Four Notices of Motion have been submitted in accordance with Rule 3 in Part 4.1 of the Constitution - Council Procedure Rules and are listed in order of the date received.

Three of which were deferred from the Ordinary Council meeting on 28th July 2021.

Motion 1 Received 02/06/2021 @ 15:47

Proposer Cllr Dr T Barrett                                    Seconder Cllr G Barrett

The Council resolves that all future Brentwood Borough Council backed, or part backed developments, including those through the Brentwood Development Partnership, SAIL and other subsidiary companies will at a minimum meet the guidance on design and amenity standards set out in both Brentwood & Essex design guides. 

Cllr Dr Barrett present a revised Motion after discussion with Cllr Wagland, who informed him of some changes to National Planning Policy Framework.

“The Council welcomes the arrival of the Government’s new section 12 of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF); which allows Local Authorities to prepare local design codes democratically through effective local community consultation based on local defining characteristics; and provides that development proposals that are not well-designed should be refused.  The Council is pleased to adopt apply this revision to the NPPF including in relation to its own backed or part-backed developments and will take up the new opportunities given to Local Authorities”.

Cllr Barrett was asked as the original seconder to speak on the Motion.  However, he asked that Cllr Wagland my wish to be the seconder, as she assisted with revised motion.

This was accepted by Cllr Wagland.

Officers drew members attention to the word adopt, which could be an issue as in Planning terms the Council is not able to formally adopt national policy, which was reworded by the Mover to instead state apply.

In line with constitution, Cllr Wagland proposed the amendment to the original motion which was accept by Cllr Dr Barrett.

A vote was taken by a show of hands and it was CARRIED.

“The Council welcomes the arrival of the Government’s new section 12 of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF); which allows Local Authorities to prepare local design codes democratically through effective local community consultation based on local defining characteristics; and provides that development proposals that are not well-designed should be refused.  The Council is pleased to apply this revision to the NPPF including in relation to its own backed or part-backed developments and will take up the new opportunities given to Local Authorities”.

Motion 2 Received 02/06/2021 @ 15:47

Proposer Cllr Dr T Barrett                                    Seconder Cllr G Barrett

The Council resolves that all future Brentwood Borough Council backed or part backed developments, including those through the Brentwood Development Partnership, SAIL and other subsidiary companies will be compliant with the 35% affordable housing requirement or provide the market rate sum to purchase the equivalent property/properties in the Borough for use as affordable housing in lieu of this requirement.

Cllr Barrett suggested an amendment to the motion to state, which was accepted by Cllr Dr Barrett, as the Mover.

The Council resolves that all future Brentwood Borough Council backed or part backed developments, including those through the Brentwood Development Partnership, SAIL and other subsidiary companies will be compliant with the 35% affordable housing requirement, where appropriate for development size or provide the market rate sum to purchase the equivalent property/properties in the Borough for use as affordable housing in lieu of this requirement.

Cllr Hossack suggested that the word “will” should be amended to “seek” be compliant with the 35% affordable housing requirement. This was not accepted by the Mover.

Cllr White, referred to Chapter 4, 3.7 Chapter 4. this Motion should be accommodated by a report outlining any financial or contract implications.

After a full discussion, the Monitoring Officer informed Members that the Motion should be deferred to the next meeting with an accompanying report.

Motion 3 Received 29.6.2021 @ 12.22

Proposer Cllr Mynott                                                         Seconder Cllr Naylor

In June 2019, a motion was submitted proposing that the Council go through an Article 4 process to remove permitted development rights on the conversion of office space to residential accommodation, in specific areas of the borough, and to reinstate the normal Planning process for such proposed conversions.

That motion was carried with overwhelming cross-party support. However, in the two years since then, no step has yet been taken to achieve what was agreed. Recent claims have, moreover, been made that Council acquisitions of a handful of commercial properties in the borough might somehow defend Brentwood borough from the numerous drawbacks of unrestrained office conversion. Nevertheless, piecemeal property acquisition cannot address across the board issues of the kind caused by permitted development rights on office conversions.

This council will abide by its decision of June 26th 2019 on the previous motion, and requests that legal advice is sought on the introduction of an Article 4 restriction be undertaken, as agreed.

Cllr Hossack informed Members that subsequent report will go back to a further meeting of Policy, Resources and Economic Development Committee.

After a full discussion, a vote was taken by a show of hands and was LOST.

(Cllr Laplain declared a non-pecuniary interest by virtue of an employee of British Telecom was mentioned within the debate).

Motion 4 Received 26.9.2021 @ 21.31

Proposer Cllr Mynott                                                         Seconder Cllr Aspinell

Earlier this year the Government introduced a new Use Class MA, allowing buildings and land within the (itself only recently created) umbrella Class E (commercial, business and service) to be converted into dwellings.

The underlying consequence is once again to prevent local control over the planning process, to rip up a rulebook which isn't the root cause of the current housing shortage, and to circumvent much needed improvements in the availability of affordable housing.

Applications under Class MA have been possible since August the 1st, even though this is yet another change to planning regulations in Britain that has aroused widespread criticism, with the Royal Town Planning Institute, the Town and Country Planning Association, the National Trust and even the British Property Federation opposed to it (amongst others). Introducing a change like this at a time of Covid, when numerous businesses have been under unprecedented pressure for over a year (and nationally one in seven Class E units are already empty) is likely to wreak havoc with the future viability of UK high streets, and to do so irreversibly.

A report from University College London already predicts losses of High Street businesses ranging between 89% and 75%, with four out of five shops likely to go, most of which will be small and locally owned.

This Motion was withdrawn by the Mover, Cllr Mynott.