Issue - meetings

The report is at item 7 of the agenda for the Cabinet’s meeting on Monday 19 June 2017 and its appendix is in the agenda supplement.

It is anticipated that the following recommendations will be made by the Cabinet earlier in the day to the Council at this special meeting:

RECOMMENDATION TO THE COUNCIL

That the Council approves:

(1)  The Draft Southern Gateway Masterplan set out in the appendix to the agenda report for public consultation.

(2)  The delegation of authority to the Head of Planning Services following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Planning Services to make minor amendments to the document prior to public consultation.

The Council considered the recommendations made to it by the Cabinet at its meeting earlier in the day as set out on the face of the agenda (copy attached to the official minutes), the details in respect of which were contained in the report on pages 25 to 29 of the agenda for that meeting and also in the appendix to the report on pages 133 to 212 of the agenda supplement. All CDC members had received a copy of the Cabinet agenda and agenda supplement.  

Mr Dignum (the leader of the Council) formally moved the recommendations of the Cabinet and this was seconded by Mrs Lintill (the Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Community Services). 

In addition to the relevant CDC officers who were in attendance for this item, Matthew Lappin of David Lock Associates, the town planning and urban design consultants engaged for the Chichester Southern Gateway Draft Masterplan (CSG DM) project (which included preparation of the Strategic Environmental Assessment), and Phil Brady of Peter Brett Associates, the development and infrastructure consultants engaged to produce the transport appraisal for the CSG DM, were present. Mr Lappin would give a PowerPoint presentation following Mr Dignum’s introduction, after which he and Mr Brady would reply to members’ questions.

Mr Dignum presented the report about the proposal to hold a public consultation on the CSG DM. He explained the relationship between the draft Chichester Vision process (he read out its theme) and the CSG DM (para 5.3 of the report). The CSG MP was not prescriptive but indicative. The Vision, which supported the enhanced role and function of the city centre as a leading visitor destination with a vibrant and growing economy that was also accessible and attractive, identified three major projects: CSG, the Northern Gateway and the West Street Piazza. The intention was to enhance the Southern Gateway area of the city, which was a key point of arrival, by developing parcels of land to produce a comprehensive mixed use of housing, retail and commercial development, the last of which might include a hotel. The Canal Basin was identified as an important component in the masterplan scheme and that area would be greatly enhanced. Key priorities included (a) reducing the dominance of road traffic and congestion and (b) improving safety in the Southgate Gyratory and design quality (no building to be higher than four storeys). CDC was working closely with its partners West Sussex County Council and the Homes and Community Agency and negotiations were taking place with Stagecoach and Royal Mail to explore the relocation of their operations. This scheme had clear potential for delivery and there was a strong local appetite for the proposed residential and mixed use development. Funding was addressed in section 7 of the report and funding options would include the Local Enterprise Partnership and other government sources.  

The slides in Mr Lappin’s aforementioned PowerPoint presentation (a colour copy of which is attached to the official minutes only) covered inter alia the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 225

The Cabinet is requested to consider the agenda report and its appendixand to make the following recommendations to the special meeting of the Council at 14:00 on Monday 19 June 2017 namely that:

RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE COUNCIL

(1)  The Draft Southern Gateway Masterplan (set out in the appendix to the agenda report) be approved for public consultation.

(2)  Authority be delegated to the Head of Planning Services following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Planning Services to make minor amendments to the document prior to public consultation.

RECOMMENDED TO THE COUNCIL

(1)  That the Draft Southern Gateway Masterplan (as set out in the appendix to the agenda report) be approved for public consultation.

(2)  That authority be delegated to the Head of Planning Services following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Planning Services to enable minor amendments to be made to the document prior to public consultation.

The Cabinet received and considered the agenda report and its appendix in the first agenda supplement (copies attached to the official minutes).

The report was presented by Mr Dignum.

Mr Allgrove and Mr Frost were in attendance for this item.

Mr Dignum said that Matthew Lappin of David Lock Associates, the town planning and urban design consultants engaged for the Chichester Southern Gateway Draft Masterplan (CSG DM) project (which included preparation of the Strategic Environmental Assessment) was present at this meeting and was available to answer the Cabinet’s questions. Mr Lappin would be giving a full presentation to the special meeting of the Council later in the day at 14:00 and would respond then to CDC members’ questions.

Mr Dignum presented the report, which stated that at this stage it was proposed to hold a public consultation on the CSG DM. He explained the relationship between the draft Chichester Vision process (he read out its theme) and the CSG DM (para 5.3 of the report). The Vision, which supported the enhanced role and function of the city centre as a leading visitor destination with a vibrant and growing economy that was also accessible and attractive, identified three major projects: CSG, the Northern Gateway and the West Street Piazza. The intention was to enhance the SG area of the city, which was a key point of arrival, by developing parcels of land to produce a comprehensive mixed use of housing, retail and commercial development, the last of which to include a hotel. The Canal Basin was identified as an important component in the masterplan scheme. Key priorities included (a) reducing the dominance of road traffic and congestion and (b) improving safety in the Southgate Gyratory and design quality (no building to be higher than four storeys). CDC was working closely with its partners and negotiations were taking place with Stagecoach and Royal Mail to achieve the relocation of their sites. This scheme had clear potential for delivery and there was a strong local appetite for the proposed residential and mixed use development. Funding was addressed in section 7 of the report and funding options would include the Local Enterprise Partnership and other government sources.     

Mr Allgrove advised that at a meeting of CDC’s Development Plan and Infrastructure Panel on Thursday 15 June 2017 it was questioned whether the transport appraisal for the CSG DM had been signed off. This was now the case after West Sussex County Council had made various proof-reading amendments to the transport appraisal report (which was then republished on the committee papers page of CDC’s website); the changes made were not fundamental. The consultation, if approved by the Council at its special meeting later in the day, would run from 29 June to 10 August 2017. The cost of the two highway options A and B had been updated respectively from £4m to £5.3m and £8m to £8.2m (page 138 of the second agenda supplement) and changes to pages 166 and 169 in particular would be incorporated  ...  view the full minutes text for item 372