it was proposed that a formal public consultation be undertaken on the draft document for a period of 6 weeks. Consultation responses could be submitted on-line, via telephone or email and notices promoting the consultation would be displayed in key areas.

Members raised concerns as to the cost of any future Article 4 directions on local residents arising from this and were advised by officers that this would be subject to a further process once the boundaries of the conservation area had been dealt with.

There were also concerns with the positioning of the boundary lines on the maps such as with the Captain’s Garden not being included with the castle. 

RESOLVED: (a)     That it be recommended to Cabinet that Cabinet Decision CAB7 be endorsed as follows:

(i)            That a public consultation for a period of 6 weeks of the draft Deal - Victoria Road and Wellington Road Conservation Area Character Appraisal be agreed, as set out in Appendix 1 of the report.

(ii)           That the Head of Planning, Regeneration and Development be authorised to make any necessary editorial changes to the appraisal to assist with clarity, consistency, explanation and presentation, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder.

(b)       That in future Conservation Character Appraisal reports include a summary of the consultation methodology.

To consider the attached report of the Head of Regeneration and Development.

Responsibility: Portfolio Holder for Planning and Regulatory Services

It was agreed:

(a)  That a 6-week period of public consultation be carried out on the draft Deal – Victoria Road and Wellington Road Conservation Area Character Appraisal.

(b) That Officers, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder, be charged with undertaking a review of current policy and practice towards changes towards changes to unlisted buildings in conservation areas, covering issues such as the implementation and purpose of the policies, and to report back to a future meeting of Cabinet.

(c) That the Head of Planning, Regeneration and Development be authorised to make any necessary editorial changes to the appraisal to assist with clarity, consistency, explanation and presentation, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder.