Agenda and minutes

The Chair will announce any urgent items which due to special circumstances are to be dealt with under Late Items.

There were no urgent items.

Members and officers are reminded to make any declarations of disclosable pecuniary, personal and/or prejudicial interests they may have in respect of matters on the agenda for this meeting.

Mr Bennett explained that memberships of Parish and Town Councils would not be required to be declared.

Cllr Moss declared a personal interest as the Chichester District Council representative on the Chichester Harbour Conservancy. 

Apologies for absence will be notified at this point.

The Chair will make any specific announcements.

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Barrett and Cllr Bell.

In accordance with Chichester District Council’s scheme for public question time the Council will receive any questions which have been submitted by members of the public in writing by noon two working days before the meeting. Each questioner will be given up to three minutes to ask their question. The total time allocated for public question time is 15 minutes subject to the Chair’s discretion to extend that period.

The following public questions and answers were read:

Question from Annabelle Glanville Hearson read by Deborah Carter and Mr Bennett:

I refer members to Local Plan Appendix B, chapter 4 'Climate Change and the Natural Environment' Policy NE4B East of City Corridors.

The Pagham to Westhampnett strategic wildlife corridor (SWC) was defined using information from the South Downs Barbastelle project draft September 2015 part 1.

What wildlife evidence was used to change the SWC so significantly in this area?

How can we be sure that these rare bats and other rare species are no longer using this woodland? Have any further wildlife surveys been done recently in this area that justify the devastating reduction in the size of the woodland? What remains of the woodland in the latest proposal is mostly made up of residential back gardens and not woodland. Therefore there is no control over this area and it will be influenced by individual landowners, trees could be lost, pets could predate on protected species and there will be no control over garden/house lighting, BBQs/smoke etc.

In addition to this, the prevailing wind is from the west, and losing the western half of the woodland will affect the temperature and functionality of the woodland for bats. The western trees are the protecting boundary trees for this woodland and the inner trees will be damaged/lost without this buffer.

The cumulative impact of development in this area should also be taken into account; the proposed SWC is vital for an area with so much development and is an important corridor for our wildlife. Surely using land that is devoid of wildlife, sterilised by intensive farming and/or brownfield sites should be the Council's preferred option for housing developments.

Please see the attached document and the Local Plan Appendix B which refers to Strategic Wildlife Corridors.

Answer from Cllr Taylor:

Thank you for your question.  The evidence base for the Pagham to Westhampnett wildlife corridor does indeed show that it is used by a wide variety of bat species, including the rare and heavily protected Barbastelle species from a maternity colony at Goodwood.  That is one of the key reasons why the route of this corridor was altered in 2021 to its current line.  We have evidence since 2015 of the continued use of the corridor by many bat species including Barbastelle.  Further ecological surveys have been done in 2021 and 2022 by the district council and by the site promotors.  Policy A8 is specifically written to protect the corridor for all the species that live there or pass through it. 

As you have pointed out in the attached document you sent, the area of the corridor has been reduced compared to the first proposal in order to facilitate a development that has space for the school and open space that a strategic development requires.  This does not mean that houses and gardens will be built up to the revised boundary of the corridor.  Policy A8 requires a substantial and effective  ...  view the full minutes text for item 184.

That following consideration by the Development Plan and Infrastructure Panel and the Special Cabinet the Council is requested to consider the report as set out in pages 1 to 35 of the Special Cabinet papers for 23 January 2023 and its appendices as set out in the agenda supplements to the Special Cabinet papers for 23 January 2023 and make the following resolutions:

That Full Council resolves that:

1.    The Chichester Local Plan 2021 – 2039: Proposed Submission (Regulation 19) (attached as Appendix A), the Submission Policies Map (attached as Appendix B), Sustainability Appraisal (Appendix C) and Habitats Regulations Assessment (Appendix D) be approved for publication for a 6-week consultation from 3 February 2023 to 17 March 2023 under Regulation 19 of the Town and Country Planning (England) Regulations 2012 (as amended);

2.    Following publication and consultation, the Chichester Local Plan 2021 – 2039: Proposed Submission (Regulation 19), the Submission Policies Map and supporting documents be submitted to the Secretary of State for examination, together with the representations made under Regulation 20 (in response to consultation at Regulation 19) and a summary thereof (as an update to the Statement of Consultation);

3.    The Director of Planning and the Environment be authorised, following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Planning Services, to:

a.    make minor amendments and any necessary editorial changes to the Chichester Local Plan 2021 – 2039: Proposed Submission (Regulation 19), the Submission Policies Map, the Sustainability Appraisal and Habitats Regulations Assessment, prior to publication, prior to submission and during the examination;

b.    prepare the Council’s response to the main issues identified and to any substantial concerns about soundness or legal compliance raised in the representations, to submit alongside the Plan;

c.    if necessary, to prepare a Schedule of Main Modifications that may be necessary to address soundness issues raised by representations received in response to the Regulation 19 publication, that can be submitted with the Plan to be considered by the Inspector during the examination process;

d.    if necessary, to prepare a Schedule of Minor Modifications that may be necessary to address minor editorial and factual changes that do not go to the soundness of the plan that can be submitted with the Plan to be considered by the Inspector during the examination process.

Please note following publication of this agenda the Development Plan and Infrastructure Panel and the Special Cabinet will consider the report and a number of appendices. Any revisions to the recommendations from the Panel or Cabinet will be published as a supplement prior to the Special Council meeting.

Cllr Hamilton clarified that there was a minor amendment to the Special Cabinet recommendation as Appendix A, B and D were recommended as amended with Appendix C recommended unchanged.

Cllr Taylor proposed the recommendations as amended which were seconded by Cllr Lintill and then introduced the report. She concluded her introduction by thanking officers for their hard work in producing the Plan and fellow Development Plan and Infrastructure Panel (DPIP) members for their contribution.

Mr Frost explained that the Plan would be discussed in four sections. The first section being Chapters 1,2,3 Introduction, Vision and Spatial Strategy. The second Chapters 4 & 6 Climate Change and Place Making. The third Chapters 5,7,8 & 9 Housing, Employment Transport & Infrastructure. The fourth and final section Chapter 10 Strategic and Area Based Policies. He proceeded to confirm each section prior to its discussion.

Chapters 1,2,3 Introduction, Vision and Spatial Strategy.

Cllr Brisbane was invited to speak first. He acknowledged the amount of evidence required for the Plan was greater than that of most other Local Authorities. He added that new advice and guidance from central Government was received during this time which also had to be accounted for. He wished to thank Mr Whitty and his team.

Cllr Apel commented on the amount of time provided to members to consider the documents. She asked if it would have been possible to receive them earlier in January.

Cllr Brown noted the work of DPIP. He explained that he did not agree with all that had come from that process but acknowledged that was not something that would be changed now. He acknowledged the hard work of officers and members. He commented that despite his reservations to avoid speculative development he was minded to vote for the Plan.

Mr Frost in response to Cllr Apel explained that the documents were given to members as early as possible.

Cllr Sharp explained her concerns regarding the cycle and footpaths that had not been progressed. She added that there had been much development which threatened the rural aspect of West Sussex. Mr Frost explained that having an adopted up to date Local Plan is the best way to prevent speculative development.

Cllr Page noted the work of Mr Whitty and his team. He commented on the number of houses having to be permitted in the district without infrastructure improvements. He noted the council’s minimal power over the infrastructure of roads, water, sewage, education, health, broadband, gas and electricity supply. He noted his concerns on the impact of infrastructure in the Southbourne area which is proposed to have additional development as part of the Plan.

Cllr Oakley referred to Cllr Apel’s question. He noted that members had received parts of the Plan documents over a period of time with the opportunity to comment. He commented that there are a number of complexities involved in the Chichester Local Plan. He noted the length of the process but acknowledged that this was due to the nature of what had to be considered. He  ...  view the full minutes text for item 185.

That following consideration by the Development Plan and Infrastructure Panel and the Special Cabinet the Council is requested to consider the report and its appendix as set out in pages 37 - 53 of the Special Cabinet papers for 23 January 2023 and make the following resolution:

That the Cabinet recommends to Council that it approves the revised Local Development Scheme.

Please note following publication of this agenda the Development Plan and Infrastructure Panel and the Special Cabinet will consider the report and appendix. Any revisions to the recommendations from the Panel or Cabinet will be published as a supplement prior to the Special Council meeting.

Cllr Taylor introduced the item and proposed the recommendation which was seconded by Cllr Purnell.

In a vote the following resolution was agreed:

RESOLVED

That Council approves the revised Local Development Scheme.

To consider any late items as follows:

a)    Items added to the agenda papers and made available for public inspection.

b)    Items which the Chair has agreed should be taken as matters of urgency by reason of special circumstances to be reported at the meeting.

There were no late items.

There are no restricted items for consideration at this meeting.

There was no requirement to exclude the public or the press.