Agenda, decisions and minutes

At this point, Members are asked to declare:

·        any personal interests not included on the Register of Interests

·        any prejudicial interests or

·        any disclosable pecuniary interests

which they may have in respect of business on this agenda.

Members were asked to declare at this point in the meeting any personal interests not included on the Register of Interests, or any prejudicial or disclosable pecuniary interests, that they might have in the business on the agenda.  No additional interests were declared.

To approve and sign the minutes of the last Executive meeting, held on 14 February 2019.

Resolved:  That the minutes of the Executive meeting held on 14 February 2019 be approved and then signed by the Chair as a correct record.

At this point in the meeting members of the public who have registered to speak can do so.  The deadline for registering is 5.00pm on Wednesday, 6 March 2019.  Members of the public can speak on agenda items or matters within the remit of the committee.

To register to speak please contact the Democracy Officer for the meeting, on the details at the foot of the agenda.

Filming, Recording or Webcasting Meetings

Please note that, subject to available resources, this meeting will be filmed and webcast, or recorded, including any registered public speakers who have given their permission.  This broadcast can be viewed at http://www.york.gov.uk/webcasts or, if recorded, will be uploaded onto the Council’s website following the meeting.

Residents are welcome to photograph, film or record Councillors and Officers at all meetings open to the press and public. This includes the use of social media reporting, i.e. tweeting.  Anyone wishing to film, record or take photos at any public meeting should contact the Democracy Officer (whose contact details are at the foot of this agenda) in advance of the meeting.

The Council’s protocol on Webcasting, Filming & Recording of Meetings ensures that these practices are carried out in a manner both respectful to the conduct of the meeting and all those present.  It can be viewed at http://www.york.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/11406/protocol_for_webcasting_filming_and_recording_of_council_meetings_20160809.pdf

It was reported that there had been no registrations to speak at the meeting under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.

To receive details of those items that are listed on the Forward Plan for the next two Executive meetings.

Members received and noted details of the items that were on the Forward Plan for the next two Executive meetings at the time the agenda was published.

The Corporate Director of Economy & Place to present a report which provides an update on the Local Plan examination, including additional technical evidence on the Objective Assessment of Housing Needs and further work undertaken on the Habitat Regulation Assessment, and seeks approval of a schedule of modifications for submission to the Planning Inspectorate.

Resolved:  (i)      That the additional Objective Assessment of Housing Need (OAN) evidence, already submitted to the Planning Inspectorate (PINS) following approval by the Director of Economy & Place in consultation with the relevant Members under delegated powers, be noted.

Reason:     To allow officers to progress York’s Local Plan through to hearing sessions to determine the OAN.

                   (ii)      That the modification schedule attached as Annex E to the report be approved for submission to PINS for examination.

Reason:     So that York’s Local Plan can progress through examination.

The Assistant Director of Transport & Planning and the Forward Plan Manager presented a report which provided an update on the Local Plan examination. This included additional technical evidence regarding the Objective Assessment of Housing Need (OAN), submitted to the Planning Inspectorate (PINS) on 29 January, and the implications for the Plan of further work carried out on the Habitat Regulation Assessment (HRA).  These matters had been considered by the Local Plan Working Group at their meeting on 27 February 2019, the minutes of which were circulated to Members.

The Housing Needs Update prepared by consultants GL Hearn and attached as Annex A to the report examined recent population projections, concluding that the OAN in York was 790 dwellings per annum (dpa).  This further strengthened the robustness and flexibility of proposed housing supply in the submitted Plan, which had been based on the previous figure of 867 dpa.  The HRA update, attached as Annex C, addressed concerns raised by Natural England, particularly in relation to Strensall Common, and recommended that site allocations ST35 and H59 (Queen Elizabeth Barracks) be removed from the Plan.  These changes were reflected in the proposed modifications schedule at Annex E.

In response to questions from Members, officers confirmed that work was in progress on drafting the prioritised Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs) on green infrastructure and affordable housing and the drafts would be brought to Executive as soon as possible. 

Resolved:  (i)      That the additional Objective Assessment of Housing Need (OAN) evidence, already submitted to the Planning Inspectorate (PINS) following approval by the Director of Economy & Place in consultation with the relevant Members under delegated powers, be noted.

Reason:     To allow officers to progress York’s Local Plan through to hearing sessions to determine the OAN.

                   (ii)      That the modifications schedule attached as Annex E to the report be approved for submission to PINS for examination.

Reason:     So that York’s Local Plan can progress through examination.

The Corporate Director of Economy & Place to present a report which asks Executive to approve the proposed modifications in the Examiner’s report on the Earswick Neighbourhood Plan and the Council’s Decision Statement, to allow the Plan to proceed to Referendum.

Resolved:  (i)      That the Examiner’s modifications to the Earswick Neighbourhood Plan and the consequential minor modifications set out in Annex B be agreed and that, subject to those modifications, the Neighbourhood Plan meets the Basic Conditions and other legislative requirements.

                   (ii)      That the Earswick Neighbourhood Plan, as amended, proceed to a local referendum based on the geographic boundary of the parish of Earswick, as recommended by the Examiner.

                   (iii)     That the Decision Statement attached as Annex B to the report be approved for publication on the City of York Council’s website.

Reason:     To allow the Neighbourhood Plan to progress in line with neighbourhood planning legislation.

The Assistant Director of Transport & Planning and the Development Officer, Strategic Planning presented a report which sought approval for the proposed modifications in the Examiner’s report on the Earswick Neighbourhood Plan and the council’s Decision Statement, to allow the Plan to proceed to Referendum.

The Examiner’s Report was attached as Annex A to the report, along with the Decision Statement, including the Council’s proposed response to the Examiner’s recommended modifications to the Plan, at Annex B.  These documents had been considered by the Local Plan Working Group at their meeting on 27 February 2019, the minutes of which were circulated to Members.

It was recommended that the Examiner’s modifications be accepted rather than altered, as they made the Plan more robust and enabled it to meet the Basic Conditions.  A decision to reject the modifications could only be made on the specific grounds set out in paragraph 18 of the report.

Resolved:  (i)      That the Examiner’s modifications to the Earswick Neighbourhood Plan and the consequential minor modifications set out in Annex B be agreed and that, subject to those modifications, the Neighbourhood Plan meets the Basic Conditions and other legislative requirements.

                   (ii)      That the Earswick Neighbourhood Plan, as amended, proceed to a local referendum based on the geographic boundary of the parish of Earswick, as recommended by the Examiner.

                   (iii)     That the Decision Statement attached as Annex B to the report be approved for publication on the City of York Council’s website.

Reason:     To allow the Neighbourhood Plan to progress in line with neighbourhood planning legislation.