Live broadcast to start at 7pm and available for repeat viewing.    

Apologies were received from Cllr Kendall with Cllr Mynott substituting. 

The minutes of the Policy, Resources and Economic Development meeting held on 3^rd February 2021 were approved as a true record.

A presentation was received by Howard Smith, COO of the Elizabeth Line for TFL to give an update on Cross Rail. 

Members had the opportunity to ask questions following the presentation.    

A presentation was received by officers Phil Drane and Steve Summers highlighting all that had been achieved by this committee for the municipal year 2020-21.

The Chair and members applauded the work undertaken by the Council officers during this time.   

Delivery of Dunton Hills Garden Village will contribute to growth that meets the borough’s housing and employment needs, whilst providing supporting infrastructure and facilities, consistent with the borough’s village character. It  is a corporate priority and essential part of the Council’s emerging Local Development Plan strategy for growth. Ensuring that the garden village can be delivered in line with aspirations required clear masterplanning and guidance to be in place.

Work started on the creation of design coding/guidance during 2020 following completion of the Framework Masterplan Document and mandatory principles for the site. A community co-design process was undertaken to inform preparation of the guidance (Appendix C of the report). The intention is for this design guidance to be adopted as a Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) and hold material weight when determining planning applications. The report provided members with the draft design guidance SPD (Appendix A of the report) and Framework Masterplan Document (Appendix B of the report). It recommended that consultation take place on these documents in line with requirements. A Communications Plan for the SPD (working document) provided a summary of engagement activities (Appendix D of the report).

Members thanked the work of Phil Drane, Coby Tomlins and the team for the detailed report and information provided. 

After a full discussion, Cllr Hossack MOVED and Cllr Parker SECONDED the recommendations in the report.

A vote was taken and it was RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY.

Members are asked to:

R1. Approve that the draft Dunton Hills Garden Village Design Guidance Supplementary Planning Document (Appendix A) and Framework Masterplan Document (Appendix B), be subject to public consultation in line with requirements.

Reasons for Recommendation

The Council’s Local Development Plan proposes policies for the delivery of a new community at Dunton Hills Garden Village that require growth to be brought forward through a masterplanned approach. This reflects the size and complexity of bringing forward a new garden village, which will be the borough’s largest development project in living memory. Detailed design guidance is essential to interpret the higher-level requirements of policy and principles set out in the Framework Masterplan Document.

For this guidance to have material weight in the decision-making process it is proposed that it be adopted as a Supplementary Planning Document (SPD). To be adopted as an SPD there are requirements for public consultation set by national regulations.

On 24th February 2021 at Ordinary Council the Budget 2021/22 was approved. An amendment from the labour group was approved and included within the budget proposals. The amendment requested that the Council reviewed options for Council Tax Discounts and brings forward suggested proposals to Policy, Resources & Economic Development Committee for consideration. The report recommended that the amendment is included within Policy, Resources & Economic Development work programme for 2021/22 and for a full report to be brought back to a future Committee.

After a full discussion, Cllr Hossack MOVED and Cllr Parker SECONDED the recommendations in the report.

A vote was taken and it was RESOLVED UNANIMOULSY.

Members are asked to:

R1 Approve that officers review non statutory options available for Council Tax Discounts and report options to a future Policy, Resources & Economic Development Committee.

(Cllr Poppy declared an interest that he owns a second property in the borough.) 

The Chair varied the agenda to take Urgent Business prior to SAIL Business Plan which is exempt to the press and public.

There were no items of urgent business to discuss. 

That the public and press be excluded and the following item be considered in private session on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, namely information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that

information).

Cllr Hossack  MOVED and Cllr Parker SECONDED  the recommendations set out in the report.

A vote was taken and it and was RESOLVED.

The meeting concluded at 9.30pm.