Agenda and minutes

Note: THIS MEETING IS NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC 

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Harker, Councillor Smith and G Hughes.

2.

Notes of the Meeting held on 14 November 2006

(Copy attached)

Minutes:

The above minutes were agreed.

3.

Matters Arising

Minutes:

Joint Planning Team Manager

 

It was noted that the Joint Planning Team Manager from North Northamptonshire was unable to participate in the interview process due to prior commitments.  Councillor Barnes suggested that another technical advisor be asked to participate in the interviews.

 

Agreed:   That another technical advisor, to replace the Joint Planning Team Manager from North Northamptonshire, be invited to participate in the interview and selection process. 

4.

Programme Director's Progress Report

Presented By: Clive Thomas

Minutes:

C Thomas presented the report circulated and amended recommendation (a) as the Steering Group did not have the authority to “agree” the amendments to the draft LDS, therefore this was amended to read “note”.

 

Joint Planning Team Manager

 

C Thomas advised that the closing date for applications was 12:00 midnight on that day (14 December 2006) and as yet no applications had been received.  There had been 238 enquiries on the Internet  and 3 application packs had been sent out.  The position would be reviewed the following day, after the deadline for applications, and it was suggested that Tribal be asked to undertake some research in relation to the potential applicants that had made enquiries via the Internet.  Members of the Steering Group expressed concern at the lack of applications and it was suggested that, if no suitable applications were received, that the possibility of a secondment from one of the 3 local authorities be explored. 

 

Joint Planning Team Office Location

 

C Thomas advised that a further focused search was being undertaken to explore underutilised voluntary/public sector accommodation however, if this was not successful, a local agent would be commissioned at the beginning of January 2007.  R Boulton referred to the ongoing search for a suitable accommodation and suggested that it may be appropriate to look for a Town Centre shop front premises from which the Joint Planning Team could work. Also it could be used to front a continuous PR campaign.  The Steering Group discussed the possibility of using a Town Centre shop and the additional benefits this would provide as an ongoing public relations opportunity. 

 

R Strugnell referred to the concern expressed in relation to the disappointing response to the advertisement to recruit the Joint Planning Team Manager post and also the time it was taking to agree an office location for the Joint Planning Team.  He expressed concern that no real progress seemed to be being made.  C Thomas suggested that there was a danger that not having a shared office location would mean that work was not progressing however, this was not the case and work was progressing in accordance with the programme.  He referred to the Resource Plan and the concerns expressed by GOEM that adequate resource had not been identified by all three Councils.  He suggested that all three Local Authorities should be ensuring that, as part of their individual budget processes, an appropriate amount was included to adequately fund the process.  Although he supported in principle the suggestion that the Team be based at a Town Centre shop front location, in practice this would be very expensive and would require additional resources.

 

Brand/Identity

 

It was noted that some art work showing different options for the “One Vision – Three Council” branding had been circulated and it was suggested that members of the Steering Group look at the suggested logos outside of the meeting and advise the Officers on the Programme Board of their preferences.

 

Submission of LDS and GOEM’s Consideration

 

The Chair referred  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

5.

Governance

Presented By: Richard Strugnell

Minutes:

R Strugnell presented the report circulated and the revised Memorandum of Understanding, which had taken into account the comments, and amendments that had been agreed.  It was noted that Northamptonshire County Council were now party to, and would sign up to, the Memorandum of Understanding and the four Local Authorities would be working in association with the WNDC.  WNDC were recognised in the document as a key partner.  It was noted that there was a greater emphasis throughout the document on the three plan making Local Authorities and it was felt that there was now a good balance in recognising those that would produce the document as well as the importance of the two other key players.

 

C Berry noted that bullet point c) under paragraph 7 of the Memorandum of Understanding still referred to the preparation of an Area Action Plan for the Northampton Implementation Area which reflected the old LDS’s. She suggested that this be corrected to refer to the area action plans in relation to the urban extensions.

 

 

M Hayes referred to paragraph 10 of the Memorandum of Understanding which suggested that officers from the WNDC and NCC would be invited to meetings when the Group considered it appropriate, however paragraph 12 suggested that the WNDC would be represented by its Chief Executive or his nominated representative.  It was acknowledged that it was important to be as inclusive as possible and therefore it was suggested that the words “when the Group considered it appropriate” be removed from the second sentence of paragraph 10 within the Memorandum of Understanding. 

 

Agreed: (1) That the revised Memorandum of Understanding relating to the preparation of Development and Transport Plans for West Northamptonshire be agreed, as slightly amended above.

 

                     (2) That the proposals made in paragraph 3 of the report be agreed.

 

                     (3) That arrangements be made to ensure that the Memorandum of Understanding is signed by the Leaders of the four Councils. 

6.

Longer Term Growth Options for Northampton Study - Presentation

Presented By: EDAW

Minutes:

Charles Ledward and Alison Young from EDAW made a presentation to the Steering Group in relation to the Longer Term Growth Options Study.

 

C Ledward advised the Steering Group of the number of new dwellings that would need to be accommodated up to 2026 and the land budget to deliver growth, including residential, industry, office, retail, etc. 

 

C Ledward advised that the three thematic scenarios identified were Neighbourhood Centres, Urban Renaissance and Employment and Skills and he then advised the Steering Group of the strengths and weaknesses of each option. 

 

It was noted that the scenarios would be used to test growth options and the next stage, which was essential, was the transport testing.

 

The Steering Group were then advised of the three draft options for growth and drew particular attention to the implications of each option for the transportation network.

 

It was noted that the next stage would be to revisit the options and look at them in more detail, after which a draft report would be completed and circulated to officers on the Steering Group for comment.  It was anticipated that there would be a joint Councillor briefing event during January 2007 to present the conclusions.

 

The members of the Steering Group discussed the importance of the transport testing that would be essential in informing the process to determine the preferred options.  The Steering Group discussed the land budget identified and there was some concern expressed that this may not be adequate for the amount of growth to be accommodated.  The Steering Group also discussed the importance of testing the capacity of the utilities and M Hayes advised that WNDC were already undertaking work with the utilities and suggested that they may be able to provide some assistance.

 

C Berry advised that the Officers on the Steering Group envisaged that the options would be included in the Issues and Options Discussion Paper and that the testing would be done in parallel as there was not sufficient time to do the testing beforehand.  B Wooding, NCC, referred to the letter that had been circulated from the Highways Agency expressing concern that the study may fail to consider the fundamental link between land use and transport which may result in the options presented being flawed or misleading with regard to the their full implications. 

 

Councillor Barnes asked how the options would be presented during the consultation process.  The Steering Group discussed the approach that should be taken and it was stressed that it needed to be made clear that the scenarios presented were merely options and that no conclusions had been reached as yet.

 

The Steering Group then returned to discussing the growth options and the need to test the impact of each scenario on the boundaries and against recent employment studies. 

 

The Chair thanked C Ledward, A Young and their colleagues from EDAW for attending the meeting and making the presentation.

7.

Joint Local Development Scheme and Joint Core Strategy

Presented By: Claire Berry

Minutes:

C Berry presented the report that was circulated at the meeting detailing the progress on the Joint Core Strategy and proposing the arrangements for the Issues and Options Consultation.  It was proposed that the Joint Planning Team would be producing one Issues and Options Consultation paper and the consultation period would be six weeks, running from Thursday 8 February 2007 to Thursday 22 March 2007.  This would be one month later than stated in the Joint Local Development Scheme as a result of the need.  This was necessary to enable the conclusions and recommendations of the Longer Term Growth Options Study to be incorporated into the Issues and Options paper and to enable the Councillors from the Boroughs, Districts and County Councils to be briefed on the conclusions of the Study.  This timetable would enable the consultation period to be completed well in advance of the purdah period before the May local elections and the Easter holidays.

 

 The report also included details of the methods of consultation that would be used and a summary of those that would be consulted.  It was anticipated that approximately 500 copies of the Issues and Options Consultation paper and accompanying leaflets would be produced.

 

The Steering Group then discussed the proposed way forward and whether the timetable suggested within the report was achievable.  There was also some discussion in relation to the timing and dates of future meetings of the Steering Group and the Programme Board to ensure that the proposed timetable could be achieved.  It was suggested that the individual Cabinets from the three Local Authorities may wish to sign off the Issues and Options paper before consultation and this had not been taken into account.

 

The Steering Group then discussed how, and by whom, the consultation document would be presented and it was suggested that it may be that advice from PR specialists should be sought. 

 

Agreed:   That the Steering Group note the progress on the Joint Core Strategy and agree, subject to further discussion in relation to the dates, the arrangements for the Issues and Options consultation.

8.

Dates of Future Meetings

Minutes:

The Steering Group discussed the proposed dates for the Joint Programme Board and the Joint Steering Group to consider the Issues and Options Paper and the need to give a briefing to the wider audience of all Councillors on the three Local Authorities.  C Berry also reminded the Steering Group that, as from the end of March 2007, the Chair and the administration of the Steering Group would pass to either South Northants and Daventry District Council and asked that they consider who would be taking over this role.

 

Agreed:   That C Berry discuss further with her colleagues at South Northants and Daventry District Councils possible dates for future meetings of the Programme Board and the Joint Steering Group to meet the programme in relation to the Issues and Options Consultation Paper.

9.

Any Other Business

Minutes:

There was none.

10.

Date of Next Meeting

Minutes:

To be advised.