Agenda, decisions and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

To provide an opportunity for Members and Officers to declare any disclosable pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests in any item on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

In accordance with Procedure Rules Nos.11 and 35 a period of 10 minutes is allocated for members of the public to address the meeting on any matter relating to the work of the body in question.  Individual members of the public may speak for up to 5 minutes but the Chairman or person presiding will decide how the period of time allocated for public speaking will be apportioned where there are a number of speakers. Members of the public are not required to give notice to use this facility. However, as a matter of courtesy, a period of 24 hours’ notice is encouraged.

Members of the public wishing to ask a question at the meeting should provide at least three clear working days’ notice in writing and should include the question with that notice. This will enable an informed answer to be given.

No members of the public wished to speak.

To approve and endorse the position statement and that it be given due weight in the determination of planning applications.

1.    That approval be given to the Cheshire East Housing Land Supply- Position Statement (31^st December, 2013) as attached as Appendix 1 to the report, subject to the amendments tabled at the meeting.

2.    That approval be given for the Housing Land Supply - Position Statement to be given due weight in the determination of planning applications.

3.    That approval be given for the Housing Land Supply - Position Statement to provide a basis for the emerging Cheshire East Local Plan Strategy and the updated Strategic Housing Land Availability Statement (SHLAA) - 2014.

Consideration was given to the report of the Head of Strategic and Economic Planning.   He reported that several recent planning appeal decisions had questioned the Council’s lack of a demonstrable five year supply of housing land in accordance with the requirements of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).  In order to meet the requirement in national planning guidance, a Housing Land Supply - Position Statement was prepared for Cheshire East with a base date of the 31^st December, 2013.  The Position Statement illustrated that, as of the 31^st December, 2013, Cheshire East was able to demonstrate the availability of a 5.87 years supply of housing land using the ‘Sedgefield’ methodology with a 5% ‘buffer’ and 5.14 years supply with a 20% ‘buffer’.

In order to meet the requirements in national planning guidance, it was important that the Council maintained an up-to-date position on its 5-year housing land supply.  The ongoing monitoring of housing land supply would also inform the emerging Local Plan Strategy-Submission Version, due to be presented to a meeting of the Strategic Planning Board on 26^th February, 2014 prior to being considered by Full Council on 27^th February, 2014.

The Head of Strategic and Economic Planning brought the position up to date by reporting that, at its meeting on 5 February 2014, the Strategic Planning Board had considered and approved the recommendations now being made. 

In addition he circulated a table of minor amendments and changes, some of which had been reported to the Strategic Planning Board whilst others had come to light since; they did not, however make a difference to the overall conclusions.

RESOLVED

1.    That approval be given to the Cheshire East Housing Land Supply- Position Statement (31^st December, 2013) as attached as Appendix 1 to the report, subject to the amendments tabled at the meeting.

2.    That approval be given for the Housing Land Supply - Position Statement to be given due weight in the determination of planning applications.

3.    That approval be given for the Housing Land Supply - Position Statement to provide a basis for the emerging Cheshire East Local Plan Strategy and the updated Strategic Housing Land Availability Statement (SHLAA) - 2014.