Issue - meetings

Report of Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Regeneration and Planning

Lead Cabinet member: Councillor Emily O’Brien

(Key decision):

(1) To agree the publication and use of the Sustainability in Development Technical Advice Note contained at appendix 2 to the report.

(2) To agree the publication and use of the Circular Economy Technical Advice Note contained at appendix 3 to the report.

(3) To agree the publication and use of the Biodiversity Net Gain Technical Advice Note contained at appendix 4 to the report.

(4) To provide delegated authority to the Director of Regeneration and Planning, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Infrastructure, to make minor or technical amendments to the Technical Advice Notes prior to their publication or as otherwise required following publication.

The Cabinet considered the report of the Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Regeneration and Planning, seeking their approval for the publication and use of three Planning Technical Advice Notes, that addressed sustainability issues.

Policy and Performance Advisory Committee (PPAC), held on 25 January 2021, considered the report and were supportive of the recommendations in full. Councillor Burman was in attendance to present PPAC’s discussion. Visiting member, Councillor Peterson, also addressed the Cabinet in support of the recommendations.

Thanks, were conveyed to officers for their work in pulling the Advice Notes together.

Councillor O’Brien confirmed that officers had worked closely with wildlife groups, builders, and developers to ensure that the Notes would not penalises local small businesses. A two-tiered approach was built into the guidance, dependent on the size of the proposed development.

Councillor O’Brien concluded that the Notes may need to be brought back to Cabinet in the future, once new Government legislation (Environment Bill) is implemented.

Resolved (Key decision):

(1) To agree the publication and use of the Sustainability in Development Technical Advice Note contained at appendix 2 to the report.

(2) To agree the publication and use of the Circular Economy Technical Advice Note contained at appendix 3 to the report.

(3) To agree the publication and use of the Biodiversity Net Gain Technical Advice Note contained at appendix 4 to the report.

(4) To provide delegated authority to the Director of Regeneration and Planning, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Infrastructure, to make minor or technical amendments to the Technical Advice Notes prior to their publication or as otherwise required following publication.

Reasons for decisions:

(1) To publicise the Council’s expectations for the incorporation of sustainability issues, circular economy principles and biodiversity net gain in planning applications.

(2) To make minor amendments to address technical or drafting issues.