Issue - meetings

Report number LDS232 of the Leader of the Council.                   (Enclosure)

Since the Council had last met on 15 June 2017, the Cabinet had met on three occasions. Paperwork related to those meetings was circulated in the agenda pack appended to report number LDS232. The minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 7 September 2017 were circulated at the meeting as part of the pack of supplementary documents.

The Leader announced that he was making some changes to Cabinet Members’ remits. Councillor Jacky Smith’s remit would change from Major Development Projects to Heath and Wellbeing and Skills. The Leader explained that he had made the changes because of the increasing importance of the agenda around health and wellbeing, and that he wanted to dedicate time to this area at a senior level. The remit would also include the skills agenda and the cinema aspect of the St. Peter’s Hill development, plus any other special projects allocated by the Leader. This change would lead to consequential changes to the remits of Councillors King and Neilson. Members were informed that they would be sent an e-mail detailing the revised remits and the changes would be formally reported at the Council meeting on 23 November 2017.

Clarification was sought about which Cabinet Member’s remit would include universal credit; the response was given that it would remain within Councillor Neilson’s remit.

During discussion of the Cabinet papers a question was raised in relation to a non-key decision made for a lease renewal. The Deputy Leader, who had made the decision, stated a discrepancy had been identified regarding the outstanding lease during a full review of all of the Council’s assets and properties. He added that he was continuing to work with the relevant officer to complete the review.

The contents and appendices of report number LDS232 were noted.

Report SEG44 from the Cabinet Member for Economy and Development

(Enclosure)

Please note that due to the size of the appendices to this report hard copies have been sent to Cabinet Members only.  Electronic copies of all documents can be accessed from the Council’s Website:  www.southkesteven.gov.uk 

Hard copies of the documents are available on request

Decision:

1.            Cabinet approves for consultation purposes the Consultative Draft Local Plan appended to report SEG44 and its accompanying appendices and the updated Local Development Scheme.

2.            Cabinet recommends that delegated authority is given to the Portfolio holder for Economy and Development, in conjunction with the Strategic Director, to approve any minor changes or typographical corrections as may be necessary prior to the commencement of the consultation period.

Considerations/reasons for decision:

1)            Report SEG44 from the Portfolio Holder for Economy and Development.

2)            The new Local Plan would provide guidance and shape proposals for growth and investment in South Kesteven up to 2036.

3)            The initial non statutory consultation period gave an opportunity to proactively engage with local communities, interested developers, businesses, voluntary groups, public organisations, landowners and neighbouring councils to help shape the district for the future and contribute to the overall preparation of a new Local Plan.

4)            The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) required that every local planning authority in England should have a clear, up to date Local Plan that conforms to the NPPF, meets identified local development needs and reflects local people’s views about how they wish their community to develop.

5)            The new Local Plan would set out policies and proposals for the period up to 2036, so there was an additional 10 years of development needs to be anticipated and accommodated beyond the current adopted development plans.

6)            Comments made by the Cabinet Member Economy and Development on the need to create between 16,000 – 17,000 homes, that double the amount of employment land had been allocated, 79 hectares to enable greater choice, that the existing KiNG31 site had been grouped with adjacent sites to give a total of 96 hectares.  50% of new housing was intended for Grantham to give it critical mass, strategic housing of 1,300 homes had been allocated to the north of Stamford avoiding the sensitive south side. In Bourne housing would be concentrated on the Elsea Park with 800 more home still to be built, however in order to give variety and choice three small sites amounting to 235 homes would be situated to the north west near to Bourne Woods.  Market Deeping had an allocation of over 900 houses and each town had strategic employment sites allocated.  Larger villages had a 9% concentration of housing and public comment on smaller village development had been listened to with a more relaxed policy allowing limited edge of village development if the community agreed and the quality was high and done in a sensitive manner. There would be a Supplementary Planning document issued on Good Design (robust, high quality development).  Core policies which had served well in the previous period would be continued.  Services in villages would be protected. Road shows had been arranged at Long Bennington, Grantham, Bourne, Stamford, Corby Glen and Market Deeping.

7)            Comments from the Principal Democracy Officer following the Growth Overview and Scrutiny Committee which had met the previous day and at which the general  ...  view the full minutes text for item 47