Agenda and minutes

No declarations of interest were made.

RESOLVED

that the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 26 February 2024, be received and approved as a correct record.

 Co,Members were reminded that the Council has submitted the Ashfield Local Plan 2023 to 2040 to the Secretary of State back in April and the Planning Inspectorate had now appointed Mr. Phillp Mileham BA (Hons) MA MRTPI and Mr. Graham Wyatt BA (Hons) MRTPI, as Planning Inspectors for the Examination. Miny Schofield had also been appointed as the Programme Officer and would be the main point of contact between the Council and the Inspectors during the examination process.  Miny was in attendance at the meeting and was welcomed by all present.

Once the dates were confirmed, the examination would concentrate on the issues that affect the Plan’s soundness and legal compliance and would not be delving into other matters. The Inspector’s conclusions would be based on a consideration of all the evidence and on the application of professional expertise and judgment.

The Inspectors had already commenced their initial preparations and had requested some further information as well as responses to some initial questions. Members were advised that all new information/responses to the Inspectors would be made available on the Council’s Local Plan Examination website as required.

Members were then advised as to the examination procedures and how the Inspectors would determine the appropriate format for the hearing sessions, which could be in-person/physical (‘real’), ‘virtual’ video or telephone conference, blended events or a ‘blended’ mix of formats for each or different sessions (i.e. a mix of in-person and virtual).

It was acknowledged that participation in the hearings would be limited and anyone coming to observe who were non-participants would have no right to speak. Only representors who had made a comment objecting to, or asking for a change to the Regulation 19 draft Plan, would have a legal right to be heard by the Inspector at the hearings.

AGREED

that the report be received and noted.

(During consideration of the item, Councillor Chris Huskinson entered the meeting at 2.05pm.)

Members were informed that the initial questions received from the Ashfield Local Plan Inspectors Philip Mileham and Graham Wyatt were in respect of the following:

Housing

Green Belt

Biodiversity

Infrastructure Costs

Greenspace.

Members were then advised as to the answers submitted in respect of each question and subject matter.

AGREED

that the report be received and noted.

Draft revisions to the new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF)

were originally announced on 31 July 2024 and were currently out for consultation for eight weeks until 24 September 2024.

Key changes and implications in the context of the emerging Ashfield Local Plan were outlined and explained in respect of the following:

Sustainable Development

Cross-boundary working

Housing Need

Housing Land Supply

Economic Growth

Green Belt

Grey Belt Definition

Contributions for Green Belt Release

Renewable Energy.

AGREED

that the report be received and noted.

Committee received a summary of the key issues outlined in the draft Statement of Common Ground for the Greater Nottingham Strategic Plan 2023 – 2041 Regulation 19 Pre-Submission Draft and were asked to note the potential implications of Gedling Borough Council’s Top Wighay Farm Strategic Housing allocation extension on the infrastructure of Ashfield.

Officers held a meeting with Gedling Borough Council in July 2024 to further discuss the infrastructure implications of the extended area proposals upon Hucknall.  The meeting was positive and enabled them to explore the opportunities for strategic infrastructure planning over the longer term and across respective district boundaries.

AGREED

that the report be received and noted.