Meeting documents

WDC Planning Enviroment & Transport Committee
Monday, 15th June, 1998

Planning Enviroment & Transport Committee, Minutes 15 jun 1998

     PLANNING ENVIRONMENT AND TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE

 

 

     Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on

 

 

     15 June 1998

 

 

     PRESENT

 

     Cllr R J Nagle (in the Chair)

 

Cllr J M Blanksby

Cllr D E Done

Cllr Mrs K M Draper

Cllr A A Dunford

Cllr S H Graham

Cllr Mrs A E Hardy

Cllr M D Huddy

 

 

Cllr Mrs V A Letheren

Cllr P J Moore

Cllr C B Oliver

Cllr Mrs K M Peatey MBE JP

Cllr J W Preston*

Cllr R C Pushman*

Cllr Mrs J E Teesdale

Councillors D J Coe and A Collingwood attended the meeting in their capacity as Local Members

(Apologies for absence were received from Councillors A Dunn, Mrs C C Martens and D A C Shakespeare).

 

* Standing Deputies

 

1.     MINUTES

 

RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the meetings of the Committee held on 23 March and 7 April 1998 be approved as a true record and signed by the Chairman subject to the amendment of Minute No. 80, page petc 94 to read ARESOLVED@ and not ARECOMMENDED@ and Minute No. 80, page petc 103 to read ARESOLVED@ and not ARECOMMENDED@.

 

 

 

2.     COMMITTEE AND PANEL PLANS

 

The Chairman welcomed Members to the meeting and commented on the agenda which centred on the Local Plan and Local Agenda 21 with its key target of sustainability.

 

The Committee received and considered the updated Committee and Panel plans for 1998/99 noting proposals in each cycle.

 

RESOLVED: (i) That the Committee and Panel Plans for 1998/99 as submitted be agreed; and

 

(ii) that delegated authority be granted to the Planning, Environment and Transportation Panel to make all the necessary decisions and exercise all necessary functions in respect of those matters included in the Panel Plan.

 

3.

MINUTES - PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND TRANSPORTATION PANEL 6 APRIL 1998

 

The substantive Minutes discussed at Planning, Environment and Transportation Panel were as follows:-

 

Minute No 26 - Review of Waste Management - Recycling

 

It was agreed to adopt the revised recycling rate targets of 15% by the year 2000 and 40% by the 2005.

 

The Panel also agreed to the trial expansion of paper collection to fortnightly in selected zones and supported the development of a waste management strategy in line with Government guidance and best practice.

 

Minute No 27 - Revised LANTAC Indemnity Resolution

 

The Panel agreed to adopt the Arules of Membership of a LANTAC Consortium@ currently applying and adopted by the LANTAC Executive Committee and the Local Government Association.

 

 

 

 

Minute No 28 - Performance Monitoring and Review - 1998/99 Panel Programme

 

It was agreed that the performance monitoring and review programme for 1998/99 be endorsed and that in 1998/99 the following services undergo specific review:-

 

Street sweeping and litter collection;

Car parking

 

Minute No 29 - Best Value - Pilot Service Review Framework

 

It was agreed that the service review process as reported be approved and that a timetable be prepared for consideration in conjunction with the service review process.

 

Minute No 30 - Planning Enforcement Service

 

It was agreed that the criteria submitted for consideration be approved to form the basis for monitoring the planning enforcement service.

 

Minute No 31 - Wycombe Joint Transportation Strategy Panel - Matters arising from the meetings held on 2 February and 24 February 1998

 

(a)

Former High Wycombe to Bourne End Rail Corridor from A40 London Road to Bourne End

 

The actions agreed by the Joint Panel were supported in relation to the conclusions of the work by Maunsell, the integration of the work into the Transport Strategy and Local Plan and the protection from development of this section.

 

(b)

Project Plan and Monitoring Report for Implementation of Transport Schemes

 

The County Council to be advised of the District Council=s concern that the production of the project plan and monitoring report had been discontinued.

 

 

(c)

Special Parking Area

 

The Director of Planning Transport and Development was granted delegated authority in consultation with the Panel Briefing Group to make comments on any changes to the special parking area that may be recommended at the next joint Panel.

 

RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the meeting of the Planning, Environment and Transportation Panel held on 6 April 1998 be received.

 

4.     MINUTES - PLANNING APPLICATIONS PANEL

 

RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the meetings of the Planning Applications Panel held on 11 March, 1 April, 22 April and 13 May 1998 be received.

 

5.     EQUALITIES IN SERVICE DELIVERY

 

The Committee received a report on Equalities in Service Delivery. A similar report had been considered by both the Community and Leisure and Housing and Economic Development Committees.

 

The services within the scope of the Committee had been analysed and an action plan prepared in order to evaluate the services provided, introduce development proposals and set performance targets.

 

RESOLVED: (i) That the progress made on equal opportunities in service delivery within the jurisdiction of this Committee be noted;

 

(ii) that officers be requested to review each service area and develop an action plan to address equalities in service design, planning and provision;

 

(iii)  that the Planning, Environment and Transportation Panel be granted delegated authority to consider a standard agenda item AReview of progress on Equalities in Service Provision@ as part of its performance review function; and

(iv) that Members be advised of developments in the disposal of clinical waste with specific reference to the inclusion of disposable nappies and incontinence pads.

 

6.     WYCOMBE MEDIATION SERVICE

 

The Committee received a detailed report on the operation of the Wycombe Mediation Service outlining achievements since it began operating on 1 January 1998 together with details of the Business Plan for 1998/99.

 

To date some 25 cases involving 82 clients had been processed and details of case history statistics were reported.  Recruitment and training of volunteer mediators continued and emphasis was placed on the need to recruit more mediators from the ethnic minorities.

 

Members commented on the need for greater publicity for this scheme and it was noted that it would be advertised through the local media and other routes and channels.

 

The Committee also sought assurances that the scheme would operate across the whole of the District.

 

Funding for the future was discussed and Members expressed the view that the Council=s funding should serve principally to help with set up costs.  In the longer term it was hoped that contributions would be made by organisations referring cases such as the Police and Housing Associations.

 

RESOLVED: (i)  To continue funding the Wycombe Mediation Service in the 1998/99 financial year in the sum of ,40,000; and

 

(ii) that in principle funding continue at the same level for one further year (1999-2000) subject to the submission of a satisfactory annual and financial report to this Committee prior to the release of the annual grant monies.

 

 

 

 

7.

WYCOMBE DISTRICT LOCAL PLAN - ADOPTION OF DEPOSIT DRAFT - PART 1

 

(a)

Chapter Approval

 

The Committee received and considered the first three chapters of the Deposit Draft of the Wycombe District Local Plan:

 

(i)

General Development;

(ii)

Housing;

(iii)

Employment; and

(iv)

Appendices

 

(i)

General Development

 

The Committee was advised that the General Development Chapter had been expanded considerably to reflect the revised Planning Policy Guidance Note (PPG)1 issued in February 1997 on General Policy and Principles.  The Chapter placed greater emphasis on sustainable development, urban focus, making the best use of recycled urban land and achieving high standards of design, layout and development.

 

New topic areas and significant policy changes incorporated in the new policy were:-

 

(1)

The Development Strategy for Wycombe - Sustainability (Policy G1);

(2)

Environmental Assessment (Policy G2);

(3)

Developer Contributions (Policy G3);

(4)

Character and Local Distinctiveness (Policy G4);

(5)

Development Briefs (Policy G5);

(6)

Design Statements (Policy G6);

(7)

The Character of Large Scale Development (Policy G7);

(8)

Roofscape/Topography/Hilltop Development (Policy G8);

(9)

Improving the Local Context/Protecting Amenity (Policy G9);

(10)

Accessibility (Policy G10);

(11)

Landscaping (Policy G15);

(1)

(12)     Waste Management (Policy G17);

(13)

Pollution and Nuisance (Policy G18);

(14)

Air Quality (Policy G19);

(15)

Noise Pollution (Policy G20);

(16)

Light Pollution (Policy G21);

(17)

Hazardous Substances (Policy G22);

(18)

Contaminated Land (Policy G23);

(19)

Water Resources (Policy G24);

(20)

Development within the Flood Plain (Policies G25, G26);

(21)

Surface and Groundwater Protection (Policy G27);

(22)

Renewable Energy (Policy G28);

(23)

Designing for Safer Communities (Policy G30); and

(24)

Art in the Community (Policy G31).

 

Members discussed a number of elements of the Chapter and agreed changes to wording as detailed at Appendix AA@.

 

(ii)

Housing Chapter

 

New topic areas incorporated for the first time in the Housing Chapter were:-

 

(a)

Housing Development/New Housing Allocations (Policies H1, H2 and H3);

(b)

Phasing (Policies H4, and H5);

(c)

Design of Residential Development (Policy H6);

(d)

Creating Balanced Communities (Policy H7);

(e)

Special Needs Housing (Policy H10);

(f)

Revamped Section on Affordable Housing (Policy H11);

(25)

Conversions (Policy H19);

(26)

Provision of Public Open Space (Policy H21);

(27)

Making the best of vacant and under-utilised properties (Policy H24); and

(28)

Caravans and Mobile Homes (Policy H25).

 

Members discussed the Residential Character Zones and emphasised the need to seek improvements to enhancement areas.

 

Local Members commented on the reasons for the need for more land for development with the reduced size of family units and consequent demand for a greater number of smaller properties.  This would mean that younger people could afford to live in the areas where they grew up and not have to move because of property prices.

 

Detailed changes to wording on a number of policies were debated and these were agreed as detailed at Appendix A.

 

(iii)

Employment Chapter

 

The Committee was advised of significant changes to the Employment Chapter which were:-

 

(a)

New Employment Generating Development in the District (Policy E1);

(b)

New Business Parks (Policy E2);

(c)

New Employment Land (Policy E3);

(d)

Employment Areas (Policy E5);

(e)

Existing Scattered Employment Generating Uses (Policy E6);

(f)

Wycombe Marsh Paper Mill (Policy E9); and

(g)

Home Working (Policy E10).

 

Members requested that sites at Wests Yard, Slough Lane, Saunderton and the Builders Yard Hughenden be added to the list of badly sited users referred to in the Chapter and it was agreed that this issue be investigated further.

 

It was confirmed that following a Member suggestion it was not considered appropriate for the scrap car business at High Heavens to be designated as a badly sited user.

 

Particular concerns were expressed with regard to the development of the Abbey Barn South area and Members sought confirmation that due consideration would be given to the development of suitable infrastructure in advance and in conjunction with any development.  It was agreed that further consideration would be given to this issue for inclusion within the Transportation Chapter which would be discussed at the September meeting of the Committee.  Concern was also expressed about site traffic and the need to ensure that there were no additional problems with regard to traffic congestion in Abbey Barn Lane and Daws Hill Lane.

 

Members discussed a number of elements of the Chapter and agreed changes to wording as detailed at Appendix AA@.

 

(iv)

Appendices

 

In view of the new General Development, Housing and Employment Chapters proposed for inclusion in the new Deposit Wycombe District Local Plan it had been necessary to revise the existing Appendices to the adopted Local Plan (July 1995)  (Appendices 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11) that accompanied those Chapters together with the provision of new Appendices as necessary.

 

The Committee received and considered Appendices 1 to 8 as these accompanied the new Chapters.

 

These covered the following topic areas:-

 

(a)

Development Principles (Appendix 1);

(b)

Design Guidelines for Residential Development (Appendix 2);

(c)

Development Briefing (Appendix 3);

(d)

Design Guidelines for Extensions and Developments in Residential Curtilages (Appendix 4);

(e)

Affordable Housing - Occupancy Criteria (Appendix 5);

(f)

Local Housing Need - Rural Areas (Appendix 6);

(g)

Minimum Standards for Public Open Space, Outdoor Sports and Children=s Play (Appendix 7); and

(h)

Deficiencies of provision of Open Space (Appendix 8).

 

Amendments to the Appendices were agreed as set out at Appendix A.

 

RESOLVED: (i) That the General Development Chapter for inclusion in the Deposit Wycombe District Local Plan 1991 to 2011 be approved subject to the amendments set out at Appendix A;

 

(ii) that the Housing Chapter for inclusion in the Deposit Wycombe District Local Plan 1991 to 2011 be approved subject to the amendments set out at Appendix A;

 

(iii) that the Employment Chapter for inclusion in the Deposit Wycombe District Local Plan 1991 to 2011 be approved subject to the amendments set out at Appendix A;

 

(iv) that Appendices 1 to 8 to accompany the General Development and Housing Chapters be approved subject to the amendments at Appendix A; and

 

(v) that the Director of Planning, Transport and Development be given delegated authority to approve after consultation with this Committee=s Briefing Group any further minor amendments in relation to the General Development, Housing and Employment Chapters and associated Appendices.

 

Standing Order 11.5

 

As the meeting was still in progress at 10.30pm and in accordance with Standing Order 11.5 the vote was taken on whether the meeting should continue.

 

RESOLVED: That the meeting adjourn and re-convene on Thursday 18 June 1998 at 7.00pm in the Council Chamber.

 

(The meeting commenced at 7.00pm and adjourned at 10.30pm)

 

     __________

 

     CHAIRMAN

 

The following officers were in attendance at the meeting:

 

Mr C A Swanwick - Director of Planning, Transport and Development

Miss C Andrew - Trainee Administrator

Mr M J Barrett - Assistant District Solicitor

Mrs J N F Child - Principal Administrator, Committee Services Section

Mr M Fish - Principal Engineer

Mr J Hughes - Senior Planning Officer

Mr D Turner - Head of Planning Policy and Economic Development

Mrs B Watson - Senior Accountant

Mr I Westgate - Head of Environmental Services

Mr G Zanré - Principal Policy Officer