Issue - meetings

(See report at agenda item 5 (pages 17 to 19) of the Cabinet agenda of 6 September 2016 and pages 1 to 124 in the supplement to the agenda)

RECOMMENDED BY THE CABINET

1)      That the Surface Water and Foul Drainage Supplementary Planning Document (set out in Appendix 1 to this report) be adopted.

2)      The proposed responses to representations received (set out in Appendix 2 to this report) be approved.

Mrs Taylor (Cabinet Member for Housing & Planning), seconded by Mrs Lintill, moved the recommendations of the Cabinet. She stated that the Surface Water and Foul Drainage Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) was a planning guidance document for developers and their agents to assist them in determining whether there was sufficient infrastructure available to meet the needs of their proposed development to ensure the safe discharge of both foul and surface waste water. It sets out the procedures to be followed prior to submitting a planning application. The SPD went out for public consultation on 28 March 2016 for a period of six weeks. 

Mr Oakley welcomed the overall thrust of the document in consolidating all the guidance in one place to assist the planning process. However he was concerned at the non-requirement to carry out winter ground water monitoring before the submission of the primary application for a site as without that information it limited the Planning Committee as to whether the surface water drainage system proposed for a site could be achieved. 

Mr Ransley wished to know what timescales had been set to allow the review and update of the document. Mrs Taylor undertook to provide a written response to this question.

Mr Ransley also referred members to the debate that took place on this matter during the Overview & Scrutiny Committee’s review of Southern Water (SW) recently when SW undertook to take positive steps on addressing the long term issue the Council has experienced in relation to the maintenance of ditches and waterways (hence his reason to address the regularity of the reviews). He stated that if anything came out of that proposal it would bring about positive changes to the document. Mrs Apel (Chairman of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee) advised that she had received a positive email from SW following the meeting and that she hoped this now provided the basis for good communication between SW and the Council in future.

Mr Barrow requested that where a resident had taken the trouble to respond to the consultation and their response had not been taken into account, it was important to acknowledge these comments and also to pass them to SW in order that they may be addressed.

Mr Plowman commended this document for its clarity and clear flow charts, stating that it provided good help and guidance for the future. He was supported by Mrs Apel and Mr Hayes.

Mr Barrett had an issue with ground water testing, saying that the Manhood Peninsula was low lying and the water table high so there was a risk of flooding. Mrs Taylor advised that the document referred to ground water testing needing to be carried out by the developer for developments of five or more houses, with the Council arranging this testing direct for developments of under five houses. Mr Carvell advised that SW’s preference was for ground water testing prior to construction rather than at the detailed planning application stage. Mr Frost continued that the question appeared not to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 147

The Cabinet is asked to consider the agenda report and its two appendices and to make a recommendation to the Council that it (1) adopts the Surface Water and Foul Drainage Supplementary Planning Document as set out in Appendix 1 to the report and (2) approves the proposed responses to the representations received as set out in Appendix 2 to the report.

RECOMMENDED TO THE COUNCIL

That (1) the Surface Water and Foul Drainage Supplementary Planning Document as set out in appendix one to the agenda report be adopted and (2) the proposed responses to the representations received as set out in appendix two to the agenda report be approved.

The Cabinet considered the agenda report and its appendix in the agenda supplement (pages 1 to 124) (copies attached to the official minutes).

The report was presented by Mrs Taylor. Ms Payne and Mr Allgrove were in attendance.

Mrs Taylor commented on the nature and purpose of the Surface Water and Foul Drainage Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) contained in the first appendix, in terms of the infrastructure provision required to meet the growth anticipated by the Chichester Local Plan: Key Policies 2014-2029. The guidance contained in the SPD would help to ensure that future development did not exacerbate extant drainage problems. The responses received during the SPD public consultation were set out in the second appendix. Section 5 of the report explained how the SPD once adopted would be a material consideration in the determination of planning applications and how it would assist planning applicants and consultees prior to and during the submission of a planning application. The SPD would be kept under regular review.

In reply to Mr Barrow who queried how current drainage problems would be addressed, Mrs Taylor remarked that these would be doubtless be addressed at the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting on 13 September 2016 when representatives from Southern Water would give a presentation and answer previously submitted questions.

Decision

The Cabinet voted unanimously by a show of hands in favour of making to the Council meeting the recommendations in para 2.1 of the report.

RECOMMENDED TO THE COUNCIL

That (1) the Surface Water and Foul Drainage Supplementary Planning Document as set out in appendix one to the agenda report be adopted and (2) the proposed responses to the representations received as set out in appendix two to the agenda report be approved.