Agenda item

Cabinet Member: Councillor Gareth Griffith

 

To consider the report of the Head of Environment

 

The Assistant Head of Environment Department presented a report requesting that Members provide comments on the key findings of the Annual Monitoring Report (Draft) before submission to the Joint Planning Policy Committee, the Cabinet and then Welsh Government.

 

            It was explained that the monitoring report was an important evidence base for reviewing the Local Development Plan. Over time, the monitoring report could show trends, identify any policies that were delivering and those that were not, and highlight any gaps or policy shortcomings. It was noted that the Local Development Plan had a monitoring framework that had been agreed with the Inspector during the Inspection - it was reiterated that the framework contained 69 indicators that reported on the five themes in the Plan.

 

            Reference was made to the key conclusions of the monitoring report and it was reported, in considering these, that there was no evidence that the Plan should be reviewed early. A review of the Plan would be held in 2021 unless an annual monitoring report noted otherwise.

 

            Thanks were given for the information.

 

During the ensuing discussion, the following points were highlighted by individual Members:

·         A suggestion to present the total number of houses built each year in order to provide context for the report

·         A straightforward, comprehensible "executive summary" was needed that summarised and somewhat simplified the technical and factual information

·                     The increase in holiday homes needed to be brought under control as a result of the constrution of new houses. Although aware that the Cabinet had approved research that could lead to changes in legislation, it was suggested that a link was needed between the annual monitoring review and the research work

·         The review should monitor new builds and not the housing stock

·         The number of houses needed to be revised following the Wylfa B decision. Many of the designations were no longer necessary

·         Need to improve coordination between economic development and housing developments

·         Need to consider the term 'local people'. Other countries such as Italy were developing houses for local people only - a suggestion to look in greater detail at similar schemes

·         The Welsh language must be given due consideration with every development and not only when constructing houses

·         Necessary to consider how to measure the impact on the Welsh language

·         Propose that language statements be completed by suitably approved experts - suggestion that the Council provide guidance on those competent to carry out language statements

·         Suggestion to establish a working group within a year in order to further challenge and generate more detailed analyses

·         Who would respond on behalf of the Council to the consultation on the National Framework by 1 November 2019?

 

In response to a comment about the suggestion that language statements should be carried out by accredited experts, the Joint Planning Policy Unit Manager stated that the Supplementary Planning Guidance, Maintaining and Creating Unique and Sustainable Communities, which contained guidance on planning and the Welsh language, referred to the need for the statements to be made by a qualified individual. It was acknowledged that the guidance contained new information for everyone and that sessions would be held for Members and separately for agents, as many had expressed an interest. It was reiterated that it would be beneficial for external experts/agents to attend information sharing sessions, such as those offered to Members.  As regards the suggestion that the Council should prepare language statements and assessments, it was emphasised that the Council's role as the Local Planning Authority was to assess planning applications and all associated assessment, not to prepare parts of planning applications on behalf of developers.

 

In response to a question about responding to a consultation on the National Framework, it was reported that the Policy Unit was coordinating a response in consultation with the Economy Department, the Language Unit and other departments. It was highlighted that a draft response had been drawn up and that the Leadership Team had requested a workshop to have an in-depth discussion about the details. The Cabinet Member added that the Cabinet would consider the response.

 

In response to a comment about the D2 indicator (approving planning applications where Welsh language mitigation measures are needed) 'that no applications had been approved since adopting the plan, where measures would be required to mitigate any significant harm to the Welsh language'. It was explained, since no harm had been identified in the language statements, that there was no planning justification for imposing mitigation measures. It was reiterated that the Policy Unit and the Language Unit had deduced and assessed the statements and that mitigation measures would only be imposed if the evidence confirmed this.

 

            The report was welcomed.

 

            RESOLVED

·         There is a need to consider the language assessment and language statement arrangements in greater detail. It was suggested that an informal meeting should be held with Committee members to share information or to establish a working group of Members and Officers to challenge all elements and for further analysis. If a working group were established, it was suggested that a member of the Language Committee should be invited to become a member of the working group.

·         Although accepting that the report had to include factual and technical information, it was suggested that the form in which the written report is presented should be simplified.

·         Highlight concerns about the future of Wylfa and the housing designations that have since become unnecessary.

- A need to revise the numbers

- A need to ensure that planning permissions addressed the need

·         Economic developments could be better coordinated with housing developments

·         That there is an opportunity to look at what other countries are doing in the context of housing for local people

·         That every member is required to raise awareness of the consultation being held on the National Framework (closing date 1.11.19)