AGENDA ITEM 10 BOROUGH OF POOLE COUNCIL 18 JULY 2011 DELIVERING POOLE’S INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT PLAN DOCUMENT: SUBMISSION DOCUMENT: REPORT OF THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ECONOMY OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE 1. PURPOSE OF REPORT 1.1 To report the views and recommendations of the Economy Overview & Scrutiny Committee. 2. DECISIONS REQUIRED. 2.1 That Council be requested to approve the recommendation of the Economy Overview and Scrutiny Committee as follows:(i) That Council approve the Delivering Poole’s Infrastructure Development Plan Document, as amended, for submission to the Secretary of State. 3. BACKGROUND/INFORMATION 3.1 I chaired the Meeting of the Economy and Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 6th July 2011 (an extract of the draft Minute is attached at Appendix 1 prior to being available on the Borough of Poole website) which considered the Recommendations of the Head of Planning & Regeneration Services (copy attached). 3.2 The Economy Overview and Scrutiny Committee were informed of the purpose of the DPD in the context of the Core Strategy for Poole and the Local Development Framework. 3.3 Members were advised of the three policies contained in the DPD as being IN1, IN2 & IN3 and were provided with supporting documentation, including a Sustainability Appraisal. 3.4 The processes adopted prior to and during the pre-submission stage were highlighted together with the following issues/comments raised during consultation: Need for viability assessment Commitment required in the DPD Not based on realistic growth projections Further work including; Natural England and RSPB concerns at Habitat Assessment/IN3. All matters raised in consultation were reported to have been resolved with changes incorporated into final Submission Document as appropriate. 3.5 Members of the Committee raised a number of issues of concerns and associated questions. These were put to Officers and both the issues and the responses provided by Officers are detailed in Appendix 1 to this report. 3.6 I would urge Council to accept the Recommendation of the Economy Overview and Scrutiny Committee set out above. Councillor Brian Clements Chairman of the Economy Overview and Scrutiny Committee DRAFT EOS 22.11 APPENDIX 1 DELIVERING POOLE’S INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT PLANNING DOCUMENT (DPD) The Committee received the Report of the Head of Planning & Regeneration Services as presented by the Senior Planning Officer. Members were provided with supporting documents including the Poole’s Infrastructure Delivery Plan and a Sustainability Appraisal. Background information provided included reference to the DPD in the context of the Local Development Framework (LDF) and the Core Strategy for Poole, adopted in 2009. An overview was given of the purpose, processes to date and details of the pre-submission to satisfy the soundness of the DPD. The following issues/comments were reported to have been raised during consultation: Need for viability assessment Commitment required in the DPD Not based on realistic growth projections Further work including; Natural England and RSPB concerns at Habitat Assessment/IN3. All matters raised in consultation had been resolved and following detailed discussion with Natural England and the RSPB it had led to the re-drafting of policy IN3. The concerns expressed were reported to have been in respect of flood defences and the future Community Infrastructure Levy payment, with particular concern expressed that more certainty was required. Details of the next stages, leading to formal adoption, were outlined. The comments and observations made by members of the Committee are as detailed below:Report Concern was expressed that the grave concerns of Natural England with regard to deliverability of the Infrastructure Development Plan with reference to issues, in particular nitrogen in Poole Harbour, were not being fully addressed. Officers explained that 90% of the nitrogen level had been attributed to agriculture and that this was outside the scope of the DPD. Reference was made to the £2m investment by the Water Authority in the sewage treatment works at Cabot Lane, reported to have been signed off by the Environment Agency (EA). Clarification was sought in respect of the change in policy IN3. The Officer explained that this related to strategic flood defences and not the nitrogen issue. Clarification was sought in respect of the potential double counting and aggregate effect of any additional levy set by other statutory bodies. The Officer explained that the Council were required to make payment of only one levy to the EA. Reference was made to the gap in the infrastructure funding and the challenges faced in Poole due to a changing arena. Concern was expressed that development in future would be required to pay for the provision of the A31 link. Officers explained that that particular scheme no longer existed. DPD Submission – July 2011 Reference was made to typographical errors and it was requested that the document be proofed prior to submission and publication. Concern was expressed that the list featured at Para 2.36 on Page 15 had been deleted. The Officer explained that this list related to the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) and would be kept in the CIL document. Poole’s Infrastructure Delivery Plan – March 2011 Reference to the Poole Sports Centre at Para 4.6 be deleted. Sustainability Assessment General concern was expressed at the level of detail that members and lay persons were required to comprehend and a request made that when submitted to Council, the documentation be simplified. RECOMMENDED to Council: That Council adopt the Delivering Poole’s Infrastructure Development Plan Document for submission to the Secretary of State. Unanimous