Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Rae Bhatia (Vice Chair) and Councillor Patel.

Members are asked to declare any interests they may have in the business to be discussed on the agenda.

There were no Declarations of Interest.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Commission held on 25 October 2018 are attached and Members are asked to confirm them as a correct record.

Councillor Kitterick referred to omissions in the minutes of the previous meeting concerning questions he had asked on data reported by the City Mayor relating to the Putney Road Scheme.

He made specific comment that the minute did not include the questions in debate relating to the reported loss of 200 cars from Clarendon Park Road, with 100 cars being added to Victoria Park Road.

It was confirmed that the information requested was being forwarded to Councillor Kitterick.

It was AGREED:

That the Minutes of the meeting of the Commission held on 25 October 2018 be agreed, subject to the above amendment.

The Monitoring Officer to report on any Questions, Representations and Statements of Case received in accordance with Council procedures.

The Monitoring Officer reported that no Questions, Representations or Statements of Case had been received.

The Monitoring Officer to report on any Petitions received in accordance with Council procedures.

The Monitoring Officer reported that no Petitions had been received.

The Director of Planning, Development and Transportation submits a report, which outlines the proposed timetable for preparation of the Local Plan including provisions for consultation and scrutiny.

The Director of Planning, Development and Transportation submitted a report, which outlined the proposed timetable for preparation of the Local Plan including provisions for consultation and scrutiny.  

It was noted that at the Commission’s previous meeting on 25th October 2018, a report concerning the finalisation of the Strategic Growth Plan was noted and agreed.  It was also noted that the latest position on the proposed timetable for the new Local Plan had been outlined at that stage and the current report now set out the proposed Local Plan timetable in more detail.

In respect of the more detailed timetable, and subject to emerging Government policy and any associated changes in plan making requirements, the key milestones and timetable for the Local Plan was as follows:

·         Current Call for additional potential small development sites

to December 2018

·         Draft Local Plan (housing, retail and employment needs, proposed sites, policies and infrastructure requirements); scrutiny /public consultation

July 2019 - September 2019

·         Review responses/prepare Submission Draft Local Plan

September 2019 – February 2020

·         Scrutiny /public consultation on Submission Draft - Feb/May 2020

·         Submission of Local Plan to Government & Examination in Public

Summer/Autumn 2020

·         Inspector’s Report

by early 2021

·         Public Consultation/Scrutiny on any proposed Modifications

mid 2021

·         Adoption

mid 2021

It was confirmed that scrutiny of the Local Plan would be carried out at the draft, submission and modification stages, as outlined above, and that the detailed arrangements for scrutiny will be considered with the Chair of the Commission, in consultation with the City Mayor and Executive.  It was noted that this could include special meetings with representatives from other scrutiny commissions.

Commission members were invited to comment and made the following observations:

• Delays in the process had caused frustration and a question was raised at whether this was due to Government or internal capacity issues. 

In response it was noted that Government had published new guidance notes which delayed the process.  It was also confirmed that comparable authorities were also in a similar position.  It was not considered that there were any internal capacity problems.

• It was questioned whether the process could be accelerated with the minimum space standards raised as an example.

In response it was noted that options would be considered to bring forward interim guidance as appropriate. 

• In terms of consultation on major schemes such as Evesham Road, clarification was sought on the appropriate point at which public participation and consultation in the process could begin.

In response, reference was made to the statutory consultation period where formal responses to the consultation could be made. It was suggested by members and accepted that where this occurred in the holiday period, it may be more difficult for residents to fully participate.

• In regard to the adoption of policy and in response to a question it was noted that unopposed draft Local Plan policies acquired weight in planning processes.

• In noting the announcement that consultation was required on smaller development sites, it was questioned whether developers had been contacted to help to accelerate  ...  view the full minutes text for item 41.

The Director of Planning, Development and Transportation will give a presentation to provide an update on Major Transport Projects.

The presentation will include details of:

·         Leicester North West Transport Programme

·         National Productivity Investment Fund

·         ERDF Low Carbon Programme

·         Clean Bus Technology Fund

·         Transforming Cities Fund

The Director of Planning, Development and Transportation gave a presentation, which provided an update on Major Transport Projects including:

·         Leicester North West Transport Programme

·         National Productivity Investment Fund

·         ERDF Low Carbon Programme

·         Clean Bus Technology Fund

·         Transforming Cities Fund (TCF)

In concluding the presentation, the following key points were noted in summary:

·      There were significant successes in recent funding bids

·      Major schemes were already underway - £22m (£6.5m LCC funds)

·      Major TCF grant opportunities existed

·      Support in all areas had been achieved, including:

•      Infrastructure

•      Smart technology

•      Air quality

•      Behavioural change

The Chair welcomed the detail of the presentation and congratulated the Director and his staff for the successful outcomes of the bids which would improve the City.

Commission members were asked to comment, and the following issues were noted:

• In respect of bus conversions and a comment concerning fleet management and conversions, it was confirmed that operators did not bring older buses to Leicester from London or elsewhere.  It was also confirmed that operators were keen to invest where they felt they have significant business and that this had been seen in Leicester.

• In response to a question from Councillor Porter concerning the low emissions data, it was confirmed that data concerning vehicle tests, including the Euro 6 buses, could be obtained and forwarded to him.

• The possible introduction of cycle docking in the central area was noted and the need for research and audit on its feasibility was accepted.

• In respect of the connecting Leicester cycle and pedestrian infrastructure schemes, it was suggested that better explanation of the sites identified for cycle and pedestrian links was required.  It was also suggested that in some locations adjacent cycle and pedestrian routes were ineffective.

In conclusion, the Chair welcomed the comments of members and the City Mayor indicated that a further report on progress could be submitted in the Summer of 2020.

It was AGREED that:

1.         The presentation and update be noted; and

2.         A further report or presentation on progress be submitted in the    Summer of 2020.

The Commission’s Work Programme is submitted for information and comment.

The Commission’s Work Programme was submitted an noted.

The meeting closed at 6.40 pm.