Issue - decisions

The committee considered the report which set out proposals to consult on, and update the Supplementary Planning Document (SPD), including the proposed selection criteria and methodology for designating a locally listed building. It was noted that the current ‘Local List of Historic Buildings SPD’ was adopted in 2010 and therefore was in need of a review and update.

The committee welcomed the report and the approach to ensure that the Local List could be updated more frequently, allowing the council to be more responsive to proposals for local listing and protecting local heritage assets across the borough. The committee were pleased to note that the council was proposing to move forward an ‘evergreen’ approach keeping a live catalogue, via a digital Local List, of local heritage assets and agreed that the digital approach should be adopted across all aspects of planning, where possible.  

The committee noted the process for removing entries from The Local List and that this was the same as adding items to the Local List and followed the same decision-making process. It was suggested that the appeals process be reviewed, and that appeals should be heard by an officer group, alongside several councillors from the Environment and Communities Committee, rather than appeals being heard only by the Head of Planning in consultation with the Chair of the Environment and Communities Committee

RESOLVED (unanimously):

That the Environment and Communities Committee:

1. Agree to the publication of the first draft Heritage and Local List SPD (appendix 1) for public consultation, for a minimum of four weeks. 

2. Publish the associated Strategic Environmental Assessment and Habitats Regulations Assessment Screening Report (“SEA”) (appendix 2). 

3. Publish the associated Equalities Impact Assessment Screening Report (“EQIA”) (appendix 3).