Issue - meetings

Portfolio Holder for Planning Policy and Place Delivery.

RESOLVED:

1.    That the Executive adopt the draft Climate Change and Sustainable Construction Supplementary Planning Document (SPD).

2.    That the Executive authorise the Head of Planning in consultation with the Executive Member for Planning Policy to make any necessary minor amendments to the draft Supplementary Planning document prior to implementation.

The Executive Member for Planning Policy and Place Delivery, Councillor Biggs, introduced the report which recommended adoption of the draft Climate Change and Sustainable Construction Supplementary Planning Document (SPD). The SPD had been prepared to demonstrate how developments could meet policy requirements in the Council’s Development Management Plan and what the Council expected from developers with regards to such measures.

The SPD would:

·       Provide useful guidance to developers

·       Result in a more uniform and standardised approach to sustainable development

·       Assist Planning Officers in assessing the acceptability of sustainability measures proposed and monitoring the effectiveness of the policy requirements

·       Help the Council to meet the sustainability objectives of the Corporate Plan Reigate and Banstead 2025 and the Environmental Sustainability Strategy 2020.

Councillor Biggs explained that the draft SPD had been prepared with input from the Council’s Sustainability Project Officer and Surrey County Council’s Climate Change Project Manager. It had also been reviewed by the Development Management Advisory Group, the cross-party Sustainability Group and all members of the Council electronically. Comments were incorporated into the consultation version of the SPD.

Councillor Biggs explained that following public consultation, the SPD had been amended and then considered by the LDF Scrutiny Panel on 25 August 2021 and the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 9 September 2021. Minor updates from the Scrutiny Panel had been incorporated and the recommendation to allow minor amendments to be made by the Head of Planning in consultation with the Executive Member for Planning Policy and Place Delivery would allow for outcomes from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Following adoption, the Adoption Statement would be published, along with the SPD and associate documents. A press release would also be published, and training offered to Members and Officers to assist its implementation.

The Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Councillor Harrison, explained that the points raised by the Scrutiny Panel had been incorporated, he had received detailed points of explanation on request and was satisfied with the draft SPD. The Leader of the Council, Councillor Brunt, thanked Councillor Harrison and the Overview and Scrutiny Committee for their input.

RESOLVED:

1.    That the Executive adopt the draft Climate Change and Sustainable Construction Supplementary Planning Document (SPD).

2.    That the Executive authorise the Head of Planning in consultation with the Executive Member for Planning Policy to make any necessary minor amendments to the draft Supplementary Planning document prior to implementation.