Agenda item

To consider the Motion submitted by Councillor McKinley

It was moved by Councillor Sayers, seconded by Councillor McKinley:

National Planning Policy Framework

This Council condemns the inherent bias in the National Planning Policy Framework (sometimes called the Developer’s Charter) that ascribes a much greater weighting given in its application to the profit/interests of developers and landowners potentially at the cost of local communities in terms of adverse social impact.

This Council calls on the government to develop a robust methodology to assess local social impact( in addition to existing measures) and amend the NPPF to  give equal weighting to local social impacts as it does to the level of profit for developers and landowners when considering development proposals.

And

This Council calls on the Secretary of State to revoke Paragraph 189 of the National Planning Policy Framework which states that “Local Planning Authorities cannot require a developer to engage with them before submitting a planning application.  Local Planning Authorities should also encourage any applicants who are not already required to do so by law, to engage with the local community before submitting applications” and make it compulsory for developers to consult with the community before applying for planning permissions.

Furthermore

This Council seeks an explanation and apology from Sir Vince Cable Leader of the Liberal Democrats, who together with Conservative Ministers was responsible for forcing these new regulations through Parliament and in effect created a Land owners and developer’s charter and effectively destroying the Labour Government’s of 1945 far sighted Town And Country Planning acts that created our much envied planning laws and green belt creation and protection.

An amendment was moved by Councillor Bennett, seconded by Councillor McCann that the Motion be amended by adding the following words (shown in italics):

This Council condemns the inherent bias in the National Planning Policy Framework (sometimes called the Developer’s Charter) that ascribes a much greater weighting given in its application to the profit/interests of developers and landowners potentially at the cost of local communities in terms of adverse social and environmental impact. 

This Council calls on the government to develop a robust methodology to assess local social and environmental impact (in addition to existing measures) and amend the NPPF to give equal weighting to local social and environmental impacts as it does to the level of profit for developers and landowners when considering development proposals. 

This Council notes with regret that this approach along with the differing interpretations of the NPPF by all parties to include developers and councils has led to a disjointed approach to sustainable development. This is particularly evident in development on local green belt land and the failure to provide a robust strategic infrastructure plan.

And

Given that the government (as outlined in the Housing White Paper) are seeking powers to remove from LPAs the power to determine the Housing OAN (Section 159 NPPF) and replace it with a housing target determined by central government and/or Regional Government, this Council believes that any such future Housing Target should fully consider the cost to the community in terms of the environmental and social impact of any imposed target,  including the appropriate housing units needed, built in places where people wish to live and where the impact on the environment and resources could be minimised.

And

This Council calls on the Secretary of State to revoke Paragraph 189 of the National Planning Policy Framework which states that “Local Planning Authorities cannot require a developer to engage with them before submitting a planning application. Local Planning Authorities should also encourage any applicants who are not already required to do so by law, to meaningfullyengage with the local community before submitting applications” and make it compulsory for developers to meaningfully consult with the community before applying for planning permissions.

On a show of hands, the Mayor declared the amendment was lost by 38 votes to 15 with 1 abstention.

Thereafter, on a show of hands, the Mayor declared that the Motion was carried by 37 votes to 16 with 1 abstention and it was

RESOLVED:

That the Motion be approved as follows:

 This Council condemns the inherent bias in the National Planning Policy Framework (sometimes called the Developer’s Charter) that ascribes a much greater weighting given in its application to the profit/interests of developers and landowners potentially at the cost of local communities in terms of adverse social impact.

This Council calls on the government to develop a robust methodology to assess local social impact( in addition to existing measures) and amend the NPPF to  give equal weighting to local social impacts as it does to the level of profit for developers and landowners when considering development proposals.

And

This Council calls on the Secretary of State to revoke Paragraph 189 of the National Planning Policy Framework which states that “Local Planning Authorities cannot require a developer to engage with them before submitting a planning application.  Local Planning Authorities should also encourage any applicants who are not already required to do so by law, to engage with the local community before submitting applications” and make it compulsory for developers to consult with the community before applying for planning permissions.

Furthermore

This Council seeks an explanation and apology from Sir Vince Cable Leader of the Liberal Democrats, who together with Conservative Ministers was responsible for forcing these new regulations through Parliament and in effect created a Land owners and developer’s charter and effectively destroying the Labour Government’s of 1945 far sighted Town And Country Planning acts that created our much envied planning laws and green belt creation and protection.