Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 17 December 2024.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 17 December 2024 were approved as a correct record.

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

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

The following interest was declared:

Personal Interest

Councillor                              Interest

Asa Caton                             Agenda Item 3 ‘Update National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF)’ as he was employed in Telecoms Infrastructure Businesses.

To consider a report of the Assistant Director Place Making and Planning / Chief Planning Officer.

The report provides the Working Party with a summary of the main changes to the revised NPPF from the version consulted on earlier this year.

Members are asked to note the information set out above and that the Local Plan will have to be progressed in conformity with the updated National Planning Policy Framework.

Officer contact: Steve Johnson Email:steven.johnson@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Assistant Director Place Making and Planning / Chief Planning Officer submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) which provided the Working Party with a summary of the main changes to the revised NPPF from the version consulted on earlier this year.

The following comments were made/issues raised:

·         Members thanked officers for the report which was very helpful and noted that there was a need to wait for further additional information to come from the government, particularly in relation to the clarification of what constituted ‘grey belt’ land.  Members also commented that they appreciated the link that was contained in the report where there was further information from independent sources that they could look at.

·         Members queried whether there was a cap on the 50 per cent base level for affordability of housing?  In response, the Working Party was advised that the 50 per cent level was not a cap but a minimum.

·         Members asked what the affordability ratio was based upon?

·         It was noted that there was going to be a good deal more house building in Stockport than had previously been anticipated.

·         Members commented that whilst land banking was not currently an issue in Stockport, it had been in the past and it was important to be watchful to ensure that this does not happen again.

·         A short discussion took place around the ‘golden rules’ and the possible implications of these for Stockport residents.

·         Members raised the issue of accessible spaces and how these would be measured.

·         A concern was raised that the meeting had spoken almost exclusively about housing and whether some time could be set aside to discuss other areas within the policy.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.