Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Byrne Gustafson and Webster (substitute Member).

Members and Officers are requested to give notice of any personal or prejudicial interest and the nature of that interest, relating to any item on the agenda in accordance with the relevant Code of Conduct.

No declarations of interests were received.

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the meeting held on 12 January 2011 be confirmed as a correct record.

Report of the Planning and Economic Development Director

The Committee considered the report of the Planning & Economic Development Director giving details of the headline findings of a key study to review the Regional Spatial Strategy Housing Figure for Sefton, in order that this can inform the evidence base for the Local Development Framework and specifically the Options Stage of the emerging Core Strategy. The full study report would be reported in the next cycle to Planning Committee, Cabinet Member -Regeneration and Cabinet

The study was required to comply with national planning guidance on the need to provide a robust evidence base for Sefton’s housing policies in the Local Development Framework.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted and a further more detailed report on the matter be submitted to the next meeting of this Committee and to Cabinet Member - Regeneration and Cabinet in the next committee cycle.

Report of the Planning and Economic Development Director

Further to Minute No. 77 of 15 September 2010, the Committee considered the report of the Planning and Economic Development Director seeking members’ approval of the draft Green Space Study for public consultation, linked to the consultation on the Core Strategy options and draft Green Belt Study.

RESOLVED:

That the draft Green Space Study be approved for public consultation alongside the Core Strategy Options Paper and draft Green Belt study.

Report of the Planning and Economic Development Director

Further to Minute No. 115 of 15 December 2010, the Committee considered the report of the Planning and Economic Development Director which:-

(i)         informed Members about the findings of the Green Belt Study, and how this would inform the Options stage of the Core Strategy, and to seek approval to consult on minor changes to the existing Green Belt. Both of these Studies would be subject to public consultation early in 2011 before they were finalised.

(ii)        updated Members on a review of the Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) which determined how much land was available in the urban areas. This would also be subject to consultation with stakeholders including the Sefton, Knowsley and West Lancashire Housing Market Partnership.

(iii)       informed Members about the future need to update Sefton’s retail evidence in order to ensure that the Council had robust evidence when the Core Strategy was independently examined in early 2012.

RESOLVED: That

(1)       the consultation that has taken place on the Green Belt Study with the Area Committees and some of the parishes since the previous report was deferred by Cabinet in September be noted;

(2)       the Cabinet be requested to approve the Green Belt Study and the SHLAA update for consultation purposes; and

(3)       the need for a future review of the retail evidence that will support the Core Strategy, (the costs of which would be contained within the Department’s consultancy budget) be noted.

Report of the Planning and Economic Development Director

Further to Minute No. 115 of 15 December 2010, the Committee considered the report of the Planning and Economic Development Director that requesting Members to approve the Core Strategy Options Paper for public consultation.

RESOLVED: That

(1)       the contents of the draft Core Strategy Options Paper, including the implications for meeting Sefton’s housing and employment land requirements to 2027 be noted;

(2)       the arrangements for consulting on the draft Options Paper be noted;

(3)       the Cabinet be requested to approve the draft Options Paper for consultation; and

(4)       the Planning and Economic Development Director be given delegated authority to make minor editorial changes to the draft Options Paper.