Meeting documents

The Commission considered the extensive report produced by the Local Plan Task and Finish Group in respect of the Saunderton Area Action Plan and the recommendations contained therein. These were outlined by Councillor Collingwood from the Chair, Councillor Collingwood having been Vice-Chairman of the Group and having chaired a number of the Group’s meetings.

 

Reference was made to the Scope of the Review agreed at the Group’s 13 August 2015 meeting in that three specific scenarios would be considered by the Group in relation to the Saunderton Area Action Plan which is located within the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) these were –

 

1.    Does the AONB ‘trump’ development

2.    Does the need for housing ‘trump’ the AONB

3.    Could there be some development, but take very careful consideration of possible new facilities and the impact on the AONB.

 

It was understood that, as a Council, there was a longstanding general approach that there would be no large development within the AONB and that it was the Task & Finish Group’s remit to question that in relation to Saunderton.

 

It was noted that the review had consisted of the following events: 

 

·         Meeting with Parish Councils (7 September 2015)

·         Meeting with MAG (28 September 2015)

·         Meeting with Chiltern Railways (7 October 2015)

·         Public Listening Event (7 October 2015)

·         Public Listening Event (14 October 2015)

·         Meeting with Planning (22 October 2015)

·         Written representations (deadline 19 October 2015)

 

Members commended the work of the Task and Finish Group and the level of successful public engagement that had occurred at the two public meetings that were held to obtain local views, which was considered invaluable,as were the views of the parish councils. The work of Liz Hornby in supporting the Task and Finish Group was highlighted and praised.

 

Members agreed amendments to two of the recommendations of a minor nature as follows:

RECOMMENDATION 1   The principle of established national planning policy of protecting the Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Green Belt must be upheld to safeguard the very purpose of these AONB designated areas.       RECOMMENDATION 3   All statutory Upper tier authorities be encouraged to have a duty to guarantee that provision be made for additional infrastructure to ensure sustainable development, so as to address any increase in population within the Parish of Bledlow-cum-Saunderton.

 

The finalised recommendations with reasons, for referral to Cabinet were agreed as follows:

 

RECOMMENDATION 1

 

The principle of established national planning policy of protecting the Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Green Belt must be upheld to safeguard the very purpose of these designated areas.

 

Reasons for this recommendation

 

To protect the outstanding quality of the environment it serves.

 

RECOMMENDATION 2

 

That the Saunderton Local Area Action Plan be abandoned in favour of the Neighbourhood Plan and additional resources made available to support the Parish Council to facilitate its production and delivery in the relevant timeframe of the emerging Local Plan.

 

Reasons for this recommendation

 

To allow the local community to have a pro-active role in shaping their surroundings with succinct local and neighbourhood planning in line with Section 155 in ‘Plan-Making, Local Plans’ of the NPPF; "Early and meaningful engagement and collaboration with  neighbourhoods, local organisations and businesses is essential. A wide section of the community should be proactively engaged, so that Local Plans, as far as possible, reflect a collective vision and a set of agreed priorities for the sustainable development of the area, including those contained in any neighbourhood plans that have been made."

 

RECOMMENDATION 3

 

All statutory authorities be encouraged to have a duty to guarantee that provision be made for additional infrastructure to ensure sustainable development, so as to address any increase in population within the Parish of Bledlow-cum-Saunderton.

 

Reasons for this recommendation

 

In order to address concerns this would apply to local, regional and national authorities e.g. road, rail and flooding.

 

RECOMMENDATION 4

 

That there be a local plan policy to incorporate supported living with individual dwellings and communal amenities to count towards housing numbers.

 

Reasons for this recommendation

 

To meet the needs of the existing ageing population.

 

RECOMMENDATION 5

 

That mixed use developments be actively encouraged within the Parish of Bledlow-cum-Saunderton.

 

Reasons for this recommendation

 

This would encourage sustainability as residential and light industrial development would advantage the area.

 

RECOMMENDATION 6

 

No street lighting to be permitted on new developments in Saunderton and the wider Parish, in line with AONB policy.

 

Reasons for this recommendation

 

In line with Paragraph 116 of the National Planning Policy Framework that any development would have a detrimental effect on the environment and landscape as it would significantly change the character of Saunderton. 

 

The Meeting then:

 

RESOLVED: That the recommendations of the Local Plan Task and Finish Group in respect of the Saunderton Area Action Plan as amended above, along with accompanying reasons, be recommended to Cabinet at its meeting on 16 November 2015.