MEMORANDUM
12 December 2006
___________________________________________________________________________
To:
All Members of the Panel,
Derrick Ashley, Stuart Pile,
John Wood, Jan Hayes-Griffin,
Jon Tiley, John Pryor, Sue
Davidson, Dave Humby
From:
County Secretary’s Department
Ask for: Neil Terry
Ext:
25413
My ref:
Your ref:
PLANNING AND PARTNERSHIPS PANEL
4 DECEMBER 2006
MINUTES
ATTENDANCE
MEMBERS OF THE PANEL
N E Agar, M V Bayes, C L Berry, R S Clements, A D Dodd, D S Drury, S E Jones,
J T Metcalf, A Mitchell, R Roberts (Chairman), P A Ruffles, R A C Thake, C J White
Upon consideration of the agenda for the Planning and Partnerships Panel meeting
on 4 December 2006 as circulated, copy annexed, conclusions were reached and
are recorded below:
PART 1
ACTION
1.
MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting held on 8 November 2006 were
confirmed as an accurate record.
2.
PRESENTATION FROM THE HERTS CVS GROUP
(Officer contact: Andrew Burt 01992 555213)
Ann Jansz, Laura Cronshaw and Ian Richardson represented
the Hertfordshire Voluntary & Community Sector (VCS) Group at
the meeting.
The Panel were shown a promotional DVD (copies available
from Neil Terry) and received a presentation. An information
pack was also distributed at the start of the meeting.
NT
Conclusions
The Panel thanked CVS for their presentation and agreed that
a further presentation be delivered at the end of the CVS’ third
year of funding.
The Panel requested that ‘real numbers’ be included in any
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MEMORANDUM
12 December 2006
___________________________________________________________________________
ACTION
future presentation.
3.
PLANNING OBLIGATIONS
(Officer contact: Jonathan Tiley 01992 556292)
Chris White registered a non-prejudicial interest as a member of
the Audit Commission and remained in the meeting.
Jon Tiley presented a report updating the Panel on key issues
which have affected the operation of the planning obligations
system for the County Council. The report identified future
challenges, and a programme of work to ensure the County
Council is well positioned to take advantage of future
opportunities to ensure new development contributes fully to the
infrastructure demands it generates.
The Report set out that whilst planning obligations had been
subject to Scrutiny in recent years, and a number of significant
improvements had been introduced to the ways in which the
County Council works, there was still room for improvement.
In addition, recent Government guidance and Audit Commission
best practice had recently been published, which highlighted
other improvements which could be made.
The Panel were informed that the Government still appears
committed to the principle of introducing Planning Gain
Supplement (PGS) to help fund strategic infrastructure with
contributions raised from the development process. However,
planning obligations would still exist to deal with site specific
infrastructure.
The Report set out a set of outcomes to focus future work on
planning obligations, together with issues which would have to
addressed in the longer term, such as the suitability of a tariff
approach for growth areas in the County, and how to operate if
PGS is introduced.
Members expressed concerns at the thought of losing Section
106 funding and the problems of PGS being distributed by
Government. It was however noted that not every development
generates large levels of Section 106, and that the
Government’s objective was to collect PGS from the majority of
new developments.
The Panel considered the short comings of the current system
and the overall strategic problems caused by the cumulative
effect of small projects, concluding that each dwelling should
contribute financially to the strategic pot.
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MEMORANDUM
12 December 2006
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ACTION
The Milton Keynes Tariff approach was discussed. It was
explained that whilst this was an interesting initiative, it was
subject to a special set of circumstances which does not make it
directly applicable to other locations. This included the fact that
there was only one landowner, a small consortium of developers
and that Government had agreed to pre-fund key elements of
infrastructure. There is no guarantee that the government would
take the same approach with other schemes, such as A1M
widening.
The Panel considered recent work with North Herts District
Council which resulted in a Supplementary Planning Framework.
More joint working with the Districts is expected.
The Executive Member agreed that there was a need to
progress this work. It was acknowledged that some Districts are
better at dealing with planning obligations than others, and there
was a need for County wide guidance and buy in to a more
effective approach to planning obligations.
Conclusions
The Panel agreed the list of outcomes and the programme for
taking forward work on planning obligations, tariffs and
planning gain supplement. The Panel concluded that it was
unnecessary to set up a small Topic Group to provide input to
the development of proposals at this time.
4.
NOTTINGHAM DECLARATION ON CLIMATE CHANGE
(Officer contact: John Rumble 01992 556296)
A report was presented to the Panel by John Rumble regarding
the Nottingham Declaration. It sought the Panel’s advice on
issues which may arise for the County Council if it agrees to sign
up to the Nottingham Declaration on Climate Change.
The Panel expressed support for signing the declaration.
However it was acknowledged that more work was required to
establish and understand the financial implications of the various
initiatives which may be associated with such a commitment.
Two specific resolutions were tabled for discussion as follows:1.
That the County Council become a signatory to the
Nottingham, Declaration on Climate Change.
2.
That the County Council incorporate the commitments
contained within the Nottingham Declaration on Climate
Change into a Climate Change Strategy and action plan for
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MEMORANDUM
12 December 2006
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ACTION
Hertfordshire to encompass the following activities:



the direct impacts that arise through the activities of
the County Council in the operation of its own
services;
the impact and influence the County Council has with
its partners through policies and strategies for
Hertfordshire; and
the development of greenhouse gas reduction targets
for the County Council and Hertfordshire
Conclusions
The Panel confirmed its support of the Council signing the
declaration and the way forward as set out in the resolutions.
5.
DRAFT FURTHER ALTERATIONS TO THE LONDON PLAN
(Officer contact: Paul Donovan 01992 556289)
Jon Tiley presented a report to assist the Panel in advising the
Executive Member on a County Council response to the Mayor
of London’s consultation on his Draft Further Alterations to the
London Plan (Spatial Development Strategy for Greater
London).
The Panel welcomed the response to the Mayor of London’s
consultation and were happy with its content but recommended
that the reference to past under provision of housing be
removed. Paragraphs relating to airport policy and the proposed
London - Bedford growth corridor should be strengthened.
The Executive Member considered the airport issue to be
interesting and asked that this should go on the agenda for the
next inter regional forum.
The Panel agreed the response to the consultation subject to
some paragraphs being strengthened.
6.
DATES FOR FUTURE MEETINGS
A meeting will be required in early February to consider the
Regional Spatial Strategy. Neil Terry will establish the most
suitable date and email members accordingly.
NT
Andrew Laycock
County Secretary
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