Agenda and minutes

Venue: Remote Meeting

Contact: Kieran Robinson  01952 382061

Media

Items
No. Item

COMSC5

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

Apologies had been received from Cllr T Janke. Mr Johnson, Co-optee had sent his apologies and advised that he would be resigning as a co-opted member of the Committee.

COMSC6

Declarations of Interest

Minutes:

None.

COMSC7

Minutes of the Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 210 KB

Minutes:

RESOLVED – that the minutes of the meeting held on 3 February 2020 be confirmed and signed by the Chair.

COMSC8

Terms of Reference pdf icon PDF 206 KB

To approve the Committee’s Terms of Reference for the municipal year 2020 to 2021.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members received brief clarification of the proposed change to the Committee’s terms of reference.


RESOLVED – that the terms of reference be approved.

COMSC9

Scrutiny Review of the Local Plan

To receive a presentation from Katherine Kynaston (Director: Housing, Employment & Infrastructure) and Gavin Ashford (Strategic Planning Team Leader).

David Wright (Cabinet Member for Economy, Housing, Transport and Infrastructure) will also attend for this item.

Minutes:

The Committee received the presentation of the Director: Housing, Employment & Infrastructure. The presentation set out the details of the period of consultation for the Local Plan and the specific areas officers believed Scrutiny could have a valuable interest.

The initial public engagement period, ‘the Issues and Options stage’, would run until early January 2021, which would then be followed by the Preferred Options stage later that year. Officers were keen to work collaboratively with Scrutiny during the engagement phases of the Local Plan. Two areas had been identified for the Committee to consider; the evolving role of the Plan in town & district centres and the role of the Plan in green spaces & biodiversity.

Officers provided Members with a short overview of the two options they had had recommended to  be scrutinised by the Committee. The Authority wished to encourage residents to shop local, by providing a mixed shopping environment that promoted health and wellbeing. The Council was also keen to balance growth with protection and enhancement of the natural environment, tackling climate change and improving public health.

The Local Plan offered the opportunity to identify issues and areas, formalise the Council’s approach, and enhance its protection of the natural environment.

Members recognised the overlap in remits between this Committee and the Environment Scrutiny Committee on issues surrounding green spaces.

The Committee requested a copy of the presentation used by Officers.

COMSC10

Work Programme Review pdf icon PDF 485 KB

To review the work programme of the Committee.

Minutes:

Members heard from the Associate Director: Policy & Governance in relation to proposed updates to the Committee’s work programme.

Following the previous presentation, the Chair advised that he would meet with the Chair of the Environment Scrutiny Committee to discuss next steps for the Committee’s work on the Local Plan.

COMSC11

Chair's Update

Minutes:

None.