Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 26 October 2016.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 26 October 2016 were approved as a correct record.

Councillors and Officers to declare any interests which they may have in any of the items on the agenda for the meeting.

No declarations of interest were made.

To receive a verbal update on the developments of the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework.

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place provided a verbal update on the development of the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework.

It was reported that more than 20,000 consultation responses had been received and the process of registering and assessing the comments was underway. It was anticipated that more information on the headline figures would be available by the end of March and that further detailed updates would be available in July.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         Whilst a detailed timetable for updates would not be available until the responses had been assessed, members would be involved prior to any further public consultation.

·         Members stressed the need to complete the response assessment effectively and robustly rather than be led by an arbitrary deadline date.

·         Concerns were raised regarding the timescale being too ambitious. In response, it was explained that of the 20,000 responses, a significant number of identical pro forma comments had been submitted.

·         Officers were mindful of not being accused of doing a ‘rushed job’ whilst also managing expectations in terms of when an update would be provided.

·         A Planning Policy Manager was currently working full time on leading the consultation process and additional resources had been allocated for data entry.

·         If a decision was taken to change the Local Authority’s position on a site as a result of the consultation, there would need to be sufficient and robust evidence to support the change.

·         Discussions were on-going at the Greater Manchester Combined Authority on how the newly devolved powers of compulsory purchase orders for the elected Greater Manchester Mayor would be implemented.

·         Officers were confident that all landowners whose land had been allocated for development had by now been made aware and their views would be captured as part of the consultation.

RESOLVED – That verbal update be noted.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration.

The report outlines a draft work programme for the LDF Working Party in 2017.

The Working Party is asked to note the report.

Officer Contact: Steve Johnson on 0161 474 3509 or email steven.johnson@stockport.gov.uk.

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) outlining a draft work programme for the LDF Working Party in 2017.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         Concerns were raised regarding the resources available to support neighbourhood plans. Officers explained that the intention was to have a more locality based local plan and that the resource solutions to support neighbourhood plans were being looked at.

·         The Strategic Housing and Land Availability Assessment was out of date and there was a need to update it in order to help identify potential sites.

·         The Open Space Study would advise on how to deal with open space provision through the development plan process, and would form part of the evidence base for looking at land for housing.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That an update on the progress of neighbourhood plans be included as a standing item on future agendas.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration.

Officer Contact: Steve Johnson on 0161 474 3509 or email steven.johnson@stockport.gov.uk.

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out the broad framework for the first stage of the work on the Stockport Local Plan (SLP), which will comprise a Place based SLP Issues and Options, including the way in which the document would be presented.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         Concerns were raised regarding the language used regarding growth, as not everyone in Stockport supported growth. In response, officers explained that it was not the intention of the Local Authority to deliver growth wherever and however, but to plan for growth that will naturally occur.

·         Members welcomed the “lighter touch” approach that was to be taken during the consultation and stressed the need to avoid planning jargon.

·         Extra resources had been allocated to assist in engagement with community groups, particularly those who don’t usually respond.

·         It was felt that the introduction of universal design standards at production level would bring about efficiency savings, but ultimately that the development needed to be viable and deliverable.

·         The local plan needed to take into account the level of requirement for travellers.

·         Members acknowledged that there was a need to take the time to get the Local Plan right, but that there were time pressures to ensure Stockport had a 5 year housing supply against the Core Strategy.

·         It was felt that the benefits to a community that a development brings were not effectively communicated to the public which resulted in negative feedback. It was further stressed that there should be an infrastructure plan to accompany a development plan. In response, it was explained that this was an opportunity to outline to residents the improvements that a development facilitates. Furthermore it was explained that the Local Plan would include details of social and spatial infrastructure improvements.

·         Planning officers welcomed suggestions from members and were seeking guidance from senior officers regarding how best to engage members in the process of the developing a Local Plan.

·         Members requested that the Local Plan take into account the benefits open space provision has on public health. It was explained that a post in the planning policy team was part funded by public health to ensure better health returns could be factored in.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

Members are requested to approve the following or suggest alternative dates for future meetings of the Working Party:-

Thursday 18 May 2017

Wednesday 28 June 2017

Wednesday 9 August 2017

Wednesday 13 September 2017

Wednesday 8 November 2017

Monday 18 December 2017

Wednesday 7 February 2018

RESOLVED – That the Democratic Services Manager, in consultation with the Chair and the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration, be requested to make arrangements for the next meeting of the Local Development Framework Working Party.