Agenda, decisions and minutes

To record the names of apologies given.

Apologies were received as noted above.

To give consideration to the approval of alternative arrangements for appointments to bodies set up by Cabinet or external bodies, or the making or terminating of such appointments.

At the invitation of the Leader, Councillor Horrill requested a change to the membership of the Cabinet Committee: Housing which was agreed as set out below.

RESOLVED:

            That Councillor Scott replace Councillor Miller as a non-voting invited councillor to the Cabinet Committee: Housing (with Councillor Miller to become a deputy non-voting invited councillor).

To receive any disclosure of interests from Members and Officers in matters to be discussed.

Note: Councillors are reminded of their obligations to declare disclosable pecuniary interests, personal and/or prejudicial interests in accordance with legislation and the Council’s Code of Conduct.

Councillors Tod and Porter both declared personal (but not prejudicial) interests in respect of various agenda items due to their roles as County Councillors.

– to note the names of members of the public wishing to speak on general matters affecting the District or on agenda items (in the case of the latter, representations will normally be received at the time of the agenda item, after the Cabinet Member’s introduction and any questions from Cabinet Members).

NB members of the public are required to register with Democratic Services three clear working days before the meeting (contact: democracy@winchester.gov.uk or 01962 848 264). 

Three people had registered to speak regarding report CAB3357 and their comments are included under the relevant minute below.

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RESOLVED

            That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 14 September, adjourned to 22 September 2022, be agreed as a correct record.

The Leader announced that on 12 October 2022, the High Court had refused permission for a judicial review challenge to the decision the council made in March 2022 about the potential future use of the former River Park Leisure Centre site.  The council had been awarded £5,000 in costs.

Councillor Porter expressed thanks to the Winchester Round Table charity and other volunteers involved in arrangements for the annual Winchester bonfire and fireworks event to be held on 5 November 2022.

NB Due to the document size, Appendix 2 to CAB3357 (the Integrated Impact Assessment, IIA) is published separately under a supplementary agenda.

1.     That the draft Regulation 18 Local Plan consultation document be approved as attached to report CAB3357 at Appendix 1 (subject to any changes required and authorised under recommendation 3), its publication and a 6-week public consultation under Regulation 18 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 for a period of 6 weeks commencing on 2^nd November until 14^th December 2022.  

2.     That the Integrated Impact Assessment at Appendix 2 of the report be approved for publication and consultation for the same period.

3.     That authority be delegatedto theStrategicPlanning Manager, inconsultation withthe Cabinet Member for Place and the Local Plan,to undertake any updating, drafting of amendments and the graphic design of the draft Regulation 18 Local Plan priorto publication and consultation on the document.

Councillor Porter introduced the report and highlighted the extensive and constructive discussion that had taken place at the joint meeting of The Scrutiny Committee and Local Plan Advisory Committee held on 29 September 2022 (recommendations and resulting changes included at Appendix 3 of the report).  She thanked the chair of Scrutiny Committee together with the Strategic Planning Manager and team for all their work to date.

Three people spoke during public participation as summarised briefly below.

June Perrins (South Wonston Parish Council)

Spoke in opposition to the inclusion of the West Hill Road site, South Wonston as it was a greenfield site, in a sensitive landscape away from the centre of the village.  She disputed the conclusions of the settlement hierarchy and in support, set out a comparison between South Wonston and Denmead in terms of bus service and retail provision.  In addition, she also disputed the statement regarding main access to the site as she believed a high percentage of vehicles would use Drove Road.

Mark Smith (Otterbourne Parish Council)

In general, the parish council accepted the requirement for additional housing in the village as long as it was sustainable, of a sympathetic design and comprised 2 and 3 bedroom houses.  With regard to Site OT03, he emphasised that the support from the parish council was only for development of part of the site and there was a well-used diagonal path dissecting the land which must be retained.  He queried why site OT03 had been selected over other sites in the village (such as OT04 and OT08) and whether these might come forward if OT03 was deemed unacceptable.

Patrick Davies

Queried the necessity for the Integrated Impact Assessment, emphasising the difficulties of consulting on such a lengthy and detailed document.  He welcomed the aim to achieve carbon neutrality but queried if this could be subject to challenge.  Asked how the council would respond to the ongoing uncertainties regarding the government’s proposals for future planning policies.  Emphasised the importance that the consultation through the online Citizen Space be clearly signposted and easy to complete.

At the invitation of the Leader, Councillors Cook and Horrill addressed Cabinet as summarised briefly below.

Councillor Cook

Welcomed the helpful information and response to queries provided by the Cabinet Member and Strategic Planning team.  Highlighted the points raised by the joint meeting on 29 September which had been mostly addressed in Appendix 3 to the report.  She still had some concerns relating to the settlement hierarchy and considered that the wording used in the policies should be strengthened.   She urged everyone to respond to the consultation which should be as wide and far reaching as possible.

Councillor Horrill

Thanked the officer team for their work.  However, expressed disappointment that despite repeated requests from her political group, opportunities for specific briefings with town and parish councils had not been held.  Specifically mentioned the concerns held by South Wonston Parish Council (as raised during public participation above) in addition to Littleton Parish Council relating to the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

RESOLVED:

That the list of future items as set out in the Forward Plan for November 2022 be noted.