Agenda item

The following questions have been received and will either be responded to during the meeting or a written response will be included in the minutes:

Councillor Robin Stuchbury

The government’s recent announcement about changes to the planning system suggests giving huge amounts of power back to government which was once held by the planning authority.  Having been a strong campaigner against the negatives of HS2 which was effectively imposed on Buckinghamshire, and with the known challenges posed by the Oxford to Cambridge Expressway (noting government had previously announced its intention to build one million houses between Oxford and Cambridge in advance of their most recent announcement about planning changes) will the council be challenging the government proposals  and constituents’ rights to express a view on future large developments through the Planning Department of Buckinghamshire Council?  Also, was there any prior/advance information available of the government’s decision before their announcement removing planning powers from Buckinghamshire Council and our local Parish Councils?

Councillor Alan Bacon

From 24 August, councils' role in Coronavirus tracking and tracing is enhanced. Will the portfolio holder please report on the effectiveness of the new track and trace regime in Bucks.

Councillor Peter Jones

Cabinet of 28 July received a report on the preparation of the Buckinghamshire Local Plan for adoption in 2024, and Council has also agreed approval of the Masterplan and 2050 Vision for Aylesbury Garden Town.  A Wycombe Regeneration Strategy has also been approved. A Masterplan has been prepared for Chesham, the third largest town in Buckinghamshire, by the Chesham Renaissance Community Interest Company. This Masterplan is detailed and has been the subject of a Public Consultation and received a positive response from over 70% of participants. May Officers be requested to bring forward a policy for the urgent regeneration of Chesham, based on the community prepared Masterplan? This work could start immediately.

Cllr Robin Stuchbury

Beaconsfield relief road – why has it not been completed?

I am concerned that the S278 Highways Agreement, in particular clause 2(3)b dated 5th July 2016, not being enforced in order to get the Beaconsfield relief road completed? 

I am also concerned that the Planning Authority did not list the 2016 S278 Highways Agreement within the report to South Bucks District planning committee re planning application 17/01763/OUT (Inland Homes' Wilton Park planning application)

What action will Buckinghamshire Council take to get the relief road completed as a result of the SBDC action?  It could be suggested, Buckinghamshire has effectively handed over control of the timing and completion of the relief road to Inland Homes resulting in hundreds of HS2 construction HGVs to be soon using the Beaconsfield Old Town Conservation area. 

Four questions had been received; two from Cllr Robin Stuchbury, one from Cllr Alan Bacon and one from Cllr Peter Jones; all the questions had been included on the agenda.  The response to Cllr Stuchbury’s second question would be published with the minutes.

Cllr Robin Stuchbury

The government’s recent announcement about changes to the planning system suggests giving huge amounts of power back to government which was once held by the planning authority.  You, having been a strong campaigner against the negatives of HS2 which was effectively imposed on Buckinghamshire, and with the known challenges posed by the Oxford to Cambridge Expressway (noting government had previously announced its intention to build one million houses between Oxford and Cambridge in advance of their most recent announcement about planning changes), will the council be challenging the government proposals  and constituents’ rights to express a view on future large developments through the Planning Department of Buckinghamshire Council?  Also, was there any prior/advance information available of the government’s decision before their announcement removing planning powers from Buckinghamshire Council and our local Parish Councils?  The 1991 Planning Act was settled, and made on local plans. The reason for raising the question was that I believe in local democracy and it was about making decisions locally.  The new Buckinghamshire Council had its opportunity to do an integral plan for balancing Buckinghamshire and I believe the Government’s actions were adverse to that.

Response provided by Warren Whyte, Cabinet Member for Planning.

W Whyte thanked Cllr Stuchbury for his question on this important subject.

The Government had published its White Paper, Planning for the Future, for consultation.  It set out the Government’s intention for future reform of the planning system.  It was important to point out that these were just proposals at the moment and none of the changes would come into force until legislation was passed and after the Government had considered responses to the consultation.

However, at this early stage, W Whyte was pleased to see recognition from the Government of the need to streamline the planning system and to make the system fit for purpose in the post-Covid era.   

W Whyte welcomed the importance and relevance attached to Local Plans in the White Paper as tools for local planning authorities to shape the future of their areas.  The Council was, of course, about to embark on the preparation of the new Buckinghamshire Local Plan which would provide the blueprint for future growth, renewal and protection in Buckinghamshire. 

W Whyte was also pleased to see an ongoing commitment in the White Paper to the role of neighbourhood plans in the planning process as well as an emphasis on modernising planning to ensure there was wide community engagement in all planning processes. He was particularly pleased to see the White Paper’s focus on effective enforcement, something on which this Council had only recently set out its clear intentions.

The Council did not receive any prior or advance notice of the White Paper and its contents; the whole point of the paper was to give people a chance to comment on suggestions.

Following full consideration of the White Paper, the Council would set out its formal view on the proposals and would respond to the consultation.

M Tett added that the Cabinet would discuss the White Paper and the views of the Council would be published.

Cllr Alan Bacon

From 24 August, councils' role in Coronavirus tracking and tracing is enhanced. Will the portfolio holder please report on the effectiveness of the new track and trace regime in Buckinghamshire.

Response provided by Gareth Williams, Cabinet Member for Communities and Public Health.

Test and Trace was a three-tier nationally-run programme which aimed to provide timely advice on self-isolation for individuals who had tested positive for COVID-19 and for their close contacts.  The different Tiers managed cases of varying complexity, with the top Tier, managed by Public Health England, mostly focussed on cases associated with complex or high risk settings where outbreaks might otherwise occur.  Buckinghamshire Council’s Public Health and Environmental Health teams’ worked closely with the top Tier to prevent, to investigate and manage any possible outbreaks in the county.  G Willliams mentioned that recently work had been carried out in school settings where cases had been reported.

The case completion rate in Buckinghamshire (i.e. the percentage of cases who were successfully contacted and advised) was significantly better than average – approximately 90%, which was above the threshold of 80% that SAGE recommended for effective control. 

Some Local Authorities, particularly those currently experiencing severe community outbreaks, were establishing local contact tracing teams to try to improve their case completion rates.  The Council was reviewing this option for Buckinghamshire residents.

M Tett added that he published a regular residents’ newsletter which included data on the high level summary of infection rates.  G Williams and M Tett monitored the data very closely.

Cllr Peter Jones’ question was read out by Martin Tett, Leader.

Cabinet, on 28 July, received a report on the preparation of the Buckinghamshire Local Plan for adoption in 2024, and Council has also agreed approval of the Masterplan and the 2050 Vision for Aylesbury Garden Town. A Wycombe Regeneration Strategy has also been approved. A Masterplan has been prepared for Chesham, the third largest town in Buckinghamshire, by the Chesham Renaissance Community Interest Company. This Masterplan is detailed and has been the subject of a Public Consultation and received a positive response from over 70% of participants. May officers be requested to bring forward a policy for the urgent regeneration of Chesham, based on the community prepared Masterplan? This work could start immediately.

Response provided by Warren Whyte, Cabinet Member for Planning.

The council had regular engagement with the Chesham Renaissance Community Interest Company and the masterplan for Chesham.  A piece of work was underway to work with local stakeholders and establish a regeneration strategy and approach with an intention to formalise this later this year.   Given the high level of public support and comprehensiveness of the masterplan, this document would be an important part of framing the next steps for Chesham in terms of future policy.  W Whyte expected all town centres in Buckinghamshire to play an important part in the new Buckinghamshire Plan.