Minutes:
a) Petition by Winchester Friends of The Earth – Climate Emergency
In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 16, a petition was submitted by Winchester Friends of the Earth, containing 598 signatures. The details of the petition are set out on the agenda.
In summary, they referred to the ‘Earth Day’ march earlier in the year and also Cabinet’s declaration of a Climate Emergency. Two local young people addressed council and reported that many children were worried about the future and although adults were now working to make positive changes, not enough adults in power were doing enough.
Councillor Murphy (Cabinet Member for the Environment) thanked those attending and for their presentation and reported that although Cabinet had announced how it intended to address climate change, a public engagement event was to be arranged as the community was needed to help support the Council in its approach.
During the debate which followed, Members made a number of key points including:
· The Council had previously worked to reduce its own carbon footprint through various initiatives including energy reduction.
· An exact definition of ‘carbon neutrality’ should be ascertained.
· The Council should consider further improving its existing housing stock and converting its vehicle fleet away from petrol/diesel
· An action plan, with practical measures to deliver, must be developed and the whole Council involved, together with engagement with residents and businesses.
· The Local Plan was important as would influence new development, active travel, biodiversity and carbon neutrality. The environment must be considered as a ‘whole’.
· New technology was able assist further with the reduction of carbon footprint.
· The County Council needed to work with the district councils, including with regard to public transport.
In summing up, Councillor Murphy advised that the matters raised by the petition would be referred to by a future meeting of the Cabinet as part of its consideration as to how the Council was to deliver against an action plan.
RESOLVED:
That the matters raised in the petition be referred to a future a meeting of the Cabinet as part of its consideration as to how the Council was to deliver against the Climate Emergency action plan.
b) Petition by Councillor Mike Craske – Caring for the future of St Barnabas
In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 16, a petition was submitted by Winchester Friends of the Earth, containing 305 signatures. The details of the petition are set out on the agenda.
In summary, Councillor Craske referred to the character of the St Barnabas ward which he said was changing in an uncontrolled way. There were too many executive homes and flats being built as determined by developers and not the affordable homes that were required. He set out that the existing planning system was not working as the wrong types of homes were being built in the wrong places and the Council must have a well-resourced and trained planning team. The St Barnabas ward was not parished and it was requested that a Neighbourhood Plan be compiled.
Councillor Porter (Cabinet Member for Built Environment and Wellbeing) thanked Councillor Craske for his presentation and acknowledged the strength of feeling in St Barnabas in not wanting to lose their sense of community. Staffing within Development Management would always be a challenge and there had been some recent recruitment and restructuring which had brought in additional resource but that retention of planning staff was as important as recruitment. Councillor Porter also referred to the Council’s enforcement policy being under review which was to be considered at Health and Environment Policy Committee in due course. Although the Winchester Town Forum was not the local planning authority, she suggested that it could be a conduit for considering local planning matters. With regards to the petition requesting a Neighbourhood Plan to improve the situation, the Local Plan revision would assist by determining the appropriate policies for the district and may be able to reflect a ‘Winchester plan’.
During the debate which followed, Members made a number of key points including:
· St Barnabas would not be able to produce a Neighbourhood Plan in isolation to other town wards. Neighbourhood Plans were costly and required considerable work to deliver. The Local Plan was there for the community to engage with and should be sufficient to fulfil needs.
· The Denmead Neighbourhood Plan had been community led and work had to come from the community to ensue its delivery.
· There was a need to work on a vision for the local area and in conjunction with residents. The work of Central Winchester Regeneration had been good, collaborative work.
· The Town Forum had previously had a good discussion of the matters raised by Councillor Craske. The Stanmore Planning Framework previously provided some cohesion and direction and so any form of Plan or Framework should be welcomed. Some particular areas of the town area may need to be prioritised. There were also issues across the city of family homes being occupied by students.
· Residents of north Winchester were aware of much adjacent development, such as Kings Barton. There was recognition that there was a need for new homes, but poorly thought-out infill development was often alien in design and there was a lack of affordable housing contribution from developers.
In summing up, Councillor Porter suggested that although the petition referred to the principle of a local Neighbourhood Plan, an Area Action Plan could be a more practical solution. It was recognised that there was a need for more voice for residents and there was already a conversation about the ‘democratic deficit’ in the Winchester town area with regard to planning matters. Councillor Porter acknowledged the numbers of Houses of Multiple Occupation / shared houses in the town area and recognised that it was crucial that there was good design in house building and ‘quality of place’ and development not driven by developer’s profit. The Local Plan was crucial to assist planning decisions. Councillor Porter concluded that the matters set out in the petition would be considered further at a future meeting of the Winchester Town Forum and at Cabinet if required.
RESOLVED:
That the matters raised in the petition be referred to future a meeting of the Winchester Town Forum and Cabinet if required.