Agenda and minutes

An apology for non-attendance was received from Councillor Valerie Anslow and Councillor Anne Lee was attending as substitute.

The Chair invited those who wished to do so to declare interests in respect of items on the agenda.

RESOLVED:

The minutes of the meeting held on 9 December 2021 were approved as a correct record.

The Panel considered a verbal report of the Head of Planning Services (Minerals and Waste), which provided information on the minerals and waste planning policies for North Northamptonshire and the key issues to be considered with updating those policies.  The report was marked as agenda item 4 on the agenda. 

During discussion, the following principle points were noted:

i.     There were a number of issues to be considered moving forward including whether the minerals and waste policies should be taken forward on a Northamptonshire-wide basis or split between North and West Northamptonshire and whether the policies should be comprehensively updated or only those policies considered to be out of date should be updated.

ii.    It was explained that the benefits of maintaining a single plan included there was more opportunity to look at moving allocations around a larger area.  It would also be more cost effective as there was currently only a small team working in this area.

iii.   It was suggested that West Northamptonshire was likely to want their own plan and some Members would also wish to see our own plan.  This would also support our climate change agenda.

iv.   It was clarified that there was a legal requirement for every minerals and waste authority, which North Northamptonshire was one, to have a plan in place, however this could be its own plan or part of a wider joint plan.  This could be an opportunity to look at things on a wider, joint scale possibly on a regional level or in the Ox-Cam Arc area.

v.    It was acknowledged that there were a number of options on how to proceed with a plan.  An options appraisal would be needed on any possible options and it was suggested that initial discussions should take place between members and officers, both internally and externally, to explore this and then bring forward an options paper.

vi.   With regards to waste, it was highlighted that a Waste Needs Assessment would be needed to understand where the capacity gaps were.  Provision would then be facilitated either through allocations or development management policies.  The last few plans had identified a need for advanced treatment facilities; however, on the ground development of these type of facilities was being held back over issues of getting finance for their development.

RESOLVED to note the verbal report.

The Panel considered a report of the Interim Planning Policy Lead Manager, which sought feedback on a Draft Local Development Order (LDO) for Kettering General Hospital before it was provided for wider consultation with local stakeholders and members of the public.  The report was marked as agenda item 5 on the agenda. 

Kettering General Hospital was announced by central government as one of the hospitals considered for significant investment in 2019.  It has since been preparing a Masterplan and Hospital Infrastructure Plan (HIP2) for consideration for significant funding to deliver Phases 1 and 2 of the development. 

LDOs provided permitted development rights for specified types of development in specified locations and could be used to help accelerate development and to simplify the planning process.  The LDO would be a mechanism through which less contentious development in defined areas could be managed more effectively, without the need for the submission of planning applications.  Development outside of the specified locations or not fulfilling the conditions specified, would still require the submission of planning applications in the normal way.

During discussion, the following principle points were noted:

i.     Members supported the proposed LDO but the residential areas around the site needed to be taken into consideration.  The sensitivities of the site were acknowledged particularly protecting the balance between the build and moving to a 10m buffer and also protecting the green space on the site.

ii.    The importance of providing certainty to the Hospital Trust in terms of its ability to deliver development at the site and reducing the risk of delay was highlighted.

iii.   The hospital was an established site with a recognised use, but officers would put a greater emphasis of the significance of the site within the LDO.  The green space was not of particular environmental quality and there was a balance between retaining green space and development for growth.

iv.   It was explained that between April 2020 and December 2021, the hospital had been given some permitted development rights by the government to enable them to manage the Covid-19 pandemic.  The LDO was looking to build on that flexibility and officers believed that the right balance was there.

v.    It was important that the LDO was definitive about when it would finish and perhaps the wording around the finish date could be made clearer.

vi.   It was noted that the LDO made no reference to highways matters, especially as the site was currently difficult to get in and out of.  Highways was a significant part of the development but was not at the forefront of the LDO.

vii.  It was acknowledged that consultation would be key and it would be important that residents and stakeholders were able to access all relevant information.

RESOLVED:

That subject to the comments made, the content of the Draft Local Development Order (LDO) be noted in advance of the proposed consultation with stakeholders and members of the public for a four-week period.

The Executive Forward Plan for January to April 2022 was noted.

The Chair thanked members and officers for their attendance and closed the meeting.

The meeting closed at 11.40am.