Issue - meetings

The Cabinet is requested to consider the agenda report and its two appendices and to make the following resolution:

That the adoption of a two part register with local connection and resources conditions for entry to the Part 1 Register be approved as set out in appendix 2 to the report.

RESOLVED

That the adoption of a two-part register with local connections and resources conditions for entry to the Part I Register be approved as set out in appendix 2 to the agenda report.

The Cabinet received and considered the agenda report and its two appendices (copy attached to the official minutes).

The report was presented by Mrs Kilby.

Mrs Grange was in attendance for this item.

Mrs Kilby summarised the legislative context with reference to the Self-build and Custom Housebuilding Act 2015 and its secondary legislation, the Housing and Planning Act 2016, the broad details of how a register was to be created and maintained for those wishing to undertake self-build and custom housebuilding projects in the Chichester Local Plan area (section 3 of the report) and the no fee which CDC would operate initially pending review in the light of subsequent planning guidance (section 5). 

Mrs Grange did not add to Mrs Kilby’s introduction.

Mr Dignum pointed out that this would not require CDC to purchase plots of land to make available for such development but only to give ‘appropriate’ planning permission if such developments were the subject of planning applications. 

Mrs Grange and Mr Carvell answered members’ questions and comments on points of detail with respect to (a) the meaning of ‘appropriate’ planning permission and whether such applications could be determined in the usual way in accordance with CDC’s planning policies – this had yet to be defined by planning guidance; (b) it should be made very clear that the local authority’s duty was to grant planning permissions and not provide plots of land for such developments to take place - the currently available regulations and guidance clearly stated that a local planning authority’s duty was to grant sufficient planning permissions and not to make available plots of land; (c) whether the correct interpretation of ‘houses to be occupied as homes by those individuals’ would ensure that such homes once built were not immediately sold in view of the aim of Part I of the register which was to ensure that such homes were lived in by those with a local connection – planning guidance was awaited on this point; (d) the meaning of ‘sufficient’ in the phrase ‘sufficient permissioned and serviced land’ in para 6.1 ii) of the report – this must await further planning guidance, if indeed it would be defined but it was likely to mean ‘sufficient’ to meet the level of demand in Part 1 of the register; and (e) the register would not apply to the South Downs National Park area of Chichester District notwithstanding that CDC was the housing authority for the whole of Chichester District.       

Mrs Kilby said she noted and shared the concerns on points of detail expressed by members and where answers were not yet known, the publication of planning guidance was awaited. 

Decision

The Cabinet voted unanimously on a show of hands in favour of the resolution below.

RESOLVED

That the adoption of a two-part register with local connections and resources conditions for entry to the Part I register be approved as set out in appendix 2 to the agenda report.