Issue - meetings

Amendments and adoption of the Sustainable Construction & Retrofitting Supplementary Planning Document following the public consultation

Councillor David Martin in a statement [a copy of which is attached to the Minutes as Appendix 13 and on the Council's website] welcomed the document which he felt would be helpful to residents, builders and installers while at the same time reinforcing the Council’s Green Deal initiative.  He felt however that an opportunity had been missed to produce guidance for listed buildings.

Councillor Tim Ball proposed the recommendations.  He thanked Councillor Martin for his observations and regretted that the proposals relating to listed building retrofitting were not ready to be published, but he anticipated being able to bring proposals forward later.  He thanked officers, in particular Cleo Newcombe-Jones, for their hard work

Councillor Paul Crossley seconded the proposal and said that the document would improve the lives of many by enabling fuel efficiency and winter warmth in their homes.

Councillor Cherry Beath felt that the document was a huge step in the right direction and was another example of the Cabinet being willing to grasp nettles.

On a motion from Councillor Tim Ball, seconded by Councillor Paul Crossley, it was

RESOLVED (unanimously)

(1) To ADOPT the Sustainable Construction and Retrofitting Supplementary Planning Document to supplement the Bath & North East Somerset Local Plan, and then the Core Strategy once this is adopted;

(2) To AGREE that the Domestic Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy: Permitted Development Checklist will be made available on the Council’s website;

(3) To DELEGATE authority to the Divisional Director of Planning & Transport Development to make graphic and minor textual amendments to the documents prior to adoption;

(4) To SUPPORT the future adoption of local Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Guidance for listed buildings in the next 6 months, following a further review of the draft document with English Heritage (and other stakeholders); and

(5) To AGREE that discussions will be held with other Local Authorities (and other interested parties) with a specific interest in approving energy efficiency and renewable energy measures in listed buildings, together with the relevant Government departments (DCMS and DCLG), with a view to identifying conservation and building regulations policy constraints and ways to overcome them.