Meeting documents

WDC Planning Enviroment & Transport Committee
Tuesday, 28th July, 1998

Planning Enviroment & Transport Committee, Minutes 28 jul 1998

     PLANNING ENVIRONMENT AND TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE

 

 

     Minutes of the Special meeting of the Committee held on

 

     28 July 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 A Dunn

Cllr Mrs A E Hardy

Cllr M D Huddy

Cllr Mrs E M Lay*

Cllr Mrs C C Martens

Cllr P J Moore

Cllr C B Oliver

Cllr Mrs K M Peatey MBE JP

 

 

Cllrs Mrs F W Alexander, D J Coe and A Collingwood attended the meeting in their capacity as Local Members.

 

(Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs S H Graham, Mrs V A Letheren,  D A C Shakespeare, and Mrs J E Teesdale).

 

* Standing Deputies

 

1.

SERPLAN DRAFT REGIONAL STRATEGY - AA SUSTAINABLE STRATEGY FOR THE SOUTH EAST@ PUBLIC CONSULTATION

 

The Committee was requested to finalise this Authority=s response to SERPLAN=s draft strategy which was intended to form the basis of Government guidance for land use planning in the South-East up to the year 2016.  The draft strategy aimed to achieve a synthesis between encouraging economic success and maintaining a high quality of environment.  It aimed to produce a more sustainable pattern of development making better use of the urban areas in the region and promoting a switch from unnecessary use of the private car to create a use of improved public transport.  The draft strategy provided a framework for sustainable development across the region which it covered in six policy themes.

 

!

Environmental enhancement and natural resource management;

!

Encouraging economic success;

!

Opportunity and equity;

!

Regeneration and renewal;

!

Concentrating development;

!

Sustainable transport.

 

The views of the Housing and Economic Development Committee had also been sought on the issue of the level of housing provision to be accommodated 1991-2016; the approach to the regional economy identified in Theme 2 - Encouraging Economic Success; issues of affordable housing contained in Theme 3 - Opportunity and Equity; and the approach to regeneration and renewal contained in Theme 4.

 

Taking account of the projected future shortage of labour supply combined with the need to maintain a dynamic local economy, the report recommended the middle of the three housing options for both Buckinghamshire and the rest of the South-East (ROSE) region (Option 3) which balanced the need for homes in Buckinghamshire with environmental constraints.  The Housing and Economic Development Committee had resolved to support Option 3 and had endorsed the following aspects of the recommended response to this consultation document:

 

Regional Variations     - Commentary 4

Housing Provision     - Commentary 5

Theme 2 - Encouraging Economic Success - Commentary 10-14

Theme 3 - Opportunity and Equity - Commentary 15-21

Theme 4 - Regeneration and Renewal - Commentary 22

 

The Committee considered that the following comments should also be included in this Authority=s response to SERPLAN=s draft strategy:

 

Commentary 24     -     Significant government help would be required to develop brownfield sites.

 

Commentary 8     -     Energy efficiency should be supported through the design of all new properties in the district as identified in Policy EE8.

 

Housing Provision

 

Having taken account of the household projections for 2016 it had been envisaged that 75% of the households forming during the period 1991-2016 in the rest of the South-East (ROSE) would be required for one person units.  SERPLAN considered that between 40-50% of the projected households would need some form of subsidy if they were to be able to form a home.  SERPLAN had therefore proposed to cut back the provision for one person households by 20% to 25%.

 

The draft strategy set out three proposed housing options for Buckinghamshire in the 1991-2016 period.  A summary of SERPLAN=s proposed housing options was set out in the report.  On balance Option 3 was recommended, which balanced the need for homes in Buckinghamshire with environmental constraints.  Members were reminded that the actual levels of housing to be provided for districts would not become clear until such time as the regional planning guidance had been interpreted through a review of the County Structure Plan.

 

Members discussed the advantages and disadvantages of the various options noting the support of the Housing and Economic Development Committee for Option 3.  Members commented on the demand for one person units, the reduced size of family units and the consequent demand for housing in the district.

 

Some Members felt unable to support Option 3 and considered that Option 1 which had the lowest proposed housing allocation seemed the most appropriate.  Other Members of the Committee believed Option 3 provided the right balance.  The Committee voted on this proposal to support Option 1 and the vote was lost.  It was the view of the Committee that Option 3 should be supported.

 

(Cllrs A Dunn, Mrs E M Lay, C B Oliver and Mrs K M Peatey MBE JP requested that their names be recorded as voting against this decision).

 

Environmental Enhancement and Natural Resource Management

 

This part of the strategy was concerned with protecting and enhancing the region=s environment through both conservation policies to protect the key environmental assets and positive action to remedy environmental problems.  Policies were contained on improving urban enhancement and management, upgrading the quality of the rural environment including priority protection for areas having intrinsic environmental quality including Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, effective management of the urban fringe, the conservation of resources, waste management, aggregates, energy conservation, water resources, flood management and air, water and soil quality.

 

Encouraging Economic Success

 

This part of the strategy sought to build upon the current success of the South-East economy in order to help the region compete more effectively in dynamic global markets.  Policies were included on promoting local economic strategies, human resource development, restructuring and disadvantaged areas, new employment land, quality of existing stock, knowledge based and high value added industry, local economic diversity and sustainable business.

 

Opportunity and Equity

 

This part of the strategy was concerned with enabling all the region=s inhabitants to participate in the prosperity which the strategy was keen to maintain and develop.  This meant improving access to jobs, housing, transport and leisure facilities.  This would be achieved by developing policies for a range of different dwelling sizes to meet changing household formation and the needs of those unable to compete in the market, developing a dynamic and diverse economy with well paid jobs, improving opportunities in disadvantaged areas, providing for an affordable and accessible transport system, raising public awareness of the principles of sustainable development and encouraging greater community involvement in decision-making, increasing opportunities for education and training, improving public health, and reducing crime.

 

Regeneration and Renewal

 

This part of the strategy embraced the concept of urban renaissance which included environmental, social and economic concerns.  Policies included promoting an urban renaissance, reviving a multi-purpose countryside, the maintenance and optimum use of existing buildings and infrastructure, the re-use of developed land over the release of new land, and priority areas for economic regeneration.

Concentrating Development

 

This section of the strategy provided the key theme for the whole document.  All of the policies in this section were concerned with dealing with the trends of population and activity dispersal which ran counter to the sustainable objectives of the strategy.

 

Sustainable Transport

 

The move towards sustainable transport outlined under this theme was fundamental to the delivery of the overall regional strategy.  Specific policies included improving service based passenger transport, encouraging the use of rail for freight, encouraging walking and cycling, locating development to support sustainable transport objectives, managing the demand for car travel and reducing car congestion, reducing pressures on the environment, and improving transport awareness.

 

Changes to the wording on a number of commentaries were debated and these were agreed as set out at Appendix A.

 

RESOLVED: (i) That this Committee welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the preparation of new draft regional guidance through the consultation exercise; and

 

(ii) that this Authority=s response to SERPLAN=s public consultation document AA Sustainable Strategy for the South East@ be approved subject to the amendments to the wording on a number of commentaries as set out at Appendix A.

 

2.

WYCOMBE DISTRICT LOCAL PLAN - ADOPTION OF DEPOSIT DRAFT - PART 2

 

Chapter Approval

 

The first three chapters of the Deposit Draft Wycombe District Local Plan had been considered by this Committee at its meeting on 15/18 June 1998.  The Committee received and considered the next five new chapters of the Deposit Draft of the Wycombe District Local Plan together with associated Appendices:-

 

(i)

The Countryside and Rural Economy;

(ii)

Green Belt;

(iii)

Landscape and Nature Conservation;

(iv)

Heritage; and

(v)

Community Facilities.

 

(i)

The Countryside and Rural Economy Chapter

 

The Committee was advised that the Countryside Chapter now had a much stronger emphasis on promoting and protecting the rural economy.  Another significant change had been the transfer of the Green Belt policies and components of policies to their own chapter, ie Green Belt.  The policies were now presented in relation to the area to which they applied in three sections:

 

!

District-wide countryside policies (Policies C1-C6);

!

District-wide countryside policies to be read in conjunction with Green Belt policies where appropriate (Policies C7-C9);

!

Countryside beyond the Green Belt (Policies C10-C16).

 

Most changes to the chapter however, reflected changes in Government guidance as contained in Planning Policy Guidance Note (PPG) 7 and the contents of the Rural White Paper issued in 1995.

 

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

 

(a)

Agricultural Permitted Development (Policy C2);

(b)

Community Facilities (Policy C3);

(c)

Extensions of site boundaries in the countryside (Policy C5);

(d)

Agricultural and Forestry dwellings (Policy C6);

(e)

Farm diversification (Policy C7);

(f)

Re-use and adaptation of buildings in the countryside (Policies C8 and C9);

(g)

The Rural Economy (Policy C12);

(h)

Major developed sites (Policy C13); and

(i)

Hawks Hill/Harvest Hill (Policy C16).

 

Under Policy C9 Members considered that a cross-reference should be made with Policy C11 Listed Buildings contained in the Heritage Chapter.  Members discussed a number of elements of the chapter and agreed changes to wording as detailed at Appendix B.

(ii)

Green Belt Chapter

 

Members were advised that the full chapter had to be considered in conjunction with the additional background information and resultant amendments to the recommendations to this chapter which had been circulated prior to the meeting.

 

The Green Belt Chapter was a new chapter drawn largely from the Green Belt component of the former Countryside Chapter of the Adopted (July 1995) Local Plan.  The main changes and new policies were:-

 

(a)

Safeguarded Land (Policy GB1);

(b)

Replacement Dwellings in the Green Belt (Policy GB5);

(c)

Extensions to Dwellings in the Green Belt (Policies GB6);

(d)

Re-use and adaptation of buildings in the Green Belt (Policy GB7); and

(e)

Major developed sites within the Green Belt (Policy GB8).

 

A supplementary paper explained that the review of the 50% rule sought to address Members= concerns, existing policy performance and compliance with Government guidance.  Officers considered that the proposed policy framework retained the strength and compliance with Government guidance of the existing policy approach, whilst providing the additional flexibility requested by Members.

 

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

 

(iii)

Landscape and Nature Conservation Chapter

 

The Committee was advised that the main change to the chapter had been the removal of the Adopted Local Plan Policy L6 (Development within the Flood Plain) which was now to be found in the General Development Chapter (Policies G25 and G26).  Other significant changes, including new policies, were:

 

(a)

Areas of Attractive Landscape and Local Landscape Areas (Policy L2);

(b)

Green space (Policy L3);

(c)

River environments: The River Thames and its valley (Policy L5) and the River Wye and minor water courses (Policy L6);

(d)

Community Woodland, Princes Risborough (Policy L7); and

(e)

Nature Conservation and Bio-diversity (Policies L8, L9 and L10).

 

Members considered that reference should be made in Policy L5 to the National importance of the River Thames and that paragraph 10.2.1 should include a reference to the Thames Path.  Particular concerns were expressed with regard to the proposals for a Community Woodland at Princes Risborough (Policy L7), and Members sought confirmation that due consideration would be given to using naturally occurring trees in this woodland, and that the woodland would be created before the dwellings were occupied.

 

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

 

(iv)

Heritage Chapter

 

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

 

(a)

Extensions to Listed Buildings (Policy HE2);

(b)

Alterations to Listed Buildings (Policy HE3);

(c)

Use of Materials (Policy HE4);

(d)

Local List Buildings (Policy HE7);

(e)

Conservation Area Character Surveys (Policy HE8);

(f)

Article 4 Directions (Policy HE11);

(g)

Burgage Plots (Policy HE12);

(h)

Trees in Conservation Areas;

(i)

Shop Front Design in Conservation Areas (Policy HE14);

(j)

Advertisements and Shop Signs (Policy HE15);

(k)

Illumination of Signs in Conservation Areas (Policy HE16);

(l)

Security Shutters (Policy HE17);

(m)

Blinds on Shop Fronts (Policy HE18); and

(n)

Conservation Area Enhancement - West Wycombe (Policy HE19).

 

Particular concerns were expressed with regard to the heavy continuous traffic through West Wycombe and the County Council reference to the road as the M40 Diversion Route, and it was agreed that this issue should be considered by the Wycombe Joint Transportation Strategy Panel.  With reference to Policy HE17, Members were advised that internal security shutters offered the same security as external shutters and had less of an impact on the character and appearance of the Conservation Area.

 

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

 

(v)

Community Facilities Chapter

 

The Committee was advised of new topic areas which had not been previously covered in the existing Adopted Local Plan (July 1995) Community Facilities Chapter which were:

 

(a)

Community Facility Requirements for Strategic Housing Sites (Policy CF3);

(b)     Educational Land and Buildings (Policy CF6);

(c)     Traffic and Schools/Colleges (Policy CF7); and

(d)     Burial Grounds (Policy CF9).

(f)

A significant change to existing policy was to Policy CF1 - Community Facilities.

 

Particular concerns were expressed with regard to those educational establishments which were located in areas where peak time traffic congestion and road safety problems existed.  It was acknowledged that it was not always practical for pupils to use public transport, cycle or walk to their school particularly as the catchment areas were often quite extensive.

 

Members discussed a number of elements of the chapter and agreed changes to wording as detailed at Appendix B.

 

(vi)

Appendices

 

The Committee received and considered Appendices 1, 9, 10, 11 and 12.  These covered the following topic areas.

 

(a)

Residential Design Guidance (Appendix 1);

 

(b)

Areas of Attractive Landscape and Local Landscape Areas (Appendix 9);

 

(c)

Sites of Special Scientific Interest and Local Nature Reserves (Appendix 10);

 

(d)

Conservation Areas/Parks and Gardens (Appendix 11);  and

 

(e)

Scheduled Ancient Monuments (Appendix 12).

 

Amendments to the appendices were agreed as set out at Appendix B.

 

RESOLVED: (i) That the Countryside and Rural Economy chapter for inclusion in the Deposit Wycombe District Local Plan 1991-2011 be approved subject to the amendments set out at Appendix B;

 

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

 

(iii) that the Landscape and Nature Conservation Chapter for inclusion in the Deposit Wycombe District Local Plan 1991-2011 be approved subject to the amendments set out at Appendix B;

 

(iv) that the Heritage Chapter for inclusion in the Deposit Wycombe District Local Plan 1991-2011 be approved subject to the amendments set out at Appendix B;

 

(v) that the Community Facilities Chapter for inclusion in the Deposit Wycombe District Local Plan 1991-2011 be approved subject to the amendments set out at Appendix B; and

 

(vi) that Appendices 1, 9, 10, 11 and 12 to accompany the Landscape and Nature Conservation and Heritage Chapters for inclusion in the Deposit Wycombe District Local Plan 1991-2011 be approved subject to the amendments as set out at Appendix B.

 

3.     DOVECOT MULTI-STOREY CAR PARK - SAFETY BARRIERS

 

The Standing Committee on Structural Safety (SCOSS) had issued their eleventh report which contained the following two immediate priority recommendations for owners and operators of car parks:

 

1.

Inspection and appraisal of multi-storey car parks; and

2.

Adequacy of edge barriers.

 

In response, the inspection and appraisal of the structures had been reviewed and consultants had been commissioned to assess the adequacy of the edge barriers.  As a result of the work undertaken by the consultants the Committee was recommended to approve urgent Health and Safety works at Dovecot Multi-Storey car park.

 

RESOLVED: That

 

(i) urgent works at Dovecot Multi-Storey car park be approved subject to the approval of funding by Policy and Resources Committee;

 

(ii) virement of ,75,000 be approved from the capital budget for works at Easton Street;

 

(iii) Policy and Resources Committee be requested to vire ,20,000 from the building maintenance revenue budget; and

 

(iv) Policy and Resources Committee be requested to fund the shortfall of ,105,000.

 

4.     APPOINTMENTS TO OUTSIDE BODIES

 

A request had been received from the Buckinghamshire County Council to appoint a District Councillor to attend meetings of a Liaison Committee on Westhorpe Farm, Little Marlow.  

 

RESOLVED: That Cllr D Coe be appointed as a member to the Liaison Committee for Westhorpe Farm, Little Marlow until the end of the current Council year.

 

(The meeting commenced at 6.30pm and concluded at 10.20pm).

 

 

     _____________________

     CHAIRMAN

The following officers were in attendance at the meeting:-

 

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

Mr M J Barrett     -      Assistant District Solicitor

Mr J Hughes     -      Senior Planning Officer (Policy)

Mrs S Parslow     -      Administrator, Committee Services Section

Mr R Powell     -      Engineering Manager

Ms V Powers     -     Senior Planning Officer (Policy)

Ms L Taylor     -     Planning Officer (Policy)

Mr D Turner     -     Head of Planning Policy and Economic Development

Mr G Zanré     -     Principal Planning Officer (Policy)