Issue - meetings

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

The Head of Planning, Regeneration and Development presented the answers to the key questions set by Members in respect of the Authority Monitoring Report.

Members considered and noted the answers provided to the key questions. Arising from the answers provided the following issues were discussed:

·         The need for affordable housing in the district and whether the 30% target that the Council had set was achievable

·         The role of the Council as a builder of housing and in meeting housing need in the district

·         The impact of scheme viability on the delivery of affordable housing

·         The different types of green field land (i.e. prime agricultural land compared to land less suited to agricultural use)

·         The impact on the strategic highway network of development

·         Whether the provision of gypsy and traveller sites was sufficient in the district and what effect increased provision might have on the incidents of illegal trespass seen in the previous summer

·         The need for bus and cycling networks to support rural housing development

RESOLVED:   That officers be thanked for providing detailed answers to the key questions set by Members and the responses be noted.

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

The Chairman, Councillor L A Keen, proposed that the consideration of the Authority Monitoring Report be deferred until the next meeting to allow Members more time to read the report.

Members debated whether the whole report should be deferred or whether a summary of the main changes should be prepared as an alternative. It was agreed that the report should be deferred and considered in full at the next meeting.

The Democratic Services Manager explained the difference between call-in and deferring a decision, emphasising that the deferment of its consideration did not stop the decision being implemented by Cabinet.

Councillor L A Keen asked Members to submit questions for the next meeting and that these should be collated by the Democratic Services Manager.

RESOLVED:   That consideration of the Authority Monitoring Report be deferred until the next meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.  

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

Responsibility: Portfolio Holder for Planning and Regulatory Services

It was agreed that the publication on the Council’s website of the Authority Monitoring Report 2018/19 and the Housing Supply Technical Paper, as set out at Appendices 1 and 2 respectively to the report, be approved.