Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interest.

Context:

The Committee scrutinised performance of the function via the Annual Performance Report (due for submission to Welsh Government on 20^th November).

The Council adopted its Local Development Plan in February 2014 and has recently submitted its first Annual Monitoring Report (October 2015) for the 2014-15 period.

The planning service’s purpose links directly to Monmouthshire County Council’s objective of building sustainable, resilient communities.  The Council has identified four key priorities:

1) Education;

2) Protecting the most vulnerable in society;

3) Promotion of enterprise, economic development and job creation;

4) Maintaining locally accessible services.

The following Service Improvement Plan outcomes are directly relevant to the planning service:

·         Older people are able to live their good life;

·         People have access to appropriate and affordable housing;

·         People have good access and mobility;

·         People feel safe;

·         Business and enterprise; and

·         People protect and enhance the environment.

The planning service is divided into two main areas: Development Control, which includes planning applications, enforcement and built conservation, and Development Plans, which deals with planning policy matters.  For this reporting period, the Development Plans section reported to the Head of Planning and sat within the Enterprise directorate, while the Development Control section reported to the Head of Regulatory Services and sat within the Democracy and Regulatory Services directorate.  However, professional planning guidance was provided by the Head of Planning.  It is worth noting that the service has since been restructured, rebranded and co-located under a new Head of Service.  This will be detailed in the 2016 APR.

Key Issues:

The Head of Planning provided a presentation and report, which introduced the first Annual Performance Report for Monmouthshire County Council’s planning service.  The report showed that Monmouthshire’s planning service had performed well and consistently above the Welsh average for performance indicators and in terms of customer service feedback.

The Planning (Wales) Bill achieved Royal assent in the summer of 2015, this was identified as a landmark year for Planning in Wales and this Council had embraced the move towards ‘positive planning’ that the new legislation strives to achieve.

Member scrutiny:

·         The committee thanked the officer for report and presentation.

·         The Chair of Planning advised that the Planning Committee consisted of 16 members and reassured that attendance was good, which resulted in consistency in decision making.

·         Concerns were expressed that affordable housing targets of 35% was not achieved in larger developments.  Officers confirmed that the LDP set different targets for different parts of the county.  35% was a target and the policy allowed for variations on viability.

·         Issues were currently being considered by Welsh Government, regarding a toolkit which could assess viability and affordability of a site development for affordable housing.

·         Particular concern was raised by the Chair that there was difficulty meeting affordable housing targets as sites were not coming forward. 

·         A member requested clarification on whether community responses had been considered (archaeological and cultural sensitivity), and whether there had been sufficient consultation.  In response, specialist work would be undertake by a consultant and advice would be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

Economy & Development Select Committee

Thursday 26th November 2015 at 10.00am

·         Performance Report on the Support offered to Businesses through the Monmouthshire Enterprise Strategy

·         Scrutiny of the Chief Officer’s Annual Report on Enterprise

·         Progress Report on Events Strategy

·         Consideration of Community Infrastructure Levy Projects

·         Scrutiny of the Budget Monitoring Report for Month

We noted that the next meeting would be held on 26^th November 2015, information regarding the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) would be presented and timescales would be clarified by Planning Officers.