To approve as a correct record the minutes of the Planning, Transport, Regeneration Overview and Scrutiny Committeemeeting held on 4 July 2017.

Councillor Smith referred to Item 6 Grays Master Plan, in which Members were advised a planning application from JD Wetherspoon was expected over the summer and asked whether Officers could provide an update.  No planning application had been received however the final drawings had been shared with Heritage England, as the building was listed, and the applicant was on course to submit their application soon.

The minutes of the Planning, Transport, Regeneration Overview and Scrutiny

Committee meeting held on 4 July 2017 were approved as a correct record.

To receive additional items that the Chair is of the opinion should be considered as a matter of urgency, in accordance with Section 100B (4) (b) of the Local Government Act 1972.

There were no items of urgent business.

There were no declarations of interests.

The Head of Communications for c2c delivered a presentation which provided an update of the actions taken to date and planned for future regarding performance of c2c services.

The Vice-Chair felt that the introduction of information boards showing seating capacity was welcome.  He asked whether passengers would be able to speak to someone directly from the secure zones and when they were likely to be implemented.  The Head of Communications for c2c confirmed that the help points would be situated within the secure zones and passengers would speak to someone in the security office in Romford.  The back office work for this had begun and they should be rolled out along the route across the next 12 months.  The Vice-Chair welcomed the input towards personal safety and was keen to see these measures introduced.

Councillor Smith noted that there were problems across the borough with parking around rail stations and asked whether c2c had plans to increase parking facilities around stations where there was empty land nearby, such as Tilbury Town.  c2c planned to increase their existing car park facilities in the first instance, by decking car parks and adding more spaces.  Moving forward c2c hoped to do more with parking facilities for both cars and cycles. 

Councillor Gerrish welcomed the progress that had been made.  He asked how the improvements regarding crowding compared with the mainline.  Growth in Thurrock had been higher than in Southend but figures were consistent with the overall pattern. High growth had been experienced throughout the route but the degrees varied from station to station. Thurrock and the East London stations along the Thurrock line were the fastest growing areas.

Councillor Gerrish asked when the next batch of carriages could be expected.  Carriages would be rolled out in three waves, 2019, 2022 and 2024.  This schedule would possibly be accelerated to match growth if possible.  The contract was currently out to tender with manufacturers and would be finalised within the next three months, with an announcement made before Christmas.

The Chair noted that the main focus, rightly, was commuters but added that Thurrock residents appreciated the schemes ran by c2c during school holidays.  She asked how well they were taken up by residents.  These schemes were very well used.  Tilbury Spirit Group for example had been very popular, with full trains, which was unusual in off peak times.  There had been high growth within off peak seasons, but there was great capacity for growth.  Members were advised that reverse commuting was also on the increase, especially with developments such as the Amazon site, and this would be mutually beneficial.

RESOLVED:

That the Committee comments on the c2c’s action taken to date and planned for future to manage expectations of various stakeholder groups’ demands.

The Assistant Director of Planning and Growth introduced the report which provided an update on the progress regarding preparation of a new Local Plan to guide the future development of Thurrock.

The Chair expressed concern regarding consultations.  Thurrock could expect rapid expansion and she queried what impact the proposed Lower Thames Crossing would have on the Local Plan and how Officers hoped to plan around the upcoming decision to move forward.  The Assistant Director of Planning and Growth outlined that the Lower Thames Crossing would have a significant impact but reminded Members that at present debates were around a preferred route, the development would still need to go through the official process.  Issues would revolve around if and where the route and relevant junctions would be.  The Consultation would need to consider both with and without the Lower Thames Crossing, possible locations and what implications would follow.

The Chair asked whether it was known how much Green Belt would be opened up by the route and whether that was relevant to the Local Plan.  The issue was relevant but not dependant.  The figure of around 32,000 homes remained the same with or without the Lower Thames Crossing, the Crossing simply offered potentially different spatial distribution.  Land which was not yet accessible could potentially be opened up but either outcome needn’t affect the scale of growth.

The Chair asked if it was possible to meet the 32,000 target without developing within the Greenbelt.  The Assistant Director of Planning and Growth confirmed that sequential tests had been undertaken. 6500 homes could be built within existing urban areas, which left around 26,000 to be developed elsewhere.  Thurrock was a major regeneration area but also a 65% Green Belt Borough.  Assuming 26,000 properties with a relatively low density of 40/hectare, the loss of Green Belt land would only equate to roughly 6% and Thurrock would remain a principally Green Belt Authority.

The Chair stressed the importance of Councillors having answers for their residents, including tangible guidelines to the scale of the development.  The Committee heard that there was a need to be proactive as an Authority.  A loss of 6% of the Green Belt would allow Thurrock to strongly protect the rest of it and it would be better to direct development and growth to preferable areas than have development forced upon Thurrock.

The Chair added that a key issue amongst residents was infrastructure and how important communication with residents would be.  It would be essential to be honest, open and reassuring prior to development.  The Assistant Director of Planning and Growth stressed the aims of integrated planning and place making, to avoid growth for growth’s sake and ensure Thurrock benefitted from development opportunities, to help rid the borough of existing infrastructure deficits.

Councillor Smith asked whether it was envisaged that the distribution across the borough would be even or whether developments would be built onto existing growth hubs.  The development would not be distributed evenly across the borough, but the distribution would be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.

The Committee agreed to hold an extraordinary meeting on 3 October 2017 to discuss the Purfleet Regeneration ahead of October Cabinet.

The Chair requested further debate regarding the Lower Thames Crossing proposals.  The Committee was advised that the Lower Thames Crossing Task Force would be meeting monthly and the Chair requested regular updates from the Task Force to provide scrutiny.

Councillor Smith proposed an update be brought to the Committee in November regarding the resilience and readiness of grit lorries ahead of the winter, and the build-up of silt in drains in the borough, which led to flooding.