Agenda and minutes

The Panel considered a report of the Director of Property Services (Urban Living) which informed the Panel of the comments received following initial consultation on the SPD, and advised on changes to the document that had been necessary as a result of the consultation.

The Panel considered the revised SPD.  A number of grammatical and spelling errors were identified and officers were requested to carry out a thorough check of the document to ensure that these were corrected.

In response to a question from a Member regarding implementation of the SPD, particularly in relation to decisions of the Development Control Committee, officers advised that the SPD was still at consultation stage, and would not be implemented as policy until it had been adopted by the Council.  The Chair emphasised that, until the SPD formally replaced the Unitary Development Plan (UDP), Members of Development Control Committee should continue to refer to the UDP as the Council’s core policy document.  Officers added that the SPD did not contain policy changes, but expanded upon the policies contained within the UDP to provide further guidance on practical implementation of policy.

Resolved to RECOMMEND: (to the Portfolio Holder for Planning, Development and Housing)

That (1) the SPD and its accompanying Sustainability Appraisal (SA) be agreed;

(2) the Council undertake formal public consultation on the SPD and SA for a period of six weeks.

[REASON: To ensure that access considerations form an integral part of the development process, and to ensure local services and facilities are accessible to everyone].

The Panel considered a report of the Director of Property Services (Urban Living) which informed the Panel of the comments received following initial consultation on the SPD, and advised on changes to the document that had been necessary as a result of the consultation.

Officers advised Members that the document was still in a “raw” state and offered assurance that the diagrams contained within the SPD would be enlarged, and dimensions included.

The Panel considered the revised SPD and

Resolved to RECOMMEND: (to the Portfolio Holder for Planning, Development and Housing)

That (1) the SPD and its accompanying Sustainability Appraisal (SA) be agreed;

(2) the Council undertake formal public consultation on the SPD and SA for a period of four weeks.

[REASON: To ensure that access considerations form an integral part of the development process, and to ensure new residential development and conversions are accessible to everyone].

The Panel considered a report of the Director of Property Services (Urban Living) which set out the results of the consultation exercise that had taken place between 23 September and 4 November 2005.  The report highlighted the main issues raised by respondents and indicated the proposed changes that would be made to the SCI as a result of the consultation.

Officers tabled an updated version of the consultation responses, which included comments received after the officer’s report had been written.  In response to a question from the Chair, officers confirmed that the tabled documents contained no significant new comments. A positive and encouraging response had been received from the Government Office for London (GOL), who had suggested that the layout of the SCI could be better presented.  Officers advised that some reordering of the document, with no change to content, would  address GOL’s concerns.

In response to a question from a Member, officer confirmed that the response rate had been approximately 10%, which was considered to be quite good when compared to the usual response rate of 7%.  The responses had indicated that the majority of people were happy with the method of consultation. 

A Member queried whether comments made by anonymous respondees would be included.  The Panel was of the view that anonymous comments should be included, unless they were clearly of a frivolous nature.

The Panel noted that officers intended to make minor changes to the document to correct typographical errors identified.

Resolved to RECOMMEND: (to Cabinet)

That (1) it be agreed that the SCI progress to the Submission stage and six weeks statutory period;

(2) Cabinet authorise the Portfolio Holder for Planning, Development and Housing to clear the final printed SCI, in order to meet agreed the Local Development Scheme (LDS) timetable.

[REASON: Public involvement in the preparation of the SCI is a positive move towards increasing public awareness at the outset of preparing the Local Development Framework (LDF).  Maximising engagement will enhance the Council’s corporate objective of promoting diversity and inclusion, and reduce public opposition to policy implementation].

To note the attendance at this meeting of any duly appointed Reserve Members.

Reserve Members may attend meetings:-

(i)                 to take the place of an ordinary Member for whom they are a reserve;

(ii)               where the ordinary Member will be absent for the whole of the meeting; and

(iii)             after notifying the Chair at the start of the meeting.

RESOLVED:  To note the attendance at this meeting of the following duly appointed Reserve Members:-

To receive declarations of personal or prejudicial interests, arising from business to be transacted at this meeting, from all Members present.

RESOLVED: To note the following declarations of interests made by Members present relating to business to be transacted at this meeting:

(i)         Agenda Item 10 – Statement of Community Involvement (SCI): First Formal Consultation Responses

Councillor Burchell declared a personal interest in that he was the Council’s Representative on the Harrow Town Centre Forum, which had been consulted on this matter.  Accordingly, he remained in the room and took part in the discussion and decision-making on this item.

 (ii)        Agenda Item 10 – Statement of Community Involvement (SCI): First Formal Consultation Responses

Councillor Burchell declared that Labour Members of the Panel had a personal interest as the Greenhill and Marlborough Branch Labour Party had been consulted on this matter.  Accordingly, Labour Members of the Panel remained in the room and took part in the discussion and decision-making on this item.

(iii)        Agenda Item 10 – Statement of Community Involvement (SCI): First Formal Consultation Responses

Councillor Blann declared a personal interest in that he was a member of the Civil Service Retirement Fellowship, which had been consulted on this matter.  Accordingly, he remained in the room and took part in the discussion and decision-making on this item.

To consider whether any of the items listed on the agenda should be considered with the press and public excluded on the grounds that it is thought likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted, that there would be disclosure of confidential information in breach of an obligation of confidence or of exempt information as defined in the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985.

RESOLVED:  That all items be considered with the press and public present.

That the minutes of the meetings held on 13 September 2005 and 29 September 2005, having been circulated, be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

RESOLVED: That the Chair be given authority to sign the minutes of the meetings held on 13 September 2005 and 29 September 2005, those minutes having been circulated, as correct records of those meeting, once printed in the Council Bound Volume.

To receive questions (if any) from local residents or organisations under the provisions of Advisory Panel and Consultative Forum Procedure Rule 15 (Part 4E of the Constitution).

RESOLVED:  To note that no public questions were put, or petitions or deputations received at this meeting under the provisions of Committee Procedure Rules 18, 15 and 16 (Part 4B of the Constitution) respectively.

Report of the Director of Property Services (Urban Living).

See Recommendation 1.

Report of the Director of Property Services (Urban Living).

See Recommendation 2.

Report of the Director of Property Services (Urban Living).

See Recommendation 3.