Agenda, decisions and minutes

The Chair will make any specific announcements for this meeting and advise of any late items which due to special circumstances will be given urgent consideration under Late Items.

Cllr Lintill welcomed everyone to the meeting and read the emergency procedures.

There were no apologies for absence.

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

There were no declarations of interest.

In accordance with Chichester District Council’s scheme for public question time the Cabinet 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 Ian Sumnall on behalf of the Chichester and District Cycle Forum:

Chichester & District Cycle Forum question re. Policy T3 Active Travel - Walking and Cycling Provision.

While welcoming the inclusion of such a policy in the proposed Local Plan we believe that it is seriously inadequate. Since 2020 we have been trying to persuade your officers that to achieve any significant shift from vehicular use to Active Travel modes a local plan policy must protect existing and proposed routes and require contributions from new developments [much the same as is done for roads].  This policy must follow “Gear Change” and LTN1/20 guidelines from DfT.

As a local example this is the approach in your neighbouring Local Plan for the South Downs National Park where amongst other routes Centurion Way is identified and now being extended from West Dean past Singleton, through CIL funding. This shows what can be done if your Local Plan has ‘teeth’.  Your Plan does not propose any protection to Centurion Way, which will be severed if you approve the application for Phase 2 of Whitehouse Farm.

To be constructive, in December 2022, the Manhood Peninsula Partnership approved a comprehensive Active Travel Policy which proposed such protections [eg. Selsey Greenway ], contributions etc. and included  all forms of active travel including mobility assisted uses ,equestrian needs and quiet lanes.

Why is it that this draft Local Plan is so weak when everyone , including the Government accepts that a fundamental shift in travel and transport patterns is required to tackle climate change, reach net zero carbon, achieve sustainability, promote healthy living and stop the insatiable needs of the motor car?

Of the 10,354 houses proposed for the plan period 2021 to 2039 over 85% are to provided in the East-West corridor. Most of the vehicular trips generated by these new properties will use the A259 and access the A27 at the Fishbourne Roundabout. The plan also requires there to be a financial contribution to the A27 improvements of £7,728 per dwelling as ‘Mitigation Contributions’.

Two issues arise:

1.    Why is all of this levy to be used for road improvements when the West Sussex Transport Plan requires there to be a 7% reduction in vehicular traffic by a switch to active and sustainable modes? None of this £43 million is allocated for such uses either on A259 [ChEmRoute NCN2] or to cross the A27.

2.    Recent traffic studies, and everyday experience, shows that the A27, especially at the  roundabouts, is already well over capacity.  Why then are the proposals for these 8,712 houses plus 963 on the Manhood Peninsula being allowed to proceed before National Highways have even a programme for their improvement? This is putting the cart before the horse; new, necessary infrastructure should come first before the growth in vehicles, housing and population [the same applies to flooding, sewerage and coastal protection, pollution controls]. This is a fundamental part  ...  view the full minutes text for item 71.

That following consideration by the Development Plan and Infrastructure Panel the Cabinet is requested to consider the report and its appendices and make the following recommendations to Council:

That Cabinet recommends to Council 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.

The Appendices for this report will follow in supplementary packs.

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

*RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL

That Cabinet recommends to Council 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) all as amended 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.

Cllr Taylor introduced the report. She then thanked officers and fellow Development Plan and Infrastructure Panel members for their work in getting the Plan to this stage.

Cllr Oakley was permitted to speak. He asked by what means it would be made clear which developments that have been granted permission since the Plan start date counted towards the allocations as set out in Policy H1. He also asked in what context would Parishes have to work out their Neighbourhood Plans and whether they need to allocate sites already in the planning process. Mr Whitty referred to page 288 of the supplement pack. He drew attention to the table which sets out the parish and the housing need yet to be found. Mr Oakley asked if Special Full Council could be informed which sites this specifically referred to.

Cllr Plant referred to environmental factors not in the previous Plan which have been included in the proposed Plan; climate change, wildlife corridors, nitrate neutrality, water neutrality, wastewater works, biodiversity net gain and nature recovery strategies.

Cllr Plant then asked in relation to the Duty to Cooperate Statement at Appendix F why Statements of Common Ground (SoCG) are listed as incomplete. She also asked why in the Infrastructure Delivery Plan under utilities it underemphasises the number discharging into the harbour. Mr Whitty with reference to Appendix F explained that the process of agreeing the SoCG was ongoing and was not of concern. With regard to Appendix 1 Infrastructure Delivery Plan recent ongoing investigations would not be listed at this stage.

Cabinet members individually wished to thank officers for their hard work in producing the Plan.

Cllr Sutton referred to the public question discussing Community Land Trusts and commented that it provided flexibility for the council.

In a vote the following recommendations to Council were agreed:

RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL

That Cabinet recommends to Council 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) all as amended 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  ...  view the full minutes text for item 72.

That following consideration by the Development Plan and Infrastructure Panel the Cabinet is requested to consider the report and its appendix and make the following recommendation to Full Council:

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

*RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL

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

Cllr Taylor introduced the item.

In a vote the following recommendation to Council was agreed:

RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL

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

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 press or public.