Agenda item

A briefing report is attached. Simon de Beer (Planning Policy and Environment Manager) will attend to answer questions on the following issues:

a.  The progress of the Core Strategy

b.  The progress of the B&NES Placemaking Plan

c.  The progress of the B&NES Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Show People site allocations DPD

d.  The progress of Neighbourhood Planning

e.  The Community Infrastructure Levy (verbal update)

Simon de Beer ( Planning Policy and Environment Manager) introduced the items.

Core Strategy – the final report on the Core Strategy would be published at the end of June, before being adopted by the full Council at its meeting on 10^th July. The inspector’s recommendations will have to be accepted before it can be formally adopted – it can then be used in decision-making and will be used to defend against applications fro green-field sites. A representative from Saltford PC asked whether developers who were looking to find fault with the Strategy could take the Council to judicial review and was informed that they could, but that the Inspector had been meticulous in his approach, making a legal challenge difficult. A representative from Cameley PC asked when the Core Strategy would be operational and was informed that the exact date was not yet known, but that Lisa Bartlett (Divisional Director, Development, Planning and Transport) would inform Parish and Town Councils as soon as a date was fixed.

The Placemaking Plan – Simon de Beer commented that the level of collaborative working with the Parish and Town Councils during this project had been much appreciated. A note setting out the next steps in the process would be sent out to councils soon. The outcome would be included in the proposals for the November 2014 Cabinet meeting. A representative from South Stoke PC asked whether there might be speculative applications in advance of the completion of the Placemaking Plan. Simon de Beer replied that once the Core Strategy was accepted, then it was possible to resist inappropriate housing proposals. A representative of Radstock TC expressed similar concerns and was informed that the housing needs for the Radstock area had been met as confirmed by the Inspector.

A representative from Corston PC asked when the conservation areas were going to be updated. Simon de Beer replied that a new heritage planning officer had just been appointed who will look into those issues. A representative from Combe Hay PC asked whether it was mandatory for developers to create a master plan and was informed that it was made a requirement for the South Stoke development.

Gypsies and Travellers and Travelling Show People DPD – Simon de Beer informed the meeting that the Council was working with neighbouring authorities on a joint approach to this issue. A new permitted site was to be built on the Lower Bristol Road, Bath. Councillor Tim Ball added that permission for the site development (which included 15 pitches – 8 permanent and 5 transit) had been passed in June and that it would be in use later in 2014. 

Neighbourhood Planning – The meeting noted the update contained in the briefing paper.

Community Infrastructure Levy – Simon de Beer informed the meeting that the Levy mechanism need to be in place by 2015 or the Council would miss out on potential income for its planning structure.. It would need to be submitted for adoption later in 2014. 15% of CIL money would go to local communities. A representative of Cameley PC asked whether the CIL would only apply to applications determined after 2015 and was informed that the trigger would be the adoption of the CIL by the Council. A representative from Combe Hay asked whether different authorities would have different charging rates and was informed that there was unlikely to be much difference between the rates.