town & parish councils workshops 2014 · overview & scrutiny workshops re: public...
TRANSCRIPT
Town & Parish Councils Workshop
June 2015
Dealing with planning applications and Chairing the SLDC Planning Committee:
• To help councillors understand their role in debating about a planning application
• To provide suggestions to Chairman on controlling the debate
• By Illustration of the process at SLDC Planning Committee.
• Be Prepared
• Be Focussed
The committee meeting process
• Declarations of interest in applications to de discussed as an early agenda item
• Listen to any public speaking
• Refer to Parish/Community/Neighbourhood plans
• Debate matters from a Parish / Town perspective on an evidential basis and set against objectives in plans
The committee meeting processContinued
• Suspend any particular rules of debate so that members can return and explore what each are saying
• Come to a conclusion about whether it meets your plans objectives subject to other issues which may over ride those and the content of your observations to be reported to SLDC (Vote if necessary)
• Report support or objection with the reasons from the conclusion back to SLDC
Localism in Planning “Reference has been made to the Government’s localism
agenda.....Any decision-maker must determine planning applications on planning grounds………. in accordance with the development plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise. Decisions should not be made solely on the basis of the number of representations or signatures on a petition, whether they are for or against a proposal. The Localism Act has not changed …(this). Nor has it changed the advice ………, namely, that local opposition or support for a proposal is not in itself a ground for refusing or granting planning permission unless it is founded on valid planning reasons. “
Eric Pickles 28 June 2012
Rules on participation for parish councillors
• Planning manages the right to develop land
• It involves balancing private and public interests
• Need to demonstrate, at all times:
– Fairness
– Openness
– Impartiality
• As a Councillor… …you can support or oppose an application and represent the views of your constituents
Rules on participation for parish councillors• If you have a Planning Committee
…you still can, but you must still retain an open minded disposition; if not it could compromise your (impartial) role on the committee.
• be aware of the need for probity and the public perception of
your actions
• ‘Avoid favouring a person, company, group or locality or
putting yourself in a position where you appear to do so’
Best Practice
Amanda McCleery (CALC)
Clarity and Terminology in letters and Reports
Hold my Hands up Letters are not good
• Uneven editing because of changes has lead to certain terms being used interchangeably
However
• We do need to review letters with the “Plain English” principles in mind
• Further changes are required
• Some “Legalese” will remain because those expressions are used in law
Digital Communication
Digital by Default
• Planning decisions are sent electronically wherever possible
• Digital Project being undertaken Council wide
• Approx 18 months to plan and prepare
• Consider applications for grant funding for equipment (laptops / projectors)
• Consider sharing equipment with other Parishes
Pre-application Advice
Overview & Scrutiny workshops re: Public Engagement:
– Focussed on encouraging consultation between developers and Parishes before an application
– Voluntary by developers
– Further Consultation to follow on
• Statement of Community Involvement (incorporation pre-application processes)
• Validation Checklist (incorporating results of pre-application consultation)
• Pre-application Advice Service
SLDC CASE STUDIES
What is a Material Consideration?MATERIAL
• layout, density
• privacy
• daylight / sunlight
• access / traffic
• local economy
• design / appearance
• noise, smell
• landscape
• crime & disorder
• cumulative impact*
• previous similar decisions*
• rarely, personal circumstances
NOT MATERIAL
• history of applicant
• loss of view
• “no need”
• commercial competition
• change from previous scheme
• impact on property value
• restrictive covenants
• ownership of land / right of access
• anti-social behaviour
• health grounds for telecommunication masts
REFUSAL
Residential Development Copper Dog, Leece
Location Plan
Copper Dog, Leece
Settlement Boundary showing site
Copper Dog, Leece
Looking NE
Copper Dog, Leece
Looking SW
Copper Dog, Leece
Northern (Back) Elevation
Copper Dog, Leece
Western Elevation
Copper Dog, Leece
Proposed Layout
Copper Dog, Leece
Proposed Roadside Elevations
Copper Dog, Leece
Detached House Plans
Copper Dog, Leece
Semi Detached House Plan
APPROVAL
Residential Development Holker Estates, Cartmel
Site Plan
Residential Development Holker Estates, Cartmel
View from South East entering Village
Residential Development Holker Estates, Cartmel
Winter View from South East
Residential Development Holker Estates, Cartmel
Closer view from south east
Residential Development Holker Estates, Cartmel
Site frontage showing nearest residential property
Residential Development Holker Estates, Cartmel
View of site looking out village
Residential Development Holker Estates, Cartmel
View of road from west
From site looking into Cartmel
Residential Development Holker Estates, Cartmel
Closer view back to Village
Residential Development Holker Estates, Cartmel
Site from track
Residential Development Holker Estates, Cartmel
Relationship to neighbouring property
Residential Development Holker Estates, Cartmel
Site for replacement horse exercise ring
Residential Development Holker Estates, Cartmel
Site for replacement horse exercise ring
Residential Development Holker Estates, Cartmel
Proposed Site Plan
Residential Development Holker Estates, Cartmel
Site Layout and Elevations
Residential Development Holker Estates, Cartmel
Typical Elevations
Residential Development Holker Estates, Cartmel
Typical Elevations
Residential Development Holker Estates, Cartmel
Typical Elevations
Community Infrastructure Levy
• CIL charging schedule adopted from 1 June 2015• Simon Anstey appointed as CIL Officer• Live software• Liability Notices Issued• Uncertain when chargeable developments will
commence• Anticipated that first payments to Parish/Town
Councils may be made in April 2016• SLDC project Governance system still being
determined
SLDC Support
• The Policy and Partnership team are the first point of contact for CIL and assistance will be given by SLDC Planning Team
• Town/Parish Councils have to spend the money on infrastructure projects of their choice to support development
• Town/ Parish Councils have to submit an Annual Monitoring Report
Suggested Parish Plan Page
Design• Layout eg address the street or important open space• Style• HeightsInfrastructure• Roads / Footpaths / Open space• Play Group• CIL Projects by ParishSite Specific MattersParish / Community / Neighbourhood Plan