Agenda and minutes

To note the following appointments made at the Annual Meeting of the Council:-

Chair:             Councillor Taylor

Vice-Chair:    Councillor Lewis

Members:      Councillors Dee, McLellan and Smith

The following appointments made at Annual Council were noted:-

Chair:             Councillor Taylor

Vice-Chair:    Councillor Lewis

Members;      Councillors Dee, McLellan and Smith

No declarations were made on this occasion.

There were no questions from members of the public.

To receive any petitions and deputations provided that no petition or deputation is in relation to:

·         Matters relating to individual Council Officers, or

·         Matters relating to current or pending legal proceedings

There were no petitions or deputations.

To receive a briefing on the Community Infrastructure Levy by Julie King (JCS Authorities).

Julie King, on behalf of the Joint Core Strategy Authorities gave a presentation on the work undertaken on the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) by Peter Brett Associates LLP including:-

·         The Consultants’ work

·         Context - what is CIL?

·         How is CIL set?

·         CIL and viability rules

·         How we test CIL

·         What is CIL ‘liable’ ?

·         Spending your CIL

To consider the report of the Head of Planning detailing the Programme and Budget for the preparation of the City Plan.

The Head of Planning presented the report which presented and sought endorsement of the progress of the City Plan programme and associated budget requirements for the planning policy Team of £229,000 over the next three years.

He explained that the City Plan needs to go through the following stages before it can be adopted:-

·         Prepare supporting evidence required to inform preparation of a sound plan;

·         Review and publish comments and responses arising from the 2013 consultation;

·         Prepare Part 2 (development management policies) and Part 4 (delivery and infrastructure) of the Plan;

·         Prepare and consult on a Draft City Plan (that is, Parts 1-4), and prepare reports addressing representations on previous consultations and how the Council has responded to them; 

·         Refresh Part 1 to reflect new development opportunities in the City, including the release of the former HMP Gloucester;

·         Publish Pre Submission version of the Plan for final comment;

·         Submit the City Plan to the Secretary of State;

·         Public examination; and

·         Adopt the City Plan.

He advised Members that the present officer resource was not sufficient to make timely progress on the next stages of the City Plan especially as there would be a significant officer commitment to the JCS Examination which was expected to take place in April 2015.

He advised that Council staff would be used where they had the necessary skills and could provide better value for money than consultants.

Councillor Smith suggested that a bid be prepared to fund staff to undertake the work rather than use consultants.

The Chair believed that costs for consultants should be included but that it be pointed out that ‘in house’ staff would be used where feasible.

The Senior Planning Policy Officer advised that consultants could act as ‘critical friends’ and some areas of work would need to be work undertaken concurrently which would be difficult to achieve with one or two additional posts.

Councillor Dee believed that some areas of work could be undertaken in conjunction with other authorities under the JCS banner.

Referring to Table 1, the Chair suggested that the available £106,000 be deducted from 2015/16.

Councillor McLellan noted that the Open Space Strategy had covered playing pitches although it could require updating.

RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND to the Cabinet:-

 (i)       That the next stages of the City Plan work programme as set out in this report be endorsed; and

(ii)       That a further report be prepared on the City Plan work programme once the Joint Core Strategy (JCS) has been adopted; and

(iii)       That the City Plan future budget requests set out at paragraph 8.2 of the report be approved.

Briefing note to follow.

The Head of Planning presented the report which summarised the Evidence Base Update.

He advised that the Playing Pitch Strategy would focus on football, rugby and hockey as winter sports. 

Members noted that the District and Local Centre Survey would include potential new local centres at Mead Road, London Road and Bristol Road.

The Senior Planning Policy Officer advised that the Strategic Assessment of Land Availability, formerly the Strategic Housing Availability of Land Assessment, was undertaken annually and would receive close scrutiny in the JCS Examination in Public. It would demonstrate that the Council was continuing to maintain a five year housing supply and delivering the JCS requirement of 565 dwellings per year.

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

Thursday, 12 February 2015 at 18.30 hours.

Thursday, 12 February 2015 at 6.00pm.

Please note start time.

The Chair wished all present a Merry Christmas.