Issue - meetings

Report of Director of Planning and Regeneration (Copy herewith)

Cabinet approved Appendix 1 of the report as the Council’s response to the Department of Communities and Local Government on the consultation in respect of the proposed New Homes Bonus.

Cabinet delegated to the Portfolio Holder and the Director of Planning and Regeneration, the ability to incorporate any additional issues and comments into the response to CLG that may be made by consultees prior to the closure of the consultation period.

Councillor Clarke commented that this was another Government initiative: this appeared to work on the basis of “if you take the homes then we’ll give you the money”. Districts around Northampton could build up to the Borough boundary without concern for the effect on the Town. There was a concern that Councils around us would do their own thing and all the work of the Joint Planning Committee would be wasted. This was a perennial issue on which progress never seemed to be made.

Councillor Church, as the relevant Portfolio Holder, submitted a report that set out the Government’s proposals to introduce a New Homes Bonus that would create an incentive to reward local authorities that delivered sustainable development. The Council continued to work with other Councils through the West Northamptonshire Joint Strategic Planning Committee: a Joint Core Strategy would be considered by the Committee on 31 January 2010. Some growth was inevitable to meet natural demand. Some development on the Council’s boundaries was also inevitable because of its compact urbanised nature. The response to the Government put forward the point of view that the Council should receive a share of the money from developments adjacent to its boundaries as these would become part of the urban fabric of the Borough and the benefits should accrue to it. This proposal would replace Planning Delivery Grant. The proposal was that the money should be split 80% to districts and 20% to county councils. The response suggested that this should be 100% to districts as they were the Planning Authorities.

The Chair noted that the report was a consultative document and that the Council’s proposed response was set out in Appendix 1.     

RESOLVED:       1. That Appendix 1 of the report be approved as the Council’s response to the Department of Communities and Local Government on the consultation in respect of the proposed New Homes Bonus.

                            2. That  the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Regeneration and the Director of Planning and Regeneration, be delegated the ability to incorporate any additional issues and comments into the response to CLG that may be made by consultees prior to the closure of the consultation period.