Issue - meetings

The Leader to submit a report seeking Cabinet to recommend approval of the Developer Contributions Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) to Council on the 23 September 2021

Cabinet:

1)      Noted the comments received during the consultation period and accepts the proposed amendments to the draft Developer Contributions Supplementary Planning Document (SPD).

2)      Recommended to Council that the final version of the Developer Contributions SPD, shown at Appendix A, is adopted on the 23rd September 2021.

The Chief Executive introduced the report, followed by the Assistant Director for Planning and Delivery who provided Members with more detail.

The Leader stated that the Supplementary Planning Document is vital towards securing the Melton Mowbray Distributor Road for the town. He added that he was informed that the Leicestershire County Council Cabinet are content with the document.

Councillor Browne thanked the Assistant Director for Planning and Delivery for his and his team’s work on completing the SPD.

Councillor de Burle highlighted the issue of lack of waste bins in Parish areas and commented on whether a reference could be made within the SPD, in order to compel developers to provide waste bins as a part of a development.

Councillor Freer commented that the document demonstrates that the Council is doing all it can in order to secure the MMDR.

DECISION (NON-KEY)

Cabinet unanimously:

1)       Noted the comments received during the consultation period and accepts the proposed amendments to the draft Developer Contributions Supplementary Planning Document (SPD).

2)       Recommended to Council that the final version of the Developer Contributions SPD, shown at Appendix A, is adopted on the 23rd September 2021.

Reason for the decision

The content of the SPD had been formulated in collaboration with Members and the County Council and the infrastructure prioritisation approach illustrated within the SPD, was set out within the Cabinet report considered in July 2021. The starting point for the Council will be that all developers should meet all relevant infrastructure requirements in full. However, the approach regarding infrastructure priorities established in Policy IN3 and detailed within the SPD provides clarity to all parties if it becomes necessary and justified to negotiate the content of a section 106 agreement due to issues surrounding viability. Each planning application will continue to be assessed on a case-by-case basis according to the merits of the development and the CIL regulations.

Further to the completion of the six week public consultation from 26th July 2021 to 6th September 2021, 20 responses were submitted. These are summarised in the report at paragraph 5.2 and are reported in greater detail in Appendix B to the report, along with the changes made to the draft SPD responding to the responses received.

It is considered that the finalised SPD is a suitable mechanism for achieving the shared strategic aim of delivering sustainable growth and associated key infrastructure in Melton. This includes the three parts of the Melton Mowbray Distributor Road (MMDR) and education facilities.

Additionally, the SPD demonstrates the Council’s commitment to fully supporting Leicestershire County Council in meeting the financial requirements for the significant infrastructure investment planned for Melton.

The Leader of the Council to submit a report seeking the approval of Cabinet to commence the public consultation on the draft Developer Contributions Supplementary Planning Document (SPD).

Cabinet:

1)    APPROVED the Draft Developer Contributions Supplementary Planning Document for the purposes of consultation, having particular regard to the infrastructure priority list;

2)    AUTHORISED a 6-week period for public consultation

Edd de Coverly, Chief Executive of the Council introduced the report, the purpose of which was to seek the approval of Cabinet to commence the public consultation on the draft Developer Contributions Supplementary Planning Document (SPD).

Mr. de Coverly highlighted that securing the Melton Mowbray distributor road was one of the Council’s key Corporate Strategy priorities.  Leicestershire County Council's (LCC) Cabinet had signalled its intention to accept the housing infrastructure fund grant for the southern leg of the road, subject to a number of conditions being met and this Council had supported LCC to ensure this could be achieved and the financial risks mitigated.  The Developer Contributions SPD before Members represented a formal demonstration of that commitment and the first step towards meeting one of those conditions.  Subject to Cabinet consideration, statutory consultation would commence on the SPD, with a view to submitting it again to Cabinet and then Council for adoption in September.

Mr. de Coverly advised that alongside the SPD, the Council were working to adopt new and refreshed master plans for the north and south neighbourhoods. The Council was seeking to establish an agreement with LCC on underwriting any shortfall arising from developer contributions on matters within our control and up to a cap of £1.75m (previously £1m).  These items would be considered as part of separate reports to Cabinet and Council and by the end of 2021.

Jim Worley, Assistant Director for Planning and Delivery highlighted that an SPD must build upon local plan policy (it could not be new policy in its own right).  The Developer Contributions SPD was built on the policies in the local plan, which related to key infrastructure to allow growth.  The table at paragraph 5.8 of the report set out the Council’s priorities (key infrastructure of highways and schools, strategic priorities, local priorities).  The local priorities had been identified by ward members, working with local communities.

The Leader reiterated the importance of this work and confirmed the consultation period (26 July to 8 September).

During discussion the following points were noted:

·         Members were pleases with the progress to date, noting that key infrastructure, highways and education were vital to Melton’s growth.

·         The commitment for a second surgery in Melton was welcomed.

·         Members were pleased to note the local priorities, which had been identified by communities.  This demonstrated effective consultation and engagement.

Cabinet:

1)    APPROVED the Draft Developer Contributions Supplementary Planning Document for the purposes of consultation, having particular regard to the infrastructure priority list;

2)    AUTHORISED a 6-week period for public consultation

Reason for the decision

The Draft SPD has been formulated by working with Members and the County Council to support infrastructure priorities in the Borough. Prior to the adoption of an SPD, it is necessary to carry out a public consultation of no less than 4 weeks, and no longer than 6 weeks (Town and Country Planning, (Local Development Regulations) (England) 2004). It is expected that, subject to the consultation, the document would be presented to Council for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 183