Agenda and minutes
Venue: The Oculus, Buckinghamshire Council, Gatehouse Road, Aylesbury HP19 8FF. View directions
Contact: Kelly Sutherland
Media
Webcast: View the webcast
No. | Item |
---|---|
Apologies for Absence/Changes in Membership Additional documents: Minutes: Apologies were received from Cllrs Baughan, Chaudhry, Etholen, Hussain, Rouse and Town. Members noted that Cllr Peter Brazier would be substituting for Cllr Town for this meeting. |
|
Declarations of Interest Additional documents: Minutes: There were none. |
|
To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 17th February 2022 as a correct record. Additional documents: Minutes: The minutes of the meeting held on 17th February 2022 were confirmed as a correct record. |
|
Public Questions Public questions is an opportunity for people who live, work or study in Buckinghamshire to put a question to a Select Committee. The Committee will hear from members of the public who have submitted questions in advance relating to items on the agenda. The Cabinet Member, relevant key partners and responsible officers will be invited to respond. Further information on how to register can be found here: https://www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/your-council/get-involved-with-council-decisions/select -committees/
Mr Chadwick has submitted the following question:
Could the Cabinet Member or Officers please confirm that all relevant policies within the new Buckinghamshire Local Plan will contribute towards the urgent goals of reducing carbon emissions and adapting to the impacts of climate change. Would you agree that these considerations cut across many areas of policy, including, in particular, housing, transport, and environment, but others, too - and thus that a coordinated and coherent approach across the piece is required? What structures and expertise are in place within the planning policy team to achieve this?
In particular, given the significant number of new homes to be built, will you be looking to put in place policies to require Passivhaus (zero carbon) standards of energy efficiency by early in the Plan period, and if not, why not?
Mr Alan Thawley has submitted the following question:
Given that skills relating to the net-zero transition in construction will play an ever-increasing role in the economy, how is the council supporting local businesses to acquire these skills, either by ensuring that the relevant training is provided and accessible, or by supporting the growing market?
To this end, given that we have to date been unable to require developments to do more than meet the minimum requirements set by government through planning, will the council commit to ensuring the developments it instigates itself (through Consilio Property, for instance or on council-owned land in Stoke Mandeville), will be required to be built to zero-carbon standards rather than vaguely promising to be 'energy efficient'?
Additional documents: Minutes: The Select Committee had received two public questions.
Question from Mr Chadwick Could the Cabinet Member or Officers please confirm that all relevant policies within the new Buckinghamshire Local Plan will contribute towards the urgent goals of reducing carbon emissions, and adapting to the impacts of climate change. Would you agree that these considerations cut across many areas of policy, including, in particular, housing, transport, and environment, but others, too - and thus that a coordinated and coherent approach across the piece is required? What structures and expertise are in place within the planning policy team to achieve this?
In particular, given the significant number of new homes to be built, will you be looking to put in place policies to require Passivhaus (zero carbon) standards of energy efficiency by early in the Plan period, and if not, why not?
Cllr Gareth Williams, Cabinet Member for Planning and Regeneration provided a response, making the following main points:
Question from Mr Thawley Given that skills relating to the net-zero transition in construction will play an ever-increasing role in the economy, how is the council supporting local businesses to acquire these skills, either by ensuring that the relevant training is provided and accessible, or by supporting the growing market? To this end, given that we have to date been unable to require developments to do more than meet the minimum requirements set by government through planning, will the council commit to ensuring the developments it instigates itself (through Consilio Property, for instance or on council-owned land in Stoke Mandeville), will be required to be built to zero-carbon standards rather than vaguely promising to be 'energy ... view the full minutes text for item 4. |
|
Chairman's Update Additional documents: Minutes: The Chairman thanked officers in housing who had delivered Member Briefings on the Homelessness Strategy where members of the Committee had been able to provide their feedback.
The Chairman also reported that Cllr Chris Poll had presented the Member Engagement in Planning review report to Cabinet on 1st March and all six recommendations had been accepted. |
|
Buckinghamshire Local Plan Update PDF 623 KB The Committee will receive an update on progress with the development of the Buckinghamshire Local Plan.
Contributors: Cllr Gareth Williams, Cabinet Member for Planning and Regeneration Darran Eggleton, Head of Service, Planning, Policy and Compliance Additional documents: Minutes: The Chairman welcomed Cllr Gareth Williams, Cabinet Member for Planning and Regeneration, Darran Eggleton, Head of Service, Planning, Policy and Compliance and John Cheston, Planning Policy Manager to the meeting. The Cabinet Member highlighted the following main points:
The Chairman invited members’ questions and in response to questions and during subsequent discussions, the following main points were noted:
ACTION: Cllr Gareth Williams
|
|
The Committee will be updated on the Levelling Up White Paper and the implications for Buckinghamshire Council.
Contributors: Cllr Martin Tett, Leader of the Council Lisa Michelson, Service Director, Economic Growth and Regeneration
Additional documents: Minutes: The Chairman welcomed Cllr Martin Tett, Leader of the Council and Lisa Michelson, Service Director, Economic Growth and Regeneration to the meeting.
The Chairman invited the Leader to highlight the key points from the report on Levelling Up and the following main points were noted:
The Chairman invited Members’ questions. In response to questions and during the subsequent discussions, the following main points were noted:
|
|
Work Programme An opportunity for members of the Committee to suggest possible items for the future work programme. Additional documents: Minutes: The Chairman invited members to suggest any possible topics for consideration for the Select Committee’s future work programme. |
|
Date of next meeting The next meeting is provisionally scheduled for 14th July 2022 at 10am. All Council meeting dates will be confirmed at the Annual General Meeting of Council in May. Additional documents: Minutes: 14th July 2022 at 10am – to be confirmed. |