Agenda item

a)         That this Council believes that the current draft National Planning Policy Framework fails to provide the necessary protection to local people and, therefore, urges the Government to think again about its proposals and to recognise the benefits of a genuine plan-led approach;

 

b)         That, accordingly, these views be incorporated into the Council's detailed response to the Department for Communities and Local Government's consultation on the draft Framework."

 

It was moved by Mr Bill and seconded by Dr Hill:-

 

"a)       That this Council believes that the current draft National Planning Policy Framework fails to provide the necessary protection to local people and, therefore, urges the Government to think again about its proposals and to recognise the benefits of a genuine plan-led approach;

 

b)         That, accordingly, these views be incorporated into the Council's detailed response to the Department for Communities and Local Government's consultation on the draft Framework."

 

An amendment was moved by Mr Rhodes and seconded by Mr Sprason:-

 

'That paragraph (a) be deleted from the motion and the following inserted in its place:-

 

"(a)      That this Council believes:-

 

i)          that the current draft National Planning Policy Framework is a welcome simplification of national planning guidance and provides a good basis for a genuine plan-led approach to future development;

 

ii)         that an effective plan-led approach will require district councils to put plans in place as soon as possible, engage closely with local communities and take full account of community views in developing their plans, including the need to protect valued green spaces, and work together on future development needs and the use of available funding across the wider Housing Market Area;

 

iii)        that the NPPF's introduction should give district councils time to put local plans in place, having due regard to the latest evidence of the impact of the economic downturn on the requirement for new homes and whether all the large ‘Sustainable Urban Extensions’ previously proposed for the Leicestershire Housing Market Area remain necessary;

 

iv)        that East Midlands Councils' response to the Government on the NPFF should be supported;" '

 

The amendment was put and carried, 33 members voting for the amendment and 5 against.

 

 

An amendment was moved by Mr Max Hunt and seconded by Ms Betty Newton:-

 

'1.        That paragraph (a) (i) be deleted from the motion, as amended, and the following inserted in its place:-

 

"i)     That the National Planning Framework should require local development plans (including LDFs) to prioritise development of previously developed land (brown field sites), more power for local authorities and communities to bring empty homes back into use and the right of communities of appeal against planning decisions should be asserted in legislation."

 

2.         That the following paragraph (a) (v) be added to the motion as amended:-

 

"v)     that links of Councillors and Members of Parliament with Developers should be declared;" '

 

The amendment was not carried, 14 members voting for the amendment and 32 against.

 

The substantive motion was put and carried as follows:-

 

"(a)      That this Council believes:-

 

i)          that the current draft National Planning Policy Framework is a welcome simplification of national planning guidance and provides a good basis for a genuine plan-led approach to future development;

 

ii)         that an effective plan-led approach will require district councils to put plans in place as soon as possible, engage closely with local communities and take full account of community views in developing their plans, including the need to protect valued green spaces, and work together on future development needs and the use of available funding across the wider Housing Market Area;

 

iii)        that the NPPF's introduction should give district councils time to put local plans in place, having due regard to the latest evidence of the impact of the economic downturn on the requirement for new homes and whether all the large ‘Sustainable Urban Extensions’ previously proposed for the Leicestershire Housing Market Area remain necessary;

 

iv)        that East Midlands Councils' response to the Government on the NPFF should be supported;

 

b)         That, accordingly, these views be incorporated into the Council's detailed response to the Department for Communities and Local Government's consultation on the draft Framework."