Agenda and minutes

No apologies of absence were received at the meeting.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the Planning and Development Scrutiny Panel meeting held on the 22 February 2023.

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Planning and Development Scrutiny Panel meeting held on the 22 February 2023 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

No announcements were made by the Chairman.

To receive any declarations of interest from Members in accordance with the Standing Orders and the Council’s Code of Conduct and disclosures of advice or directions received from Group Leaders or Political Groups, in accordance with the Council’s Constitution.

There were no declarations of interest made at this meeting.

To receive any deputations of which notice has been lodged.

No deputations were received at this meeting.

To consider an update from the Head of Planning Strategy and Economic Development on prevailing planning strategy matters.

At the agreement of the Chairman this item was brought forward on the agenda.

The Panel received a presentation from Planning Strategy officers providing a Planning Strategy Update, including an overview of the forthcoming Self and Custom Build Supplementary Planning Document and an update on the Council’s emerging Local Plan. A copy of the presentation is appended to these minutes.

The Head of Planning Strategy and Economic Development presented details to the Panel on the Council’s emerging Local Plan, which is to be considered for adoption by the Council on the 05 April 2023. The presentation provided information on the Inspectors’ letter which had recently been received.  The report concluded that the Local Plan can be found sound but only with the inclusion of the main modifications, all of which were subject to Council approval for a consultation in October 2022. The officer then explained the next steps once adopted and the implications for the Council should Members choose not to adopt the Local Plan. Members asked questions for clarification on changes to the Strategic Gap designation and the contribution to Portsmouth’s unmet need.

The Senior Planner (Strategy) then went on to deliver details on the forthcoming Self and Custom Build Supplementary Planning Document (SPD). Members asked questions for clarification on new the policy and officers explained how legislation from central government has led to the development of a register of interest in Self and Custom Build and the policy in the emerging Local Plan. They also explained that the SPD has been prepared to provide guidance to planning applicants on the information to submit alongside their applications. Officers also provided details on the local need for self and custom build plots and how this has provided the data to develop the SPD.

RESOLVED that the Panel note the contents of the presentation.

To receive a report from the Director of Planning and Regeneration on the Biodiversity Net Gain Supplementary Planning Document, seeking approval from the Executive to consult on how Biodiversity Net Gain will apply to planning applications in Fareham.

The Panel received a report on the Biodiversity Net Gain Supplementary Planning Document by the Director of Planning and Regeneration. The report outlined the Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) which has been prepared to provide guidance to applicants seeking planning permission. Executive approval is to be sought to consult on the SPD at their meeting on the 04 April 2023.

The Principal Planner (Strategy) presented the Executive report to the Panel and explained the Council’s approach to securing and implementing Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) in line with Policy NE2 in the emerging Fareham Borough Local Plan 2037.

Members of the Panel discussed the report in detail and asked questions for clarification on how the measures implanted by developers to achieve BNG will be monitored and if necessary, enforced by the over the 30-year period required and asked if costs would be incurred by the Council. Officers explained that the policy would be implemented and enforced in line with all other planning policies. The management of this new policy will incur costs but it was agreed by Members of the Panel that costs incurred are necessary to secure Borough’s biodiversity for future generations.

Members of the Panel expressed support the Biodiversity Net Gain consultation and look forward to seeing how both residents and developers respond to the details within the SPD. Officers confirmed that the results of the consultation will be brought to a future meeting of the Panel.

RESOLVED that the Planning and Development Scrutiny Panel:-

a)    note the contents of the Executive report at Appendix 1; and

b)    ask that to the Executive to consider the Panels comments at their meeting on the 03 April 2023.

To consider any items of business dealt with by the Executive since the last meeting of the Panel, that falls under the remit of Planning and Development Portfolio. This will include any decisions taken by individual Members during the same time period.

Members of the Panel were asked to note the Executive decisions made since the last meeting of the Panel, that fall under the remit of the Planning and Development Portfolio.

No comments were received.

No comments were received.

No comments were received.

To provide an opportunity for Members to consider the scrutiny priorities for the Planning and Development Panel.

The Panel considered the priorities for the Planning and Development Scrutiny Panel.

Members requested that the Coastal Partners be invited to a future meeting of the Panel to provide details of projects within the Borough. The Director of Planning and Regeneration addressed the Panel to advise that there are several local projects that the Coastal Partners are working on that they can update the Panel on. It was agreed that an item would be brought to the Panel within the 2023/24 meeting cycle.

RESOLVED that the Panel considered the Scrutiny Priorities.