Agenda and draft minutes
Venue: Rooms 18.06 & 18.07 18th Floor, 64 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6QP.
Contact: Georgina Wills, Committee and Governance Officer Email: gwills@westminster.gov.uk; Tel: 07870 548348
Media
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MEMBERSHIP To report any changes to the membership. Minutes: 1.1 There were no changes to the Membership. |
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DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST To receive and record declarations of interest. Minutes: 2.1 There were no declarations of Interest.
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To sign the minutes of the last meeting as a correct record of proceedings. Minutes: 3.1 That the Minutes of the Planning and City Development Committee meeting held on 27 July 2021 be approved.
3.2 Matters Arising from the Minutes
3.2.1 Minutes. 3.3.1 Minutes 5 Draft Early Community Engagement Guidance
Members were informed that Planning Aid for London had been approached to explore how they might be able to act as a ‘Community Champion’ support residents, Amenity Societies, and Neighbourhood Forums during the planning consultation process. The role they would perform would be to ensure that these interested parties engage effectively and positively to consultation at pre-application and application stage. There are various models being considered, and this is to ensure that adequate support is provided that is proportionate to different scales of development and that is appropriate to meet the needs of all parties. Planning Aid for London currently provides free support for people in London who cannot afford professional support to assist them in interacting with the town planning and development processes. The ‘Community Champion’ role being explored with them would be separate and in addition to their existing charitable work. The provision of a ‘Community Champion’ would be funded by external parties.
3.2.2 Minutes 4.2 City Plan and Planning Policy Update
Members were advised that the Planning Policy Team were reviewing Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs) which had now become redundant under the new framework for determining planning applications. There are over 20 SPDs that are no longer ‘fit for purpose’ and officers are working to ensure that the new SPDs would fill any gaps and meet the requirements of the New City Plan. A Cabinet Member Report is to be submitted to the Cabinet Member to set out the intended action to be taken to withdraw and, where appropriate, replace outdated SPDs. The Environmental Supplemental Planning Documents has been out for consultation and is being finalised. Officers advised that usage of permeable materials would be included in the Environment Supplementary Planning Document
3.2.3 Minutes 6.3 Review of Planning Applications Sub-Committee Formats / Civico
Members were informed that it was proposed for all hybrid meetings to be broadcasted via CIVICO and that there was ongoing testing to ensure that the Software is fully functional and compatible with the Council’s corporate IT systems. Members were advised that Microsoft (MS) Teams would continue to be used to broadcast meetings during the interim. |
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Update on Temporary Covid-19 Related Legislation & Regulations PDF 696 KB Minutes: 4.1 The Committee received a report which provided an update on the temporary changes to planning legislation that have been introduced since the beginning of the Coronavirus pandemic in March 2020. Where the temporary legislation or regulations have been extended or replaced by a permanent alternative the report considers the impacts this may have on the operation of the planning service and for future planning decisions in Westminster.
4.2 Members were informed that changes were made by Government through secondary legislation to certain aspects of the planning system in the period following the beginning of the first Coronavirus lockdown in March 2020. Some of these changes were temporary (seeking to assist ‘business as usual’ activities during the pandemic and the recovery in the immediate aftermath), whilst others were permanent, seeking to support the longer-term recovery, address the decline in traditional high street retailing that began before the pandemic, but was accelerated by it, and promote the delivery of more housing.
4.3 Members held a discussion and noted the following: -
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Updated Draft Early Community Engagement Guidance PDF 434 KB Additional documents:
Minutes: 5.1 The Committee received a report which provided an update on the Draft Early Community Engagement Guidance. The initial version of the draft Early Community Engagement guidance was published for consultation in spring 2021 and reported to the PCD Committee in March 2021. All respondents welcomed the principle of introducing guidance that provides greater clarity regarding the expectations for early community engagement on emerging development proposals. Those who engaged with the Council on the initial version of the guidance were notified of the updated version of the draft guidance at the beginning of October and additional comments were sought by 5November. The intention is to publish the finalised guidance by the end of November 2021 following review of comments in response to the second consultation period.
5.2 The first engagement phase enabled the approach set out in the initially published guidance to be developed and finessed so that it is better aligned with the expectations of communities, whilst providing sufficient flexibility to allow developers and applicants to design their engagement strategies to meet the needs of each development they bring forward. There were several themes which arose from the consultation these include: -
5.3 Following initial consultation amendments were made to the Guidance. These include an expectation that developers who frequently undertake development in Westminster should adopt their own engagement charter and/or set of principles, better recognition of the role of Neighbourhood Forums and Plans, systems to encourage community groups to engage with officers, the introduction of the concept of a ‘Community Champion’ and extension of the scope of the guidance to include impactful non-major development. Case studies have also been added to provide worked examples.
5.4 Members held a discussion and noted the following: -
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Article 4 Directions in Westminster PDF 438 KB Minutes: 6.1 The Committee received a report which provided an overview of recent changes to permitted development rights (PDR) and the council’s Article 4 Directions restricting certain permitted development rights.
6.2 The national planning practice guidance defines permitted development rights as ‘a national grant of planning permission which allow certain building works and changes of use to be carried out without having to make a planning application. These are often highly specific and limited to a few issues. PDR mean that full planning permission is not required, instead relies on a slimmed-down “prior approval” process, with a more limited range of considerations – e.g. flood risk, transport impacts, land contamination, etc. Expansion of PDR in 2021 incorporates changes to the Use Classes Order in 2020 – numerous different commercial uses subsumed into overarching “commercial, business and service use” or “Class E”. Class E incorporates a much wider range of uses including offices, shops, cafes and restaurants, indoor sports facilities, medical services and nurseries. Permitted development rights are subject to conditions and limitations to control impacts and to protect local amenity.
6.3 Members held a discussion and noted the following: -
RESOLVED:
Members noted the contents of the report
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Update on Neighbourhood Planning in Westminster PDF 684 KB Minutes: 7.1 The Committee received a report which provided overview of recent neighbourhood planning activity in Westminster. Westminster has the most designated neighbourhood areas of any London Borough (21), the highest number of designated neighbourhood forums (15) and London’s only Community Council (Queen’s Park), which has neighbourhood planning powers.
7.2 Neighbourhood planning was established via the 2011 Localism Act and allows local communities to devise local planning policies that then form part of the statutory development plan for that area. These are subject to public consultation and scrutiny via an independent examination process to determine whether the plan meets the ‘Basic Conditions’ (which include conformity with City Plan and London Plan policies) and other legislative requirements. Neighbourhood plans are then subject to local referendum as a final step ensuring support from their local community to adopt the plan. The council has a duty to support neighbourhood planning and officers offer advice and guidance to neighbourhood forums as well as undertaking the statutory processes involved in plan-making.
7.3 Members held discussion and noted that Neighbourhood Plans
• Give communities direct powers to shape the development and growth of their area • Can influence where new homes, offices, shops, etc. are built • Can influence design of new development • Should support the delivery of strategic policies set out in the City Plan and London Plan and should shape and direct development that is outside of those strategic policies • Should contain policies for the development and use of land • Once adopted, neighbourhood plans become part of the council’s statutory development plan. This means they have equal weight with the City Plan and London Plan in decision-making. • On adoption, the percentage of Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) allocated to the neighbourhood from new developments increases to 25% (from 15%).
7.4 Members held further discussion and noted the following: -
Members thanked Officers for their work.
RESOLVED:
1 Members noted the contents of the report
2 That a timeframe be provided of when new Neighbourhood Forums Plans are to be adopted.
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ANY OTHER BUSINESS WHICH THE CHAIRMAN CONSIDERS URGENT Minutes: 8.1 Members were requested to forward Agenda Items for future Committee.
8.2 Members agreed that a report on Enforcement should be brought to their next Committee and should include information about performance and the adoption of a Local Enforcement Plan.
8.3 That Members be provided a report which provided further update about Planning Reforms and their adoptions at their next Meeting.
8.4 Members noted that they received an annual update regarding planning appeals and that the weekly list which details appeals would be updated.
8.5 The Committee noted that a training programme would need to be devised for new Members following the Local Elections in May 2022.
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DATE OF NEXT MEETING TBC Minutes: · 30 March 2022 |