Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Mary Clarke, Joy Capstick, Andre Gonzalez de Savage, Brian Hoare, and Colin Poole.

Councillor Richard Church proposed and Councillor John Townsend seconded “That Councillor Chris Millar be appointed Chair of the West Northamptonshire Joint Strategic Planning Committee for the ensuing year.”

Upon a vote the motion was carried.

(Note: Councillor Tony Woods was in the Chair until this point in the meeting.)

On behalf of the Joint Committee, the Chair thanked Councillor Tony Woods for his chairmanship of the Joint Planning Committee.

Councillor John Townsend proposed and Councillor Wendy Amos seconded “That Councillor Mary Clarke be appointed Vice Chair of the West Northamptonshire Joint Strategic Planning Committee for the ensuing year.”

Upon a vote the motion was carried.

The minutes of the meeting of the Joint Committee held on 30 March 2010 were signed by the Chair as a true record.

• Personal
• Prejudicial

Councillor Chris Millar declared a personal interest in item 8 “Northamptonshire Minerals and Waste Framework: Update on Progress” as the Chair of the Northamptonshire Waste Partnership.

David Dickinson declared a personal interest in item 8 “Northamptonshire Minerals and Waste Framework: Update on Progress” as a member of the WNDC’s Northampton Planning Committee in so far as the discussion referred to Billing Sewerage Works.  

To consider any issues that the Chairman is of the opinion are Matters of Urgency.

None.

(copy attached)

The Head of the JPU submitted a report that referred to Northamptonshire County Council’s consultation upon the concept of the “Northamptonshire Arc” and elaborated thereon. He referred to the recommendations and in particular the need to establish the relationship between the Joint Core Strategy, which was a statutory document, and Arc which would be non statutory.

The Chair observed that the Northamptonshire Arc to promote Northamptonshire to attract investment and jobs should be welcomed but that it should not duplicate or confuse the Joint Core Strategy.

It was noted that the Arc appeared to resurrect a concept of creating an urban spine through the County and ignoring Northampton as an economic driver. This concept had been heavily criticised at the time. The Arc could only be a second to whatever the statutory planning policy base was, currently, the Joint Core Strategy. The County Council’s concept should not be confused with the MKSM Northampton Arc which was about transport links, the A43 and A45 in particular; they were different documents with different status.  

Councillor Jim Bass commented that he would support the idea that the North Northamptonshire and West Northamptonshire arrangements should be unified and noted that a review of the Joint Core Strategy in North Northamptonshire was due to commence shortly.

In general discussion the concept of the Northamptonshire Arc as a means of promoting the County for investment and jobs was supported. There seemed to be gaps in it in respect of rural communities and facilities for young people. The Arc also needed to consider circumstances beyond the County’s boundary. The County Council needed to recognise the non- statutory status of their concept. The situation in respect of the Daventry Appeals proved the need for, and the vulnerability of not having, a planning strategy in place.

Councillor Brown observed that in future planning would reside with local councils and with it local development frameworks. He believed that the Arc did cover rural communities and infrastructure including Silverstone. The County Council would have to work with all of its neighbours.

The Chair commented that there was an existing infrastructure deficit in West Northamptonshire; the need for infrastructure led development was still relevant although the economic situation complicated this. It would be important to attract inward investment and jobs to address some of this. The Northamptonshire Arc would be a good promotional tool for the County Council and NEL. He hoped that the Secretary of State would clarify the situation in the near future. None of this took away the need for a plan to be in place to avoid the risk of developer led development.

RESOLVED:  1. That the principle of the non- statutory Arc as a way of

                           raising the profile of Northamptonshire, particularly in terms

                           of developing a mechanism for increasing the potential for

                           future investment be supported.

                       2. That the County Council be requested to reconsider the

                           intention of the Arc to be a unifying alternative to the two

                           Joint Core Strategies in Northamptonshire.

                      3. That the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

(copy attached)

The County Council’s Corporate Director of Environment, Growth and Commissioning submitted a report that set out progress towards the adoption of a Minerals and Waste Joint Core Strategy for Northamptonshire, two supporting site specific DPDs, and consultation on the Control and Management of Development DPD.

Whilst accepting that the proposals for Daventry were intended to deal with the District’s own waste, Councillor Chris Over expressed concern in respect of the location of the proposal at Drayton Fields/ Royal Oak as being a gateway to the Town. He suggested that it would be better located in an industrial area.

Councillor Jim Bass expressed concern in respect of the situation at Billing Sewerage Works. It was agreed that this needed to be resolved.

RESOLVED: 1. That the Adoption of the Minerals and Waste Core Strategy

                           be noted.

                      2. That the examination of the locations for Minerals and

                           Waste Development DPDs, including allocations across

                           West Northamptonshire with public hearings to take place

                           during October 2010 be noted.

                      3. That the opportunity for the public and organisations to make

                          representations on the proposed Control and Management of

                          Development DPD until 22 July 2010 be noted.

                      4. That the Joint Committee receive a further report on any

                          representations made on the proposed Control and

                          Management of Development DPD.