To answer questions received under Council Procedure Rule 6.2.
NB In accordance with the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 6.2.9 there will be a maximum of 30 minutes allowed for questions and answers. Any question not answered within the 30 minute time limit will receive a written reply within 5 working days.
Minutes:
The following questions were asked under Council Procedure Rule 6.2.2:-
1. Councillor Bill Tomlinson asked the following question of Councillor David Wright, Cabinet Member for Housing, Transport and Infrastructure.
“Could the Cabinet Member for Development explain for the benefit of residents why a motion requesting a review of the local plan for the Shawbirch East site to be re-designated as green space was refused?”
Cllr D Wright, Cabinet Member: Housing Transport & Infrastructure responded that Cllr Tomlinson’s motion was asking for the Council’s opinion on the next review of the Local Plan in relation to the Shawbirch East Site and whether this piece of land could be re-designated as green space. However, a Local Plan review must be undertaken in accordance with procedures which wee set out in legislation and involved stages of consultation and consideration of representations and an independent examination conducted by a Planning Inspector and all of these stages must have been completed prior to the Council being in a position to adopt the final version of the Local Plan. Any review must begin with information and evidence gathering which was a crucial stage in the local planning process as without a strong evidence base for draft changes to the Local Plan changes that were proposed were unlikely to be upheld during the independent examination stage. If the Council at the outset of any review process were to declare, such as the proposed motion to re-designate the lane as green space or to determine the position of a site prior to the process being undertaken, the Council would be fettering its discretion in relation to the formal planning process.
Councillor Bill Tomlinson asked a supplemental question of Cllr D Wright, Cabinet Member: Housing Transport & Infrastructure.
“What sort of actions would the Local Authority take to help engage with local population if such a review of the Local Plan should come about and how the review would take place.”
Cllr D Wright, Cabinet Member: Housing Transport & Infrastructure responded that the Local Authority was required on a five year cycle to review the Local Plan and it was the Administration’s intention to bring a paper later this year to discuss how the Council would conduct a Local Plan review. As part of this process the Council would engage Local businesses, local community organisations and local residents and would want to strongly publicise to local residents to put forward their comments during any review process. He was pleased to be meeting with Cllr Tomlinson and local residents in September to talk through the introduction of a community partnership to support the redevelopment of this site. This site was currently designated and would remain to be designated, for employment use within the Local Plan until such a review took place.
2. Councillor Karen Blundell asked the following question of Councillor David Wright, Cabinet Member for Housing, Transport and Infrastructure.
“Given that Shawbirch and Dothill wards have local nature reserves and one in Apley Castle is imminent, and that Eyton upon the Weald Moors has been designated as a site of special interest, would the Cabinet Member for Development agree that if there is any development on the Shawbirch East site it must be as green as possible and sympathetic to the surrounding areas?”
Cllr D Wright, Cabinet Member: Housing Transport & Infrastructure responded that he that any surrounding area should be as green as possible and sympathetic to its surroundings. This site was owned by Homes England and had the benefit of a Section 7(1) consent for employment use and was designated in the Local Plan as an employment site E28. If the site did come forward for development for employment it was anticipated that Homes England and the Landlord would want to ensure that any redevelopment was as green as possible and reflect on any issues involving local nature reserves.
3. Councillor Karen Tomlinson asked the following question of Councillor David Wright, Cabinet Member for Housing, Transport and Infrastructure.
“Would the Cabinet Member for Development agree as the Shawbirch Island is a gateway to Telford, any development within the surrounding area must help promote Telford’s green credentials?”
Cllr D Wright, Cabinet Member: Housing Transport & Infrastructure responded that the site was in a prominent position for people travelling in and out of Telford and it was important that the site was well designed and was a showcase site for Telford. Homes England was keen to engage with the Local Authority in relation to the planning process on this site and that the Council worked to ensure that this site was sustainable for any development coming forward and that the Council’s green credentials, together with that of any future user, would be promoted.
Councillor Karen Tomlinson asked a supplemental question of Cllr D Wright, Cabinet Member: Housing Transport & Infrastructure:
“Following previous meetings with Councillor K Blundell, Councillor B Tomlinson and officers of the Council in the past could the Cabinet Member for Highways indicate when work will take place on the Shawbirch island to celebrate the Borough’s green spaces?”
Cllr D Wright, Cabinet Member: Housing Transport & Infrastructure responded that work had already commenced with the planting of bulbs on the location which had been contributed to by the local Ward Members from their fund. At this point a further start date could not be confirmed as officers were currently in discussions with an artist in respect of the proposed butterfly and flower sculpture which would be identified with and connected to the local nature reserves and work would continue to enhance both the formal and informal areas to make a positive gateway in and out of Telford.