Issue - meetings

To approve the draft supplementary planning document for public consultation.

Paul Bayley introduced the item to the Committee, Tom Evans attended the meeting to address any questions.

The Committee described the document as being an excellent piece of work.  There was some discussion on the application of the document and the ability to enforce it in relation to planning applications.  Concerns were raised about the amount of new developments being built across the borough and the increased incidents of flooding.

Tom addressed some of the points raised by the Committee, he advised that the document was produced in collaboration with experts on flooding and design in the Environmental Policy Team and the Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA).  The document was a development tool with lots of guidance about specific measures and a set of criteria. 

The impacts of Climate Change meant that the environment was getting hotter and wetter with more intense weather.  Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SuDS) slowed down water to hold it on land for longer, and released it more slowly into the wider drainage network.

Tom advised there were two opportunities for consultation over a minimum of four weeks.  The Council were keen to hear feedback from developers as key stakeholders alongside residents.

The second draft of the Strategic Planning Document would be presented to the Strategic Planning Board in their consultation and advisory role on proposed planning policy.

RESOLVED: That:

a)    the draft SUDS Supplementary Planning Document (Appendix A) for four weeks of public consultation be approved;

b)    the associated Strategic Environmental Assessment and Habitats Regulations Assessment Screening Report (“SEA”) (Appendix B) be published; and

c)    the associated Equalities Impact Assessment Screening Report (“EQIA”) (Appendix C) be published.